With Respect to concrete aggregates,toughness is usually considered the resistance of the material to failure by impact.Several attempts to develop a method of test for aggregates impact value have been made.The most successful and known test is described below..
APPARATUS
i) Impact testing machine conforming to IS: 2386 (Part IV) - 1963
ii) IS Sieves of sizes - 12.5mm, 10mm and 2.36mm
iii) A cylindrical metal measure of 75mm dia. and 50mm depth
iv) A tamping rod of 10mm circular cross section and 230mm length, rounded at one end
v) Oven
PREPARATION OF SAMPLE
i) The test sample should conform to the following grading:
- Passing through 12.5mm IS Sieve 100%
- Retention on 10mm IS Sieve 100%
ii) The sample should be oven-dried for 4hrs. at a temperature of 100 to 110oC and cooled.
iii) The measure should be about one-third full with the prepared aggregates and tamped with 25 strokes of the tamping rod.A further similar quantity of aggregates should be added and a further tamping of 25 strokes given. The measure should finally be filled to overflow, tamped 25 times and the surplus aggregates struck off, using a tamping rod as a straight edge. The net weight of the aggregates in the measure should be determined to the nearest gram (Weight 'A').
PROCEDURE
i) The cup of the impact testing machine should be fixed firmly in position on the base of the machine and the whole of the test sample placed in it and compacted by 25 strokes of the tamping rod.
ii) The hammer should be raised to 380mm above the upper surface of the aggregates in the cup and allowed to fall freely onto the aggregates. The test sample should be subjected to a total of 15 such blows, each being delivered at an interval of not less than one second.
REPORTING OF RESULTS
i) The sample should be removed and sieved through a 2.36mm IS Sieve. The fraction passing through should be weighed (Weight 'B'). The fraction retained on the sieve should also be weighed (Weight 'C') and if the total weight (B+C) is less than the initial weight (A) by more than one gram, the result should be discarded and a fresh test done.
ii) The ratio of the weight of the fines formed to the total sample weight should be expressed as a percentage.
Aggregate impact value = B/A x 100%
iii) Two such tests should be carried out and the mean of the results should be reported.
A sample proforma for the record of the test results is given below..
As per IS 283-1970 aggregate impact value shall no exceed 45% by weight for aggregates used for concrete other than wearing surface and 30% for concrete of wearing surfaces (Run ways,Roads & Pavements)
