DRAFT FOR DEVELOPMENT DD 213:1993

Method for

Determination of the
indirect tensile
stiffness modulus of
bituminous mixtures
DD 213:1993

Committees responsible for this

Draft for Development

The preparation of this Draft for Development was entrusted by Technical

Committee B/510, Road Materials, to Subcommittee B/510/1, Coated macadam
and hot asphalt, upon which the following bodies were represented:

British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries

British Civil Engineering Test Equipment Manufacturers’ Association
County Surveyors’ Society
Department of the Environment (Property Services Agency)
Department of Transport
Department of Transport (Transport and Road Research Laboratory)
Institute of Asphalt Technology
Institute of Petroleum
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Highways and Transportation
Low Temperature Coal Distillers’ Association of Great Britain Ltd.
Mastic Asphalt Council and Employers’ Federation
Mastic Asphalt Producers’ Association
Refined Bitumen Association Ltd.
Sand and Gravel Association Limited
Society of Chemical Industry

This Draft for Development,

having been prepared under
the direction of Technical
Committee B/510, was
published under the
authority of the Standards
Board and comes
into effect on
Amendments issued since publication
15 December 1993
Amd. No. Date Comments
© BSI 02-2000

The following BSI reference

relates to the work on this
Draft for Development:
Committee reference B/510/1

ISBN 0 580 21582 2

 DD 213:1993

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Apparatus 1
5 Calibration check 5
6 Test specimens 5
7 Conditioning and testing temperature 5
8 Test procedure 6
9 Test report 7
Annex A (informative) Proposed new text for 8.2.2 9
Figure 1 — Test equipment for determination of indirect tensile stiffness 2
Figure 2 — Form of load pulse, showing the rise-time and peak load 3
Figure 3 — Arrangement for measuring horizontal diametral deformation 4
Figure 4 — LVDT alignment jig 6
Figure 5 — Example of a computer generated test report 8
Table 1 — Dimensions of loading platens 1
Table 2 — Poisson’s ratio for calculation of stiffness modulus 7
List of references Inside back cover

© BSI 02-2000 i
DD 213:1993

Foreword

This Draft for Development has been prepared under the direction of Technical
Committee B/510. It describes a procedure for determining the indirect tensile
stiffness modulus of bituminous materials. There is a need to have such a test
method in a standard form so that the method can be used to control and check
the performance of bituminous materials as supplied and laid.
This publication is not to be regarded as a British Standard
It is being issued in the Draft for Development series of publications and is of a
provisional nature because up to the present individual laboratories have used
their own equipment and it is now desired to standardize apparatus and
procedure so that direct comparison can be made between laboratories. It should
be applied on this provisional basis, so that information and experience of its
practical application may be obtained.
A review of this Draft for Development will be carried out not later than two years
after its publication. Notification of the start of the review period, with a request
for the submission of comments from the users of this Draft for Development, will
be made in an announcement in the appropriate issue of BSI News.
According to the replies received, the responsible BSI Committee will judge
whether the Draft for Development can be converted into a British Standard or
what other action should be taken.
Observations which it is felt should receive attention before the official call for
comments will be welcomed.
These should be sent to the Secretary of BSI Technical Committee B/510/1 at the
BSI Head Office address as shown on the back cover.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 10, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 02-2000
 DD 213:1993

