Tests on pavement materials

Sh Yatin Chaudhary
Scientist
R P division

Presented by
A Chandra Sekhar
R. P.Division
 Pavement materials

cement Aggregates
Field test
Coarse Aggregates Fine Aggregates
colour

Physical Properties 1. Sieve Analysis

1. Sieve Analysis
2. Specific Gravity and
2. Aggregate Crushing test
Presence of lumps Absorption
3. Aggregate Impact test
3. Moisture Content
4. Aggregate Abrasion test
lab test Fineness Test
strength 4. Fineness Modulus
5. Shape test (Flakiness index test
5. Bulk density
Consistency Test and Elongation index test)
6. Void Content
6. Soundness test
Initial and final setting time
7. Shape and texture
7. Specific gravity and water
soundness Test 8. Organic impurities
absorption test
9. Chloride content
Determination of strength
10. Soundness test
Heat of hydration

specific gravity
Tests on cement :

Testing of cement
Field Test Lab test
Physical test Chemical Test
1.colour 1.Fineness Test 1.Loss on ignition
2.Physical Properties 2.Consistency Test 2.Chemical composition
test
3.Presence of lumps 3.Initial and final setting time
4.strength 4.Soundness Test
5.Determination of strength
6.Heat of Hydration
7.Specific gravity
Field Test:

1. Colour : Colour of cement should be uniform i.e grey colour with a light greenish shade .

2. Physical Properties: Cement should feel smooth when touched or rubbed-in-between- fingers.

3. Presence of lumps: Cement should be free from any hard lumps. Such lumps are formed by the absorption
of moisture from the atmosphere

4. Strength Test :To get a rough idea of the strength of the cement. Prepare a paste of cement and water. Make
a cake and immerse it in water for 24 hours. It should retain its shape and feel hard.
Physical test:

Fineness Test :

Degree of fineness of cement is the measure of the mean size of the grain in it.

There are three methods of testing of fineness of cement.

a. Sieve method using 90 micron Sieve

b. Air permeability method-Nurse and Blaine's method

c. Sedimentation method -Wanger turbidimeter method

Consistency Test:
• This test is to estimate the quantity of mixing water to form a paste of normal consistency

• Normal consistency is defined as that percentage water requirement of the cement paste, the viscosity of which
will be such that the Vicat's plunger penetrates up to a point 5 to 7mm from the bottom of the Vicat's mould

• It consists of a frame to which is attached a movable rod weighing 300 gm and having diameter and length as 10
mm and 50 mm respectively.

• An indicator is attached to the movable rod, which indicator moves on a vertical scale and it gives the penetration.

• Vicat mould is in the form of a cylinder and it can be split into two halves.

• Vicat mould is placed on a non porous plate.

• There are three attachments, square needle, plunger and needle with annular collar
Initial and final setting time:

Initial setting time :

Procedure:

• The cement weighing 300 gm is taken and make a cement paste of consistency 0.85 P.

• The cement paste is filled in the vicat mould.

• Square needle 1 x 1 mm is attached to the moving rod of the vicat apparatus

• The needle is quickly released and it is allowed to penetrate the cement paste.

• When the needle penetrates only 5 to 7mm from the bottom, it shows that test is completed.

• The time when cement paste starts hardening after adding water

• Initial setting time should not be less than 30 minutes for OPC and 1hr for low heat cement
Final setting time :

Procedure:

• The cement weighing 300 gm is taken and make a cement paste of consistency 0.85 P.

• The cement paste is filled in the vicat mould.

• The needle with annular collar(5mm dia) is attached in place of square needle.

• The needle is gently released. The time at which the needle makes an impression on test block and the collar
fails to do so is noted.

• The final setting time is less than or equal to 10 hours

Soundness Test:
• Purpose of this test is to detect the change volume of cement after setting.

• Soundness of cement is tested by by Le-Chatelier method or by autoclave method.

• Soundness of cement can be ensured by limiting the quantities of free lime and magnesia which slake slowly causing
change in volume of cement (known as unsound).

• It is a very important test to assure the quality of cement since an unsound cement produces cracks, distortion and
disintegration, ultimately leading to failure
Determination of strength:

• Cement hydrates when water is added to it and cohesion and solidity is experienced. It binds together the
aggregates by adhesion.

• The strength of mortar and concrete depends upon the type and nature of cement.

• Therefore, it should develop at least a minimum-specified strength if it is to be used in structures.

• Cement is tested for compressive and tensile strengths.

Heat of Hydration:

• During hydration of cement heat is evolved and it is dependent on the relative quantities of clinker on the
relative quantities of clinker compounds.

• Heat of hydration is important in two cases.

a. Mass, concrete: As the thermal Conductivity of concrete is low, the heat liberated in the interior of large
mass does not come to the surface, while exterior surface loses the heat to atmosphere fairly quickly This
causes a temperature difference with in the concrete mass causing differential movement in the concrete
which is restrained and resulting unnecessary stress and cracks.

b. Concreting during winter: During winter heat of hydration prevents the capillary moisture in the concrete
from freezing which is advantageous.
Specific gravity :

• Specific gravity of hydraulic cements is obtained by using Le chateliers flask

• Generally specific gravity of OPC = 3.15

Procedure:

• Flask is filled with either kerosene free of water, or naphtha having a specific gravity not less than 0.73 to a
point on the stem between zero and 1-ml mark. Then flask is immersed constant temperature water bath and
the reading is recorded.

• A weighed quantity of cement (about 64 g of Portland cement) is then introduced in small amounts at the
same temperature as that of the liquid.

