Experiment # 6

Penetration Test On Bituminous Material (ASTM Designation: D 5-97)

Scope & Significance

The penetration test is used as a measure of consistency. Higher values of penetration indicate softer
consistency.
The test is widely used all over the world for classifying bituminous materials into different grades.
Depending upon the climatic conditions and type of construction, bitumen of different penetration grade
are used. Commonly used grades are 30/40, 60/70 and 80/100.
In warmer regions, lower penetration grades are preferred and in colder regions bitumen with higher
penetration values are used.

Apparatus
Penetration Apparatus
Any apparatus that permits the needle holder (spindle) to move vertically without measurable friction. It is capable
of indicating the depth of penetration to the nearest 0.1 mm, will be acceptable. The weight of the spindle shall be
47.5 0.05 gram. The total weight of the needle and spindle assembly shall be 50.0 0.05 grams. Weights of 50
0.05 grams and 100 0.05 grams shall also be provided for total loads of 100 gram and
200 gram, as required for some conditions of the test. The surface on which the sample
container rests shall be flat and the axis of the plunger shall be at approximately 90 to
this surface. The spindle shall be easily detached for checking its weight.
Penetration Needle
The needle shall be made from fully hardened and tapered stainless steel. The standard
needle shall be approximately 50 mm in length. The diameter of needle shall be 1.00 to
1.02 mm. It shall be symmetrically tapered at one end by grinding to a cone having an
angle between 8.7 and 9.7 over the entire cone length. The cone should be coaxial
with the straight body of the needle. The truncated tip of the cone shall be within the
diameter limits of 0.14 and 0.16 mm and square to the needle axis within 2. The
exposed length of the standard needle shall be within the limits of 40 and 45 mm and
the exposed length of the long needle shall be 50 to 55 mm. The needle shall be rigidly
mounted in the ferrule. The weight of the ferrule needle assembly should be 2.50 0.05
grams.

Water Bath
A bath having a capacity of at least 10 Liter and capable of maintaining a temperature of 25 0.1 C
Timing Device
For hand operated Penetrometers any convenient timing device such as an electric timer, a stop watch, or other
spring activated device may be used provided it is graduated in 0.1 second or less and is accurate to within 0.1
second for a 60 second interval.
Thermometers
Calibrated liquid-in-glass thermometers of suitable range with subdivisions and maximum scale error of 0.1 C or
any other thermometric device of equal accuracy, precision and sensitivity shall be used.
Preparation of test specimen
Heat the sample with care, stirring when possible to prevent local overheating, until it has become
sufficiently fluid to pour. In no case should the temperature be raised to more than 90 C above expected
softening point for petroleum asphalt (bitumen).
Do not heat samples for more than 30 minutes. Avoid incorporating bubbles into the sample.
Pour the sample into the sample container to a depth such that, when cooled to the temperature of test, the
depth of the sample is at least 10 mm greater than the depth to which the needle is expected to penetrate.
Pour two separate portions for each variation in test conditions.
Procedure
Examine the needle holder and guide to establish the absence of water and other extraneous materials.
Clean a penetration needle with toluene or other suitable solvent, dry with a clean cloth, and insert the
needle into the penetrometer. Unless otherwise specified place the 50 gram weight above the needle,
making the total weight 100 0.1 gram. Place the sample container in the transfer dish, cover the container
completely with water with the constant temperature bath and place the transfer dish on the stand of the
penetrometer.
Position the needle by slowly lowering it until its tip just makes contact with the surface of the sample.
This is accomplished by bringing the actual needle tip into contact with its image reflected on the surface
of the sample from a properly placed source of light. Either note the reading of the penetrometer dial or
bring the pointer to zero. Quickly release the needle holder for the specified period of time and adjust the
instrument to measure the distance penetrated in tenths of a millimeter. If the container moves, ignore the
result.
Make at least three determinations at points on the surface of the sample not less than 10 mm from the side
of the container and not less than 10 mm apart. If the transfer dish is used, return the sample and transfer
dish to the constant temperature bath between determinations. Use a clean needle for each determination.
If the penetration is greater than 200, use at least three needles leaving them in the sample until the three
determinations have been completed.
Observations & Results

Penetration
Sample Reading Penetration
Mean Penetration

(mm) (mm) (mm)

58 5.8
S1 5.8
58 5.8

58 5.8

75 7.5
S2 7.733
78 7.8

77 7.7

Comments
 Experiment # 7
To Perform Ductility Test on Asphalt (ASTM Designation: D 113-86)

Scope & Significance

This test method provides measure of tensile properties of bituminous materials and may
be used to measure ductility for specification requirements.
Bituminous materials used in pavement construction should possess sufficient ductility
otherwise the pavement would crack due to temperature or traffic stresses and may render
the pavement pervious and damage the pavement structure.
The ductility value varies from 5 to over 100 cms.
Several agencies have specified minimum ductility values for various types of bitumen
pavements. However a ductility of 100 cms is specified generally for bituminous
construction.