1 Scope
This Draft for Development describes a method for
measuring the indirect tensile stiffness modulus of
bituminous mixtures. The method is applicable to
cylindrical test specimens having a thickness
between 30 mm and 80 mm.
2 References
2.1 Normative references
This Draft for Development incorporates, by
reference, provisions from specific editions of other
publications. These normative references are cited
at the appropriate points in the text and the
publications are listed on the inside back cover.
Subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of
these publications apply to this Draft for
Development only when incorporated in it by
updating or revision.
2.2 Informative references
This Draft for Development refers to other
publications that provide information or guidance.
Editions of these publications current at the time of
issue of this Draft for Development are listed on the
inside back cover, but reference should be made to
the latest editions.
3 Definitions
For the purposes of this Draft for Development the
following definition applies.
indirect tensile stiffness modulus (Sm) in MPa
where:
L is the peak value of the applied vertical load
(in N);
D is the peak horizontal diametral deformation
resulting from the applied load (in mm);
t is the mean thickness of the test specimen
(in mm);
v is the value of Poisson’s ratio for the
bituminous mixture at the temperature of
test.
4 Apparatus
4.1 Thermometer or thermocouple, of appropriate
range, which is accurate to and can be read
to ± 0.5 °C for determining the temperature of the
test specimen or the storage and test environment.
4.2 Steel rule, conforming to BS 4372:1968,
with 1 mm graduations.
4.3 Straightedge, conforming to BS 5204-2:1977.
4.4 External callipers, capable of measuring
to ± 1 mm.
4.5 Glass plate; or
4.6 Steel plate, with the upper surface not deviating
from flatness by more that 0.03 mm over the width,
a surface texture not exceeding 3.2 4m roughness
average when determined in accordance with
BS 1134-1:1988, and a Rockwell (scale B) hardness
value of at least 95 when tested in accordance with
BS 891:1989.
NOTE Indentations on the plate face resulting from the
hardness test are acceptable. Capping plates conforming to
BS 1881-120 are suitable.
4.7 Jig, to hold a cylinder of test material for cutting
of test specimens.
4.8 Saw, capable of cutting and trimming test
specimens to the required dimensions.
NOTE A diamond-tipped saw blade is recommended. A
grinding and polishing wheel has also been found to be of
assistance in end-preparation.
4.9 Test equipment, comprising the following.
4.9.1 Steel load frame, as shown in Figure 1.
4.9.2 Two stainless steel loading platens, having
concave loading faces and with a radius of curvature
equal to the nominal radius of the test specimen and
of dimensions as given in Table 1. The lower platen
shall be securely fixed to the load frame and the
upper platen shall be connected to the loading
system via a spherical seating.
Table 1 — Dimensions of loading platens
Dimensions in millimetres
Nominal Depth of
Width of Length of
specimen
loading face loading face
concave
diameter segment
100 12.5 ± 1 80 0.4 ± 0.05
150 19 ± 1 80 0.6 ± 0.05
200 25 ± 1 80 0.8 ± 0.05

© BSI 02-2000 1
DD 213:1993

Figure 1 — Test equipment for determination of indirect tensile stiffness

2 © BSI 02-2000

4.9.3 Loading system, incorporating a pneumatic
load actuator (see Figure 1), by means of which a
load can be applied vertically across the diameter of
the test specimen via the loading platens. The load
actuator shall be capable of applying a load pulse, of
the form shown in Figure 2, to the test specimen.
The rise-time, measured from when the load pulse
commences and which is the time taken for the
applied load to increase from zero to maximum
value, shall be 124 ms ± 4 ms. The peak load value
shall be adjusted to achieve a peak transient
horizontal diametral deformation of at least 5 4m.
The applied load shall be measured to ± 2 %, using
a load cell calibrated in accordance with
BS 1610-1:1992, for a grade 2 machine.
NOTE 1 The specified rise-time is 124 ms ± 4 ms, however,
other rise-times may be used. The load pulse applied is selected
to achieve a transient peak horizontal deformation. UK
experience indicates suitable values of peak horizontal
deformation are 7 4m ± 2 4m for a 150 mm nominal diameter
specimen and 5 4m ± 2 4m for a 100 mm nominal diameter
specimen, although, with some materials, other values of peak
horizontal deformation may be required to generate adequate
load and deformation response.
Figure 2 — Form of load pulse, showing the rise-time and peak load
© BSI 02-2000
DD 213:1993
NOTE 2 When the stiffness modulus of a material is relatively
high, the loading time short, or the test temperature low, the
capacity of the loading system may be insufficient to generate the
specified horizontal load and deformation. In this instance, a
smaller diameter sample or a reduced sample thickness may be
required.
4.10 Deformation measurement system, capable of
measuring the peak transient horizontal diametral
deformation of the test specimen, resulting from the
load pulse across a diameter of the specimen,
perpendicular to the direction of load pulse
application.
The accuracy of measurement shall be better
than 1 4m over the range ± 0.1 mm. The recorded
peak transient horizontal diametral deformation
shall be the change in horizontal diameter of the
specimen due to the applied load pulse.
The arrangement for measuring horizontal
diametral deformation is shown in Figure 3. Two
linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs) are
mounted diametrically opposite one another in a
rigid frame clamped to the test specimen. The frame
shall not distort when the clamps are applied to the
specimen and it shall not be supported during the
test.
NOTE It may be necessary to use disc ended LVDTs for testing
open graded materials.
3
DD 213:1993

