Intro

Toughness is the property of a material to resist impact. Factors of burden or traffic loads and
sudden impact that will cause the stone crushed into small pieces. The aggregates used must
be toughh enough to avoid fracruture under impact. Thus , the test designed to determine the
aggregate impact value (AIV).

Theory
AIV is the percentage of fines produced from the aggregate sample after subjecting it to a
standard amount of impact. The standard amount of impact is produced by a known weight,
i.e. a steel cylinder, falling a set height, a prescribed number of times, onto an amount of
aggregate of standard size and weight retained in a mould Aggregate Impact Values, (AIVs),
below 10 are regarded as strong, and AIVs above 35 would normally be regarded as too
weak for use in road surfaces. Aggregate Impact Values and Aggregate Crushing Values are
often numerically very similar, and indicate similar aggregate strength properties.

Objectives
- To determine the aggregate impact value (AIV) of a given sample in laboratory.
- To assess their suitability in road construction on the basis of impact value.

Methodology
Apparatus
the apparatus consists of an impact testing machine, a cylindrical measure tamping rod, IS
sieve balanceand oven.
(a) Impact testing machine : The machine consists of a metal base with a plane lower surface
supported wellon a firm floor, without rocking. A detachable cylindrical steel cup of internal
diameter 10.2 cm and depth 5cm is rigidly fastened centrally to the base plate. A metal
hammer of weight between 13.5 and 14. Kghaving the lower end cylindrical in shape, 10 cm
in diameter and 5 cm long, with 2 mm chamber at thelower edge is capable of sliding freely
between vertical guides, and fall concentric over the cup. There is anarrangement for raising
the hammer and allowing it to fall freely between vertical guides from a height of 38cm on the
test sample in the cup, the height of fall being adjustable upto 0.5 cm. A key is provided
for supporting the hammer while fastening or removing the cup. Refer Figure.

(b) Measure : A cylindrical metal measure having internal diameter 7.5 cm and depth 5 cm for
measuringaggregates.
(c) Tamping rod : A straight metal tamping rod of circular cross section, 1 cm in diameter and
23 cm long,rounded at one end.
(dSieve : IS sieve of sizes 12.5 mm, 10 mm and 2.36 mm for sieving the aggregates.
(e) Balance : A balance of capacity not less than 500 g to weigh accurate upto .1 g.
(f) Oven : A thermostatically controlled drying oven capable of maintaining constant
temperature between 105C and 110C
Procedure :
**The test sample consists of aggregates sized 10.0 mm 12.5 mm. Aggregates may be dried
by heating at 105-110 C for a period of 4 hours and cooled.
(i) Sieve the material through 12.5 mm and 10.0mm IS sieves. The aggregates passing
through 12.5mm sieve and retained on 10.0mm sieve comprises the test material.
(ii) Pour the aggregates to fill about just 1/3 rd depth of measuring cylinder.
(iii) Compact the material by giving 25 gentle blows with the rounded end of the tamping rod.
(iv) Add two more layers in similar manner, so that cylinder is full.
(v) Strike off the surplus aggregates.
(vi) Determine the net weight of the aggregates to the nearest gram.
(vii) Bring the impact machine to rest without wedging or packing up on the level plate, block
or floor, so that it is rigid and the hammer guide columns are vertical.
(viii) Fix the cup firmly in position on the base of machine and place whole of the test sample
in it and compact by giving 25 gentle strokes with tamping rod.
(ix) Raise the hammer until its lower face is 380 mm above the surface of aggregate sample in
the cup and allow it to fall freely on the aggregate sample. Give 15 such blows at an interval
of not less than one second between successive falls.
(x) Remove the crushed aggregate from the cup and sieve it through 2.36 mm IS sieves until
no further significant amount passes in one minute. Weigh the fraction passing the sieve to an
accuracy of 1 gm. Also, weigh the fraction retained in the sieve.

Compute the aggregate impact value. The mean of two observations, rounded to nearest
whole number is reported as the Aggregate Impact Value.

** this step is not conducted due to short experiment time.

Precautions
Use hand gloves while removing containers from oven after switching off the oven.
To wear safety shoes & goggles at the time of testing.
Before testing, machine should be properly checked.
Special care should be taken that no outer air enters when using the balance.
After test clean the sieve by a smooth brush.
Keep all the exposed metal parts greased.
Keep the guide rods firmly fixed to the base & top plate.
 Equipment should be clean thoroughly before testing & after testing

Observations

Sample 1 Sample 2 Mean

Total weight of dry

sample ( W1 gm
Weight of portion
passing 2.36 mm sieve
(W2 gm)

Aggregate Impact
Value (percent) = W2 /
W1 X 100

RESULT:

Aggregate Impact Value =

RECOMMENDED VALUES

Classification of aggregates using Aggregate Impact Value is as given below:

Aggregate Impact Value Classification

<20% Exceptionally Strong
10 20% Strong
20-30% Satisfactory for road surfacing
>35% Weak for road surfacing
Specified limits of percent aggregate impact value for different types of road construction by
Indian Roads Congress is given below.

Aggregate impact value not

Sl No Type of pavement
more than

1. Wearing Course 30
a) Bituminous surface dressing
b) Penetration macadam
c) Bituminous carpet concrete
d) Cement concrete

2. Bitumen bound macadam base course 35

3. WBM base course with bitumen surfacing 40

4 Cement concrete base course 45