Important Point
Abrasion Test
Measurement of toughness and resistance like degradation, crushing, and disintegration is the right definition of the Abrasion test.
This test is suggested by AASHTO T 96 or ASTM C 131 Resistance to degradation of small coarse aggregates by Abrasion and impact on the Los Angeles Machine.
Aggregates are used for the surface course of road pavements and are subject to wear and tear due to traffic movement. (ASTM c131 Los Angeles abrasion test)
Therefore, aggregates used in road construction must be hard enough to resist Abrasion. The resistance offered by the aggregate to Abrasion is determined in the laboratory by the Los Angeles testing machine.
The Los Angeles abrasion test’s working principle is to produce abrasive action using standard steel balls, which, when mixed with aggregates and spun in a drum for a specified time for a specific number of revolutions, also impact the aggregates.
The percentage of wear of sample aggregates due to friction with steel balls is determined and is known as the Los Angeles Abrasion Value.
Test to Determine the Abrasion Value
The abrasion test on aggregates in Los Angeles is carried out with the following objectives:
- To discover the value of Abrasion in Los Angeles aggregate.
- Find the suitability of aggregates for use in road construction projects.
Apparatus Used For Abrasion Test
The device is standardized according to IS: 2386 (Part IV) – 1963 consists of:
- Los Angeles abrasion machine
- Abrasive load spheres: Spheres of cast iron or steel, approximately 48 mm in diameter and each weighing between 390 and 445 g; six to twelve balls are needed
- Sieve: 1.70 mm, 2.36 mm, 4.75 mm, 6.3 mm, 10 mm, 12.5 mm, 20 mm, 25 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 63 mm, 80 mm IS sieves.
- The 5 kg or 10 kg capacity balance is used.
- Drying the oven.
- Miscellaneous like a tray
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Procedure For Abrasion Test
- Select the grading to be utilized in the test such that it conforms to the grading to be utilized in construction, to the maximum extent possible.
- Require 5 kg of sample for gradings A, B, C, and; D, and 10 kg for gradings E, F & G.
- Pick the abrasive charge according to Table 1, depending on the grading of aggregates.
- Place the aggregates and abrasive charge to the cylinder and fix the cover.
- Rotate the machine at a speed of 30 to 33 revolutions per minute. The number of revolutions is 500 to get gradings A, B, C, and D, and 1000 for gradings E, F, and G. The machine ought to be balanced and driven such that there’s uniform peripheral speed.
- The machine is stopped after the desired number of revolutions and material is discharged to a tray.
- The entire stone dust is sieved on 1.70 mm IS sieve.
- The material coarser than 1.7mm size is weighed correct to one gram.
| Grading | No of Steel balls | Weight of charge in gm. |
| A | 12 | 5000 ± 25 |
| B | 11 | 4584 ±25 |
| C | 8 | 3330 ± 20 |
| D | 6 | 2500 ± 15 |
| E | 12 | 5000 ± 25 |
| F | 12 | 5000 ± 25 |
| G | 12 | 5000 ± 25 |
Table-1 Selection of Abrasive
| Source | Tested as per | |||||||
| Weight of sample taken (gms) | Confirmation as per | |||||||
| Sieve size (square hole) Passing (mm) |
Weight of test sample in gm Retained on (mm) |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G |
| 80.0 mm | 63.0 mm | |||||||
| 63.0 mm | 50.0 mm | |||||||
| 50.0 mm | 40.0 mm | |||||||
| 40.0 mm | 25.0 mm | |||||||
| 25.0 mm | 20.0 mm | |||||||
| 20.0 mm | 12.5 mm | |||||||
| 12.3 mm | 10.0 mm | |||||||
| 10.0 mm | 6.3 mm | |||||||
| 6.3 mm | 4.75 mm | |||||||
| 4.75 mm | 2.36 mm | |||||||
| Pan | ||||||||
| Remarks ( If Any) – | ||||||||
| Contractor | PMC | Client | ||||||
Table-2 Format of Abrasion Test Report
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Principle of Abrasion Test
Steel ball bearings in the hardness test To produce the abrasive action using standard steel balls that, when mixed with the aggregate and rotated in a drum for a specific number of revolutions, impact the aggregate.
