Investigation of Fragmentation and Abrasion Resistance of Basalt and Limestone Aggregates in Bitlis Region and the Relationship between MgSO4 and Flatness Index Values

The mechanical characteristics of aggregates have a direct impact on the performance of asphalt mixtures. The aggregates used in road construction must possess certain essential qualities; they should be clean, hard, durable, resistant to abrasion, of uniform quality, and free from harmful substances. Resistance to abrasion is a very important property in engineering fields involving the use of aggregates. The Los Angeles fragmentation and Micro-Deval abrasion tests are among the most commonly used mechanical tests to assess the performance characteristics of aggregates in terms of abrasion and fragmentation. This study examined the abrasion and fragmentation resistance, flatness index, and frost resistance of both basalt and limestone aggregates. The study also evaluated parameters within the Los Angeles and Micro-Deval test processes. Based on the test results, it was concluded that the Micro-Deval abrasion test exhibited a more consistent relationship with other physical and strength properties of the aggregates. Moreover, the Micro-Deval test provided more realistic values for assessing the fragmentation resistance of the aggregates. Additionally, it was concluded that the steel balls employed in the Los Angeles test did not accurately represent the true impact of the internal properties of the aggregates on the disintegration process.