This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D5444 − 15

Standard Test Method for

Mechanical Size Analysis of Extracted Aggregate1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5444; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope used to determine compliance of the particle size distribution

1.1 This test method covers a procedure for determination with applicable specifications requirements, and to provide
of the particle size distribution of fine and coarse aggregates necessary data for control of the production of various aggre-
extracted from bituminous mixtures using sieves with square gates to be used in bituminous mixtures.
openings.
4. Apparatus
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this 4.1 Balances, or scales, readable to 0.1 g and accurate to 0.1
standard. g or 0.1 % of the test load, whichever is greater, at any point
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the within the range of use.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4.2 Sieves, with square openings, mounted on substantial
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- frames constructed in a manner that will prevent the loss of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
materials during sieving. Suitable sieve sizes shall be selected
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
to furnish the information required by the specifications
2. Referenced Documents covering the material to be tested. The woven wire cloth sieves
shall conform to the requirements of Specification E11.
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements 4.3 Mechanical Sieve Shaker—If used, it shall impart a
for Test Methods for Construction Materials vertical, or lateral and vertical, motion to the sieve, causing the
D2172 Test Methods for Quantitative Extraction of Bitumen particles thereon to bounce and turn so as to present different
From Bituminous Paving Mixtures orientations to the sieving surface. The sieving action shall be
D6307 Test Method for Asphalt Content of Hot-Mix Asphalt such that the criterion for adequacy of sieving described in 6.8
by Ignition Method is met in a reasonable time period.
E11 Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test
Sieves 4.4 Oven, of appropriate size, capable of maintaining a
uniform temperature of 110 6 5°C.
2.2 AASHTO Standard:3
AASHTO Test Method T 30 Mechanical Analysis of Ex- 4.5 Container—A pan or vessel of a size sufficient to
tracted Aggregate contain the sample covered with water and to permit vigorous
agitation without loss of any of the sample or water.
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This test method is used to determine the grading of 5. Sample
aggregates extracted from bituminous mixtures. The results are
5.1 The sample shall consist of the entire sample of aggre-
gate from Test Method D2172 or Test Method D6307.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road 5.1.1 Aggregate extracted by the ignition method in Test
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.51 on
Aggregate Tests. Method D6307 shall not be used for gradation analysis if the
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2015. Published March 2015. Originally correction factor obtained in Test Method D6307 is greater
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D5444 – 08. DOI: than 1.0 (see Note 1).
10.1520/D5444-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 5.2 The size of the test sample shall be governed by the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
nominal maximum aggregate size and shall conform to the
the ASTM website. mass requirements shown in Table 1.
3
Available from American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO), 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Suite 249, Washington, DC 20001, NOTE 1—The temperatures used during the ignition method of asphalt
http://www.transportation.org. content determination can cause temperature-related deterioration, such as