Apparatus
Mold
The mold is made of brass, the ends being known as clips, and the
middle parts asides of the mold.
Water Bath
The water bath shall be maintained at the specified test temperature,
varying not more than 0.1 C from this temperature. It shall be
supported on a perforated shelf not less than 5 cm from the bottom of
the bath.
Testing Machine
For pulling the briquet of bituminous material apart, any apparatus may be used which is so
constructed that the specimen will continuously immersed in water, while the two clips are pulled
apart at a uniform speed.
Thermometer
A thermometer having a range -8 to 32 C
Procedure
Assemble the mold on a brass plate. Thoroughly coat the surface of the plate and interior surfaces of the
sides of the mold with a thin layer of a mixture of glycerin and china clay to prevent the material under test
from sticking.
The plate upon which the mold is placed shall be perfectly flat and level so that the bottom surface of the
mold will be in contact throughout.
Carefully heat the sample to prevent local overheating until it has become sufficiently fluid to pour.
After a thorough stirring, pour it into the mold. In filling the mold, take care not to disarrange the parts
and thus distort the briquet.
Infilling, pour the material in a thin stream hack and forth from end to end of the mold until the mold is
more than level full.
Let the mold containing the material cool to room temperature for a period of from 30 to 40 minutes and
then place it in the water bath maintained at the specified temperature of test for 30 minutes; then cut off
the excess bitumen with a hot straight edged knife or spatula to make the mold just level full.
Place the brass plate and mold, with briquet specimen, in water bath and keep at the specified temperature
for a period of from 85 to 95 minutes. Then remove the briquet from the plate, detach the sidepieces, and.
Testing
Attach the rings at each end of the clips to the pin or hooks in the testing machine and pull the two clips
apart at a uniform speed specified until the briquet ruptures.
Measure the distance in centimeters through which the clips have been pulled to produce rupture. While
the test is being made, the water in the tank of the testing machine shall cover the specimen both above and
below it by at least 2.5 cm and shall be kept continuously at the temperature specified.
If the bituminous material comes in contact with the surface of the water or the bottom of the bath, the test
shall not be considered normal.
Adjust the specific gravity of the bath by the addition of either methyl alcohol or sodium chloride so that
the bituminous material neither comes to the surface of the water, nor touches the bottom of the bath at any
time during the test.

Observations & Results

Sr. # Description Result
1 Grade of Bitumen
2 Pouring Temperature
3 Test Temperature 25
4 Period of Cooling
a)- in Air 30-40mint
b)- in water bath before trimming 30mint
c)- in water bath after trimming 85-95mint

Ductility of Asphalt = above 100cm(near about 110cm)

Comments
 Experiment # 8
Flash and Fire Point test for Asphalt by Cleveland Open Cup

Scope & Significance

Flash point measures the tendency of the sample to form a flammable mixture with air under controlled
laboratory conditions. It is only one of a number of properties that must be considered in assessing the
overall flammability hazard of a material.
Flash point is used in shipping and safety regulations to differentiate between flammable and
combustible materials.
Flash point can indicate the possible presence of highly volatile and flammable materials in a relatively
nonvolatile or nonflammable material.
Fire point measures the characteristics of the sample to support combustion.
Bituminous materials give rise to volatiles at high temperature, as they are basically the hydrocarbons.
These volatiles catch fire causing a flash, which is very hazardous.
During construction of bituminous pavements, the engineer may restrict the mixing or application
temperatures well within the limits. The test therefore gives indication of critical temperature at and above
which suitable precautions should be taken to eliminate fire hazards during use of asphalts. In other words
heating should be limited to a temperature well below the flash point.

Apparatus
Cleveland Cup Apparatus: It consists of test cup,
heating plate, test flame applicator, heater, thermometer support
and heating plate support, all conforming to the following
requirements.
Test Cup It is made of brass. The cup may be equipped
with a handle.

