ROAD MATERIAL TESTING

BITUMEN TESTING
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Penetration Tests
Ductility Tests and Elastic Recovery
Softening Point Tests
Viscosity Tests
Specific Gravity Test
Flash and Fire Point Test
Solubility Test

AGGREGATE TESTING
1.
2.
3.
4.

Impact Test
Los Angeles Abrasion Test
Stripping Test
Crushing Test

Note: - The bitumen is semi-liquid in nature and it obtained from the fractional distillation of
crude petroleum. In factional distillation the various volatile constituents are separated at
successively higher temperatures without substantial chemical change. The successive fractions
obtained yield gasoline, naptha, kerosene and lubricating oil; the residue would be petroleum
bitumen.

1. Penetration Test
Aim: - To determine the Consistency of the bitumen.

Apparatus required: - Penetrometer apparatus, thermometer, stopwatch, transfer dish,

containers, and water cooling bath.
Figures:-

Procedure: 1. Soften the material to a pouring consistency at a temperature not more than 900C for bitumen
above the approximate softening point and stir it thoroughly until it is homogenous and is
free from air bubbles and water. Pour the melt into the container to a depth atleast 10-15mm
in excess of the expected penetration. Protect the sample from dust and allow it to cool in an
atmosphere at a temperature between 150 to 300C for one hour. Then place it along with the
transfer dish in the water bath at 25.00 0.10C and allow it to remain for 1hr to1hr 30min or
2hr. The test is carried out at 25.00 0.10C, unless otherwise stated.
2. Clean the needle with benzene, dry it and load with weight. The total moving load required
is 100gms, including the weight of the needle, carrier and super-imposed weights. After that
the sample container is taken out of water bath for testing.
3. Adjust the needle to make contact with the surface of the sample. This may be done by
placing the needle point with its image reflected by the surface of the bituminous material.
4. Make the pointer of the dial to read zero or note the initial dial reading.
5. Release the needle for exactly five seconds.
6. Adjust the penetration machine to measure the distance penetrated.

7. Make at least 3 reading at points on the surface of the sample not less than 10mm apart.
Other samples are then tested with same procedure stated above. The needle should be
cleaned with benzene and dried after each test.
Observation Table: Readings
Penetrometer dial initial
readings
Penetrometer dial final
readings
Penetration value @ 100g,
250C, 5 sec,1/10mm

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Mean value

51

53

53

53

Average value = 53(Grade VG 30 )

Result: - The penetration value of sample taken is 53. Hence the bitumen is of grade VG 30.

2. Ductility Test
A certain minimum ductility is necessary for a bitumen binder. This is because of
the temperature changes in bituminous mixes and the repeated deformations that occur in
flexible pavements due to the traffic loads. It is of significant importance that the binders
form ductile thin films around the aggregates. The binder material which does not possess

sufficient ductility would crack and thus provide previous pavement surface. This is in turn
results in damaging effect to the pavement structure. The ductility is expressed as the
distance in centimeters to which a standard briquette of bitumen can be stretched before the
thread breaks. The test is standardized by the IS: 1208. The test is conducted at 27O.5C
and a rate of pull of 502.5 mm per minute.
Aim: - To measure the adhesion property of bitumen and its ability to stretch.
Apparatus Required: - Briquette mould, (length 75mm, distance between clips 30mm,
width at mouth of clips 20mm, cross section at minimum width 10mm x 10mm), Ductility
machine with water bath and a pulling device at a pre calibrated rate, a putty knife,
thermometer.
Figures: Procedure: 1. Melt the bituminous test material completely at a temperature of 750 C to 1000 C above
the approximate softening point until it becomes thoroughly fluid
2. Strain the fluid through IS sieve 30.
3. After stirring the fluid, pour it in the mould assembly and place it on a brass plate
4. In order to prevent the material under test from sticking, coat the surface of the plate and
interior surface of the sides of the mould with mercury or by a mixture of equal parts of
glycerin and dextrin
5. After about 30 40 minutes, keep the plate assembly along with the sample in a water
bath. Maintain the temperature of the water bath at 270 C for half an hour.
6. Remove the sample and mould assembly from the water bath and trim the specimen by
leveling the surface using a hot knife.
7. Replace the mould assembly in water bath maintained at 270 C for 80 to 90 minutes
8. Remove the sides of the moulds
9. Hook the clips carefully on the machine without causing any initial strain
10. Adjust the pointer to read zero

11. Start the machine and pull two clips horizontally at a speed of 50mm per minute
12. Note the distance at which the bitumen thread of specimen breaks.
13. Record the observations in the proforma and compute the ductility value report the mean
of two observations, rounded to nearest whole number as the Ductility Value
Observations: Test Property

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Mean value

Ductility Value

71cm

75cm

75cm

75cm

Result: - The Ductility Value of the given sample is 75cm.

3. Softening Points Tests

Theory and Scope:
Bitumen does not suddenly change from solid to liquid state, but as the temperature
increase, it gradually becomes soften until it flows readily. The softening point is the temperature
at which the substance attains particular degree of softening under specified condition of test. For
bitumen it is usually determined by Ring and Ball apparatus. The test is conducted as per IS:
1205.
Aim: To determine the softening point of given paving bitumen as per IS: 1205.
Apparatus: Ring and Ball apparatus, Water bath with stirrer, Thermometer, Glycerin, etc. Steel
balls each of 9.5mm and weight of 2.50.08gm.
Figures:

Procedure:
1. Sample material is heated to a temperature between 75 and 100C above the
approximate softening point until it is completely fluid and is poured in heated rings
placed on the metal plate.
2. To avoid sticking of the bitumen to metal plate, coating is done to this with a solution of
glycerin and dextrin.
3. After cooling the rings in air for 30 minutes, the excess bitumen is trimmed and rings are
placed in the support.
4. At this time the temperature of distilled water is kept at 5C. This temperature IS
maintained for 15 minutes after which the balls are placed in position.
5. Then the temperature of water is raised at uniform rate of 5C per minute with a
controlled heating unit, until the bitumen softens and touches the bottom plate by sinking
of balls. At least two observations are made. For material whose softening point is above

80C, glycerin is used for heating medium and the starting temperature is 35C instead of
5C.
6. The temperature at the instant when each of the ball and sample touches the bottom plate
of support is recorded as softening point value
Observations: Observation Table
Test Property
0

Temperature( C) at which 1

Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Mean value

51.20

50.60

50.80

50.87

50.50

50.80

51.10

50.80

st

ball touches the bottom plate

Temperature (0C) at which 2nd
ball touches the bottom plate
Final Softening Point
0

temperature( C)

Average Value = 510C

Result: - The Softening Point the given bitumen sample is 510 C. softening point of the bitumen
shows the nature of bitumen (Bingham Plastic) at which point it start melting/ softening or at
which it attends sufficient degree of softening.