A Modified Method for Los Angeles Abrasion Test

Infrastructure development projects in Oman are at a peak which results in a huge requirement for the construction materials. Aggregates are one of the most common materials naturally available and used in both cement and asphalt concrete apart from being used as under laying material. The evaluation of aggregates physical, chemical and mechanical properties thus becomes important as it directly affects the product in which they are used as a constituent. Aggregates should be hard and tough enough to resist crushing, degradation and disintegration from any associated activities including manufacturing, stockpiling, production, placing and compaction. In this article, an attempt is made to develop a modified method to determine the abrasion resistance of aggregates. Different sizes of aggregates obtained from two natural sources in Oman were tested in the laboratory using both the standard and modified Los Angles Abrasion (LAA) test, and a mathematical relationship is developed. Based on this relationship, the standard LAA value can be determined from the modified method results. In the modified LAA test method, the time required for the test is reduced by 24 h, apart from reducing the resources required for the test. Since the modified LAA method is developed considering Oman climatic and geological conditions, there is a possibility that this method and mathematical relationship may not be valid in a region when these conditions are changed. In such satiation, the modified LAA test method and mathematical relationship described in this article may need to be validated before it is adopted.