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INTERNATIONALJournal of Civil Engineering and

JOURNAL OFTechnology (IJCIET), ISSN 0976 –AND
CIVIL ENGINEERING 6308
(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), © IAEME
TECHNOLOGY (IJCIET)
ISSN 0976 – 6308 (Print)
ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online)
Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), pp. 208-214
IJCIET
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GRADING SYSTEM IN PAVING BITUMEN – AN INDIAN SCENARIO

Apparao G1*, Rajesh G2, Gopala Raju S.S.S.V1

1
Civil Engineering Department, GITAM University, Hyderabad-502329
2
Assistant Manager, AARVEE Associates, Hyderabad. - 500072

ABSTRACT
In India almost 90 per cent road network is occupied by bituminous pavements only.
Because bitumen is extensively used as the binding material and it prevents water
penetrating in to the structures. That to a rapid rate of development in every aspect of life
and it was dominated by construction boom, it resulted in increased traffic volumes,
pavement temperatures and higher than the design load magnitude; leads to the failure of
bituminous pavements. In fact, there is a huge gap in India between proper characterization
of bitumen and its execution in the industries true to the specifications and the aspirational
planning of creation of important public assets in the road sector whose durability and
serviceability is very important socioeconomic improvement of the country. This paper
gives an overview of paving bitumen grading system, characterization and the new
viscosity graded (VG) bitumen specifications has been compared with the old penetration
graded bitumen specification.
KEY WORDS: Bitumen, Flexible Pavements, Viscosity gardening, and Penetration.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
In India Viscosity Grading (VG) system has b e e n adopted for paving bitumen since
2006. And at the same time, the Bureau of Indian Standards has issued IS 73:2006
paving bitumen – specification (Third Revision), which specifies paving bitumen by
viscosity at 60 °C and 135 °C rather than the old system of grading paving bitumen by
penetration at 25 °C. But still in the specifications given in the Ministry of Road Transport
and Highways (MoRTH), so called orange book, does not revise its highway specifications
related to base and surface of bituminous grading. This paper gives an idea of characterization
of bitumen, merits and demerits of penetration and viscosity grading systems, and need to be
changes incorporated in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
specifications.

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(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), © IAEME

2.0 CHARACTERIZATION OF BITUMEN

Bitumen is available in variety of types and grades. To judge the suitability of

bitumen binders are most commonly characterized by their physical properties rather than its
chemical properties. For engineering and construction purposes, normally three physical
properties of bitumen are important;
2.1 Consistency
Consistency is the term used to measure its degree of stiffness a b i l i t y t o f l o w .
Bitumen is thermoplastic material which means it liquefy when heated and solidify
when cooled and its state of solidness (stiffness) or liquidness (i.e., ability to flow)
is very much temperature sensitive. Consistency of bitumen can be judged by some
empirical tests such as penetration, softening point, ductility etc. and also by testing the
fundamental property of bitumen such as viscosity.
2.2 Purity
Pure bitumen is completely soluble in solvents like carbon disulphide and carbon
tetrachloride. Hence any impurity in bitumen in the form of inert minerals, carbon etc. could
be quantitatively analysed by dissolving the samples of bitumen in any of the above
mentioned solvent.
2.3 Safety
Bitumen materials leave out volatiles at temperatures depending upon their grade.
These volatiles catch fire causing a flash. The definition of flash and fire points as given by
the Indian standards are as follows:
The flash point of a material is the lowest temperature at which the vapour of a
substance momentarily takes fire in the form of a flash under specified condition of test. The
fire point is the lowest temperature at which the material gets ignited and burns under
specified conditions of test.
Thus, it can be concluded that there is no point to grade bitumen on purity and safety
aspect. It is the consistency property of bitumen by which it can be graded.

