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Suryakanta | September 11, 2015 | Bitumen, Construction, Materials, Road
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Various tests are conducted on bitumen to assess its consistency,
gradation, viscosity, temperature susceptibility, and safety.
HOW TO INCREASE
There are a number of tests to assess the properties of bituminous REPETITION OF
materials. The following tests are usually conducted to evaluate PLYWOOD
different properties of bituminous materials.

How to Increase…
1. Penetration test
2. Ductility test
3. Softening point test
4. Specific gravity test
5. Viscosity test
00:00 08:39
6. Flash and Fire point test
7. Float test
8. Water content test JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
9. Loss on heating test

1.PENETRATION TEST

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It measures the hardness or softness of bitumen by measuring the

Civilblog.org
depth in tenths of a millimeter to which a standard loaded needle will 14K likes
penetrate vertically in 5 seconds. BIS had standardized the equipment
and test procedure.

The penetrometer consists of a needle assembly with a total weight of Like Page

100g and a device for releasing and locking in any position. The bitumen
Be the first of your friends to like this
is softened to a pouring consistency, stirred thoroughly and poured into
containers at a depth at least 15 mm in excess of the expected
penetration. The test should be conducted at a specified temperature of
250C.

It may be noted that penetration value is largely influenced by any

inaccuracy with regards to pouring temperature, size of the needle,
weight placed on the needle and the test temperature.

In hot climates, a lower penetration grade is preferred. The Fig-1 shows

a schematic Penetration Test setup.

Also Read: Penetration Test Procedure of Bitumen

Fig-1 Penetration Test Setup

2.DUCTILITY TEST
Ductility is the property of bitumen that permits it to undergo great
deformation or elongation. Ductility is defined as the distance in cm, to
which a standard sample or briquette of the material will be elongated
without breaking. Dimension of the briquette thus formed is exactly 1
cm square. The bitumen sample is heated and poured in the mould
assembly placed on a plate. These samples with moulds are cooled in
the air and then in water bath at 270C temperature. The excess bitumen
is cut and the surface is leveled using a hot knife. Then the mould with
assembly containing sample is kept in water bath of the ductility
machine for about 90 minutes. The sides of the moulds are removed,
the clips are hooked on the machine and the machine is operated. The
distance up to the point of breaking of thread is the ductility value which
is reported in cm.
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The ductility value gets affected by factors such as pouring temperature,

test temperature, rate of pulling etc.

A minimum ductility value of 75 cm has been specified by the BIS. Fig-2

shows ductility Test Process.

Also Read: Ductility Test Procedure of Bitumen

Fig-2 Ductility Test

3.SOFTENING POINT TEST

Softening point denotes the temperature at which the bitumen attains a
particular degree of softening under the specified condition of test.

The test is conducted by using Ring and Ball apparatus. A brass ring
containing test sample of bitumen is suspended in liquid like water or
glycerin at a given temperature. A steel ball is placed upon the bitumen
sample and the liquid medium is heated at a rate of 50C per minute.
Temperature is noted when the softened bitumen touches the metal
plate which is at a specified distance below.

Generally, higher softening point indicates lower temperature

susceptibility and is preferred in hot climates. Fig-3 shows Softening
Point test setup.

Also Read: Softening Test Procedure of Bitumen

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Fig-3 Softening Point Test Setup

4.SPECIFIC GRAVITY TEST

The specific gravity of bitumen is defined as the ratio of mass of given
volume of bitumen of known content to the mass of equal volume of
water at 270C. The specific gravity can be measured using either
pycnometer or preparing a cube specimen of bitumen in semi solid or
solid state.

In paving jobs, to classify a binder, density property is of great use. In

most cases bitumen is weighed, but when used with aggregates, the
bitumen is converted to volume using density values.

The density of bitumen is greatly influenced by its chemical

composition. Increase in aromatic type mineral impurities cause an
increase in specific gravity.

The specific gravity of bitumen varies from 0.97 to 1.02.

Also Read: Specific Gravity Test Procedure of Bitumen

5.VISCOSITY TEST
Viscosity denotes the
fluid property of
bituminous material
and it is a measure
of resistance to flow.
At the application
temperature, this
characteristic greatly
influences the
strength of resulting
paving mixes.
Fig-4 Viscosity Test

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Low or high viscosity

during compaction or mixing has been observed to result in lower
stability values. At high viscosity, it resists the compactive effort and
thereby resulting mix is heterogeneous, hence low stability values. And
at low viscosity instead of providing a uniform film over aggregates, it
will lubricate the aggregate particles.

Orifice type viscometers are used to indirectly find the viscosity of liquid
binders like cutbacks and emulsions.

The viscosity expressed in seconds is the time taken by the 50 ml

bitumen material to pass through the orifice of a cup, under standard
test conditions and specified temperature. Viscosity of a cutback can be
measured with either 4.0 mm orifice at 250C or 10 mm orifice at 25 or
400C.