Figure 3 — Arrangement for measuring horizontal diametral deformation

4 © BSI 02-2000

4.11 Recording equipment, comprising a digital
interface unit connected to a microcomputer, which
monitors and records the electrical signals from the
load actuator and LVDTs. The equipment shall
record the load pulse and the resulting transient
peak horizontal diametral deformation for the
duration of each load pulse at a frequency such that
the rise-time can be determined.
4.12 Constant temperature enclosure, consisting of a
cabinet or a suitable room with forced air
circulation, in which the test specimens can be
conditioned and in which the test can be performed.
NOTE 1 It is easier to maintain a constant temperature
throughout the specimen if the test equipment is placed in the
constant temperature enclosure.
NOTE 2 The enclosure should be large enough to house at least
two test specimens and the test equipment.
5 Calibration check
The calibration of the equipment shall be checked,
at room temperature, at least once on each day
testing is performed using a steel annulus in place
of a test specimen. The calibration shall be deemed
acceptable if the ratio between the mean peak load
and the mean peak horizontal diametral
deformation of the annulus, produced by a series of
five transient loads of peak value is within 2 % of
the previously recorded value for the annulus. If the
value determined is outside this range, the
deformation measuring devices and the load
measurement system shall be checked individually
against certified standards and replaced or
corrected as required.
The value for the annulus shall be determined
immediately following a load cell and deformation
transducer calibration to provide the standard value
for comparison purposes. A record shall be kept of
the results of each calibration check, together with
a note of the action taken.
6 Test specimens
6.1 Preparation
Using the saw, trim the core of material submitted
for test, of nominal
diameter 100 mm ± 5 mm, 150 mm ± 5 mm
or 200 mm ± 5 mm, to form a nominal right
cylinder. Remove precoated chippings by trimming
the core surface flush. Clamp the cylinder in the jig
and saw it into slices with a thickness in the
range 30 mm to 80 mm, each slice constituting a
test specimen. Ensure that the cut surfaces are
planar and smooth. No specimen shall contain an
interface between pavement layers. An interface
between pavement layers may form the upper or
lower surface of a specimen.
© BSI 02-2000
DD 213:1993
Measure the thickness of each test specimen as
follows. Place the specimen on the glass plate or the
steel plate. Place the straightedge across a diameter
and use the steel rule to measure the distance from
the straightedge to the plate, to the nearest
millimetre, at both sides of the specimen. Repeat
these measurements on two further diameters
spaced evenly around the test specimen (i.e. the
three diameters being approximately 60° apart). If
the difference between the smallest and the largest
of the six thickness measurements is more than 2 %
of the nominal diameter of the test specimen, the
specimen shall not be used.
Using the external calipers, make and record three
measurements of the diameter of each specimen to
the nearest millimetre. Make the measurements on
diameters evenly spread around the specimen
(i.e. approximately 60° apart).
NOTE 1 Test samples can be cored from a compacted pavement
layer, or from laboratory compacted slabs, or may be prepared in
suitable laboratory moulds.
NOTE 2 It is recommended that test specimens with a diameter
of at least 145 mm are used for mixes with a nominal maximum
aggregate size equal to or greater than 20 mm and that the
specimen thickness should be as close to the layer thickness as
possible, but not exceeding 80 mm.
NOTE 3 Test specimens can be prepared in the laboratory by
compacting materials into cylindrical moulds. It cannot be
inferred this method of preparation will give results identical to
or analogous to those obtained from specimens cut from a
compacted pavement layer.
6.2 Storage conditions
If it is necessary to store test specimens, they shall
be stored in a dry atmosphere (< 65 % r.h.) at a
temperature of 20 °C ± 5 °C. The storage
temperature shall be recorded to an accuracy
of + 2 °C. Specimens shall be stored on a flat face,
on a horizontal surface, and shall not be stacked.
NOTE Stiffness modulus values increase with time, while
storage temperature affects the rate of increase. If specimens are
stored for more than a short period before testing, it is
recommended that this be at 5 °C or less. While it is not yet
possible to specify an absolute period of time, a maximum storage
period of 4 days, before using the lower recommended
temperature, is suggested.
7 Conditioning and testing
temperature
The test specimen shall be removed from storage
and placed at the test temperature ± 1 °C or better
until measurements indicate that it has attained
the test temperature (see note 2). Alternatively,
store the test specimens at the specified test
temperature overnight. The specimen shall then
be moved into the constant temperature
enclosure (4.12) and the test performed
at 20 °C ± 0.5 °C. The test temperature shall be
recorded to an accuracy of ± 0.5 °C.
5
DD 213:1993

