UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Module Name: Concrete Tech. & Engineering Materials

Module Code: CIVE 1008 Y (1)

Student ID: 1310749, 1310372, 1315999, 1314488, 1315308

Name of Assessor: Mr. Cadersa

Signature of Assessor:

Date: 4/4/14

WRITTEN REPORT ASSESSMENT FORM

Marks allocated on a 40/ 60 basis
Remarks made with respect to guidance over page
PRESENTATION, STYLE, LANGUAGE (40%)
Remarks----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mark (max 40): -----CONTENT (60%)
Remarks----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Mark (max 60): ----OTHERS
Remarks-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total Mark (max 100): -----

Contents
1.

Spot test for bitumen................................................................................................................ 1

2.

Determination of softening point of Bitumen using the ring and ball apparatus. ................... 1

3.

Solubility of bitumen ............................................................................................................... 3

4.

Determining the ductility of bitumen ...................................................................................... 3

5.

Penetration testing on bituminous material ............................................................................. 4

References ....................................................................................................................................... 7

1. Spot test for bitumen.

Significance of spot test
The spot test is used to determine whether or not, bitumen has been damaged during processing
due to overheating. This damage, often called cracking, occurs because the actual molecules
are thermally broken apart. Cracked bitumen tend to be less ductile and more susceptible to
ageing effects.
Test procedure:
Basically, the spot test is a form of paper chromatography.

About 2 g of bitumen is dissolved in 10 ml of naphtha and 2 spots are put on a filter

paper, one at 1 hour and then the other at 24 hours after the solution has been prepared.

Conclusion
If the strains of the spots are uniform in colour, then the purity of bitumen is confirmed.
However, if cracked bitumen is present, the spots appear deeper in colour towards their centres
than that along the periphery.
Nowadays the spot test is rarely used and specified because, due to modern refining practices,
cracking is not easily caused.

2. Determination of softening point of Bitumen using the ring and ball

apparatus.
Purpose and significance of the test:
Bitumen does not have a fixed temperature where a change from solid to liquid state occurs.
Rather, there is a range of temperature within which the bitumen will be hard but gradually
softens with increase in temperature. The purpose of this test is to determine the temperature at
which a specified arbitrary consistency is reached. The test defines this consistency as the
temperature at which a steel ball of specified weight initially placed on a sample of bitumen falls
a distance of 25mm as the bitumen softens with increasing temperature.
The softening point test is a means of standardizing the hardness (or consistency) of bitumen
since any sample of bitumen has the same consistency at the softening point, the latter which will
vary.
The result of the test is often used in conjunction with the penetration result. Thus at a given
penetration, a high softening point means that the sample has a low temperature sensitivity.
1

The latter is important in the selection of bitumen for a particular purpose. If the temperature
during service is high, then a high softening point is desirable so that the bitumen binder does not
soften during service which may result in problems. For example a road can get deformed on
application of stresses during service affecting its structural performance or if used for
waterproofing; the bitumen can flow and make the structure more permeable.
Test procedure:

Figure 1.0: Apparatus set-up for the test. (Millard, 1993)

1. The two prepared samples of bitumen which have been fitted inside two respective brass
rings are placed in the medium as in figure 1.0 (Millard 1993). The medium is pure
distilled water if the softening point is expected below 80oC. Otherwise glycerine is used.
2. The whole assembly together with the rings and two steel balls are allowed to reach a
uniform temperature which is least 10oC below the expected softening point temperature
for at least 15 minutes. The steel balls should be placed at the bottom of the beaker and
not on the samples.
3. After this time, both steel balls are transferred onto the ball-centring guides by means of
forceps and the temperature is increased by heating the beaker. The temperature is raised
at a constant rate of 5oC per minute with continuous stirring of the medium using a
stirrer.
4. The temperature at which each bitumen sample just touches the bottom plate is recorded.
The bitumen sample cover a distance of 25mm since the bottom plate is 25mm below the
brass rings. The average temperature for the two recorded values is calculated.
2

5. The test is repeated a second time and the average temperature is again calculated. The
acceptable tolerances for the average temperature which is also the softening point will
depend on the type of bitumen and the medium used.

3. Solubility of bitumen
Pure bitumen is completely soluble in Carbon disulfide. A very little amount of purity can occur.
The contents of a bituminous compound are measured by its solubility in carbon disulfide. Thus
the solubility test is also a purity test for bitumen.
Test Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.

About 2g of bitumen is dissolved in 100ml of carbon disulphide.

The solution is filtered and the residue is retained.
The residue is dried and weighed.
The amount of bitumen is expressed as a percentage of the original weight of the sample.