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 D5444 − 15
TABLE 1 Size of Sample sieve and retained on the next and the amount passing the
Nominal Maximum Minimum Mass of 75-µm sieve. The summation of these various weights must
Aggregate Size Sample, kg check the dried weight after washing within 0.2 % of the total
4.75 mm (No. 4) 0.5 weight. Add the weight of dry material passing the 75-µm sieve
9.5 mm 1
12.5 mm 1.5 by dry sieving to the weight of mineral matter in the bitumen
19.0 mm 2 and the weight removed by washing in order to obtain the total
25.0 mm 3 passing the 75-µm sieve. If it is desired to check the weight of
37.5 mm 4
material washed through the 75-µm sieve, the washwater may
be evaporated to dryness or filtered through a tared filter paper
calcination of some carbonate minerals, and quartz phase transitions.4 that is dried and weighed subsequently. Convert the weights of
These reactions can result in particle breakdown, which will yield fractions retained on the various sieves and the total passing the
gradation results that are finer than the actual material that was used in the 75-µm sieve to percentages by dividing each by the total
mixture. weight of aggregate in the bituminous mixture from 6.1.
6. Procedure 6.6 Nest the sieves in order of decreasing size of opening
from top to bottom, and place the sample on the top sieve.
6.1 Dry the sample at 110 6 5°C to constant weight.
Agitate the sieves by hand or by mechanical apparatus for a
Determine the weight to the nearest 0.1 % of the sample
sufficient period, established by trial or checked by measure-
weight. The total weight of aggregate in the bituminous
ment on the actual test sample, to meet the criterion for
mixture being tested is the sum of the weights of the dried
adequacy of sieving described in 6.7.
aggregates and the mineral matter contained in the extracted
bitumen. When using Test Method D2172, the latter is to be 6.7 Limit the quantity of material on a given sieve so that all
taken as the sum of the weight of ash in the extract and the particles have the opportunity to reach sieve openings a
increase in weight of the filter element as determined in the test number of times during the sieving operation. For sieves with
method. openings smaller than 4.75-mm (No. 4), the weight retained on
any sieve at the completion of the sieving operation shall not
6.2 After drying and weighing the test sample, place it in a
exceed 6 kg/m2 of sieving surface. For sieves with openings
container and cover it with water. Add a sufficient amount of
4.75 mm (No. 4) and larger, the weight in kg/m2 of sieving
wetting agent to ensure a thorough separation of the material
surface shall not exceed the product of 2.5 × (sieve opening in
finer than the 75-µm sieve from the coarser particles (see Note
mm). In no case shall the weight be so great as to cause
2). The contents of the container shall be agitated vigorously
permanent deformation of the sieve cloth.
and the washwater poured immediately over a nest of two
sieves consisting of a 2.00 or 1.18-mm sieve superimposed on 6.8 Continue sieving for a sufficient period and in such
a 75-µm sieve. The use of a large spoon to stir and agitate the manner that, after completion, not more than 0.5 % by weight
aggregate in the washwater has been found satisfactory. of the total sample passes any sieve during 1 min of continuous
hand sieving performed as follows: hold the individual sieve,
NOTE 2—Wetting agents may include any dispersing agent such as a
liquid detergent, or a soap, that will promote the separation of fine
provided with a snug-fitting pan and cover, in a slightly
material. There should be enough wetting agent to produce a small amount inclined position in one hand. Strike the side of the sieve
of suds when the sample is agitated. The quantity of wetting agent will sharply and with an upward motion against the inclined
depend on the hardness of the water and quality of the agent. Excessive position in one hand. Strike the side of the sieve sharply and
suds may overflow the sieves and carry some material with them. with an upward motion against the heel of the other hand at a
6.3 The agitation shall be sufficiently vigorous to result in rate of approximately 150 times per minute, turning the sieve
complete separation from the coarse particles of all particles approximately one-sixth of a revolution at intervals of approxi-
finer than the 75-µm sieve and to bring them into suspension so mately 25 strokes. In determining the sufficiency of sieving for
that they may be removed by decantation of the washwater. sizes larger than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, limit the materials
Take care to avoid decantation of the coarse particles of the on the sieve to a single layer of particles. If the size of the
sample as much as possible. Repeat the operation until any mounted testing sieves makes the described sieving motion
wetting agent used is removed and the washwater is clear. impractical, use 203-mm diameter sieves to verify the suffi-
6.4 Return all material retained on the nested sieves to the ciency of sieving.
container. Dry the washed aggregate in the container to 7. Calculation
constant weight at a temperature not to exceed the mixture
laboratory compaction temperature +5°C and not less than 7.1 Calculate the results of the sieve analysis as follows: (1)
105°C, and weigh to the nearest 0.1 % of the original dry total percentages passing each sieve, (2) total percentages
weight of the sample. retained on each sieve, or (3) percentages retained between
consecutive sieves, depending on the form of the specifications
6.5 Then sieve the aggregate over sieves of the various sizes for use of the material under test. Calculate percentages to the
required by the specification covering the mixture, including nearest 0.1 %.
the 75-µm sieve. Record the weight of material passing each
8. Report
4
Information presented by Chris Rogers at the Annual Symposium of the 8.1 Depending on the form of the specification for use of the
“International Center for Aggregate Research,” April, 2004, Denver, CO. material under test, report the following information:

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 D5444 − 15
TABLE 2 Precision
Acceptable
Standard Range of
Total Percent of
Deviation Two
Material Passing
(1s), %A Results
(d2s),A %
Extracted Aggregate:B
Single-operator precision <100 $95 0.5 1.4
<95 $35 1.0 2.9
<35 $25 0.7 2.0
<25 $10 0.4 1.2
<10 $5 0.3 0.9
<5 $2 0.2 0.6
<2 >0 0.2 0.5
Multilaboratory precision <100 $95 0.5 1.5
<95 $35 1.2 3.5
<35 $25 0.9 2.7
<25 $10 0.8 2.2
<10 $5 0.6 1.6
<5 $2 0.4 1.1
<2 >0 0.3 0.9
A
These numbers represent, respectively, the (1s) and (d2s) limits described in
Practice C670.
B
The precision estimates are based on aggregates with nominal maximum sizes
of 19.0 to 9.5 mm.

8.1.1 Total percentage of material passing each sieve, or Proficiency Sample Program, with testing conducted by
8.1.2 Total percentage of material retained on each sieve, or AASHTO Test Method T 30. The data are based on analyses of
8.1.3 Percentage of material retained between consecutive the test results from 47 to 133 laboratories who tested 14 pairs
sieves. of proficiency test samples (Samples No. 1 through 28). The
8.2 Report percentages to the nearest whole number except values in the table are given for different ranges of total percent
for the percentage passing the 75-µm (No. 200) sieve, which of aggregate passing a sieve.
shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 %. 9.2 Bias—This test method has no bias since the values
9. Precision and Bias determined can be defined only in terms of this test method.
9.1 Precision—The estimates of precision for this test
10. Keywords
method are listed in Table 2. The estimates are based on the
results from the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory 10.1 aggregate; extraction; gradation

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