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Universal aggregate gradations
5

Universal aggregate gradations

Universal aggregate gradations

(OP)
Hello there,
Pardon my seeming lack of knowledge.  I've been doing environmental work and I've been pulled onto my first road project so I have a lot of questions.

I was wondering if there's a universal way to call out aggregate?  It seems there's millions of ways it's called out.  For instance, in Illinois we used CA-6 to backfill a parking lot.  Now, I've got to meet section 1033.02.7 of Nebraska Specs (NDOR 2007).  It's a bit confusing.

Do these vary by state?  Is there a universal way to call out aggregate.  I've seen people in posts say things such as "lay down some no. 87 rock", or "use no. 59 rock for bedding".  Where do these numbers come from?

If anyone can shed any light on this it would be sweet.

Peace,
Stoddardvilla

RE: Universal aggregate gradations

2
most highway departments reference AASHTO specifications which has standard sizes of aggregate.  Look for the following AASHTO specs:

M6 - Fine Aggregate for Portland Cement Concrete

M29 - Fine Aggregate for Bituminous Paving Mixtures

M43 - Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge Construction

M45 - Aggregate for Masonry Mortar

M80 - Coarse Aggregate for Portland Cement Concrete.  

Note that some of these also have an ASTM designation.

RE: Universal aggregate gradations

(OP)
Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for.

RE: Universal aggregate gradations

ASTM D448-03a "Standard Classification for Sizes of Aggregate for Road and Bridge Construction".  I would hope that these gradations are the same as AASHTO specs, but I've never looked.

RE: Universal aggregate gradations

Over the years I've found that the best way to specify any type of soil is to use the standards developed by the transportation department for the state the project is located in.  Sometimes the county where the project is to be constructed will have local standards - in that case it is best to use those standards because most contractors in the area will be familiar with the various sources for aggregate and engineered fill materials.  Remember this when you're reveiwing the geotech report.  Your geotechnical engineer should assist you by providing the appropriate standards for the area where you're working.

If you have time it's always nice to contact at least one quarry near the project location to find out what type(s) of materials they sell.  Quarries usually like to sell their products for local road projects, so they usually have several products that match up with that state's transportation specs.  While you're on the phone with the quarry take the time to ask for pricing.  Then you have some of the info you'll need to estimate the import and hauling costs.

RE: Universal aggregate gradations

(OP)
Thanks rodhouser!  That's actually how I went about it.  I just called out the gradations spec'd in the DOR specs for highway construction.  I didn't want to specify an aggregate that wasn't available locally!

Peace,
Stoddardvilla

RE: Universal aggregate gradations

My firewall wouldn't allow me into bridgebuster's link.  A table, comparing AASHTO to PennDOT and NSA, is on page 25 of the PA E&S Manual as well.  Here:

http://164.156.71.80/VWRQ.asp?docid=2087d8407c0e00000000047c0000047c&context=2&backlink=WXOD.aspx%3ffs%3d2087d8407c0e00008000047b0000047b%26ft%3d1

It's a pdf, so here it is as .txt  It looks real ugly, due to columns, etc.  But if you copy and paste back into Word, etc it should realign itself.

AASHTONUMBER    NSANUMBER    PANUMBER    6 1/2    4"    3 1/2"    2 1/2    2"    1 1/2"    1"    3/4"    1/2"    3/8"    #4    #8    #16    #30    #100    #200
    FS-3        100            50                                    0            
1        4        100    90-100    25-60        0-15        0-5                                
3        3A                100    90-100    35-70    0-15        0-5                            
467                            100    95        35-70         10-30    0--5                    
    FS-2                        100                        50                0    
        2A                    100            52-100        36-70    24-50    16-38    10-30            0-10
5                                100    90-100    20-55    0-10    0-5                        
57        2B                        100    90-100        25-60        0-10    0-5                
        2 NS                        100    90-100        0-15                            
67        2                            100    90-100        20-55    0-10    0-5                
        1NS                            100        90-100        0-15                    
7                                        100    90-100    40-70    0-15    0-5                
8                                            100    85-100     10-30    0-10    0-5            
        1B                                    100    75-100     10-30    0-10                
10        1                                        100    75-100                10-30    
    FS-1                                            100                50    0    

Engineering is the practice of the art of science - Steve

RE: Universal aggregate gradations

I have have seen the AASHTO # 's for coarse aggregate.
But where is CA-6 listed ?

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