ABSTRACT
The evaluation of aggregates for road construction has traditionally been based on the use of standard tests and standard evaluation procedures. However, due to the lack of detailed knowledge concerning the test mechanisms and their relation to practice, as well as the abundance of high-quality material, these standards set the requirements on a very high level. Furthermore, the durability aspect of these materials is often not incorporated in much detail. The evaluation might be improved by following a functional approach. Widely accepted in many fields of construction engineering, this approach is not fully appreciated with regard to the evaluation of road aggregates. This paper discusses the differences between the traditional evaluation and the functional evaluation. A methodology for the functional evaluation of aggregates is proposed. The paper also discusses the applicability of the functional evaluation of road aggregates.