3.0 OVERVIEW OF BITUMEN GRADING IN INDIA

The first Indian standard on the bitumen was first published in 1950 as
“Specification for asphaltic bitumen and fluxed native asphalt for road making purpose”: IS
73 which was revised in 1961 to change the grades of material and incorporate the
methods of test as per IS 1201 to IS 1220:1958 ‘Methods for testing tar and bitumen’.
In the first revision, the grades of fluxed native asphalt were deleted and essentially the
paving grades were included. Based on the revised methods of test in IS 1201 to IS
1220:1978 ‘Methods for testing tar and bituminous materials (first revision) and the additional
data that had become available, second revision was prepared in 1992. In this third revision
(IS: 73-2006) grading of bitumen’s is changed from penetration grade to viscosity grade. The
variability in performance at high temperatures can be addressed by adopting a viscosity-
graded bitumen specification (based on viscosity at 60°C) in lieu of the current penetration-
graded specification (based on penetration at 25°C). Since the viscosity-graded bitumen
specification has a requirement of minimum viscosity at 135°C, it will also be helpful in
minimizing the tender mix problems in the field.
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(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), © IAEME

Adoption of viscosity-graded paving bitumen specification will also reduce the

number of total tests to 7, which will reduce the cost of testing bitumen. This will result from
eliminating empirical tests/parameters such as – penetration ratio, paraffin wax content, and
Fraass breaking point without compromising the quality of bitumen.
Since high penetration values are desirable for pavement durability, requirement for a
minimum penetration value is adequate and has been retained in the viscosity-graded
specification. Specifying a maximum value for penetration is undesirable and will reject
some good quality bitumen’s unreasonably.

3.1 Grading Systems

Bituminous binders are most commonly characterized by their physical properties.
The challenge in physical property characterization is to develop physical tests that can
satisfactorily characterize key asphalt binder parameters and how these parameters change
throughout the life of an HMA pavement.
Rather than refer to an extensive list of its physical properties, asphalt binders are
typically categorized by one or more shorthand grading systems. These systems range from
simple penetration grading to complex Superpave performance grading and represent an
evolution in the ability to characterize asphalt binder.

3.1.1 Penetration Grading

The penetration grading system was developed in the early 1900s to characterize
the consistency of semi-solid asphalts. Grading of bitumen by penetration test at 25 °C was
adopted by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Committee D04 on
Road and Paving Materials in 1903. To quantify the Penetration grading the following
asphalt concrete characteristics are to be evaluated as per the standard IS: 73-1992;

! Penetration depth of a 100 g needle; 25° C

! Flash point, °C
! Softening point °C
! Penetration ratio
! Ductility at 25 °C, cm
! Paraffin wax content
! Fraass breaking point
! Solubility in trichloroethylene
! Loss on heating (TFOT)
! Retained penetration after Thin Film Oven Test (TFTO)
! Viscosity at 60 °C and 135 °C
! Water content
! Specific gravity at 27 °C

Penetration grading basic assumption is that the less viscous the asphalt, the deeper the
needle will penetrate. This penetration depth is empirically correlated with asphalt binder
performance. Therefore, asphalt binders with high penetration numbers (called "soft") are
used for cold climates while asphalt binders with low penetration numbers (called "hard")
are used for warm climates.

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(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), © IAEME

In figure 1, there are three, bitumen A, B & C whose penetration at 25oc is

same i.e., 65. But these bitumen are having different stiffness values at higher (say
60oC) temperature and at lower (say 4oc) temperature

The slope of the stiffness Vs. temperature curve is called temperature susceptibility.
Steeper is the slope, more will be the temperature susceptibility of the bitumen. In
fig 1, bitumen ‘C’ is most temperature susceptible , in other words more prone
to rutting at high temperature and more prone to cracking at low
temperatures (sue to higher stiffness) compares to bitumen ‘B’ and ‘A’.

Figure 1: Three 60-70 penetration grade bitumen’s with different stiffness’s at high and low
service temperatures

3.1.2 Viscosity grade

In the early 1960s an improved asphalt grading system was developed that
incorporated a rational scientific viscosity test. This scientific test replaced the empirical
penetration test as the key asphalt binder characterization. To quantify the Viscosity
grading the following asphalt concrete characteristics are evaluated based on the as
per IS: 73 - 2006;
! Absolute viscosity at 60 °C, poises
! Kinematic viscosity at 135 °C, cSt
! Flash point
! Solubility in trichloroethylene
! Penetration depth of a 100 g needle; 25° C
! Softening point
! Tests on residue from thin film oven tests/RTFOT;
! viscosity ratio at 60 °C and Ductility at 25 °C, cm

