Designation: D 75 – 97 American Association State

Highway and Transportation

Officials Standard
AASHTO No.: T2

Standard Practice for

Sampling Aggregates1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 75; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope * show the nature and condition of the materials which they
1.1 This practice covers sampling of coarse and fine aggre- represent.
gates for the following purposes: 3.2 Samples for preliminary investigation tests are obtained
1.1.1 Preliminary investigation of the potential source of by the party responsible for development of the potential
supply, source (Note 2). Samples of materials for control of the
1.1.2 Control of the product at the source of supply, production at the source or control of the work at the site of use
1.1.3 Control of the operations at the site of use, and are obtained by the manufacturer, contractor, or other parties
1.1.4 Acceptance or rejection of the materials. responsible for accomplishing the work. Samples for tests to be
used in acceptance or rejection decisions by the purchaser are
NOTE 1—Sampling plans and acceptance and control tests vary with the obtained by the purchaser or his authorized representative.
type of construction in which the material is used. Attention is directed to
Practices E 105 and D 3665. NOTE 2—The preliminary investigation and sampling of potential
aggregate sources and types occupies a very important place in determin-
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the ing the availability and suitability of the largest single constituent entering
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the into the construction. It influences the type of construction from the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- standpoint of economics and governs the necessary material control to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- ensure durability of the resulting structure, from the aggregate standpoint.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. This investigation should be done only by a responsible trained and
experienced person. For more comprehensive guidance, see the Appendix.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Securing Samples
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 702 Practice for Reducing Field Samples of Aggregate to 4.1 General—Where practicable, samples to be tested for
Testing Size2 quality shall be obtained from the finished product. Samples
D 2234 Test Method for Collection of a Gross Sample of from the finished product to be tested for abrasion loss shall not
Coal3 be subject to further crushing or manual reduction in particle
D 3665 Practice for Random Sampling of Construction size in preparation for the abrasion test unless the size of the
Materials4 finished product is such that it requires further reduction for
E 105 Practice for Probability Sampling of Materials5 testing purposes.
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate the 4.2 Inspection—The material shall be inspected to deter-
Average Quality of a Lot or Process5 mine discernible variations. The seller shall provide suitable
E 141 Practice for Acceptance of Evidence Based on the equipment needed for proper inspection and sampling.
Results of Probability Sampling5 4.3 Procedure:
4.3.1 Sampling from a Flowing Aggregate Stream (Bins or
3. Significance and Use Belt Discharge)—Select units to be sampled by a random
3.1 Sampling is equally as important as the testing, and the method, such as Practice D 3665, from the production. Obtain
sampler shall use every precaution to obtain samples that will at least three approximately equal increments, selected at
random from the unit being sampled, and combine to form a
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-4 on Road and
field sample whose mass equals or exceeds the minimum
Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.30 on recommended in 4.4.2. Take each increment from the entire
Methods of Sampling. cross section of the material as it is being discharged. It is
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1997. Published April 1998. Originally usually necessary to have a special device constructed for use
published as D 75 – 20 T. Last previous edition D 75 – 87 (1992)e1.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. at each particular plant. This device consists of a pan of
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.05. sufficient size to intercept the entire cross section of the
4
5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.03. discharge stream and hold the required quantity of material
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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without overflowing. A set of rails may be necessary to support of, and variation in, the properties to be measured. Designate
the pan as it is passed under the discharge stream. Insofar as is each unit from which a field sample is to be obtained prior to
possible, keep bins continuously full or nearly full to reduce sampling. The number of field samples from the production
segregation. should be sufficient to give the desired confidence in test
results.
NOTE 3—Sampling the initial discharge or the final few tons from a bin
or conveyor belt increases the chances of obtaining segregated material NOTE 4—Guidance for determining the number of samples required to
and should be avoided. obtain the desired level of confidence in test results may be found in Test
4.3.2 Sampling from the Conveyor Belt—Select units to be Method D 2234, Practice E 105, Practice E 122, and Practice E 141.
sampled by a random method, such as Practice D 3665, from 4.4.2 The field sample masses cited are tentative. The
the production. Obtain at least three approximately equal masses must be predicated on the type and number of tests to
increments, selected at random, from the unit being sampled which the material is to be subjected and sufficient material
and combine to form a field sample whose mass equals or obtained to provide for the proper execution of these tests.
exceeds the minimum recommended in 4.4.2. Stop the con- Standard acceptance and control tests are covered by ASTM
veyor belt while the sample increments are being obtained. standards and specify the portion of the field sample required
Insert two templates, the shape of which conforms to the shape for each specific test. Generally speaking, the amounts speci-
of the belt in the aggregate stream on the belt, and space them fied in Table 1 will provide adequate material for routine
such that the material contained between them will yield an grading and quality analysis. Extract test portions from the
increment of the required weight. Carefully scoop all material field sample according to Practice C 702 or as required by
between the templates into a suitable container and collect the other applicable test methods.
fines on the belt with a brush and dust pan and add to the
container. 5. Shipping Samples
4.3.3 Sampling from Stockpiles or Transportation Units— 5.1 Transport aggregates in bags or other containers so
Avoid sampling coarse aggregate or mixed coarse and fine constructed as to preclude loss or contamination of any part of
aggregate from stockpiles or transportation units whenever the sample, or damage to the contents from mishandling during
possible, particularly when the sampling is done for the shipment.
purpose of determining aggregate properties that may be 5.2 Shipping containers for aggregate samples shall have
dependent upon the grading of the sample. If circumstances suitable individual identification attached and enclosed so that
make it necessary to obtain samples from a stockpile of coarse field reporting, laboratory logging, and test reporting may be
aggregate or a stockpile of combined coarse and fine aggregate, facilitated.
design a sampling plan for the specific case under consider-
ation. This approach will allow the sampling agency to use a 6. Keywords
sampling plan that will give a confidence in results obtained 6.1 aggregates; exploration of potential sources; aggregates;
therefrom that is agreed upon by all parties concerned to be number and sizes needed to estimate character; aggregates;
acceptable for the particular situation. The sampling plan shall sampling
define the number of samples necessary to represent lots and
sublots of specific sizes. General principles for sampling from TABLE 1 Size of Samples
stockpiles are applicable to sampling from trucks, rail cars, Approximate Minimum
Maximum Nominal Size
barges or other transportation units. For general guidance in of AggregatesA
Mass of Field Samples,
kgB
sampling from stockpiles, see the Appendix.
4.3.4 Sampling from Roadway (Bases and Subbases)— Fine Aggregate
Sample units selected by a random method, such as Practice 2.36 mm 10
4.75 mm 10
D 3665, from the construction. Obtain at least three approxi-
mately equal increments, selected at random from the unit Coarse Aggregate
being sampled, and combine to form a field sample whose 9.5 mm 10
mass equals or exceeds the minimum recommended in 4.4.2. 12.5 mm 15
19.0 mm 25
Take all increments from the roadway for the full depth of the 25.0 mm 50
material, taking care to exclude any underlying material. 37.5 mm 75
Clearly mark the specific areas from which each increment is 50 mm 100
63 mm 125
to be removed: a metal template placed over the area is a 75 mm 150
definite aid in securing approximately equal increment 90 mm 175
weights. A
For processed aggregate the nominal maximum size of particles is the largest
4.4 Number and Masses of Field Samples: sieve size listed in the applicable specification, upon which any material is
permitted to be retained.
4.4.1 The number of field samples (obtained by one of the B
For combined coarse and fine aggregates (for example, base or subbase)
methods described in 4.3) required depends on the criticality minimum weight shall be coarse aggregate minimum plus 10 kg.

