Los Angeles Abrasion Test Machine

Description

Los Angeles abrasion test on aggregates is the measure of aggregate toughness and abrasion resistance such as crushing, degradation, and disintegration. This test is carried out by AASHTO T 96 or ASTM C 131: Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine. The aggregate used in the surface course of the highway pavements is subjected to wearing due to the movement of traffic. When vehicles move on the road, the soil particles present between the pneumatic tires and the road surface cause abrasion of road aggregates. The steel-rimmed 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 the laboratory by a Los Angeles test machine. The principle of the 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 a specific number of revolutions also cause an 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.