The wear per age due to friction with steel balls is determined and is known as the abrasion value. Prepare the sample by the portion of an aggregate sample retained in the 1.70 mm (# 12) sieve and place in a large rotating drum that contains a shelf plate attached to the outer wall.
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Standard Test Methods of Abrasion Test
The standard test method for Abrasion test are as follows.
- AASHTO T 96 and ASTM C 131: Resistance to degradation of coarse aggregate of small size by Abrasion and impact on the Los Angeles machine
- ASTM C 535: Resistance to degradation of large coarse aggregates by Abrasion and impact on the Los Angeles machine.
Uses Of The Abrasion Test
For an aggregate to perform satisfactorily on the pavement, it must be difficult enough to resist the abrasive effect of traffic for a long period of time.
Soft aggregates will be quickly crushed into powder, while hard aggregates are quite resistant to crushing.
The test will also determine the quality of the aggregate.
The L.A. abrasion test is widely used as an indicator of the quality or relative competence of mineral aggregates.
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How Does the La-Abrasion Test Works?
- A sample is prepared by separating the required masses into individual size fractions.
- The sample of specific size aggregates and the abrasive load are placed on the L.A. Abrasion Machine and spun at 30-33rpm.
- The sample is removed and washed over a No. 12 sieve (1.70 mm) and placed in an oven to dry.
- The percentage loss or the difference between the original mass and the final mass.
- A. abrasion loss value of 40 indicates that 40% of the original mass of the sample passed through the sieve.
Important of Abrasion Test
- The abrasion test determines the relative quality, strength, and durability of mineral aggregates subject to impact and Abrasion.
- The values derived from L.A. Abrasion tests provide information on the performance of aggregate in use. This test provides insight into how asphalt and concrete aggregates resist wear and tear over time.
- It is also a good indicator of change in properties in an aggregate source as part of a quality assurance or control program.
IS Recommended Los Angeles abrasion test Values for Pavements:
A Los Angeles test is performed to find the hardness of aggregates. On the basis of this value, the suitability of aggregates for different road constructions can be judged as per IRC specifications as given.
| SI. No. | Type of Pavement | Max. permissible abrasion value in % |
| 1 | Water bound macadam sub base course | 60 |
| 2 | WBM base course with bituminous surfacing | 50 |
| 3 | Bituminous bound macadam | 50 |
| 4 | WBM surfacing course | 40 |
| 5 | Bituminous penetration macadam | 40 |
| 6 | Bituminous surface dressing, cement concrete surface course | 35 |
| 7 | Bituminous concrete surface course | 30 |
Conclusion of Abrasion Test
It is important to remember that, regardless of the method chosen, abrasion testing is a necessary procedure as part of a quality control process to assess how materials will react to wear over time.
Abrasion Test
Abrasion testing is used to test the abrasive resistance of solid materials. The intent of abrasion testing is to produce data that will reproducibly rank materials in their resistance to scratching abrasion under a specified set of conditions.
Why Abrasion Test Is Done?
Abrasion test is carried out to test the hardness property of aggregates. The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test is to find the percentage wear due to relative rubbing action between the aggregate and steel balls used as abrasive charge.
What Is a Abrasion Test?
Abrasion testing is used to test the abrasive resistance of solid materials. The intent of abrasion testing is to produce data that will reproducibly rank materials in their resistance to scratching abrasion under a specified set of conditions.
How Do You Perform an Abrasion Test?
- The sample of specifically sized aggregates and the abrasive charge is placed in the L.A. Abrasion Machine and rotated at 30-33rpm.
- The sample is removed and washed over a No. 12 (1.70mm) sieve and placed in an oven to dry.
- The percent loss or the difference between the original mass and the final mass is calculated.
- An L.A. Abrasion loss value of 40 indicates that 40% of the original sample mass passed through the sieve.
What Is Los Angeles Abrasion Test?
Abrasion test is carried out to test the hardness property of aggregates. The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test is to find the percentage wear due to relative rubbing action between the aggregate and steel balls used as abrasive charge.
What Are the Three Types of Abrasion?
