STP 204-18

Standard Test Section: ASPHALT MIXES

Procedures Manual Subject: WET TRACK ABRASION TEST

1. SCOPE

1.1. Description of Test

This method covers measurement of the wearing qualities of slurry seal, hot sand asphalt
mix and sulphur mixes under wet abrasion conditions.

2. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

2.1. Equipment Required

Balance 5000 g ± 1 g.

Sieves - Canadian Metric Standard square mesh of size numbers as required by the
specifications for the materials being tested.

Oven - thermostatically controlled at 60oC ± 1o.

Model C-100 Hobart mixer or equivalent.

Metal tray 264 mm by 267 mm by 57 mm deep fitted with four vertical pins near the
corners for holding template, sample and distilled water.

Template 6 mm thick by 241 mm square with a centre hole 216 mm in diameter complete
with four holes in corners to match pins in container tray.

22 to 27 kg grade asphalt roll roofing paper, 240 mm square with four holes to fit pins in
metal tray.

Water bath thermostatically controlled at 25oC ± 1o.

Abrasive head weighing 2.27 kg coupled to the Hobart mixer with approximately 14 mm
free up and down movement in the shaft sleeve. A section of 300 psi reinforced rubber
hose 14 mm ID by 31 mm OD and 127 mm in length shall be mounted horizontally on the
abrasive head as shown in ASTM Method D3910.

Plywood base 305 mm square for transporting and drying of sample in template in the
oven.

Date: 1993 11 10 Page 1 of 6

 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 204-18
Section: Subject:
ASPHALT MIXES WET TRACK ABRASION TEST

Suitable prop block and spacers for supporting platform assembly in position during
testing.

Mixing pan, soft brush, spatula, graduated cylinder, 1800 ml beaker and distilled water.

Squeegee or straight edge 305 mm in length.

Fumehood, hot plate.

Hydraulic press.

Steel plate 255 mm square and a 215 mm diameter steel disk, both about 10 mm thick to
hold sample while forming in press.

3. PROCEDURE

3.1. Sample Preparation

3.1.1. Slurry

Air dry aggregate similar to stockpile average to be used on job.

Riffle carefully and complete sieve analysis as per STP 206-1.

Place template on roofing paper and tack coat opening with SS1 emulsion.

Quarter sufficient amount of dry aggregate required.

Weigh approximately 80 gm of aggregate into mixing bowl making sure it is

uniformly distributed. Add the predetermined amount of water and mix until
particles are uniformly wetted. Finally, add the predetermined amount of
emulsion and mix for a period of not less than 1 minute and not more than 3
minutes. Note: the required water and emulsion content are determined by the
consistency test method described in ASTM method paragraph 5.1. A flow of 2
to 3 cm is normally required.

Immediately pour sample into template containing smooth roofing paper.

Squeegee or straight edge slurry level with the top of the template with minimum
amount of manipulation and scrape off excess material and discard.

Page: 2 of 6 Date: 1993 11 10

 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 204-18
Section: Subject:
ASPHALT MIXES WET TRACK ABRASION TEST

Place specimen in oven at 60oC and dry to constant weight. This usually requires
a minimum of 15 hours.

Remove sample from oven and allow to cool at room temperature and remove
template and weigh.

After weighing, place sample in 25oC water bath for 60 to 75 minutes before
doing abrasion test.

3.1.2. Hot Sand Asphalt Mix

Dry aggregate and adjust gradation with filler as necessary.

Heat aggregate and asphalt cement to desired temperature required and mix at the
asphalt content required by the engineer (usually 8 to 12%).

Cut square of roofing paper, place on steel plate.

Apply tack coat of asphalt to roofing paper and place two template molds on top.

Spread 800 g of mix in mold and strike off level with straight edge.

Place steel disk over centre of template and place in hydraulic press under 4545
kg for 5 minutes.

Weigh mold, mix and paper.

Place in oven at 60oC for 4 1/2 hours.

After removing specimen from oven, place in water bath at 25oC for 1 1/2 hours.

3.1.3. Sulphur Mixes

Dry aggregate and riffle sample to approximately 800 g required for testing.

