BS EN 12697‑8:2018

BSI Standards Publication

Bituminous mixtures - Test methods

Part 8: Determination of void characteristics of bituminous specimens

BS EN 12697‑8:2018 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 12697‑8:2018. It
supersedes BS EN 12697‑8:2003, which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee B/510/1, Asphalt products.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions
of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
© The British Standards Institution 2019
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2019
ISBN 978 0 580 98605 5
ICS 93.080.20
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 January 2019.

Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication

Date Text affected
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 12697‑8
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM December 2018

ICS 93.080.20 Supersedes EN 12697‑8:2003

English Version

Bituminous mixtures - Test methods - Part

8: Determination of void characteristics of
bituminous specimens
Matériaux enrobés - Méthodes d'essai - Asphalt - Prüfverfahren - Teil 8: Bestimmung
Partie 8: Détermination de la teneur en vides von volumetrischen Charakteristiken
caractéristiques des matériaux bitumineux von Asphalt-Probekörpern

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 9 November 2018.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving
this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical
references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre
or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language
made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2018 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12697‑8:2018: E
worldwide for CEN national Members
BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

Contents Page

European foreword............................................................................................................................................................................................................. iii

1 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
2 Normative references....................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
3 Terms and definitions...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
4 Determination of the air voids content (Va).............................................................................................................................. 6
4.1 Principle......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Calculation................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
4.3 Precision........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
4.4 Test report.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5 Determination of the percentage of the voids in the mineral aggregate filled
with binder.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
5.1 Principle......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
5.1.1 Mixtures without additives (VFB)...................................................................................................................... 7
5.1.2 Mixtures with additives (VFBad)......................................................................................................................... 7
5.2 Calculation................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
5.2.1 Mixtures without additives...................................................................................................................................... 8
5.2.2 Mixtures with additives.............................................................................................................................................. 8
5.3 Precision........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9
5.4 Test report.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

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 BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

European foreword
This document (EN 12697‑8:2018) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 227 “Road
materials”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2019 and conflicting national standards shall be
withdrawn at the latest by June 2019.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 12697‑8:2003.
The following is a list of significant technical changes since the previous edition:
— The series title no longer makes the method exclusively for hot mix asphalt;
— [General] For clarity, “v/v” and “m/m” is replaced by “by volume” and “by mass”;
— [General] Change of indices in symbols for void content, binder density and binder content;
— [1] clarification that specimens cut from the pavement or from laboratory compacted slabs can be
by either coring or sawing;
— [2] EN 12697‑7 added. Also in [4.3];
— [3.3] The term “bituminous material” amended to “bituminous mixture” to be in line with other parts;
— [3.6] New term and definition of VMAad inserted (void including additives in the mineral aggregate).
Following sub-clause renumbered;
— [3.8] New term and definition of VFBad inserted (voids filled with binder and additives;
— [4.1] clarification added in for mixtures with water in their composition that the bulk density refers
to its dry bulk density;
— [4.2] Excessive text: “% by volume” deleted in Formula (1);
— [4.2] Key for Va: The word “mixture” is replaced with “bituminous specimen” to be in line with
definition [3.2] and [4.1] Principle;
— [4.2] and [5.2] Change of units from kg/m3 into Mg/m3;
— [4.3] Formula (2) including related text deleted for consistency with other parts. Following formulas
renumbered accordingly;
— [5.1] Principle for mixtures without additives now described in new sub-clause [5.1.1]. New sub-
clause added for mixtures with additives [5.1.2];
— [5.2] Calculation for mixtures without additives now described in new sub-clause [5.2.1]. New sub-
clause added for calculation of mixtures with additives [5.2.2];
— [5.2.2] Excessive text: “%” deleted in Formula (4);
— [5.4] dimension of specimen to the nearest 0,1 mm (if measured) added to results.
A list of all parts in the EN 12697 series can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,

 iii
BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
the United Kingdom.

iv
 BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

1 Scope
This document describes a procedure for calculating volumetric characteristics of a compacted
bituminous specimen: the air voids content (Va), the voids content in the mineral aggregate filled with
binder (VFB) and the voids content in the mineral aggregate filled with binder and additives (VFBad) for
the case of mixtures containing additives in their composition.
The method is suitable for specimens which are laboratory compacted or specimens cut from
the pavement after placement and compacting or from laboratory compacted slabs, either by
coring or sawing.
These volumetric characteristics can be used as mix design criteria or as parameters for evaluating the
mixture after placing and compacting in the road.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 12697‑5, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods — Part 5: Determination of the maximum density
EN 12697‑6, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods for hot mix asphalt — Part 6: Determination of bulk
density of bituminous specimens
EN 12697‑7, Bituminous mixtures — Test methods for hot mix asphalt — Part 7: Determination of bulk
density of bituminous specimens by gamma rays

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— Electropedia I.E.C. available at http://www.electropedia.org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
air void
pocket of air between the bitumen-coated aggregate particles (including any existing additives) in a
compacted bituminous specimen
3.2
air voids content
Va
volume of the air voids in a bituminous specimen, expressed as a percentage of the total volume of
that specimen
3.3
maximum density
ρm
mass per unit volume without air voids of the bituminous mixture
3.4
bulk density
ρb
mass per unit volume including the air voids of a specimen

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BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

3.5
void in the mineral aggregate
VMA
volume of inter-granular void space between the aggregate particles of a compacted bituminous
mixture that includes the air voids and the volume of the bituminous binder in the specimen
NOTE The absorbency of binder by the aggregate can lead to an over estimation of the air voids content. The level
of absorbency depends on the porosity of the aggregate.

