MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS - STANDARD SPECIFICATION

P-209
Crushed Aggregate Base Course

DESCRIPTION
1.1
This item shall consist of a base course
composed of crushed aggregates constructed on
the prepared underlying course in accordance
with these specifications and shall conform to
the dimensions and typical cross section shown
on the plans and with the lines and grades
established by the Engineer.
MATERIALS
2.1
Aggregate. Aggregates shall consist of
clean, sound, durable particles of crushed stone,
crushed gravel, or crushed slag and shall be free
from coatings of clay, silt, vegetable matter, and
other objectionable materials and shall contain
no clay balls. Fine aggregate passing the
number 4 (9.5 mm) sieve shall consist of fines
from the operation of crushing the coarse
aggregate. If necessary, fine aggregate may be
added to produce the correct gradation. The fine
aggregate shall be produced by crushing stone,
gravel or slag that meet the requirements for
wear and soundness specified for coarse
aggregate.
The crushed slag shall be an air-cooled, blast
furnace slag and shall have a unit weight of not
less than 70 pounds per cubic foot (1.12 Mg/m 3)
when tested in accordance with ASTM C29.
The crushed aggregate portion which is retained
on the number 4 sieve shall contain not more
than 15 percent, by weight, of flat or elongated
pieces as defined in ASTM D693 and shall have
at least 90 percent by weight of particles with at
least two fractured faces and 100 percent with at
least one fractured face. The area of each face
shall be equal to at least 75 percent of the
smallest midsectional area of the piece. When
two fractured faces are contiguous, the angle
FAA Approved: December 11, 1986

between the planes of fractures shall be at least

30 degrees to count as two fractured faces.
The percentage of wear shall not be greater than
45 percent when tested in accordance with
ASTM C131. The sodium sulfate soundness
loss shall not exceed 12 percent, after 5 cycles,
when tested in accordance with ASTM C88.
The fraction passing the No. 40 (0.042 mm)
sieve shall have a liquid limit no greater than 25
and a plasticity index of not more than 4 when
tested in accordance with ASTM D4318. The
fine aggregate shall have a minimum sand
equivalent value of 35 when tested in
accordance with ASTM D2419.
The Contractor shall make arrangements with an
independent laboratory to perform the above
tests prior to delivery of the aggregates to the
jobsite. Samples shall be taken by the
Contractor in accordance with ASTM D75. The
Contractor shall pay all expenses for testing and
related transport charges per the requirements of
Section 60 of the General Provisions.
2.2

Gradation Requirements

The requirements for gradation of the aggregate

are listed in Table 1. The gradation of the
mixture delivered for placement shall be
continuously well graded from coarse to fine
and shall not vary from the low limit on one
sieve to the high limit on an adjacent sieve or
vice versa.

P-209, Cru shed Agg regate Base C ourse

Page 2 of 5

TABLE 1. REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADATION OF AGGREGATE

Sieve Size

Design Range Percentage by

Weight Passing Sieves

2 inch (50.0 mm)

Job Mix Tolerance Percent

100

1 inch (37.0 mm)

95-100

1 inch (25.0 mm)

70-95

3/4 inch (19.0 mm)

55-85

No. 4 (4.75 mm)

30-60

No. 30 (0.60 mm)

12-30

0-8

No. 200 (0.075 mm)

An independent laboratory shall test the

aggregate for conformance with Table 1
requirements prior to delivery of the material to
the job site. Samples shall be taken by the
Contractor per ASTM D75 and tested in
accordance with ASTM C117 and C136. Also,
the material shall be tested in accordance with
ASTM D422. The maximum percent of
material by weight smaller than 0.02 mm shall
be 3 percent. All costs related to these
preliminary tests shall be paid by the Contractor.

The fraction of the final mixture that passes the

No. 200 (0.075 mm) sieve shall not exceed 60
percent of the fraction passing the No. 30 (0.60
mm) sieve.
The job mix tolerances in Table 1 shall be
applied to the job mix gradation to establish a
job control grading band. The full tolerance still
will apply, if application of the tolerances results
in a job control grading band outside the design
range.
CONSTRUCTION METHODS

Samples of the aggregates will be taken by the

Engineer after the aggregates have been
delivered to the job site, but prior to placement
in the constructed base course. The aggregate
samples will be taken in accordance with ASTM
D75 and be tested for gradation in accordance
with ASTM C117 and C136, and these tests
shall be the basis of final acceptance. The
Engineer will determine the frequency of
sampling and shall advise the Contractor of the
test results. Material which fails to meet
specification requirements shall not be
incorporated into the work.

