FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

TITLE: QUALITY OF BITUMINOUS MATERIALS

1.0) INTRODUCTION

Unlike some substances bituminous materials do not have definite melting point.
Instead as the temperature rises, these materials slowly change from brittle or very
thick and slow-flowing materials to softer and less viscous liquids. For this reason, the
determination of ‘softening point’ must be made by a fixed, arbitrary and closely
defined method if results are to be comparable. Being very simple in concept and
equipment, the ring and ball test has remained a valuable consistency test for control in
refining operations, particularly in the production of air-blown bitumen. It is also on
indirect measure of viscosity or rather the temperature at which a given viscosity is
evident. The softening point value has particular significance for materials, which are to
be used as thick films, such as joint and crack fillers and roofing materials. A high
softening point ensures that they will now flow in service. For a bitumen of a give
penetration (determined at 25 ̊C), the higher the softening point the lower the
temperature sensitivity. Research has shown that, for conventional paving grade
bitumen, the Ring and Ball softening point temperature is the same as that which would
give a penetration of 800 d-mm. This, together with the penetration at 25 ̊C, can be
used to compute the Penetration Index.

2.0) OBJECTIVES
This laboratory is to determine the quality of bitumen used in flexible pavement.

3.0) PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Your firm has given a task to design a new asphalt road connecting to a new building
complex in the campus. One of the tasks required is to make sure that the material to
be used shall conform to the requirement in the standard given by the Jabatan Kerja
Raya (JKR). Your team is required to take a few samples of bitumen to the laboratory
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

and to determine the softening point of the samples using Ring and Ball apparatus and
the Penetration Index of the sample.

4.0) PROCEDURES:
A) Ring and Ball Test:
1. The sample were heated to a temperature between 75 and 100 ̊C above the
approximate softening point until it was completely fluid.
2. The sample then was placed in the brass ring and suspended in the water at the
given temperature.
3. The steel ball was placed on the sample and the water were heated with the
temperature increased by 5 ̊C per minute
4. Then, the temperature reading when the softened sample touched the metal
plate was taken. The temperature was noted as the softening point of the
bitumen.

Diagram of apparatus at the Diagram showing end of test

beginning of test.
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

B) Penetration Test
1. The three specimens of bitumen samples were prepared and placed in a water
bath for 1 to 1.5 hours before test.
2. For the test, the needle was positioned on the surface to the bitumen at right
angle, then, the load was applied for penetration for 5 s. The temperature of the
specimen was maintained at 25 ̊C.
3. Every specimen was tested for three determination on it.
4. The determinations were repeated by adjusting the needle 10 mm apart from
the contained before penetration.

5.0) MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

A) Ring-and-ball Test
1. Beaker
2. Thermometer
3. Stop watch
4. Bitumen holder
5. Ring and steel balls
6. Bitumen specimen
7. Heater

B) Penetration Test
1. Penetrometer
2. Bitumen specimens
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

6.0) RESULT AND ANALYSIS

A) Ring-and-ball Test

Time, t (min) Temperature (°C)

1 3
2 5
3 8
4 10
5 13
6 16
7 19
8 23
9 27
10 31
11 35
12 39
13 43
14 47
15 52
16 55 (R1)
17 56 (R2)
Table 1: Time Taken for the Bitumen to Touch Bottom Plate (min) and Temperature (°C)

R 1+ R 2
Softening point, IP =
2

Where R = Temperature reading upon the ball touches the bottom plate

55+56
Therefore, softening point, IP =
2

= 55.5°C

B) Penetration Test

Determination Penetration of Penetration Grade of Bitumen

no. Bitumen (x 0.01 mm) (Average Penetration)
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

1 140 1.40
2 86 0.86
94
3 56 0.56
Table 2: Penetration for grading of Bitumen Sample 1

Determination Penetration of Penetration Grade of Bitumen

no. Bitumen (x 0.01 mm) (Average Penetration)
1 96 0.96
2 63 0.63
68
3 44 0.44
Table 3: Penetration for grading of Bitumen Sample 2

Determination Penetration of Penetration Grade of Bitumen

no. Bitumen (x 0.01 mm) (Average Penetration)
1 94 0.94
2 72 0.72
76
3 61 0.61
Table 4: Penetration for grading of Bitumen Sample 3

Average Penetration of Sample 1+ Sample 2+ Sample 3

Mean Penetration Value =
3
94+68+ 76
=
3
= 79

From Nomograph, the penetration index (PI) of the tested bitumen is +1

7.0) DISCUSSION
The softening point is defined as the mean of the temperature at which the bitumen
disks often and sag downwards a distance 25 mm under the weight of a steel ball.
Meanwhile, the penetration test is commonly adopted test on bitumen to grade the
material in terms of its hardness. For this experiment, the Bitumen Penetration Grade or
PEN 60/70 is used which indicates that its penetration value lies between 60 to 70
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

according to ASTM D5 method. In fact, Bitumen penetration grade 60/70 is semi-hard

penetration grade bitumen using as paving grade bitumen suitable for road construction
and repair conjointly for the production of asphalt pavements with below technical
specifications. This grade of bitumen is mainly used in the manufacture of hot combine
asphalt for bases and wearing courses. Bitumen 60/70 is the most used bitumen grade
and basic material for all alternative bituminous products.