Three forms of abrasion occur and are tested for most frequently, namely flat (plane or surface) abrasion, edge abrasion (i.e. at collars and folds) and flex (flexing and bending) abrasion.
What Is the Purpose of Abrasion Test?
Abrasion testing is used to test the abrasive resistance of solid materials. Materials such as metals, composites, ceramics, and thick (weld overlays and thermal spray) coatings can be tested with these methods.
Why Is the Abrasion Test Important in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles (L.A.) abrasion test is a common test method used to indicate aggregate toughness and abrasion characteristics. Aggregate abrasion characteristics are important because the constituent aggregate in HMA must resist crushing, degradation and disintegration in order to produce a high quality HMA.
What Is Abrasion Value Test?
Abrasion Test is the measure of aggregate toughness and abrasion resistance such as crushing, degradation and disintegration. The percentage wear of the sample aggregates due to rubbing with steel balls is determined and is known as Los Angeles Abrasion Value.
What Do You Mean by Abrasion Value?
The Los Angeles (L.A.) abrasion test (Figure 1) is a common test method used to indicate aggregate toughness and abrasion characteristics. Therefore, an L.A. abrasion loss value of 40 indicates that 40% of the original sample passed through the No. 12 (1.70 mm) sieve.
How Do You Calculate the Abrasion Value?
- The material coarser than 1.70mm IS Sieve should be washed, dried in an oven at a temperature of 100 to 110oC to a constant weight, and weighed (Weight ‘B’)
- The proportion of loss between weight ‘A’ and weight ‘B’ of the test sample should be expressed as a percentage of the original weight of the test sample. This value should be reported as, Aggregate abrasion value = (A-B)/B x 100%
Which Test Is Also Known as Abrasion Test?
The Los Angeles (L.A.) Abrasion Test is widely used as an indicator of the relative quality of aggregates. It measures the degradation of standard gradings of aggregates when subjected to abrasion and impact in a rotating steel drum with an abrasive charge of steel balls.
Why Is Abrasion Important?
Abrasion is a principal factor that causes rupture of the materials like rubbers, ceramics, coatings, metals, etc. Abrasion test provides the result that helps the user to compare the material or its coating and helps to judge the life of the material.
What Is Abrasion Value of Aggregate?
The abrasion value of an aggregate is the value that determines aggregate toughness and abrasion resistance. It includes properties of aggregate such as crushing value, degradation, and disintegration.
How Do You Do Abrasion Test?
The test is performed using a Taber Rotary Platform Abraser and involves mounting a flat specimen to a turntable platform that rotates on a vertical axis at a fixed speed. Two Taber abrasive wheels, which are applied at a specific pressure, are then lowered onto the specimen surface.
What Is the Use of Abrasion Test?
Abrasion testing is used to test the abrasive resistance of solid materials. Materials such as metals, composites, ceramics, and thick (weld overlays and thermal spray) coatings can be tested with these methods.
What Does the LA Abrasion Test Measure?
The Los Angeles (L.A.) Abrasion Test is widely used as an indicator of the relative quality of aggregates. It measures the degradation of standard gradings of aggregates when subjected to abrasion and impact in a rotating steel drum with an abrasive charge of steel balls.
How Is LA Abrasion Value of Aggregate Determined?
Abrasion Test is the measure of aggregate toughness and abrasion resistance such as crushing, degradation and disintegration. The percentage wear of the sample aggregates due to rubbing with steel balls is determined and is known as Los Angeles Abrasion Value.
How Do You Find the Aggregate Abrasion Value?
Aggregate abrasion value = (A-B)/B x 100%.
What Properties of Aggregates Are Determined by Los Angeles Test?
Abrasion test is carried out to test the hardness property of aggregates. The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test is to find the percentage wear due to relative rubbing action between the aggregate and steel balls used as abrasive charge.
Abrasion Test Standard
A typical Taber abrasion test consists of a disk-shaped specimen that is placed in constant contact with an abrasive wheel, using predetermined forces to a specified number of cycles to determine wear. The most commonly used standards for these tests are: ASTM D4060, ASTM F1978-12 and MIL-A-8625.
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