NOTE 1 The specified test temperature is 20 °C ± 0.5 °C, Place the upper loading platen centrally on the top
however, other test temperatures may be used. At higher test of the test specimen, and place the assembly
temperatures, some mixtures may exhibit excessive deformation
leading to collapse. centrally beneath the load actuator.
NOTE 2 It is convenient to measure temperatures within the Bring the deformation measuring devices to about
constant temperature enclosure by placing thermocouples on the
surface and in the centre of a dummy specimen and recording the
the middle portion of their operating ranges to
temperatures, testing taking place when uniform conditions are provide adequate travel on the transducers in either
achieved. The dummy specimen should have similar dimensions direction. Before applying a load to the specimen,
and composition to the test specimen. adjust the position of the alignment jig so it is not in
NOTE 3 Specimens may be stored, conditioned and tested
within the same enclosure where this suits the operational
contact with either the specimen or deformation
requirements of the laboratory. measuring devices.
Apply five conditioning load pulses to bed the test
8 Test procedure specimen on the loading platens and to enable the
8.1 Mounting the test specimen equipment to adjust the load to give the specified
horizontal diametral deformation.
Wipe the loading platens clean and inspect them to
check that they are not damaged. After bringing the
test specimen to the specified test temperature,
place it centrally in position on the lower platen.
Secure the deformation measurement system to the
specimen so that it is located symmetrically about
an axis through the centroid of the specimen and
perpendicular to the direction of loading and the
axis of symmetry of the specimen. Where this is
accomplished by LVDTs mounted in a frame, it can
be located using an alignment jig, as shown
in Figure 4.

Figure 4 — LVDT alignment jig

6 © BSI 02-2000

8.2 Measuring procedure
8.2.1 Bring the deformation measuring devices back
to about the middle portion of their operating ranges
to correct for any permanent deformation which
may have occurred during the conditioning load
pulses. Apply a further five load pulses to the
specimen and, for each load pulse application,
measure and record the peak load, peak horizontal
diametral deformation and rise time.
8.2.2 Using the mean of the five load pulses,
calculate the stiffness modulus for each load pulse
using equation 1, and taking the appropriate value
of Poisson’s ratio from Table 2.
Table 2 — Poisson’s ratio for calculation of
stiffness modulus
Test temperature Poisson’s ratio
°C
0 0.25
10 0.25
20 0.35
30 0.45
For tests carried out at intermediate temperatures,
use values of Poisson’s ratio determined by linear
interpolation, to the nearest 0.01.
NOTE Poisson’s ratio is dependent on stiffness modulus rather
than temperature. A proposed revision to 8.2.2 is currently under
consideration. The proposed new text is given in Annex A.
8.2.3 Remove the specimen from the test equipment,
rotate it through 90° ±10° about its horizontal axis,
and replace it according to the procedure given
in 8.1. Repeat the test and calculation in accordance
with 8.2.1 and 8.2.2.
If the mean value of the stiffness modulus from this
test is within 10 % of the mean value recorded for
the first test, calculate the mean for the two tests
and record this as the stiffness modulus of the
specimen.
If the difference between the two values is greater
than 10 %, repeat the test on the same specimen
along the same diameters. If the difference persists,
report the mean result for each diameter
individually.
NOTE The test can also be repeated across a diameter midway
between the first two diameters to obtain an improved
assessment of the degree of anisotropy of the material.
© BSI 02-2000
DD 213:1993
9 Test report
NOTE If the test is controlled by a microcomputer a printed test
report can be generated as shown in the example in Figure 5.
The test report shall include the following
information:
a) date of laying the material or age of the test
specimen at the time of test, place of sampling
and specimen identification;
b) test equipment used;
c) mean specimen diameter and thickness and
the composition, if known;
d) date, time and place of test;
e) storage and test temperature, rise time, peak
load and peak horizontal diametral deformation
(means for tests in both test specimen positions);
f) mean indirect tensile stiffness modulus
calculated in accordance with equation 1, the
value of Poisson’s ratio used for the calculation,
and whether the value of the stiffness modulus
has been adjusted in accordance with the
proposed revision given in Annex A.
g) name of person performing the test;
h) the number and date of this Draft for
Development, i.e. DD 213:1993;
i) whether or not a certificate of sampling is
available. If available, a copy of the certificate
shall be provided.
j) the following additional information if
available:
1) name of project;
2) name of supplier and source of material;
3) date of production of material;
4) specification of material;
5) test specimen orientation relative to traffic
direction, if known.
7
DD 213:1993