However, carbon disulphide being highly flammable, trichloroethylene is used. The standard
solubility test using trichloroethylene is specified in ASTM D 2042.

4. Determining the ductility of bitumen

Introduction
In the flexible pavement construction where bitumen binders are used, it is of significant
importance that the binders form ductile thin films around the aggregates. This serves as a
satisfactory binder in improving the physical interlocking of the aggregates. This test determines
the amount of Tensile of bitumen (normal or Modified), which is very important for Road
designer to know how much is this value. The result of this test will show the amount of
elasticity and tensile strength of bitumen. Increasing this value will results the good properties of
bitumen and finally is better product for paving of road.

Apparatus:
1. Ductility machine
2. Briquette moulds.
3. Knife.

Figure 2.0: Ductility

machine
3

Test procedure:

(i) Melt the bituminous test material completely at a temperature of 75C to 100 C above the
approximate softening point until it becomes thoroughly fluid.
(ii) Strain the fluid through BS sieve 30.
(iii) After stirring the fluid, pour it in the mould assembly and place it on a brass plate. In order
to prevent the material under test from sticking, coat the surface of the plate and interior surfaces
of the sides of the mould with mercury or by a mixture of equal parts of glycerine and dextrine.
(iv) 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 27 C for half an hour.
(v) Remove the sample and mould assembly from the water bath and trim the specimen by
levelling the surface using a hot knife.
(vi) Replace the mould assembly in water bath for 80 to 90 minutes.
(vii) Remove the sides of the mould.
(viii)Hook the clips carefully on the machine without causing any initial strain.
(ix) Adjust the pointer to read zero.
(x) Start the machine and pull clips horizontally at a speed of 50 mm per minute.
(xi) Note the distance at which the bitumen thread of specimen breaks.

5. Penetration testing on bituminous material

Introduction
Penetration value is a measure of hardness or consistency of bituminous material. It is the
vertical distance traversed or penetrated by the point of a standard needle in to the bituminous
material under specific conditions of load, time and temperature. This distance is measured in
one tenths of a millimeter. This test is used for evaluating consistency of bitumen.
The penetration is defined as the distance travelled by the needle into the bitumen.

Apparatus:

Needle (of specified dimensions)

Container
Water Bath
Thermometer for Water Bath
Stop watch

Test Procedure:
1. Heat the sample until it becomes fluid.
2. Pour it in a container to a depth such that when cooled, the depth of sample is at least 10mm
greater than the expected penetration.
3. Allow it to cool in an atmospheric temperature.
4. Clean the needle and place a weight (usually 100g) above the needle.
5. Use the water bath to maintain the temperature (usually 25C) of specimen.
6. Mount the needle on bitumen, such that it should just touch the surface of bitumen.
7. Then start the stop watch and allow the penetration needle to penetrate freely at same time
for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds stop the penetration.
8. Result will be the grade of bitumen.
9. Take at least three reading

Figure 3.0: The penetration test

Errors that may be involved in experiment

Poor sampling and sample preparation

Badly maintained apparatus and needle(s)
Incorrect temperature and timing

Precautions and accuracy

Temperature control to 0.1C

Needles to be checked for straightness and cleanliness
5

Automatic timing devices are preferred

Results
An average of the three values obtained is done and recorded to the nearest whole unit. The
recorded penetration is valid if the recorded values are within a certain range from each other.
The acceptable repeatability and reproducibility quoted in BS 1426:2000 for the penetration test
are as follows:
Repeatability:
1. If penetration <50 2dmm(decimillimetre) range each value must lie
2. If penetration 50 4% of the mean of the two results
Reproducibility
1. If penetration <50 4dmm range each value must lie
2. If penetration 50 8% of the mean of the two results

References
Nanyang Technological University, Laboratory Pavement materials. Available from:
http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/cts/tlab/002.pdf [Accessed 30 March 2014]
Read, J. and Whiteoak, D., 2003. The Shell Bitumen Handbook.5th ed. London: Thomas Telford
Publishing.
Professor Mang Tia, Bituminous Materials, viewed on 3rd April 2014,
http://nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/~tia/Bituminous-Materials.pdf
Civil Quality Control Lab - Ductility Test. Available From:
HTTP://CIVILQCLAB.BLOGSPOT.COM/2011/02/DUCTILITY-TEST-1208-1978.HTML
[ACCESSED DATE 02/04/14]
The CONSTRUCTOR CIVIL ENGINEERING HOME - Ductility of Bitumen. Available From:
http://theconstructor.org/practical-guide/ductility-of-bitumen/2569/
[ACCESSED DATE 02/04/14]
Read John, Whiteoak David, The Shell Bitumen Handbook
http://www.aboutcivil.org/to-perform-penetration-test-on%20Bitumen.html