3.1
Preparing Underlying Course. The
underlying course shall be checked and accepted
by the Engineer before placing and spreading
operations are started. Any ruts or soft yielding
places caused by improper drainage conditions,
hauling, or any other cause shall be corrected at
the Contractors expense before the base course
is placed thereon. Material shall not be placed
on frozen subgrade.
3.2
Mixing. The aggregate shall be
uniformly blended during crushing operations or
mixed in a plant. The plant shall blend and mix

P-209, Cru shed Agg regate Base C ourse

Page 3 of 5

the materials to meet the specifications and to

secure the proper moisture content for
compaction.

accordance with ASTM D1556 or D2167.

Sampling locations will be determined by the
Engineer.

3.3
Placing. The crushed aggregate base
material shall be placed on the moistened
subgrade in layers of uniform thickness with a
mechanical spreader.

Each lot will be accepted for density when the

field density is at least 100 percent of the
maximum density determined in accordance
with ASTM D1557, Method D [pavements
designed for aircraft weights 60,000 lb. (27270
Kg) and greater] or D698, Method D
[pavements designed for aircraft weights less
than 60,000 lb. (27270 Kg)]. The Engineer shall
designate the appropriate ASTM standard.

The maximum depth of a compacted layer shall

be 6 inches (15.2 cm). If the total depth of the
compacted material is more than 6 inches, it
shall be constructed in two or more layers. In
multi-layer construction, the base course shall be
placed in approximately equal-depth layers.
The previously constructed layers should be
cleaned of loose and foreign material prior to
placing the next layer. The surface of the
compacted material shall be kept moist until
covered with the next layer.
3.4
Compaction. Immediately upon
completion of the spreading operations, the
crushed aggregate shall be thoroughly
compacted. The number, type and weight of
rollers shall be sufficient to compact the material
to the required density.
The base material shall have a satisfactory
moisture content when rolling is started, and
maintained by sprinkling or aeration, if
necessary.
During placing and spreading, the Contractor
shall prevent the incorporation of subgrade,
subbase or shoulder material in the base course
mixture.
3.5
Acceptance Sampling and Testing for
Density. Each layer of aggregate base course
placed shall be accepted for density on a lot
basis A lot will consist of 2400 square yard
(2000 square meters) increments for each layer
placed.
Each lot shall be divided into two equal sublots
and each tested for in-place field density in

If the specified density is not attained, the entire

sublot shall be reworked and/or recompacted
until the specified density is reached. In lieu of
the core method of field density determination,
acceptance testing may be accomplished using a
nuclear gauge in accordance with ASTM
D2922. The gauge should be field calibrated in
accordance with paragraph 4 of D2922.
Calibration tests shall be conducted on the first
lot of material placed that meets the density
requirements.
Use of ASTM D2922 results in a wet unit
weight, and when using this method, ASTM
D3017 shall be used to determine the moisture
content of the material. The calibration curves
furnished with the moisture gauges shall be
checked as described in paragraph 7 of D3017.
The calibration checks of both the density and
moisture gages shall be made at the beginning of
a job and at intervals, as determined by the
Engineer.
If a nuclear gauge is used for density
determination, two readings shall be made in
each sublot.
Tests for compaction of the aggregate shall be
performed by the Engineer and are not a
Contractor cost.
3.6
Finishing. The surface of the aggregate
base course shall be finished by blading or with
automated equipment especially designed for

P-209, Cru shed Agg regate Base C ourse

this purpose.
In no case will the addition of thin layers of
material be added to the top layer of base course
to meet grade. If the elevation of the top layer is
inch (12 mm) or more below grade, the top
layer of base shall be scarified to a depth of at
least 3 inches (72 mm), new material added, and
the layer shall be blended and recompacted to
bring it to grade. If the finished surface is above
plan grade, it shall be cut back to grade and
rerolled.
3.7
Surface Test. After the course has been
completely compacted, the surface shall be
tested for smoothness and accuracy of grade and
crown. Any portion lacking the required
smoothness or failing in accuracy of grade or
crown shall be scarified, reshaped, recompacted,
and otherwise manipulated at the Contractors
expense as the Engineer may direct until the
required smoothness and accuracy are obtained.
The finished surface shall not vary more than
3/8 inch (10 mm) from a 16-foot (5 m)
straightedge when applied to the surface parallel
with, and at right angles to, the centerline.
3.8
Thickness. The thickness of the
completed base course material shall be
determined by elevations taken to the nearest
0.01 foot (3 mm), at intervals not exceeding 50
feet (15 m), using the method of setting finished
grades stakes.
The thickness shall be verified by the
Contractor, at his expense, by the taking of cores
or depth tests in the presence of the Engineer.
Cores or depth test shall be taken at intervals of
not less than one per 1200 square yards (1000
meters) of material placed. When deficiencies
in excess of inch (12 mm) are noted, the
Contractor shall make such additional cores or
depth tests, as required by the Engineer, to
determine the extent of the deficiency.
Replacement and compaction of base material
removed for test purposes shall be accomplished
by the Contractor, at his expense.