This experiment has been performed successfully and all the data has been
collected. The average of softening point temperature is 55.5 °C which is the mean of R 1
and R2 which are 55 °C and 56 °C respectively. The terms of R 1 and R2 indicates the
sagging of the bitumen under the weight of the steel. This softening point temperature
was stated to be accepted compared to bitumen grade 60/70 specification where the
softening point temperature around 49 to 56 °C. according to ASTM D36, Test Method
for Softening Point of Bitumen that shows in table below. With the result of the
softening point, this bitumen is suitable for road construction in Malaysia as the
temperature recorded are between 25 to 32 °C. This bitumen grade recommended to be
used for heavy traffic roads as classified under JKR Standard of 05-06. A harder grade
bitumen of 60/70 is recommended in order to achieve higher stability of mixture and to
lessen the possibility of bitumen bleeding or flushing at high temperatures.

Characteristics ASTM Test Penetration Grades

60 - 80 80 - 100
Method
Penetration at 25°C D5 60 - 80 80 - 100
(1/100)
Loss on heating (%) D6 Not more than 0.2 Not more than 0.5
Drop in penetration after D6/D5 Not more than 20 Not more than 20
heating (%)
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

Retained penetration after thin- D1754/D5 Not less than 52 Not less than 47
film over test (%)
Solubility in carbon disulphide or D2024 Not less than 99 Not less than 99
trichloroethylene (%)
Flash point (Cleveland open cup) D92 Not less than 250 Not less than 225
(°C)
Ductility at 25°C (cm) D113 Not less than 100 Not less than 100
Softening point (°C) D36 Not less than 48 & not Not less than 45 &
more than 56 not more than 52
Table 5: Bitumen properties (From ATJ 5/85 Manual on Pavement Design & ASTM D36 Test
Method for Softening Point of Bitumen – Ring & Ball Apparatus)

For penetration test, the mean penetration value obtained for three tested samples
is 79. This value seemly does not meet the range according to ASTM D5 method where
the penetration of the bitumen at 25 °C is in range of 60 to 70 and the grading of
bitumen may be change to PEN 60/80. However, this value of penetration still can be
accepted according to JKR’s Standard. Based on Standard Specification for Road Works
by Jabatan kerja Raya Malaysia, the accepted penetration lies between 60 to 200 of
bitumen grading. Thus, this bitumen also accepted for the road construction in Malaysia
where the description recommendation of this bitumen type for construction is same
stated in softening test above.

Some errors maybe occur during the experiment which the test was not conducted
in accurate temperature of 25 °C where the room natural ventilation and temperature
may different which cannot be adjusted. This happen to bitumen Sample 1 shows the
abnormalities of the reading for first penetration which recorded the value of 140 and
this is shows that the bitumen is still in soft condition not at 25 °C temperature. For third
penetration in Sample and 2 shows the value obtained drop drastically at grade 56 and
44 respectively. These shows that the dropping of temperature cause the time for
bitumen samples to cool and hardened faster. So, this test needs to be done well
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

quickly. Then, the needle also should be cleaned with benzene and dried before
penetration made to avoid the error of penetration reading.

A quantitative measure of the response of the bitumen material to a given

temperature is represented by Penetration Index Value (PI). So, the value of Penetration
Index obtained from the experiment is +1. The PI index for bitumen samples were
suitable used for roads accepted which have a value ranging from -2 to +2. When the PI
index is low, the bitumen behaves like Newtonian fluids, that they become very brittle
at lower temperatures. When the bitumen has a higher value of Penetration Index,
resistance to permanent deformation is improved. PI increases with the increase of
asphaltenes (at the expense of aromatics). So, the penetration index is affected by the
bitumen chemical composition to a larger extent.

8.0) CONCLUSION
To conclude, these two tests are important to determine the grade of the bitumen
and suitability of bitumen in different climatic conditions and types of construction. The
Ring-and Ball Test is determined with the determination of softening point that helps to
acknowledge the range of temperature that the bitumen sample should be heated for
the purpose of road construction. According to Table 2, the penetration grade obtained
(60/80) is the standard grade used for road construction in Malaysia. This is due to the
fact that the softening point affects the susceptibility of temperature. Bitumen with
higher softening point ensures that they will not flow throughout the presence of
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

bitumen as a part of the layers of pavement and is preferred to be used in road

construction in a warmer place like Malaysia.

For Penetration Test, the higher penetration bitumen is preferred for use in cold
climate and lower penetration is used in hot climate area. Thus, this 60/80 (or 60/70
from actual assumption) bitumen grade is suitable for such medium climate in Malaysia
as the softening point of bitumen is higher which able to prevent rutting with loaded
vehicles after construction.

The errors also should be overcome in order to obtain the best result and higher
accuracy to evaluate the stiffness of bitumen sample and determine the physical
properties of bitumen.

9.0) REFRENCES
 ASTM D5-2006 Standard test method for Penetration of Bituminous Materials.
 ASTM D36 Test Method for Softening Point of Bitumen (Ring and Ball Apparatus)
 Arahan Teknik (Jalan) 5/85 – Manual of Pavement Design
 http://rahaoil.com/bitumen-penetration-grade-60-70/
 https://theconstructor.org/transportation/viscosity-bituminous-materials-
measurements-factors/15935/
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

 https://cementconcrete.org/material-testing-guide/penetration-test-of-
bitumen/1216/

10.0) APPENDICES
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

Ri n
g-and-ball Apparatus Bitumen condition during initial time

Bi t
ume n

samples Penetrometer
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG LABORATORY REPORT

Mean penetration = 79
Softening point= 55.5 °C
PI = +1

Nomograph for the penetration index of bitumen