Select grade of asphalt cement and heat to approximately 135oC.

Heat aggregate and asphalt to 135oC and mix at required asphalt content (usually
8%).

Add pelletized sulphur to asphalt mixture based on weight of total mix. This
usually requires 16-17% sulphur when the asphalt used is 8 to 8.5 percent range.

Date: 1993 11 10 Page: 3 of 6

 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 204-18
Section: Subject:
ASPHALT MIXES WET TRACK ABRASION TEST

Mix well under fume hood until the mixture becomes sloppy. Do not allow the
temperature to exceed 150oC as the sulphur will combine with hydrogen to give
off sulphur oxide gas.

Cut square of roofing paper and place on steel plate.

Apply tack coat of asphalt to roofing paper and place two mold plates on top.

Spread sulphur mix in mold and strike off level with straight edge.

Allow to cool at room temperature for 24 hours and weigh.

After curing, place in water bath for 1 1/2 hours.

3.2. Test Procedure

Remove specimen, template and roofing paper from water bath and place in metal tray
with four pins to secure sample in bottom of tray.

Cover sample with 6 mm distilled water at room temperature.

Secure metal tray on the Hobart mixer by means of clamps provided and attach the rubber
hose abrasion head. Elevate the platform until the rubber hose contacts the surface of
sample. This usually requires sufficient pressure for the pin to be at the midpoint of the
slotted sleeve. Use prop block to support platform assembly during testing.

Operate mixer for exactly 5 minutes ± 2 seconds, at low speed.

Remove sample from metal tray and wash off debris using soft brush.

Place washed sample at 60oC in oven and dry to constant weight.

Remove from oven and allow to cool at room temperature and weigh.

Page: 4 of 6 Date: 1993 11 10

 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 204-18
Section: Subject:
ASPHALT MIXES WET TRACK ABRASION TEST

4. RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

4.1. Collection of Test Results

Record original sample weight after molding and drying to constant weight.

4.2. Calculations

Weigh sample after abrasion and dry to constant weight.

Original sample weight minus final abraded weight multiplied by 32.9 expresses the loss
in grams per meter square.

(W1 - W2) x 32.9 = g/m2

4.3. Reporting Results

Report the loss in g/m2.

5. ADDED INFORMATION

5.1. References

A.S.T.M. D3910

Saskatchewan Highway Technical Report #29.

5.2. General

Slurry showing a loss of more than 800 g/m2 is not acceptable.

For asphalt mixes, a loss of 400 g/m2 should not be exceeded.

For sulphur mixes no values are available.

When pouring sample into template, care should be taken to mix the material uniformly to
avoid segregation.

Rotate hose after completion of each test and replace if badly worn.

Date: 1993 11 10 Page: 5 of 6

 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 204-18
Section: Subject:
ASPHALT MIXES WET TRACK ABRASION TEST

Rubber hose and roofing paper available from local distributors with Hobart mixer
available from S.T.I.

Sulphur should be added to the mix between 115oC and 150oC and final mix temperature
should not exceed 150oC at any time because of sulphur oxide emissions.

Page: 6 of 6 Date: 1993 11 10

 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 204-18
Section: Subject:
ASPHALT MIXES WET TRACK ABRASION TEST

APPROVAL SHEET

New Revision X Date of Previous Document 85-11-08

Effective Date: - -

Description of Revision (Reason for Revision):

Format of test procedure updated.

Review/Implementation Process:
Reviewed by the Materials Section of the Technical Standards and Policies
Branch.

Other Manuals/Policies Affected:

Nil

Follow Up/Training Required:

Nil

Comments/Concerns/Implications (Budget/Environment/Stakeholders):

Prepared and Recommended by D. MacLeod 93-11-10

Materials Standards Engineer Date

Approval Recommended by R.A. Widger - -

Senior Materials Engineer Date

Approval Recommended by A.R. Gerbrandt - -

Dir., Technical Standards & Policies Br. Date

Approved by D.G. Metz - -

Assistant Deputy Minister, Infrastructure Date

Electronic File Updated - -

Update Mailed - -

Date: 1993 11 10 Page: 7 of 6