Iraq university

college
Civil Engineering
Department

Specific gravity by pycnometer

method

Name:- Ahmed jassim AL-musawi

Grope :- evening
Stage :- 3nd
Date :- / 7 / 2020
INTRODUCTION
Specific Gravity of Asphalt

Several AASHTO and ASTM standards govern the measurement of the

specific gravity of asphalt, also known as theoretical maximum specific
gravity, or simply the Rice Test. Test methods AASHTO T 209 and ASTM
D2041 determine theoretical maximum specific gravity and density values
used to calculate air voids in the compacted mix and establish targets for
compaction during laydown.

Objectives:
Determination of specific gravity for a given sample of asphalt.

Specification:
ASTM D70-76.

Used instruments:
1. Pycnomete
2. Sensitive balance
3. Distilled water.
4. Water path.
Procedure:
1. Clean the empty and dry pycnometer with the cover and take its
weight (W1).
2. Fill the pycnometer with distilled water (25°), then cover it and
dry the outer surface and take its weight (W2).
3. Empty the pycnometer from the distilled water and fill it with the
semi-solid asphalt to the half of the pycnometer or fill all of it with
the liquid asphalt.
4. Submerge the pyenometer with its content into water bath (259) to
reach the standard temperature of the test, then take the weight of the
pycnometer with sample and cover (W3).
5. Fill the remained space of the pycnometer with distilled water and
take its weight (W4) with the cover. 6. Clean the pycnometer and dry
it.

Discussion:
Q1. What is the objective for doing this test?
Ans: Determination of specific gravity for a given sample of asphalt.

specific gravity is used

(1) in the calculation of air voids in the compacted asphalt mixture,

(2) in calculating the amount of asphalt binder absorbed by the aggregate,

and

(3 ) to provide target values for the compaction of asphalt mixtures.

Q2. Explain the errors may happen when do this test?

Ans: problem with this method is that if a specimen’s air voids are high,
and thus potentially interconnected (for dense-graded HMA this occurs at
about 8 to 10 percent air voids), water quickly drains out of them as the
specimen is removed from its water bath, which results in an erroneously
low HMA sample volume measurement and thus an erroneously high bulk
specific gravity.

Q3.List the standard values for different kinds of asphaltic

material?
Ans:

0.93 – A liquid
0.99

1.01 or same solid

1.02

1.2 Solid