GEOTECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Suggested Solite® Geotechnical Fill Specifications

The information listed below is a suggested specification for Solite® Lightweight Aggregate soil fill. It is best to consult with a Sales Representative during a project’s conceptual design phase in order to specify the most appropriate geotechnical material physical properties.

Materials

Lightweight Aggregate fill shall be Solite® Lightweight Expanded Shale Aggregate or approved rotary kiln produced expanded shale substitute meeting all the requirements of a recently completed (2 years max.) ASTM C 330 certification.  No by‑product slags, coal derived by-product aggregates (cinders, bottom ash, fly ash) or pumice, scoria, tuff are permitted. Lightweight aggregate shall have a proven record of durability and be non‑corrosive (less than 100 ppm chloride when measured by AASHTO T 260) with the following physical properties:

A. Delivered Gradation:
Sieve Size % Retained
3/4” (19.0 mm) 0-10
1/2” (13.0 mm) 30-50
3/8” (  9.5 mm)
#4 (5.0 mm) 90-100
B. The dry loose unit weight shall be less than 45 pcf (720 kg/m3).  The lightweight aggregate producer shall submit verification of a compacted density of less than 60 pcf (960 kg/m3) when measured by a one point proctor test conducted in accordance with ASTM D 698, “The Standard Test Methods for Moisture – Density Relations of Soils and Soil‑Aggregate Mixtures Using a 5.5 lb. Hammer and 12 inch Drop” (AASHTO T 99).
C. The lightweight aggregate producer shall submit verification that the angle of internal friction shall be greater than 40° when measured in a triaxial compression test on a laboratory sample with a minimum diameter of 10 inches. (ASTM D 698).
D. The maximum Los Angeles Abrasion loss when tested in accordance with ASTM C 131 Modified (B grading) shall be <30%.
E. The minimum permeability shall be 2.5cm/sec when tested in accordance with theASTM D 2434.
F. pH between 6.5 and 9.0
G. Soundness: ASTM C 88 Maximum 3% loss using the Magnesium Sulfate method.
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