Introduction:

In most projects, it is needed to know the percent of

asphalt content used in the mixture, to know if it satisfy
the theoretical value obtained from calculations by
Marshall method for design, for this reason, the
quantitative extraction of asphalt from bituminous
concrete mixture is used, which separate the asphalt and
the aggregate from the mixture, to determine the asphalt
content.
The Engler viscosity of tar products test used for
determination of specific viscosity of tar and their fluid
products, which is useful in characterizing the consistency
of tar and tar distillates by measuring their flow
properties, which considered an empirical test.

Summary:

In the extraction of the asphalt, the concrete bituminous

mixture is placed in the centrifugal machine, and some
benzene is added to dissolve the asphalt and take it out
when the centrifugal machine work, only the aggregate
will remain, which gives the percent of aggregate in the
mixture and also the asphalt content, then the asphalt
percent is calculated by dividing the dry weight of
aggregate by total weight of mixture minus 100.
In the Engler specific viscosity of tar products, the time
is seconds is measured for a fixed volume of liquid
material to flow through an efflux tube under an
accurately reproducible head and at a closely controlled
temperature. The Engler specific viscosity is then
calculated by dividing the efflux time by the viscometer
calibration factor as determined by making the same
efflux measurement for water.

Objectives:
1) To be familiar with the quantitative extraction of
asphalt from bituminous concrete mixture.
2) Determination of the asphalt content in a ready
bituminous mixture sample.
3) Comparing the asphalt content with the specifications.
4) To be familiar with the Engler viscosity measurement.

5) Determination of the viscosity of a material like tar or

one of its products.

Material used:
Quantitative extraction of asphalt:
1) Concrete bituminous mixture sample.
2) Centrifugal machine.
3) Benzene.
4) Pan.
5) Spatula.
6) Balance.
7) Filter.
Engler viscosity for tar products:
1) Engler viscometer.
2) Cup.
3) Timer, (watch).
4) Stopper, to stop the flow of liquid.
5) Thermometer.
6) Flask.
7) The tar (or its product) that is wanted to find its
viscosity.

Laboratory work:

Quantitative extraction of asphalt:

1) Put the sample of concrete bituminous mixture in the
oven, so it can be divided into small pieces.
2) Take about 500 g of the sample and place it in the
centrifugal machine.
3) Add some benzene to the sample in the machine and
wait for about 10 minutes so the asphalt dissolve in
benzene.
4) Turn on the machine with slow speed, the benzene will
start to get out taking the asphalt with it, and we still
add benzene until the coming out benzene is pure and
has no asphalt dissolved in it.
5) Stop the machine, take the aggregate and put it in the
oven to evaporate the benzene.
6) Make sieve analysis for the aggregate on sieve No. 8
and No. 200 to know the percentages of coarse
aggregate, fine aggregate, and the filler, to check their
weight with the original. The asphalt weight equal the

original specimen weight minus the total aggregate

weight.
7) The asphalt content equal to weight of asphalt over
weight of total specimen.
Engler viscosity of tar products:
1) Sustain the temperature at 25C, using water placed in
the cup.
2) Use the water as the standard liquid to calibrate the
device, fill the cup with water, open the outlet tube, the
water will drop and fill a flask at the bottom of the
device.
3) Measure the time needed to fill the flask with water.
4) Empty the cup and the flask from water, and fill it with
or tar or any liquid wanted to measure its Engler
viscosity.
5) Open the outlet, and allow the liquid to flow and fill the
flask.
6) Measure the time needed to fill the flask.
7) Engler viscosity equal the time needed to fill the flask
with the liquid over the time needed to fill the flask with
water.

Test results:

Asphalt content for group 1 = 3.582%, initial AC = 4.0 %

Asphalt content for group 2 = 5.108%, initial AC = 5.0 %
Average Engler viscosity for the oil used = 11.54

Discussion:
The quantitative extraction of asphalt form concrete
bituminous mixture is very important test in the paving
projects, to see if the contractor use the right asphalt
percent in the mixture, for this reason, many samples
must be taken and tested, from different locations at
different times.
The viscosity can be defined as the resistance to flow of
a fluid, from this, it can be noticed that this test is used to
determine the consistency of a liquid material (asphalt
here), which affect mainly on the uses of the asphalt.
The results show that the asphalt content was less than
the initial asphalt content, for example, for group 1, it was