Heating Plate A brass, cast iron, wrought iron, or steel plate

with a center hole surrounded by an area of plane depression, and a
sheet of hard asbestos board which covers the metal plate except over the
area of plane depression in which the test cup is supported. The metal
plate may be square instead of round and have suitable extension for
mounting the test flame applicator device and the thermometer
support. The metal bead is mounted on the plate so that it extends
through and slightly above a small hole in the asbestos board.
Test Flame Applicator The device for applying the test flame may be of any suitable design,
but the tip shall be 1.6 to 5.0 mm in diameter at the end and the orifice shall have an approximate diameter
of 0.8 mm. The device for applying the test flame shall be so mounted to permit automatic duplication of
the sweep of the test flame, the radius of swing being not less than 150 mm and the center of the orifice
moving in a plane not more than 2.5 mm above the cup. A bead having a diameter of 3.8 to 5.4 mm may
be mounted in a convenient position on the apparatus so the size of the test flame can be compared to it.
Heater Heat may be supplied from any convenient source. The use of a
gas burner or alcohol lamp is permitted, but under no circumstances are
products of combustion or free flame to be allowed to come up around the
cup. An electric heater controlled by a variable voltage transformer is
preferred. The source of heat shall be centered under the opening of the
heating plate with no local superheating.
 Thermometer Support A device which will hold the thermometer in the specified position
during a test and permits easy removal of the thermometer from the test cup upon completion of a test.
Heating Plate Support Any convenient support which will hold the heating plate level and
steady may be employed.
Shield:A shield having an area of 460mm2 and 610mm high and having an open front is used.
Thermometer:A thermometer having the required range.

Procedure
Fill the cup; at any convenient temperature not exceeding 100 C or above the softening point; so that the
top of the meniscus is at the filling line.
Remove the excess sample using a pipette or other suitable device; however, if there is sample on the
outside of the apparatus, empty, clean, and refill it. Destroy any air bubbles on the surface of the sample.
Lit the test flame and adjust it to a diameter of 3.8 to 5.4 mm.
Apply heat initially so that the rate of temperature rise of the sample is 14 to 17 C per minute. When the
sample temperature is approximately 56 C below the anticipated flash point, decrease the heat so that the
rate of temperature rise for 28C before the flash point is 5 to 6C per minute.
Starting at least 28 C below the flash point, apply the test flame when the temperature read on the
thermometer reaches each successive 2 C mark. Pass the test flame across the center of the cup, at right
angles to the diameter, which passes through the thermometer.
With a smooth, continuous motion apply the flame either in a straight line or along the circumference of a
circle having a radius of at least 150 mm. The center of the test flame must move in a plane not more than
2.5 mm above the plane of the upper edge of the cup passing in one direction first, then in the opposite
direction the next lime. The time consumed in passing the test flame across the cup shall be about one
second (1 s.).
Record as the observed flash point the temperature read on the thermometer when a flash appears at any
point on the surface of the material, but does not confuse the true flash with the bluish halo that sometimes
surrounds the test flame.
To determine the fire point, continue heating so that the sample temperature increases at a rate of 5 to 6 C.
Continue the application of the test flame at 2C intervals until the oil ignites and continues to burn for at
least 5 second. Record the temperature at the point as the fire point of the oil.

Precautions
Do not breathe close to the apparatus as the fumes are injurious to health.
Turn the fans off so that the fumes can be accumulated over the cup.
Tip of the thermometer should not touch the bottom or sides of the cup.
The operator must exercise and take appropriate safety precautions during the initial application of the test
flame, since samples containing low flash material may give an abnormally strong flash when the test
flame is first applied.

Calculations and Report

Corrected flash or fire point, or both = C + 0.03 (760 P)
Where:
C = observed flash or fire point, or both, to the nearest 2 C, and
P = Barometric pressure, mm Hg.
Record the corrected flash or fire joint value, or both, to the nearest 5 C or 2C.
Flash point of Different Grades of Asphalt:

Viscosity Grades
Property AC 2.5 AC 5 AC 10 AC 20 AC 40
Flash Point
163 177 219 232 232
COC, C min.

Note: AC 10 is most commonly used in Pakistan.

Observations & results

Time Temp. Remarks

0 26
2 26
4 28
6 32
8 38
10 60
12 88
14 168 Flash point
16 210
18 246
20 278
22 308
24 332
26 362 Fire point

Comments