ABRASION TEST

Fig-2 Los Angeles Abrasion Test Setup

Abrasion test is carried out to test the hardness property of aggregates and to decide whether they
are suitable for different pavement construction works. Los Angeles abrasion test is a preferred one
for carrying out the hardness property and has been standardized in India (IS: 2386 part-IV).
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.
Los Angeles machine consists of circular drum of internal diameter 700 mm and length 520 mm
mounted on horizontal axis enabling it to be rotated (see Fig-2). An abrasive charge consisting of
cast iron spherical balls of 48 mm diameters and weight 340-445 g is placed in the cylinder along
with the aggregates. The number of the abrasive spheres varies according to the grading of the
sample. The quantity of aggregates to be used depends upon the gradation and usually ranges from
5-10 kg. The cylinder is then locked and rotated at the speed of 30-33 rpm for a total of 500 -1000
revolutions depending upon the gradation of aggregates.
After specified revolutions, the material is sieved through 1.7 mm sieve and passed fraction is
expressed as percentage total weight of the sample. This value is called Los Angeles abrasion
value.
A maximum value of 40 percent is allowed for WBM base course in Indian conditions.
For bituminous concrete, a maximum value of 35 percent is specified.
AGGREGATE

ABRASION

VALUE

This test helps to determine the abrasion value of coarse aggregates as per IS: 2386 (Part
IV)

1963.

The apparatus used in this test are Los Angles abrasion testing machine, IS Sieve of size
1.7mm, Abrasive charge 12 nos. cast iron or steel spheres approximately 48mm dia. and
each weighing between 390 and 445g ensuring that the total weight of charge is 5000 +25g
and
Sample

Oven.
Preparation

The test sample should consist of clean aggregates which has been dried in an oven at 105

to 110oC to a substantially constant weight and should conform to one of the gradings
shown in the table below:

Procedure

to

determine

Aggregate

Abrasion

Value

The test sample and the abrasive charge should be placed in the Los Angles abrasion testing
machine and the machine rotated at a speed of 20 to 33 revolutions/minute for 1000
revolutions. At the completion of the test, the material should be discharged and sieved
through 1.70mm IS Sieve.

Reporting

of

Results

i) The material coarser than 1.70mm IS Sieve should be washed, dried in an oven at a
temperature

of

100

to

110oC

to

constant

weight

and

weighed

(Weight

B).

ii) 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,

(AASHTO DESIGNATION: T-96 | ASTM C 131)

The Los Angeles test is a measure of degradation of mineral aggregates of standard gradings
resulting from a combination of actions including abrasion or attrition, impact, and grinding in a
rotating steel drum containing a specified number of steel spheres. 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.

Apparatus:

Steel Spherical Balls

Machine (The machine is equipped with a counter. The machine shall consist of hollow steel
cylinder closed at both ends. An opening in cylinder shall be provided for introducing the
sample

Sieves

Aggregate used in highway pavement should be hard and must resist wear due to the
loading from compaction equipment, the polishing effect of traffic and the internal abrasion
effect.

The road aggregate should be hard enough to resist the abrasion of aggregate. Resistance
to abrasion is determined in laboratory by loss angles abrasion test.

Principle of the Test:

To produce the abrasive action by use of standard steel
balls which when mixed with the aggregate and rotated
in a drum for specific number of revolution cause impact
on aggregate. The %age wear due to rubbing with steel
balls is determined and is known as abrasion value.
Prepare the sample by the portion of an aggregate
sample retained on the 1.70 mm (No. 12) sieve and
place in a large rotating drum that contains a shelf plate
attached to the outer wall.

Procedure of the LA Abrasion Test:

Prepared sample is placed in the abrasion-testing machine.

A specified number of steel spheres are then placed in the machine and the drum is rotated
for 500 revolutions at a speed of 30 - 33 revolutions per minute (RPM).

The material is then separated into material passing the 1.70 mm (No. 12) sieve and material
retained on the 1.70 mm (No. 12) sieve.

Dry the sample in an oven.

Calculate %age loss due to Abrasion by calculating the difference between the retained
material (larger particles) compared to the original sample weight. The difference in weight
is reported as a percent of the original weight and called the "percent loss".

Test Sample :
Sample shall be washed and oven-dried at a temperature of 105C - 110C and should conform to
one of the grading in observation.

Test Adequacy / Suitability:

The L.A. Abrasion test is an empirical test; it is not directly related to field performance of
aggregates. Field observations generally do not show a good relationship between L.A. abrasion
values and field performance. L.A. abrasion loss is unable to predict field performance. Specifically,
the test may not be satisfactory for some types of aggregates. Some aggregates, such as slag and
some limestones, tend to have high LA. abrasion loss but perform adequately in the field. L.A.
abrasion loss seems to be reasonable well correlated with dust formation during handling and HMA
production in that aggregates with higher LA. abrasion loss values typically generate more of dust.