3.6
void including additives in the mineral aggregate
VMA ad
volume of inter-granular void space between the aggregate particles of a compacted bituminous
mixture that includes the air voids, the volume of the bituminous binder and the volume of additives, in
the specimen
3.7
voids filled with binder
VFB
percentage of the voids in the mineral aggregate filled with binder (for mixtures not containing additives)
3.8
voids filled with binder and with additives
VFB ad
percentage of the voids in the mineral aggregate filled with binder and additives (for mixtures with
additives in their composition)

4 Determination of the air voids content (Va)

4.1 Principle
The air voids content of a bituminous specimen is calculated using the maximum density of the mixture
and the bulk density of the specimen. For mixtures with water in their composition (e.g. mixtures
produced with bituminous emulsion or foamed bitumen), the bulk density of the specimen shall refer to
its dry bulk density.

4.2 Calculation
The air voids content shall be calculated to the nearest 0,1 % (by volume) as follows:

(1)

where
Va is the air voids content of the bituminous specimen, in 0,1 percent (by volume);
ρm is the maximum density of the mixture, in megagrams per cubic metre (Mg/m3);
ρb is the bulk density of the specimen, in megagrams per cubic metre (Mg/m3).

4.3 Precision
From the average values of σr and σR as obtained in tests on hot asphalt mixtures according to
EN 12697‑5, and EN 12697‑6 or EN 12697‑7 this results in the following values for the air voids content
calculation:
Repeatability r:

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 BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

Standard deviation: σr = 0,4 % (by volume);

Repeatability: r = 2,77 × σr = 1,1 % (by volume)

Reproducibility R:

Standard deviation: σR = 0,8 % (by volume);

Reproducibility: R = 2,77 × σR = 2,2 % (by volume).

4.4 Test report

With reference to this European Standard, the test report for the determination of the air voids content
(Va) shall include the following information:
a) origin of the specimen;
b) type of mixture and identification of additives, if any;
c) dimensions of the specimen in 0,1 millimetres (when measured);
d) methods used to determine maximum density and bulk density;
e) maximum density and bulk density, in megagrams per cubic metre;
f) air voids content in percent to 0,1 % (by volume).

5 Determination of the percentage of the voids in the mineral aggregate

filled with binder

5.1 Principle

5.1.1 Mixtures without additives (VFB)

The percentage of the voids in the mineral aggregate of a bituminous specimen (without additives)
filled with binder is calculated from the binder content, the voids in the mineral aggregate, the bulk
density of the specimen and the density of the binder.

5.1.2 Mixtures with additives (VFBad)

For mixtures with a known content and density of additives in their composition the percentage of the
voids in the mineral aggregate of a bituminous specimen filled with binder and additives is calculated
from the binder content, the additives content, the voids in the mineral aggregate, the bulk density of
the specimen, the density of the binder and the density of the additives.

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BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

5.2 Calculation

5.2.1 Mixtures without additives

The percentage of the voids in the aggregate filled with binder (VFB) shall be calculated to the nearest
0,1 % (by volume) as follows:

(2)

VMA (see Figure 1) shall be calculated to the nearest 0,1 % (by volume) as follows:

(3)

5.2.2 Mixtures with additives

The percentage of the voids in the aggregate filled with binder and additives (VFBad) shall be calculated
to the nearest 0,1 % (in volume) as follows:

(4)

VMAad (see Figure 1) shall be calculated to the nearest 0,1 % (by volume) as follows:

(5)

where

VFBad is the percentage of the voids in the mineral aggregate filled with binder and additive in 0,1 %
(by volume);

8 
 BS EN 12697‑8:2018
EN 12697‑8:2018 (E)

B is the percentage of binder in the specimen (in 100 % mixture) in 0,1 % (by mass);

ρb is the bulk density of the specimen, in megagram per cubic metre (Mg/m3);

ρB is the density of the binder, in megagram per cubic metre (Mg/m3);

Pad,i is the percentage of additive i in the specimen (in 100 % mixture) in 0,1 % (by mass);

ρad,i is the density of the additive i, in megagram per cubic metre (Mg/m3);

VMAad is the voids content in the mineral aggregate in 0,1 % (by volume) for mixtures containing
additives;

Va is the air voids content of the specimen in 0,1 % (by volume).

Key
1 voids
2 bitumen
3 mineral aggregate
4 additives

Figure 1 — Voids in the mineral aggregate (VMA or VMAad)

5.3 Precision
No precision data are available.

5.4 Test report

With reference to this European Standard, the test report for the determination of the percentage of
the voids in the mineral aggregate filled with binder (VFB) or with binder and additive (VFBad) shall
include the following information:
a) origin of the specimen;
b) type of mixture and identification of additives, if any;
c) dimensions of specimen used in 0,1 millimetres (when measured);
d) binder content (in the mixture) in 0,1 % (by mass);
e) additive content (in the mixture) in percent to 0,1 % (by mass), if required;
f) maximum and bulk density of the specimen, the densities of the binder and additives, if any, in
megagram per cubic metre;
g) method used to determine the bulk density;
h) percentage of voids in the mineral aggregate filled with binder in 0,1 % (by volume).

  9
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