3.582 %, while the mixture were prepared on asphalt

content 4.0 %, which means that there is some errors in
the experiment, although, since the asphalt content was
the lowest for group 1 and the largest for group 4, which is
the same thing for the initial asphalt content, this refers
that the errors are repeated in all the groups specimen,
but in different amounts, which is indicated by the percent
of errors, where it increase with increasing the asphalt
content (see the appendix), because larger asphalt
content remain larger amount of asphalt in the aggregate,
and when aggregate weighted, some of the asphalt will be
calculated asphalt aggregate, which increase the percent
of aggregate and reduce the percent of asphalt.
The Engler viscosity was about 11.54, which represent
the consistency of the oil is 11.54 times the consistency of
the water, which means that the Engler viscosity is a
relative empirical measurement for the consistency with
respect to the water at a certain temperature (25C),
while on the other hand, there are many other formulated
viscosity, like absolute viscosity and kinematic viscosity,
and there are many other devices to measure the
viscosity, like CannonManning Vacuum Viscometer, and
Asphalt Institute Vacuum Viscometer.
The viscosity requirements change from area to area,
usually depending on the temperature, where high
temperature areas need high viscosity asphalt, to avoid
flowing if the temperature raise, while in cold areas, low
viscosity asphalt, to avoid low temperature cracking.
The errors in this experiment can be summarized as the
following:
1) The aggregate may sustain some asphalt, and not all of
asphalt dissolved in the benzene.
2) The temperature was not like in the standards, which is
25C.
3) The aggregate where placed in the oven for a short
time, while the evaporation of the benzene is not
ensured.
4) Errors in balance, since this experiment depend largely
on the weights.

Conclusion:

1) Quantitative extraction of asphalt from concrete

bituminous mixture is an opposite process for the
Marshall mix design, where the first is used to compare
the percent of asphalt in the mixture with the known
one, and the second is used to find the appropriate
percent of asphalt.
2) The Engler viscosity is an empirical measure for the
consistency of a fluid material compared relative to
water.
3) The quantitative extraction of asphalt is used in the
paving projects, and it must be done quickly, (with in 1
2 hour), to stop the work if the results is not acceptable.
4) The viscosity is usually (as penetration), to determine
the consistency of the asphalt, which gives an idea
about the right using of it.

References:

1) ASTM, D217276, D1665-83, pages (224227).

Appendix

Grou
p

Weight of
coarse
aggregate (g)

1
2
3
4

270.71
270.71
266.26
266.26

Weight of
fine
aggregate
(g)
190
190
194
194

Weight
of filler
(g)
18.88
18.88
12.5
12.5

Total weight
of
aggregate
(g)
479.59
479.59
472.76
472.76

Table 51: sieve analysis of aggregate.

Sample of calculation: group 3:
Total weight of aggregate = weight of coarse aggregate +
weight of fine

aggregate + weight
of filler
= 266.26 + 194 + 12.5
= 472.76 g
Table 52: calculation of asphalt content.
Group
Weight
Dry
Total
Weight
% of
of filter
weight
weight
of
asphalt
before
of filter
of
asphalt by total
test (g)
after
aggrega
(g)
weight
test (g)
te (g)
1
9.1
11.6
482.09
17.91
3.582
2
9.1
11.6
482.09
17.91
3.582
3
9.2
11.4
474.46
25.54
5.108
4
9.7
11.4
474.46
25.54
5.108
Sample of calculation: group 3:
Total weight of aggregate = weight of aggregate (table 5
1) + dry weight of
filter after test weight of filter
before test
= 479.59+ 11.6 9.1
= 482.09 g
Weight of asphalt = 500 total weight of aggregate
= 500 482.09
= 17.91 g
Asphalt content = weight of asphalt / total weight of
specimen * 100 %
= 17.91 / 500 * 100 %
= 3.582 %
Table 53: percentages of errors in determining asphalt
content
Group
Asphalt content Initial asphalt Percent error
from extraction
content (%)
(%)
(%)
1
3.582
4.0
10.45
2
3.582
4.0
10.45
3
5.108
5.0
1.02
4
5.108
5.0
1.02
Table 54: calculation of Engler viscosity.

Group

Time to fill 50 ml Time to fill 50

Viscosity
flask by water
ml flask by oil
(sec)
(sec)
1
14.3
165
11.54
2
14.3
165
11.54
3
14.3
165
11.54
4
14.3
165
11.54
Sample of calculation: group 3:
Viscosity = time to fill 50 ml flask by oil / time to fill 50 ml
flask by water
= 165 / 14.3
= 11.54
Average viscosity = 11.54