LOS ANGELES ABRASION VALUE
Kathmandu University Civil Labs
DETERMINATION OF LOS ANGELES ABRASION VALUE
OBJECTIVES:
(i) To determine the Los Angeles abrasion value.
(ii) To find the suitability of aggregates for use in road construction.
APPARATUS:
The apparatus as per IS: 2386 (Part IV) – 1963 consists of:
(i) Los Angeles Machine: It consists of a hollow steel cylinder, closed at both the ends with an internal
diameter of 700 mm and length 500 mm and capable of rotating about its horizontal axis. A removable
steel shaft projecting radially 88 mm into cylinder and extending full length (i.e.500 mm) is mounted
firmly on the interior of cylinder. The shelf is placed at a distance 1250 mm minimum from the opening
in the direction of rotation.
Figure: Los Angeles Abrasion Testing Machine
(ii) Abrasive charge: Cast iron or steel balls, approximately 48mm in diameter and
each weighing between 390 to 445g; six to twelve balls are required.
(iii) Sieve: 1.70, 2.36,4.75,6.3,10,12.5,20,25,40,50,63,80 mm IS Sieves.
(iv) Balance of capacity 5kg or 10kg
(v) Drying oven
(vi) Miscellaneous like tray
THEORY:
The aggregate used in surface course of the highway pavements are subjected to wearing due to
movement of traffic. When vehicles move on the road, the soil particles present between the pneumatic
tyres and road surface cause abrasion of road aggregates. The steel reamed wheels of animal driven
vehicles also cause considerable abrasion of the road surface. Therefore, the road aggregates should be
hard enough to resist abrasion. Resistance to abrasion of aggregate is determined in laboratory by Los
Angeles test machine. The principle of Los Angeles abrasion test is to produce 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 the aggregates due to rubbing with
steel balls is determined and is known as Los Angeles Abrasion Value.
PROCEDURE:
The test sample consists of clean aggregates dried in oven at 105° – 110°C. The sample should conform
to any of the gradings shown in table 1.
(i) Select the grading to be used in the test such that it conforms to the grading to be used in construction,
to the maximum extent possible.
(ii) Take 5 kg of sample for gradings A, B, C & D and 10 kg for gradings E, F & G.
(iii) Choose the abrasive charge as per Table 2 depending on grading of aggregates.
(iv) Place the aggregates and abrasive charge on the cylinder and fix the cover.
(v) Rotate the machine at a speed of 30 – 33 revolutions per minute. The number of revolutions is 500 for
gradings A, B, C & D and 1000 for gradings E, F & G. The machine should be balanced and driven such
that there is uniform peripheral speed.
(vi) The machine is stopped after the desired number of revolutions and material is discharged to a tray.
(vii) The entire stone dust is sieved on 1.70 mm IS sieve.
(viii) The material coarser than 1.7mm size is weighed correct to one gram.
Table 1: Grading of Test Samples
*Tolerance of ± 12 percent permitted
Grading No of Steel balls Weight of charge in gm
A 12 5000 ± 25
B 11 4584 ±25
C 8 3330 ± 20
D 6 2500 ± 15
E 12 5000 ± 25
F 12 5000 ± 25
G 12 5000 ± 25
Table 2: Selection of Abrasive Charge
OBSERVATIONS:
Original weight of aggregate sample = W1 g
Weight of aggregate sample retained = W2 g
Weight passing 1.7mm IS sieve = W1 -W2 g
Abrasion Value = (W1 -W2 ) / W1 X 100
RESULT:
Los Angeles Abrasion Value =
RECOMMENDED VALUE:
Los Angeles test is commonly used to evaluate the hardness of aggregates. The test has more
acceptability because the resistance to abrasion and impact is determined simultaneously. Depending
upon the value, the suitability of aggregates for different road constructions can be judged as per IRC
specifications as given:
Sl. No. Type of Pavement Max. permissible
abrasion value in %
1 Water bound macadam sub base course 60
2 WBM base course with bituminous surfacing 50
3 Bituminous bound macadam 50
4 WBM surfacing course 40
5 Bituminous penetration macadam 40
6 Bituminous surface dressing, cement concrete
surface course
35
7 Bituminous concrete surface course 30
Click the above mentioned drive link for clarity.
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