Also Read: Viscosity Test of Bitumen Emulsion by Saybolt Furol

Viscometer

6.FLASH AND FIRE POINT TEST

At high temperatures depending upon the grades of bitumen materials
leave out volatiles. And these volatiles catch fire which is very hazardous
and therefore it is essential to qualify this temperature for each
bitumen grade. BIS defined the ash point as the temperature at which
the vapour of bitumen momentarily catches fire in the form of ash
under specified test conditions. The fire point is defined as the lowest
temperature under specified test conditions at which the bituminous
material gets ignited and burns.

7.FLOAT TEST
Normally the consistency of bituminous material can be measured
either by penetration test or viscosity test. But for certain range of
consistencies, these tests are not applicable and Float test is used.

The apparatus consists of an aluminum oat and a brass collar filled with
bitumen to be tested. The specimen in the mould is cooled to a
temperature of 50C and screwed in to oat. The total test assembly is
floated in the water bath at 500C and the time required for water to
pass its way through the specimen plug is noted in seconds and is
expressed as the oat value.

8.WATER CONTENT TEST

It is desirable that the bitumen contains minimum water content to
prevent foaming of the bitumen when it is heated above the boiling
point of water.

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The water in bitumen is determined by mixing known weight of

specimen in a pure petroleum distillate free from water, heating and
distilling of the water. The weight of the water condensed and collected
is expressed as percentage by weight of the original sample.

The allowable maximum water content should not be more than 0.2%
by weight.

9.LOSS ON HEATING TEST

When the bitumen is heated it loses the volatility and gets hardened.
About 50gm of the sample is weighed and heated to a temperature of
1630C for 5 hours in a specified oven designed for this test. The sample
specimen is weighed again after the heating period and loss in weight is
expressed as percentage by weight of the original sample.

Bitumen used in pavement mixes should not indicate more than 1% loss
in weight, but for bitumen having penetration values 150-200 up to 2%
loss in weight is allowed.

LIST OF IS CODES RELATED TO BITUMEN

TESTING
Tests for Bitumen with IS codes

Name of Test IS code Number

Penetration Test IS: 1203-1978

Ductility test IS: 1208-1978

Softening Point test IS: 1205-1978

Specific gravity test IS: 1202-1978

Viscosity test IS: 1206-1978

Flash and Fire Point test IS: 1209-1978

Float Test IS: 1210-1978

Determination of Water Content IS: 1211-1978

Determination of Loss on
IS:1212-1978
Heating

AUTHOR
Dr. Tom V Mathew (IIT Bombay)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suryakanta
Geotechnical-Material Engineer. You can
connect me on Google +. To know more about
me just visit AboutMe

20 COMMENTS

kaniram yadav October 22, 2018 Reply

very fine,but what is density test of bitumen?

Rafikul islam September 21, 2018 Reply

Sir Thank you for sharing this post

Ashirwad Ranjan September 12, 2018 Reply

Nice test

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bimala July 19, 2018 Reply

Can I say these tests are safety test of Bitumen?

DR RAJU RAMESH REDDY July 14, 2018 Reply

Excellent Information for the beginners. Needs analysis

in the variation of Bituminous mix properties with
various admixtures. I am doing analysis on the durability
of bituminous mix by Plastic admixtures. I request some
one to share their ideas.
Dr Raju Ramesh Reddy, Professor, Faculty of Civil
Engineering, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch,
Ethiopia.

Lucky October 11, 2018 Reply

can you pls contact me , i am also doing the

samething , to investigate the use of plastic
mixture

+27833552371
luckywmngadi@gmail.com

lawrence kayode November 1, 2017 Reply

can somebody help me on the materials on a project

topic titled comparison of the Marshall properties of
cold mix asphalt and hot mix asphalt .
the materials must include results of the test carried out
on it. I would be very grateful if someone can help me
out . my email: lawrencekayode38@gmail.com phone
number: 08161822503

bhawanishankar March 8, 2018 Reply

can you please sir give me a soft copy of

DBM/BC design and it’s procedure and tips
how i can get a cheap DBM/BC

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Tremix engineers September 11, 2017 Reply

Good Informations, thanks for sharing.

Richard Mutyabule July 25, 2017 Reply

thanks for this, can you please go on and give us the

procedures for all the tests

kalai July 1, 2017 Reply

Thanks for giving this wonderful information

R. Govind naik May 25, 2017 Reply

Thank you for given a beautiful information and your

valuable suggestatoins.

Er.B R Chauhan April 7, 2017 Reply

Thanx for sharing this extremely useful informations to

all

Bethel March 18, 2017 Reply

Very nice. Can you send the procedures for each of the
parameter here?

Er Abhaya Kumar Samal January 17, 2017 Reply

Well medium of Civil Engg for learn

Chan April 3, 2016 Reply

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12/6/2018 9 TEST TO CHECK QUALITY OF BITUMEN FOR USE IN ROAD WORK - CivilBlog.Org

Thankyou for this informations

Damor ranchhodbhai j February 4, 2017 Reply

Lab engineering

Toli Shumi November 26, 2017 Reply

am very enterting to ur note

Anjali Nalang February 16, 2016 Reply

Thank you for giving such a wonderful information.

Sukalyan Sarkar December 24, 2015 Reply

Brilliant writing!

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