A Study on Stripping of Coarse Aggregates of Andhra Pradesh

Stripping of the aggregates from bituminous roads is a very common problem in our country. Stripping is generally defined as the breaking of the adhesive bond between the aggregate surface and the bitumen. Stripping is a complex problem comprise of many variables, including the type and use of mix, aggregate and bitumen characteristics, construction practice and use of anti-stripping additives. External factors which mainly affect stripping are traffic and environmental conditions. To evaluate the stripping of aggregates, Indian Standard has prescribed the stripping test for which aggregates coated with bitumen are kept immersed in water for 24 hours at 400C. However, when the same aggregates are used on the road they do undergo stripping underwater. This happens probably due to the fact that lab and field conditions are different in respect of contact period of water with bitumen, prevailing field temperature and environmental conditions and various other factors. This study brings forth and discusses the results of a lab study conducted on coarse aggregates of Andhra Pradesh to evaluate their stripping value under prevailing field conditions.