M 80 SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS

Standard Specification for

Coarse Aggregate for Portland Cement Concrete

AASHTO DESIGNATION: M 80-87 (1993)

1. SCOPE C 295 Petrographic Examination of

Aggregate for Concrete 6. DELETERIOUS SUBSTANCES
1.1 This specification covers coarse C 342 Potential Volume Change of AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
aggregate, other than lightweight aggre- Cement Aggregate Combina-
gate, for use in concrete. Several classes tions
6.1 Coarse aggregates shall conform to
and gradings of coarse aggregate are C 586 Potential Reactivity of Car- the limits given in Table 1 for the class
described (Notes 1 and 2). bonate Rocks for Concrete specified, except as provided in Section
Aggregates (Rock Cylinder 6.3 (Notes 4 and 5.)
NOTE 1-This specification is regarded as
adequate to ensure satisfactory materials for Method)
6.2 Coarse aggregate for use in concrete
most concrete. It is recognized that, for certain that will be subject to wetting, extended
work or in certain regions, it may be either
3. ORDERING INFORMATION exposure to humid atmosphere, or contact
snore or less restrictive than needed.
with moist ground shall not contain any
NOTE 2-Definitions of terms used in this materials that are deleteriously reactive
specification may be found in ASTM Defini- 3.1 The purchaser or specifier shall in- with the alkalies in the cement in an
tions C 125. clude the following information in the amount sufficient to cause excessive
purchase order or contract documents: expansion of mortar or concrete, except
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be
regarded as the standard. 3.1.1 Reference to this specification, M that if such materials are present in inju-
80, and year of issue, rious amounts, the coarse aggregate may
3.1.2 Grading to be furnished (Size Nº) be used with a cement containing less
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS (Section 5.1), than 0.6-percent alkalies calculated as
sodium oxide equivalent or with the
3.1.3 Class designation of aggregate
2.1 AASHTO Standards: addition of a material that has been
(Section 6.1 and Table 1),
shown to prevent harmful expansion due
M 43 Standard Size of Coarse 3.1.4 In the case of the sulfate sound- to the alkali-aggregate reaction (see
Aggre-gate for Highway ness test (Table 1), which salt is to be Appendix X1).
Construction used. If none is stated, either salt may be
6.3 Coarse aggregate having test results
M 92 Wire-Cloth Sieves for Test- used,
exceeding the limits specified in Table 1
ing Purposes 3.1.5 Whether the restriction on reac- may be accepted provided that concrete
T2 Sampling Aggregates tive materials applies (Section 6.2), and made with similar aggregate from the
T 11 Amount of Material Finer 3.1.6 Any exceptions or additions to same source has given satisfactory ser-
than 75-µm (Nº 200) Sieve in this specification. vice when exposed in a similar manner to
Aggregate that to be encountered, or, in the ab-sence
of a demonstrable service record-
T 19 Unit Mass and Voids in 4. GENERAL' CHARACTERISTICS provided that the aggregate produces
Aggregate concrete having satisfactory relevant
T 27 Sieve Analysis of Fine and 4.1 Coarse aggregate shall consist of properties when tested in the laboratory.
Coarse Aggregates gravel, crushed gravel, crushed stone, NOTE 6-Relevant properties are those proper-
T 96 Resistance to Abrasions of crushed air-cooled blast-furnace slag, or ties of the concrete which are important to the
Small Size Coarse Aggregate crushed concrete, or a combination particular application being considered. ASTM
by Use of the Los Angeles thereof, conforming to the requirements Special Technical Publication 169B provides a
Machine of this specification. discussion of important concrete properties.
T 104 Soundness of Aggregates by
Use of Sodium Sulfate or 5. GRADING 7. METHODS OF SAMPLING AND
Magnesium Sulfate
TESTING
T 112 Clay Lumps and Friable
Particles in Aggregate 5.1 Coarse aggregates shall conform to
the requirements prescribed in M 43 for 7.1 Sample and test the aggregates in
T 113 Lightweight Pieces in Aggre- the size number specified. accordance with the following methods
gate
NOTE 3-The ranges shown in M 43 are by of the American Association of State
2.2 ASTM Standards: necessity very wide in order to accommodate Highway and Transportation Officials,
C 125 Terms Relating to Concrete nationwide conditions. For quality control of except as otherwise provided in this
and Concrete Aggregates any specific operation, a producer should specification. Make the required tests on
develop an average gradation for the particular test samples that comply with require-
C 227 Potential Alkali Reactivity of source and production facilities, and control ments of the designated test methods.
Cement-Aggregate Combina- the gradation within reasonable tolerances
tions (Mortar-Bar Method) The same test sample may be
from this average. Where coarse aggregate
C 289 Potential Reactivity of Ag- sizes numbers 357 or 467 are used, the aggre-
gregates (Chemical Methods) gate should be furnished in at least two sepa-
rate sizes.