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APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. SAMPLING AGGREGATE FROM STOCKPILES OR TRANSPORTATION UNITS

X1.1 Scope layer, which may have become segregated, should be removed
X1.1.1 In some situations it is mandatory to sample aggre- and the sample taken from the material beneath. Sampling
gates that have been stored in stockpiles or loaded into rail tubes approximately 30-mm min by 2-m min in length may be
cars, barges, or trucks. In such cases the procedure should inserted into the pile at random locations to extract a minimum
ensure that segregation does not introduce a serious bias in the of five increments of material to form the sample.
results.
X1.3 Sampling from Transportation Units
X1.2 Sampling from Stockpiles
X1.3.1 In sampling coarse aggregates from railroad cars or
X1.2.1 In sampling material from stockpiles it is very
barges, effort should be made to enlist the services of power
difficult to ensure unbiased samples, due to the segregation
equipment capable of exposing the material at various levels
which often occurs when material is stockpiled, with coarser
particles rolling to the outside base of the pile. For coarse or and random locations. Where power equipment is not avail-
mixed coarse and fine aggregate, every effort should be made able, a common procedure requires excavation of three or more
to enlist the services of power equipment to develop a separate, trenches across the unit at points that will, from visual
small sampling pile composed of materials drawn from various appearance, give a reasonable estimate of the characteristics of
levels and locations in the main pile after which several the load. The trench bottom should be approximately level, at
increments may be combined to compose the field sample. If least 0.3 m in width and in depth below the surface. A
necessary to indicate the degree of variability existing within minimum of three increments from approximately equally
the main pile, separate samples should be drawn from separate spaced points along each trench should be taken by pushing a
areas of the pile. shovel downward into the material. Coarse aggregate in trucks
X1.2.2 Where power equipment is not available, samples should be sampled in essentially the same manner as for rail
from stockpiles should be made up of at least three increments cars or barges, except for adjusting the number of increments
taken from the top third, at the mid-point, and at the bottom according to the size of the truck. For fine aggregate in
third of the volume of the pile. A board shoved vertically into transportation units, sampling tubes as described in X1.2 may
the pile just above the sampling point aids in preventing further be used to extract an appropriate number of increments to form
segregation. In sampling stockpiles of fine aggregate the outer the sample.

