Standard Method of Test for

AASHTO Designation: T 30-93 (2003)

1. SCOPE

1.1. This method covers a procedure for the determination of the particle-size distribution of fine and
coarse aggregates extracted from asphalt mixtures, using sieves with square openings.

1.2. The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

2.1. AASHTO Standards:

M 92, Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Purposes
M 231, Weighing Devices Used in the Testing of Materials
T 164, Quantitative Extraction of Bitumen from Bituminous Paving Mixtures

2.2. ASTM Standard:

C 670, Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for
Construction Materials

3. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

3.1. This method is used to determine the grading of aggregates extracted from asphalt mixtures. The
results are used to determine compliance of the particle-size distribution with applicable
specification requirements and to provide necessary data for control of the production of various
aggregates to be used in asphalt mixtures.

4. APPARATUS

4.1. The apparatus shall consist of the following:

4.1.1. The balance shall have sufficient capacity, be readable to 0.1 percent of the sample mass or better,
and conform to M 231.

4.1.2. Sieves The sieves with square openings shall be mounted on substantial frames constructed in a
manner that will prevent loss of material during sieving. Suitable sieve sizes shall be selected to
furnish the information required by the specifications covering the material to be tested. The
woven wire-cloth sieves shall conform to M 92.

TS-2c T 30-1 AASHTO

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5. SAMPLE

5.1. The sample shall consist of the entire lot or sample of aggregate obtained according to T 164 from
which the asphalt material has been extracted.

6. PROCEDURE

6.1. The sample shall be dried until further drying at 110 ± 5ºC (230 ± 9ºF) does not alter the mass by
0.1 percent, the precision of weighing. The total mass of aggregate in the asphalt mixture being
tested is the sum of the mass of the dried aggregates and the mineral matter contained in the
extracted asphalt. The latter is to be taken as the sum of the mass of ash in the extract and the
increase in mass of the filter element as determined in T 164.

6.2. The test sample, after being dried and weighed, shall be placed in a container and covered with
water. Add a sufficient amount of wetting agent to assure a thorough separation of the material
finer than the 75- m (No. 200) sieve from the coarser particles. The contents of the container shall
be agitated vigorously and the wash water immediately poured over a nest of two sieves consisting
of a 2.00- or 1.18-mm (No. 10 or No. 16) sieve superimposed on a 75- m (No. 200) sieve. The use
of a large spoon to stir and agitate the aggregate in the wash water has been found satisfactory.
Note 1 Wetting agents may include any dispersing agent such as Calgon, Joy, or other
detergent, or a soap, which will promote the separation of fine material.

6.3. The agitation shall be sufficiently vigorous to result in the complete separation of all particles finer
than the 75- m (No. 200) sieve from the coarse particles and bring them into suspension in order
that they may be removed by decantation of the wash water. Care should be taken to avoid, as
much as possible, the decantation of the coarse particles of the sample. The operation shall be
repeated until the wash water is clear.

6.4. All material retained on the nested sieves shall be returned to the container. The washed aggregate
in the container shall be dried to constant mass as defined in Section 6.1 at a temperature of 110 ±
5ºC (230 ± 9ºF) and weighed to the nearest 0.1 percent.

6.5. The aggregate shall then be sieved over sieves of various sizes required by the specification
covering the mixture, including the 75- m (No. 200) sieve. Nest the sieves in order of decreasing
size of opening from top to bottom and place the sample on the top sieve. Agitate the sieves by
hand or by mechanical apparatus for a sufficient period, established by trial or checked by
measurement on the actual test sample, to meet the criterion for adequacy of sieving described in
Section 6.7.