Page 4 of 5

Deficiencies in thickness in excess of inch (12

mm) of base material shall be corrected by the
Contractor, at his expense, by scarifying, adding
satisfactory mixture, rolling, sprinkling,
reshaping and finishing in accordance with these
specifications.
3.9
Protection. Work on the base course
shall not be accomplished during freezing
temperatures, nor when the subgrade is
saturated. When the aggregates contain frozen
materials or when the underlying course is
frozen, the construction shall be stopped.
Hauling equipment may be routed over
completed portions of the base course, provided
no damage results and provided that such
equipment is routed over the full width of the
base course to avoid rutting or uneven
compaction. However, the Engineer shall have
full and specific authority to stop all hauling
over completed or partially completed base
course when, in his opinion, such hauling is
causing damage. Any damage resulting to the
base course from routing equipment over the
base course shall be repaired by the Contractor
at his own expense.
3.10
Maintenance. Following the
completion of the base course, the Contractor
shall perform all maintenance work necessary to
keep the base course in a condition satisfactory
for paving. The base course shall be properly
drained at all times and free from foreign
material. If cleaning is necessary, or if the
prime coat becomes disturbed, any work or
restitution necessary shall be performed at the
expense of the Contractor.
METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
4.1
The quantity of crushed aggregated base
course to be paid for shall be the number of
cubic yards, compacted measure, of base course
material placed, bonded, and accepted in the
completed base course. The quantity of base
course material shall be measured in final
position, based on average end areas of the

P-209, Cru shed Agg regate Base C ourse

completed work, computed from elevations to

the nearest 0.01 foot. No payment will be made
for material placed in excess of the specified
depth or width. Base materials shall not be
included in any other excavation quantities.

Page 5 of 5

ASTM C136

Sieve or Screen Analysis of Fine

and Coarse Aggregate

ASTM D75

Sampling Aggregate

ASTM D693

Crushed Stone, Crushed Slag and

Crushed Gravel for Dry-orWater-Bound Macadam Base
Courses and Bituminous
Macadam Base and Surface
Courses of Pavements

ASTM D698

Moisture-Density Relations of
Soils and Soil-Aggregate
Mixtures Using 5.5-lb. (2.49 kg)
Ramer and 12-in (305 mm) Drop

ASTM D1556

Density of Soil in Place by the

Sand-Cone Method

ASTM D1557

Moisture-Density Relations of
Soils and Soil-Aggregate
Mixtures Using 10-lb. (4.5 kg)
Ramer and 18 in (145 mm) Drop

ASTM D2167

Density of Soil in Place by the

Rubber-Balloon Method

ASTM D2419

Sand Equivalent Value of Soils

and Fine Aggregate

ASTM D2922

Density of Soil and SoilAggregate in Place by Nuclear

Methods

ASTM D3017

Moisture Content of Soil and

Soil-Aggregate in Place by
Nuclear Methods

ASTM D3665

Random Sampling of Paving

Materials

ASTM D4318

Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit and

Plasticity Index of Soils

ASTM D422

Particle Size Analysis of Soils

BASIS OF PAYMENT
5.1
Payment shall be made at the contract
unit price per cubic yard, compacted,
measurement, for crushed aggregate base
course. This price shall be full compensation for
furnishing all materials and for all preparation,
hauling and placing of these materials and for all
labor, equipment, tools and incidentals
necessary to complete this item.
Payment will be made under the nomenclature
and seven digit item number specified in the
plans and proposal for each type of crushed
aggregate base course or crushed base course
work required per cubic yard or per square yard,
as applicable.
The first three digits of any item number for
work included under this specification shall be
209, i.e., 209XXXX.
TESTING AND MATERIAL
REQUIREMENTS
Test and Short Title
ASTM C29

Unit Weight of Aggregate

ASTM C88

Soundness of Aggregates by Use

of Sodium Sulfate of Magnesium
Sulfate

ASTM C117

ASTM C131

Materials Finer than 0.75 mm (

No. 200) Sieve in Mineral
Aggregates by Washing
Resistance to Abrasion of Small
Size Coarse Aggregate by Use of
the Los Angeles Machine

Material and Short Title

None