LOS ANGELES ABRASION TEST ON AGGREGATE.

RELATED THEORY:
ABRASION
It is defined as the, resistance of a material against wear, scratching or
degradation.
POUNDING ACTION
Striking action of an object on a surface for a short instant of time is called
the pounding effect.
LOS ANGELES ABRASION VALUE
It is an indicative of the abrasion strength of the aggregates. It can be
computed by using the relationship;
Los Angeles Abrasion Value

Orignal Weight Final Weight

100
Orignal Weight

Where,
Final weight = Weight retained on sieve #12

NOTES

Larger the LAA value, softer will be the aggregate and vice versa.

If we have two samples to be used in the wearing surface having LAA

value of 0% & 10%, then we should use the one having LAA value of 10%
(note this is true only for wearing surface and the opposite is true for subgrade, sub-base and base coarse). This is because, even though 0% will
provide a good hard surface but its coefficient of friction will be too high
and it will severely damage the tires.

If two different samples are obtained from the same source, then the
results of the LAA value will be same for both of the samples because LAA
value is a material property.

SCOPE & SIGNIFICANCE

This test is used to assess the hardness of the aggregate used in road
construction. The road aggregate is subjected to wearing action by the
moving traffic and therefore resistance to wear or hardness is an essential
property of the aggregate. The aggregate should be hard enough to resist
abrasion due to traffic.
Los Angeles Abrasion test is used to find out the percentage wear due to
relative rubbing action between aggregate and steel balls used as abrasive

charges. Pounding action of these balls also exists while conducting the test.
The test is considered more dependable as rubbing and pounding action
simulate field conditions.
The test has been standardized by ASTM and AASHTO.
AASHTO T 96, recommendations are that Base Course has a percent wear of
40% or less. For Sub-base Course the requirement is 50% or less.

APPARATUS

Los Angeles Abrasion machine consists of a hollow steel cylinder closed

at both ends, having inside diameter of 28 and inside length of 20. The
cylinder is mounted on stub shafts in such a way that it rotates about
horizontal axis at 30-33 rpm.

An opening in the cylinder with a dust tight cover is provided for the
introduction of test sample. A steel shelf extending full length of the
cylinder and projecting 3.5 inward is mounted on interior surface of the
cylinder.

Sieves confirming to ASTM Standards.

Balance

Abrasive charges (consisting of steel spheres 1 27/32 in diameter and

each weighing between (390 445 gms.) approx.439.6g

PROCEDURE

The sample taken should be representative and confirming to any of the

grading given in the table.
The sample is placed in the cylinder along with the abrasive charges and
the machine is rotated for the required number of revolutions (500
1000).
After the required number of revolutions, material is discharged from the
machine and sieved through #12 US sieve.
Wash the material coarser than #12 sieve, oven dry and weigh. Then
compute the LAA value
LosAngeles
Abrasion
Value

Orignal
Weight
FinalWeight
100
Orignal
Weight

where,
Final weight = Weight retained on sieve #12

NOTES

If a large rock piece is provided for the test, first of all crush it then sieve
it and then proceed in the same manner.

If the amount of aggregate collected in the lower sieves is less than the
required amount, then crush the aggregate in the higher sieves to get the
required quantity in the lower sieves.

If the amount of aggregate collected in the top sieves is less than the
required amount, then sieve more aggregate in order to collect enough
quantity of aggregate.

OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS

Grading used for the test =

Number of abrasive charges used =

Original weight of the sample, W1 (gm.) =

Final weight after test (retained on sieve #12), W2 (gm.) =

LosAngeles
Abrasion
Value

Orignal
Weight
FinalWeight
100
Orignal
Weight

GRADING OF TEST SAMPLE (LOS ANGELES ABRASION TEST)

SIEVE SIZES
Passi Retain
ng
ed

WEIGHT & GRADING OF TEST SAMPLE (gm.)

A

1
25005
0
25005
0
50005
0

3 in

2 in

2 in

2 in

2 in

1 in

1 in

1 in

1 in

in

in

in

in

3/8

2500
10

3/8

in

in

in

1250
25
1250
25
1250
10
1250
10

2500
10
2500
10

50005
0
50002
5

50002
5
50002
5

 in

#4

2500
10

#4

#8

5000
10

5000
10

5000
10

5000
10

5000
10

10000
100

10000
75

10000
50

Total weight
required

Abrasive
Charges
A
B
C
D
1
2
3

COMMENTS

No. of
Revolutions
500

1000

Number of
Spheres
12
11
8
6
12
12
12

Weight of Charges (gm.)

500025
458425
333020
250025
500025
500025
500025