56
M 80 SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS

TABLE 1 Limits for Deleterious Substances and Physical Property Requirements of Coarse Aggregate for Concrete
Maximum Allowable Percent
Class Desig- Clay Lumps Chert (Less Sum of Clay Lumps, Friable Parti- Sodium Sulfate
Material Finer Than Coal and
nation and Friable Than 2.40 sp gr cles and Cheri (Less Than 2.40 sp Abrasiona Soundness (5
75-µm (Nº 200) Sieve Lignite
Particles SSD)c gr SSD)c cycles)b
A 2.0 3.0 3.0 L0° 0.5 50 12
B 3.0 3.0 5.0 I.0° 0.5 50 12
C 5.0 5.0 7.0 L(P 0.5 50 12
D 5.0 8.0 10.0 I.0° 0.5 50 12
E 10.0 - - 1.0° 1.0 50 -
a
Crushed air-cooled blast-furnace slag is excluded from the abrasion requirements. The unit mass (by rodding or jigging) of crushed air-cooled blast-
3 3
furnace slag shall be not less than 1120 kg/m (70 lb/ft ). The grading of slag used in the unit mass test shall conform to the grading to be used in the
concrete. Abrasion loss of gravel, crushed gravel, or crushed stone shall be determined on the test size or sizes most nearly corresponding to the
grading or gradings to be used in the concrete. When more than one grading is to be used, the limit on abrasion loss shall apply to each.
b
The allowable limits for soundness shall be 18 percent if magnesium sulfate is used. If the salt to be used is not designated, the aggregate will be
acceptable if it meets the indicated limit for either sodium sulfate or magnesium sulfate.
c
These limitations apply only to aggregates in which chert appears as an impurity. They are not applicable to gravels that are predominantly chert.
Limitations on soundness of such aggregates must be based on service records in the environment in which they are used.
d
In the case of crushed aggregates; if the material finer than the 75-µm (Nº 200) sieve consists of the dust fraction, essentially free of clay or shale,
this percentage may be increased to 1.5.
NOTE 4-Aggregate conforming to the requirements for the various classes should generally be suitable for the following uses.
Typical Uses (Suggested) Weathering Exposure Class of Aggregate
Severe A
Architectural concrete, bridge decks, other uses where surface disfigurement due to popouts.
Moderate B
etc., is objectionable
Negligible C
Severe B
Concrete pavements, base courses, sidewalks where a moderate number of popouts can be
Moderate C
tolerated
Negligible D
Concealed concrete not exposed to the weather: footings, structural members to be covered
- E
by a facing material, interior floors, etc.
The purchaser or specifier must indicate the class of aggregate to be furnished, as the degrees of weathering exposure are not precisely defined.
NOTE 5-The purchaser or specifier, due to his knowledge of the requirements for concrete aggregates for specific uses in specific areas, may wish to
supplement the requirements of Table 1 by placing limits on he amount of local deleterious substances permitted.