Uses & Significance of LA Abrasion Test :

1. For an aggregate to perform satisfactory in pavement, it must be sufficiently hard to resist the
abrasive effect of traffic over long period of time. The soft aggregates will be quickly ground
to dust, whilst the hard aggregates are quite resistant to crushing effect.
2. The test also will determine the quality of the aggregate.
3. The L.A. Abrasion test is widely used as an indicator of the relative quality or competence of
mineral aggregates.

Standard Test Methods are:

AASHTO T 96 and ASTM C 131: Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse
Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine

 ASTM C 535: Resistance to Degradation of Large-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion

and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine

What is abrasion, wear and tear?

Pavements in transportation engineering, either rigid or flexible have aggregates of specific sizes.
These aggregates throughout their life are subjected abrasive effect of moving traffic vehicles.
Whether it is sub-base, base or wearing course the aggregates are subjected to wear and tear.
Aggregates transfer their loads from vehicles to ground through the interlock and toughness of
their rigid surface.
The aggregates, thus, must be hard enough to resist crushing, degradation and disintegration from
any associated activities. While fine aggregates are used among the coarser aggregates the load
transferring mechanism is bit easy due to the cushioning effect of the fine aggregates, in case of
gap or open graded Hot mix asphalt (HMA), where there are no such fines or some are missing,
toughness of aggregates play a pivotal role in defining the life of a pavement.

Resistance to Abrasion?
Absence of abrasion resistance, hardness or toughness in aggregates would result in premature
degradation, dust pollution early loss of skid resistance and many other problems as well.
Extent of Resistance to abrasion is measured in laboratory by a test called Los Angeles Abrasion
test or L.A Test. Los Angeles abrasion test is an empirical test; meaning that it doesnt have a
numerical or analytical concept as its base. Though it relates and defines well with the toughness
of the aggregates but generally do not show a good relationship with the field performance of the
subject sample.

Background
Theory of Los Angeles abrasion test is to produce the abrasive action by use of standard steel balls
which when mixed with aggregates and rotated in a drum for specific number of revolutions also
causes impact on aggregates. The percentage wear of aggregates due to rubbing with steel balls is
determined and is known as Los Angeles Abrasion value.

Summary
Based on grading of aggregates select the number of steel balls and respective sieve sizes are
arranged and total of 5000g sample is prepared. The sample is placed in a steel rotating drum
along with the steel spheres or charge. As the drum rotates the drum picks up the aggregates and
steel spheres and then drops them on the opposite end. This rotating, crushing and impact
generates the abrasive effect. After specific number of revolutions, aggregates are removed from
the drum and sieved on No. 12 (1.70 mm) sieve. The aggregate that is retained on the sieve is
weighed and the difference between the weight is reported as percentage and given as Los Angeles
Abrasion value.

Procedure
1)
The sample obtained is cleaned and dried in oven at 105 to 110 degree Celsius.
2)
Select the grading of the aggregates such that it suits best with the grading to be used in
construction as shown in the table;
3)
Arrange the sieves as per grading and weight the material retained on specific sieves such
that the total weight becomes 5000 g.
4)
Select the charge or steel balls for the Los Angeles Abrasion test as per the grading.
5)
Place the aggregates and the charge in to the steel drum.
6)
Rotate the Los Angeles Abrasion testing machine at a speed of 30 to 33 revolutions per
minute (rpm). The revolutions is also dependent on the grading of the aggregates, it is 500 for
grading A, B, C and D while 1000 for E, F and g.
7)
The machine after specific revolutions is stopped and material is discharged to a tray.
8)
The material is then sieved from Sieve No. 12 or 1.70 mm.
9)
The material that would retained on sieve No. 12 is weighed and noted.

Table 1 : Grading of Aggregates

Sieve size
(square
hole)

Weight of
test
sample in
gm

Passing
(mm)

Retained
on (mm)

80

63

2500*

63

50

2500*

50

40

5000*

40

25

1250

25

20

1250

20

12.5

1250

2500

12.5

10

1250

2500

10

6.3

2500

6.3

4.75

2500

4.75

2.36

5000*
5000*

5000*
5000*

5000

Table 2 Grading with no of charge and weight

of sample in gm.
Grading

No of Steel balls

Weight of charge in gm

12

5000 25

11

4584 25

3330 20

2500 15

12

5000 25

12

5000 25

12

5000 25

Observations and calculations

Original test sample mass = M(original) = ____________ g
Final test sample mass = M(final)= ________________ g
Loss = ((Mo Mf)/Mo) x 100
Los Angeles Abrasion value (L.A Value) = _______________ %