6.6. Limit the quantity of material on a given sieve so that all particles have opportunity to reach sieve
openings a number of times during the sieving operation. For sieves with openings smaller than
4.75 mm (No. 4), the mass retained on any sieve at the completion of the sieving operation shall
not exceed 6 kg/m2 (4 g/in.2) of sieving surface. For sieves with openings 4.75 mm (No. 4) and
larger, the mass in kg shall not exceed the product of 2.5 (sieve opening in mm) (the sieving
surface area in m2). In no case shall the mass be so great as to cause permanent deformation of the
sieve cloth.
Note 2 The 6 kg/m2 (4 g/in.2) amounts to 194 g for the usual 203-mm (8-in.) diameter sieve.
The amount of material retained on a sieve may be regulated by (1) the introduction of a sieve
with larger openings immediately above the given sieve or (2) testing the sample in a number of
increments.

TS-2c T 30-2 AASHTO

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6.7. Continue sieving for a sufficient period and in such manner that, after completion, not more than
0.5 percent by mass of the total sample passes any sieve during 60 seconds of continuous hand-
sieving performed as follows: Hold the individual sieve, provided with a snug-fitting pan and
cover, in a slightly inclined position in one hand. Strike the side of the sieve sharply and with an
upward motion against the heel of the other hand at the rate of about 150 times per minute,
turning the sieve about one-sixth of a revolution at intervals of about 25 strokes. In determining
the adequacy of sieving for sizes larger than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, limit the material on
the sieve to a single layer of particles. If the size of the mounted testing sieves makes the
described sieving motion impractical, use 203-mm (8-in.) diameter sieves to verify the adequacy
of sieving.

6.8. The mass of material passing each sieve and retained on the next and the amount passing the
75- m (No. 200) sieve shall be recorded. The summation of these various masses must check the
dried mass after washing within 0.2 percent of the total mass. The mass of dry material passing the
75- m (No. 200) sieve by dry sieving shall be added to the mass of mineral matter in the asphalt
and the mass removed by washing in order to obtain the total passing the 75- m (No. 200) sieve.
If it is desired to check the mass of material washed through the 75- m (No. 200) sieve, the wash
water may be evaporated to dryness or filtered through a tared filter paper which is subsequently
dried and weighed. The masses of fractions retained on the various sieves and the total passing the
75- m (No. 200) sieve shall be converted to percentages by dividing each by the total mass of
aggregate in the asphalt mixture from Section 6.1.

7. REPORT

7.1. The results of the sieve analysis shall be reported as follows: (a) total percentages passing each
sieve, or (b) total percentages retained on each sieve, or (c) percentages retained between
consecutive sieves, depending upon the form of the specifications for the use of the material being
tested. Percentages shall be reported to the nearest whole number except for the percentage
passing the 75- m (No. 200) sieve which shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 percent.

TS-2c T 30-3 AASHTO

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8. PRECISION AND BIAS

8.1. Precision The estimates of precision for this test method are listed in Table 1. The estimates are
based on the results from the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory Proficiency Sample
Program, with testing conducted by T 30. The data are based on the analyses of the test results
from 47 to 190 laboratories that tested 17 pairs of proficiency test samples (Samples No. 1
through 34). The values in the table are given for different ranges of total percentage of aggregate
passing a sieve.
Table 1 Precision
Total Percentage Standard Deviation Acceptable Range of Two
of Material Passing a Sieve (1S) Percenta Results (D2S)a Percent
Extracted aggregate:b
Single-operator <100 95 0.49 1.4
Precision <95 40 1.06 3.0
<40 25 0.65 1.8
<25 10 0.46 1.3
<10 5 0.29 0.8
<5 2 0.21 0.6
<2 0 0.17 0.5

Multilaboratory <100 95 0.57 1.6

Precision <95 40 1.24 3.5
<40 25 0.84 2.4
<25 10 0.81 2.3
<10 5 0.56 1.6
<5 2 0.43 1.2
<2 0 0.32 0.9
a
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1S) and (D2S) limits described in ASTM C 670.
b
The precision estimates are based on aggregates with nominal maximum sizes of 19.0 mm (¾ in.) to 9.5 mm ( in.).

8.2. Bias This test method has no bias since the values determined can only be defined in terms of
this test method.

TS-2c T 30-4 AASHTO

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