X2. EXPLORATION OF POTENTIAL AGGREGATE SOURCES

X2.1 Scope companying all samples the following information should

X2.1.1 Sampling for evaluation of potential aggregate accompany samples taken from ledges or quarry faces:
sources should be performed by a responsible trained and X2.2.3.1 Approximate quantity available. (If quantity is
experienced person. Because of the wide variety of conditions very large this may be recorded as practically unlimited.)
under which sampling may have to be done it is not possible to X2.2.3.2 Quantity and character of overburden.
describe detailed procedures applicable to all circumstances. X2.2.3.3 A detailed record showing boundaries and location
This appendix is intended to provide general guidance and list of material represented by each sample.
more comprehensive references. NOTE X2.1—A sketch, plan, and elevation, showing the thickness and
location of the different layers is recommended for this purpose.
X2.2 Sampling Stone from Quarries or Ledges
X2.2.1 Inspection—The ledge or quarry face should be X2.3 Sampling Roadside or Bank Run Sand and Gravel
inspected to determine discernible variations or strata. Differ- Deposits
ences in color and structure should be recorded. X2.3.1 Inspection—Potential sources of bank run sand and
X2.2.2 Sampling and Size of Sample—Separate samples gravel may include previously worked pits from which there is
having a mass of at least 25 kg should be obtained from each an exposed face or potential deposits discovered through
discernible stratum. The sample should not include material air-photo interpretation, geophysical exploration, or other types
weathered to such an extent that it is no longer suitable for the of terrain investigation.
purpose intended. One or more pieces in each sample should be X2.3.2 Sampling—Samples should be so chosen from each
at least 150 by 150 by 100 mm in size with the bedding plane different stratum in the deposit discernible to the sampler. An
plainly marked, and this piece should be free of seams or estimate of the quantity of the different materials should be
fractures. made. If the deposit is worked as an open-face bank or pit,
X2.2.3 Record—In addition to the general information ac- samples should be taken by channeling the face vertically,

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bottom to top, so as to represent the materials proposed for use. X2.3.3 Record—In addition to the general information ac-
Overburdened or disturbed material should not be included in companying all samples the following information should
the sample. Test holes should be excavated or drilled at accompany samples of bank run sand and gravel:
numerous locations in the deposit to determine the quality of X2.3.3.1 Location of supply.
the material and the extent of the deposit beyond the exposed
X2.3.3.2 Estimate of approximate quantity available.
face, if any. The number and depth of test holes will depend
upon the quantity of the material needed, topography of the X2.3.3.3 Quantity and character of overburden.
area, nature of the deposit, character of the material, and X2.3.3.4 Length of haul to proposed site of work.
potential value of the material in the deposit. If visual inspec- X2.3.3.5 Character of haul (kind of road, maximum grades,
tion indicates that there is considerable variation in the etc.)
material, individual samples should be selected from the X2.3.3.6 Details as to extent and location of material
material in each well defined stratum. Each sample should be
represented by each sample.
thoroughly mixed and quartered if necessary so that the field
sample thus obtained will be at least 12 kg for sand and 35 kg NOTE X2.2—A sketch of plans and elevations, showing the thickness
if the deposit contains an appreciable amount of coarse and location of different layers, is recommended for this purpose.
aggregate.

X3. NUMBER AND SIZE OF INCREMENTS NEEDED TO ESTIMATE CHARACTER OF UNIT SAMPLED

X3.1 Scope should neither be so large as to mask the effects of significant

X3.1.1 This appendix presents the rationale used by the variability within the unit nor be so small as to be affected by
responsible committee in the development of this practice. the inherent variability between small portions of any bulk
material.
X3.2 Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard X3.3.2 A unit of bulk material composed of graded aggre-
X3.2.1 field sample—a quantity of the material to be tested gate or aggregate mixtures might consist of a full truckload. If
of sufficient size to provide an acceptable estimate of the it were possible, the entire load might be tested; as a practical
average quality of a unit. matter, a field sample is composed of three or more increments
X3.2.2 lot—a sizable isolated quantity of bulk material chosen at random from the material as it is loaded or unloaded
from a single source, assumed to have been produced by the from the truck. Research has shown that such a procedure
same process (for example, a day’s production or a specific permits an acceptable estimate to be made of the average
mass or volume). gradation that might be measured from 15 or 20 increments
X3.2.3 test portion—a quantity of the material of sufficient
from the truck.
size extracted from the larger field sample by a procedure
designed to ensure accurate representation of the field sample, X3.3.3 Significant variability with a lot of material, where it
and thus of the unit sampled. might exist, should be indicated by statistical measures, such as
X3.2.4 unit—a batch or finite subdivision of a lot of bulk the standard deviation between units selected at random from
material (for example, a truck load or a specific area covered). within the lot.

X3.3 Test Unit, Size, and Variability

X3.3.1 The unit to be represented by a single field sample

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

This section identifies the location of selected changes to this section may also include descriptions of the changes or reasons
practice that have been incorporated since the last issue. For for the changes, or both.
the convenience of the user, Committee D-4 has highlighted (1) This practice has been converted to all metric.
those changes that may impact the use of this practice. This

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