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(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), © IAEME

Viscosity is defined as inverse of fluidity. Viscosity thus defines the fluid property of
bituminous material. Viscosity is the general term for consistency and it is measure of
resistance to flow. Many researchers believe that grading of bitumen should be by absolute
viscosity in it’s instead of the conventional penetration units.
By measuring consistency at three different penetration, the range (minimum and
maximum temperatures (Figure 2) and specifying the ranges, values) for absolute viscosity
at 60oc, and the slope of temperatures Vs. stiffness curve i.e., the temperature susceptibility
of bitumen can be bound in a specified range which is the key for better performances.
Minimum value for kinematic viscosity at 135oc have been specified, which are more
rotational. As per given the in the table 1 the specifications of the Indian standard which is
IS: 73-2006 needs to be modified shortly.
Defining the range (minimum and maximum values) for penetration at 250C, minimum
value for absolute viscosity at 600C, and minimum value for kinematic viscosity at 1350C, the
temperature susceptibility of bitumen can be controlled in a better way towards better
performance. However, in ASTM D 3381 specification for viscosity graded asphalt binders,
the minimum value only for penetration, the range (minimum and maximum values) for
absolute viscosity at 60oc, and the minimum value for kinematic viscosity at 135oc have been
specified, which are more rotational. As per given the in the table 1 the specifications of the
Indian standard which is IS: 73-2006 needs to be modified shortly.

Figure 2: Graphical representation of viscosity-graded AC-30 (VG-30) bitumen

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(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), © IAEME

Table 1: Requirements for Paving Bitumen as per IS: 73-2006

Characteristics VG-10 VG-20 VG-30 VG-40

Absolute viscosity, 60 °C, poises, min 800 1600 2400 3200
Kinematic viscosity, 135 °C, cSt, min 250 300 350 400
Flash point, °C, min 220 220 220 220
Solubility in trichloroethylene, %, min 99.0 99.0 99.0 99.0
Penetration at 25 °C 80-100 60-80 50-70 40-60
Softening point, °C, min 40 45 47 50
Tests on residue from thin film oven test/RTFOT:
Viscosity ratio at 60 °C, max 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0
Ductility at 25 °C, cm, min, after thin film oven test 75 50 40 25

4.0 CONCLUSIONS

! The existing penetration grading system of bitumen has been replaced by viscosity
grading system in India based on improvement in the durability and serviceability
condition of the desired extent. For this, issues regarding improvement of the
specification and also manufacturing of bitumen true to that specification need to be
addressed.
! In view of modification and improvement of the current specification of IS : 73
(specification for paving grade bitumen), sample of bitumen are being collected from
all over the country in Indian Institutes , which are going through rigorous testing.
! In the specifications for the road and bridge works (fourth revision) addressed by the
MoRTH for section 500 which is guidelines for base and surface course of bituminous
layers given based on the penetration grading only. Though in the recent revision, these
specifications have been revised as per viscosity grading.

5.0 REFERENCES

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of Environmental Science and Engineering, Vol.49, No.1, pp.67-70
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3. Prithvi Singh Kandhal, P.S (2007), An overview of the viscosity grading system
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4. Rajib Chattaraj (2011) “Bitumen Grading system – from penetration grading to viscosity
grading – A step towards better quality control” ,“INDIAN HIGHWAYS”
5. MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) (2001). “Specification for Road
and Bridge Works”. Indian Roads Congress, New Delhi, Section 500, Bases and surface
courses for bitumen.
6. Kandhal, P. S (2005),“ Selection of Bitumen for Paving Highways”, Indian Roads
Congress, Indian Highways

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(Print), ISSN 0976 – 6316(Online) Volume 4, Issue 2, March - April (2013), © IAEME

7. Kandhal, P.S., L.D. Sandvig, and W.C. Koehler (1973), “Asphalt Viscosity Related
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Publication 532..
8. Kandhal, P.S. and M.E.Wenger (1975), “Asphalt Properties in Relation to Pavement
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11. Kandhal, P.S (1988)., “Low-Temperature Properties of Paving Asphalts”, TRB State-
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12. Kandhal, P.S. and W.C. Koehler (1987), “Effect of Rheological Properties of Asphalts on
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