STIFFNESS MODULUS OF BITUMINOUS SPECIMEN

[DD 213:1993]
Date laid/moulded 2/1/91, pm
Date and time of testing 8/1/91, 10:21
Equipment type NAT
Specimen identification BTR10/a
Date and time of sampling 3/1/91, am
Location sample taken from A19
Project name A19 Junction Improvement
Mean specimen diameter (mm) 150
Mean specimen thickness (mm) 56
Storage temperature (°C) 20
Test temperature (°C) 20
Specimen age at test 6 days
Poisson’s ratio 0.35
TEST RESULT Test specimen position Mean result
1 2
Load rise time (ms) 126 123 124.5
Peak load (N) 1640 1620 1630
Peak deformation (mm) 0.0187 0.0189 0.0188
Stiffness modulus (MPa) 3050 2970 3010

Figure 5 — Example of computer generated test report

8 © BSI 02-2000
 DD 213:1993

Annex A (informative) c) If Sm,0.35 is in the range 4 000 MPa up to and

Proposed new text for 8.2.2
Assuming a value of Poisson’s ratio of 0.35,
calculate the stiffness modulus, Sm,0.35, in MPa,
using equation 1 (see note). Then calculate an
adjusted value of the stiffness modulus, Sm, in MPa
using equation 2, 3 or 4 as applicable.
a) If Sm,0.35 is less than 4 000 MPa,
including 20 000 MPa,
Sm = Sm, 0.35 (1.4 – 3.75 × 10–5 Sm,0.35) (4)
When reporting this result, record that it is an
adjusted stiffness modulus.
NOTE Substitute Sm, 0.35 for Sm in equation 1. If the proposed
new text is adopted, clause 3 and equation 1 will be modified
accordingly.

Sm = Sm,0.35 × 1.25 (2)

b) If Sm,0.35 is greater than 20 000 MPa,

Sm = Sm,0.35 × 0.65 (3)

© BSI 02-2000 9
10 blank
 DD 213:1993

List of references (see clause 2)

Normative references

BSI standards publications

BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, London

BS 891:1989, Methods for hardness test (Rockwell method) and for verification of hardness testing machines
(Rockwell method).
BS 1134, Assessment of surface texture.
BS 1134-1:1988, Methods and instrumentation.
BS 1610, Materials testing machines and force verification equipment.
BS 1610-1:1992, Specification for the grading of the forces applied by materials testing machines when used
in the compression mode.
BS 4372:1968, Specification for engineers’ steel measuring rules.
BS 5204, Specification for straightedges.
BS 5204-2:1977, Steel or granite straightedges of rectangular section.

Informative references
BSI standards publications
BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION, London

BS 1881, Testing concrete.

BS 1881-120:1983, Method for determination of the compressive strength of concrete cores.

© BSI 02-2000
DD 213:1993

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