Diagrams

1. Penetration Apparatus

2. Bitumen
Description of apparatus

Container
A flat bottomed cylindrical metallic dish 55 mm in diameter and 35 mm in depth is required.
If the penetration is of the order of 225 or more, dish of 70mm diameter and 45mm depth is
required

Needle
A straight, highly polished, cylindrical hard steel rod.

Water bath
Water bath maintained at 25° ± 0.1 °C, containing not less than 10 litres of water, the sample
being immersed to a depth not less than 100mm from top and supported on perforated shelf
not less than 50mm from bottom of the bath.

Transfer dish or tray

Should provide support to the container & should not rock it. It should be of such capacity as
to completely immerse container during test.

Penetration apparatus
Should be such that it allows needle to penetrate without much friction& is accurately
calibrated to give results in one tenth of a millimetre.

Thermometer

Range 0- 44 °C and in readable up to 0.20 C.

Time measuring device

With an accuracy of l second.
Procedure

1. The sample been heated with care, it has been stirring as soon as possible to prevent
local over-heating until it become sufficiently fluid to pour. Avoid incorporating
bubbles into samples.
2. The sample been poured into sample container to a depth such that, when cooled to
the depth of sample is at least 10mm greater than the depth to which the needle is
expected to penetrate.
3. Covers have been loosely for each container as a protection against dust and allow to
cool in the atmosphere for 1 to 1 ½ hour.
4. The sample been placed in the water bath for an hour at around 25oc of temperature.
5. The needle holder been examined and been guided to established the absence of water
and other extraneous matter.
6. A penetration needle has been cleaned with toluene or other suitable solvent, dry with
dried clean cloth and inserted the needle in the penetrometer.
7. The needle position has been slowly lowering it until its tip just makes contact with
the surface of the sample.
8. The reading of the penetrometer has been noted or brought the pointer to zero.
9. The needle holders have been quickly released for the specified period of time and
adjust the instrument to measure the distance penetrated in tenth of a millimetre.
10. At least made three determinations at points on the surface of the sample not less than
10mm from side of the container and not less than 10mm apart. The needle has been
cleaned before repeating the test.

References
https://www.scribd.com/doc/52856765/Lab-report.

Penetration Value of Bitumen -Determination for Road Construction. (2017, December 03).
Retrieved May 21, 2020, from https://theconstructor.org/building/building-
material/penetration-value-of-bitumen/1403/.
https://www.scribd.com/document/364037361/Cbr-Lab-Report.

https://fkasa.ump.edu.my/index.php/en/publications-downloads/pdf-files/laboratory-data-
sheet/highway-traffic-engineering-laboratoryc