TABLE OF CONTENT

NO.

TITLE

Introduction

Objective

Test Specimen

Test Apparatus

Test Procedures

Data, Observation and Result

Calculation

Discussion

Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
A sample of aggregate is loaded together with steel balls into a steel drum revolving on a
horizontal axis. The Los Angeles Abrasion Value (LAV) is the percentage of fines passing the 1.7
mm sieve after a specified number of revolutions of the drum at specified speed. A sample of
aggregate retained on the No. 12 (1.70 mm) sieve is placed inside a rotating steel drum
containing a specified number of steel spheres. As the drum rotates, a shelf inside the drum picks
up the aggregate and steel spheres. The shelf carries them around until they drop on the opposite
side of the drum, subjecting the aggregate to impact and crushing. Then, the aggregate is
subjected to abrasion and grinding as the drum continues to rotate until the shelf picks up the
contents, and the process is repeated. The drum is rotated for a specified number of revolutions.
Afterward, the aggregate is removed from the drum and sieved on a No. 12 (1.70 mm)
sieve. The aggregate retained on the sieve is weighed and the difference between this weight and
the original weight is expressed as a percentage and reported as the L.A. abrasion loss value.
Based on Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) properties, the allowable percentage wear is range from 60%
to 20%.
Beforehand, aggregates are subjected to crush and abrasive wear during the manufacture,
placing and compaction of asphalt paving mixes. They are also subjected to abrasion under
traffic loads. There does not appear to be a really satisfactory test for measuring aggregates'
resistance to abrasion but the Los Angeles Test is one of those most commonly applied. This test
is both an abrasion and impact test and appears to be more suitable for aggregates used in the
wearing course / surface dressing than for asphalt concrete in other layers. Resistance to abrasion
is necessary for maintaining surface macro-texture but (unfortunately) the tougher an aggregate
is, the more likely it is to polish under the action of vehicle tyres.
A common test used to characterize toughness and abrasion resistance is the Los Angeles
Abrasion Test. For the Los Angeles Abrasion Test, the portion of an aggregate sample retained
on the 1.70 mm (No. 12) sieve is placed in a large rotating drum that contains a shelf plate
attached to the outer wall. A specified number of steel spheres are then placed in the machine
and the drum is rotated for 500 revolutions at a speed of 42 revolutions per minute (RPM). The
material is then extracted and separated into material passing the 1.70 mm (No. 12) sieve and
material retained on the 1.70 mm (No. 12) sieve. The retained material (larger particles) is then
weighed and compared to the original sample weight. The difference in weight is reported as a

percent of the original weight and called the "percent loss". The equation used to calculate the
percent loss is:
Percentage Loss ( )=

Weight Loss
x 100
Initial Weight

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this experiment is to ascertain the degradation of aggregates by abrasion.
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. The L.A. abrasion test measures the degradation of a coarse
aggregate sample that is placed in a rotating drum with steel spheres. As the drum rotates the
aggregate degrades by abrasion and impact with other aggregate particles and the steel spheres
(called the "charge"). Once the test is complete, the calculated mass of aggregate that has broken
apart to smaller sizes is expressed as a percentage of the total mass of aggregate. Therefore,
lower L.A. abrasion loss values indicate aggregate that is tougher and more resistant to abrasion

TEST SPECIMEN
1. Aggregates (20mm-10mm)
TEST APPARATUS
1. Los Angeles abrasion machine
2. Tray
3. Sieves (28 mm, 20 mm, 14 mm, 10mm, 1.7 mm and pan)
4. Sieve shakers
5. Balance (accurate to 0.01g)
6. Fine haired brush (3 mm)

TEST PROCEDURE
1. The proper amount of aggregate is selected accordance to the table Abrasive charge.
Approximately 5000g of aggregates including 2500 10g of 20 mm to 14 mm sizes, and
2500 10g 14 mm to 10mm sizes are used in this test. (Note that this is for aggregate
graded mainly between 20 mm and 10mm size).
2. The sample is placed in the Los Angeles Abrasion Machine.
3. Eleven steel balls are added in the Los Angeles Abrasion machine together with the
sample. Each of the balls weighs 390-445 grams.
4. The drum is adjusted to rotate for 500 revolutions at 30-33 rpm. It takes approximately
20 minutes to complete the revolutions.
5. The sample was removed from the drum after it stopped and sieved on No.12 sieve. The
retained sample on the sieve.
6. The sample is weighted.
7. The aggregate was separated on a 1.7mm (sieve no 12).
8. The material retained on sieve No. 12 is weight in gram.