AGGREGATE CRUSHING VALUE

(IS:2386-PART 4-1963)
OBJECTIVE
For determination of the aggregate crushing value of coarse aggregate, which passes 12.5 mm. IS
sieve and retained on 10 mm. IS sieve.
REFERENCE STANDARD
IS: 2386 (Part IV)-1963 Methods of test for aggregate for concrete Part IV Mechanical Properties.
THEORY
The aggregate crushing value give a relative measure of the resistance of an aggregate to crushing
under agradualy applied compressive load. It s the percentage by weight of the crushed(finer) material
obtained when the test aggregates are subjected to a specified load under standardized conditions, and
is a numerical index of the strength of te aggregate used in road construction. Aggregates with lower
crushing value indicate a lower crushed fraction under load and would give a longer service life to the
load and hence a more economical performance.Weaker aggregates if used would get crushed under
traffic loads, would produce smaller pieces not coated with binder and these would be easily loosend
out reasulting in loss of the surface. In short, the aggregates used in road construction must be strong
enough to withstand crushing under traffic.
APPARATUS
The apparatus for the standard test shall consist of the following :
a) A 15-cm diameter open-ended steel cylinder, with plunger and base-plate, of the general form and
dimensions . The surfaces in contact with the aggregate shall be machined and case-hardened
b) A straight metal tamping rod of circular cross-section 16 mm in diameter and 45 to 60 cm long,
rounded at one end.
c) A balance of capacity 3 kg, readable and accurate to one gram.
d) IS Sieves of sizes 12.5,10 and 2.36 mm.
e) A compression testing machine capable of applying a load of 40 tonnes and which can be operated
to give a uniform rate of loading so that the maximum load is reached in 10 minutes. The machine
may be used with or without a spherical seating.
f) For measuring the sample, cylindrical metal measure of sufficient rigidity to retain its form under
rough usage and of the internal dimensions Diameter 11.5 cm & Height 18 cm

Fig. Aggregate Crushing Value Test Appratus

PREPARATION OF SAMPLE
The material for the standard test shall consist of aggregate passing a 12.5-mm IS Sieve and retained
on a 10 mm IS Sieve, and shall be thoroughly separated on these sieves before testing. For other sizes,
the material shall be separated on the appropriate sieves given in Table IS sieves given in Table I
TABLE I DETAILS OF AGGREGATTZ CRUSHING TEST FOR NON-STANDARD SI2XS OF
AGGREGATE
S.no.
1
2
3
4
5
6

Passing
through
25
20
10
6.3
4.75
3.35

Retained on
20
12.5
6.3
4.75
3.35
2.36

Cylinder of diameter
to be used
150
150
150 or 75
150 or 75
150 or 75
150 or 75

Size of is sieve for sepration fines

4.75
3.35
1.70
1.18
850 microns
600 microns

PROCEDUREThe cylindrical steel cup is filled with 3 equal layers of aggregate and each layer is tamped 25 strokes
by the rounded end of tamping rod and the surplus aggregate struck off, using the tamping rod as a
straight edge.
1.

The net weight of aggregate in the cylindrical steel cup is determined to the nearest gram
(WA) and this weight of aggregate is used for the duplicate test on the same material.

2.

The cup is fixed firmly in position on the base of the machine and the whole of the test
sample is added in thirds, each third being subjected to 25stokes from tamping rod.

3.

The surface is leveled and the plunger is inserted so that it rests horizontally on the surface.
The whole assembly is then placed between the platens of testing machine and loaded at a
uniform rate so as to reach a load of 40 tones in 10 minutes.

4.

The load is then released and all aggregate is removed from the cup and sieved on 2.36 mm.
IS sieve until no further significant amount passes in one minute.

5.

The fraction passing the sieve is weighed to an accuracy of 0.1 g (W B )

OBSERVATION & CALCULATION

Total weight of the dry sample (W1 gm)

Weight of portion pasiing 4.75 mm sieve(W2 gm)
Aggregate crushing Value (percent)=w2/w1*100

The ratio of the weight of fines formed to the total sample weight in each test is to be expressed as a
percentage, to the first decimal place.
Aggregate crushing Value =(WB/WA) 100
REPORT
The mean of the two results is reported to the nearest whole number as the aggregate crushing value
of the tested material.
RECOMMENDED VALUES
The suitability of aggregate is adjudged, depending on its proposed use in the pavement layers.
Specified limits of percent aggregate crushing value for different types of road construction s given
bellow.

Sl No

Type of road construc

Flexible Pavements

a)

Soiling

b)

Water bound macadam

c)

Bituminous macadam

d)

Bituminous surface dr

e)

Dense mix carpet

2.

Rigid Pavements

a)

Other than wearing co

b)

Surface or wearing co

Discussion
1 - Aggregate larger than 12.5 mm - In general, the larger sizes of aggregate will give a higher
aggregate crushing value, but the relationship between the values obtained with different sizes will
vary from one aggregate to another. Particular care shall be taken with larger sizes of aggregate to
ensure that the plunger does not jam in the cylinder. However, for such aggregate, a 7.5-cm diameter
cylinder may be used, and this has been found to give slightly higher results than the standard
cylinder, so that the errors are compensating.
2 Aggregate smaller than 10 mm - In general, the smaller sizes of aggregate will give a lower
aggregate crushing value, but the relationship between the values obtained with different sizes will
vary from one aggregate to another.
For testing aggregate smaller than 10 mm:
1.The form and dimensions of the 7.5-cm cylinder shall be as shown in Fig. 1 and the surfaces shall
be as for the standard cylinder.
2.The tamping rod shall be 8 mm in diameter and 30 cm long, rounded at one end.
3.The balance shall be of capacity 500 g, readable and accurate to 02 g.
4.The IS Sieves shall be as given in Table I.
5.The compression testing machine shall be capable of applying a load of 10 tonnes uniformly in 10
minutes.
6.The metal measure shall be 6 cm in diameter and 9 cm in height. The depth of material in the 7.5cm cylinder shall be 5 cm after tamping.
7.The total load applied in 10 minutes shall be 10 tonnes.
ApplicationsThe aggregate crushing value is an indirect measure of crushing strength of aggregates.Low
aggregates crushing value indicates strong aggregates, as the crushed fraction of fines under the
specified load is low.the aggaregates used for the surface course of pavements should be strong
enough to withstand the high stress due to rolling and heavy wheel load.
IRC and BIS specified that the aggregate crushing value of coarse aggregates to be used for cement
concrete pavement surface should not exceed 30 percent