• After introducing all the cement, the stopper is placed in the flank and the flask rolled in an inclined position,
or gently whirled in a horizontal circle, so as to free the cement from sir until no further air bubbles rise to the
surface of the liquid.

• Flask is again immersed in the water-bath and the final reading is recorded.

• Difference between the first and the final reading represents the volume of liquid displaced by the weight of
the cement used in the test.
Loss on Ignition:
• 1.00 g of the sample is heated for 15 minutes in a weighed and covered platinum crucible of 20 to 25 ml
capacity by placing it in a muffle furnace at any temperature between 900° and 1000°C.

• Then it is cooled and weighed. Thereafter, the loss in weight is checked by a second heating for 5 minutes
and reweighing.

• Loss in the weight is recorded as the loss on ignition and the percentage of loss on ignition to the nearest 0.1
calculated(loss in weight *100)

• Percentage loss on iginition should not exceeds 4% for 53 grade and 5% for 33+43 grade
Tests on aggregates:
Several tests are conducted both in coarse and fine aggregates. The following tests which are primarily
conducted on coarse aggregates

1. Sieve Analysis

2. Aggregate Crushing test

3. Aggregate Impact test

4. Aggregate Abrasion test

5. Shape test (Flakiness index test and Elongation index test)

6. Soundness test

7. Specific gravity and water absorption test

1.Sieve Analysis :

• Sieve analysis is a method of determining the particle size distribution of coarse aggregates (size more than
4.75 mm) in a sample of aggregate

• It helps to classify the aggregates and design concrete mixes accordingly.

• The test procedure involves passing the aggregate sample through a series of sieves with different openings
and measuring the weight retained on each sieve.

• The percentage of aggregate retained on each sieve is calculated and plotted on a graph to obtain the
gradation curve. The gradation curve shows the relative proportions of different sizes of particles in the
aggregate sample.
2.Aggregate Crushing Value Test:

• Aggregate crushing test is a standard method of measuring the strength of coarse aggregates used in concrete.
The test involves applying a gradually increasing compressive load to a sample of aggregate until it fails or
fractures.

• The purpose of this test is to assess the quality of aggregate for different types of pavement and construction
applications.

• Aggregates with low crushing value are more resistant to crushing and therefore more suitable for high-stress
conditions such as roads, bridges, and dams.
3.Aggregate Impact Value Test:

• Aggregate impact value test is a method to measure the resistance of coarse aggregates to sudden impact
loading. It is commonly used in civil engineering projects to assess the quality and strength of aggregates for
pavement and road construction.

• The test involves dropping a steel hammer of a specified weight and height onto a sample of aggregate and
measuring the percentage of fines (particles passing through 2.36 mm sieve) produced by the impact
4.Aggregate Abrasion Test:

• Aggregate abrasion test is a method of measuring the resistance of coarse aggregates to wear and tear. It is

also known as the Los Angeles abrasion test or the L.A. abrasion test.

• This test is widely used in civil engineering to assess the quality and durability of aggregates for various

construction purposes.

• The lower the abrasion value, the higher the quality and durability of the aggregate. The abrasion value

depends on several factors, such as the mineralogy, shape, size, gradation and hardness of the aggregate.
Abrasion Test
5.Shape Tests on Aggregates:
The particle shape of the aggregate mass is determined by the percentage of flaky and elongated particles in it.
Aggregates which are flaky or elongated are detrimental to higher workability and stability of mixes.

Elongation index:

The elongation index of an aggregate is defined as the percentage by weight of particles whose greatest
dimension (length) is 1.8 times their mean dimension. This test is applicable to aggregates limits for the
elongation index
Flakiness index:

• The flakiness index is defined as the percentage by weight of aggregate particles whose least dimension is
less than 0.6 times their mean size.
6.Soundness test:

• Soundness test is intended to study the resistance of aggregates to weathering action, by conducting accelerated
weathering test cycles.

• The porous aggregates subjected to freezing and thawing are likely to disintegrate prematurely. To ascertain the
durability of such aggregates, they are subjected to an accelerated soundness test as specified in IS:2386 part-V.

• Aggregates of specified size are subjected to cycles of alternate wetting in a saturated solution of either sodium
sulphate or magnesium sulphate for 16-18 hours and then dried in oven at 105 110°C to a constant weight.

• After five cycles, the loss in weight of aggregates is determined by sieving out all undersized particles and
weighing. And the loss in weight should not exceed 12 percent when tested with sodium sulphate and 18
percent with magnesium sulphate solution.
Specific gravity and water absorption test:

• It is used to measure the physical properties of coarse aggregates, such as their density, porosity and water
absorption. These properties affect the strength and durability of concrete and asphalt mixtures.

• The test results can be used to evaluate the quality and suitability of coarse aggregates for various
construction applications.
Test on fine Aggregates:

1. Sieve Analysis: Determines the particle size distribution of the aggregate.

2. Specific Gravity and Absorption: Measures the density and the amount of water the aggregate can absorb.
3. Moisture Content: Determines the amount of water present in the aggregate.
4. Fineness Modulus: A measure of the coarseness or fineness of the aggregate.
5. Bulk Density: Measures the mass of the aggregate per unit volume.
6. Void Content: Determines the volume of voids between the particles in a given volume of aggregate.
7. Shape and Texture: Assess the shape and surface texture of the aggregate particles.
8. Organic Impurities: Tests for the presence of organic compounds that might affect concrete quality.
9. Chloride Content: Determines the amount of chloride in the aggregate, which can affect the durability of
reinforced concrete.
10. Soundness Test: Evaluates the resistance of aggregates to weathering actions .