used for sieve analysis and for determina- posed. However, they do not provide X1.1.2.2 If R, is less than 70, the ag-
tion of material finer than the 75-µm (Nº quantitative information on the degree of gregate is considered potentially reactive
200) sieve. Separated sizes from the sieve reactivity to be expected or tolerated in if S, is greater than 35 + (R,/2).
analysis may be used in preparation of service. Therefore, evaluation of potential X1.1.2.3 These criteria conform to the
samples for soundness or abrasion tests. reactivity of an aggregate should be solid line curve given in Figure 2 of
For determination of all other tests and based upon judgment and on the interpre- Method C 289. The test can be made
for evaluation of potential alkali reactiv- tation of test data and examination of quickly and, while not completely reli-
ity where required, use independent test concrete structures containing a combina- able in all cases, provides helpful infor-
samples. tion of fine and coarse aggregates and mation, especially where results of the
7.1.1 Sampling-T 2. cements for use in the new work. Results more time-consuming tests are not avail-
of the following tests will assist in mak- able.
7.1.2 Grading-T 27. ing the evaluation:
7.1.3 Amount of Material Finer than X1.1.3 ASTM Method C 227-The results
X1.1.1 ASTM Recommended Practice C of this test when made with a high-alkali
75-µm (Nº 200) Sieve-T 11. 295-Certain materials are known to be cement, furnish information on the likeli-
7.1.4 Soundness-T 104. reactive with the alkalies in cements. hood of harmful reactions occurring. The
7.1.5 Clay Lumps and Friable Parti- These include the following forms of alkali content of the cement should be
cles-T 112. silica: opal, chalcedony, tridymite, and substantially above 0.6 percent, and
cristobalite; intermediate to acid (sili- preferably above 0.8 percent, expressed
7.1.6 Coal and Lignite-T 113, using a
carich) volcanic glass such as is likely to as sodium oxide. Combinations of aggre-
liquid of 2.0 specific gravity to remove
occur in rhyolite, andesite, or dacite; gate and cement which have produced
the particles of coal and lignite. Only
certain constituents of some phyllites. excessive expansions in this test usually
material that is brownish-black, or black,
Determination of the presence and quan- should be considered potentially reactive.
shall be considered coal or lignite. Coke
tities of these materials by petrographic While the line of demarcation between
shall not be classed as coal or lignite.
examination is helpful in evaluating nonreactive and reactive combinations is
7.1.7 Unit Mass of Slag -T 19 using the potential alkali reactivity. Some of these not clearly defined, expansion is gener-
procedure for unit mass by rodding or materials render an aggregate deleteri- ally considered to be excessive if it ex-
jigging. ously reactive when present in quantities ceeds 0.05 percent at 3 months or 0.10
7.1.8 Abrasion-T 96. as little as 1.0 percent or even less. percent in 6 months. Expansions greater
X1.1.2 ASTM Method C 289-In this test, than 0.05 percent at 3 months should not
aggregates represented by points lying to be considered excessive where the 6-
APPENDIX
the right of the solid line of Figure 2 of month expansion remains below 0.10
Method C 289 usually should be consid- percent. Data for the 3-month tests
X1. Methods for Evaluating Potential ered potentially reactive. should be considered only when 6-month
Reactivity of an Aggregate. X1.1.2.1 If Rc exceeds 70, the aggre- results are not available.
X1.1 A number of methods for detect- gate is considered potentially reactive if X1.1.4 ASTM Test Method C 342This
ing potential reactivity have been pro- S, is greater than Rc. test method is intended primarily for
57
M 80 SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS

research concerning the potential expan- Method of Test for Potential Volume teristic texture and composition. The
sion of cement-aggregate combinations Change of Cement-Aggregate Combina- characteristic texture is that in which
subjected to variations of temperature tions," Appendix to Committee C-9 large crystals of dolomite are scattered in
and water saturation during storage under Report, Proceedings, ASTM, Volume 54, a finer-grained matrix of calcite and clay.
prescribed conditions of test. Its use is 1954, p. 356. It indicates that cement- The characteristic composition is that in
mainly by those interested in research on aggregate combinations tested by this which the carbonate portion consists of
aggregates that are found in parts of procedure in which expansion equals or substantial amounts of both dolomite and
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and possibly exceeds 0.200 percent at an age of I year calcite, and the acid-insoluble residue
other adjoining areas. may be considered unsatisfactory for use contains a significant amount of clay.
X1.1.4.1 In addition to its usefulness in in concrete exposed to wide variations of Except in certain areas, such rocks are of
research, this test method has been found temperature and degree of saturation with relatively infrequent occurrence and
useful in the selection of aggregates of water. In that geographical region, the seldom make up a significant proportion
the so-called "sand-gravel" type found problem has been reduced through the of the material present in a deposit of
mainly in some parts of Kansas, Ne- use of partial replacement of the "sand- rock being considered for use in making
braska, and Iowa, which contain very gravel" with limestone coarse aggregate. aggregate for concrete. ASTM Method C
little coarse material; generally 5 to 15 X1.1.5 Potential Reactivity of Carbonate 586 has been successfully used in (1)
percent retained on the 4.75-mm (Nº 4) Aggregates-The reaction of the dolomite research and (2) preliminary screening of
sieve. Much work has been done on the in certain carbonate rocks with alkalies in aggregate sources to indicate the pres-
problems of using these aggregates suc- portland cement paste has been found to ence of material with a potential for
cessfully in concrete and is reported be associated with deleterious expansion deleterious expansions when used in
of concrete containing such rocks as concrete.
in summary in the "Final Report of Co-
operative Tests of Proposed Tentative coarse aggregate. Carbonate rocks capa-
ble of such reaction possesses a charac-

58