Pavement Engineering & Management (CEN15101)
TESTS ON BITUMEN
1. Penetration Test
• Significance:
Measures the hardness or consistency of bitumen at a standard temperature (25 °C). A
needle is allowed to penetrate the bitumen under a standard load (100 g) for 5 seconds.
o Lower penetration → harder grade (stiffer, more suitable for hot climates).
o Higher penetration → softer grade (better for colder climates).
• Typical Range:
o 30–40 (hard grade, hot regions)
o 60–70 (moderate grade, widely used in India)
o 80–100 (soft grade, colder regions)
• Unit: 1 penetration unit = 0.1 mm.
2. Softening Point Test (Ring and Ball Test)
• Significance:
Determines the temperature at which bitumen softens enough to allow a steel ball to
fall through it. Indicates temperature susceptibility.
o Higher softening point → bitumen better suited for hot climates (less likely to
bleed).
• Typical Range:
o 35–55 °C for paving bitumen.
o Polymer modified binders may have 60–80 °C.
3. Ductility Test
• Significance:
Measures the tensile property (ability to stretch before breaking). Indicates adhesive
property of bitumen with aggregates.
o High ductility → good binding and resistance to cracking.
• Typical Requirement:
o Minimum 75 cm at 27 °C for paving grade bitumen (as per IS:73).
o Modified binders may show much higher values.
4. Flash and Fire Point Test
• Significance:
Measures the safety temperature limits for heating bitumen.
o Flash Point: The lowest temperature at which vapors ignite momentarily.
o Fire Point: The temperature at which vapors burn continuously for ≥5 seconds.
o Ensures safe handling during heating and mixing in hot-mix plants.
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• Typical Range:
o Flash Point: 175–250 °C
o Fire Point: 230–300 °C
o IS requirement: Flash point not less than 220 °C for paving grade bitumen.
5. Stripping Value Test
• Significance:
Evaluates the adhesion of bitumen to aggregates in the presence of water. Water can
displace bitumen film leading to stripping and potholes.
o Carried out by coating aggregates with bitumen and immersing them in water.
o Percentage of aggregate surface where bitumen film is stripped off is noted.
• Typical Requirement:
o Minimum retained coating ≥ 95% (i.e., stripping ≤ 5%) for plain bitumen.
o With anti-stripping agents or lime treatment, adhesion must be improved.
In Summary
• Penetration test → hardness/consistency.
• Softening point test → temperature susceptibility.
• Ductility test → flexibility & adhesion.
• Flash & fire point test → safety in heating.
• Stripping value test → moisture susceptibility.
Bitumen Tests and Pavement Performance Requirements
1. Penetration Test – Hardness and Climate Suitability
• Performance Relevance:
o Determines the consistency of bitumen at service temperature.
o Affects rutting resistance (too soft → rutting in hot climates) and cracking
resistance (too hard → brittle in cold climates).
• Requirement for Pavement:
o In hot regions: harder grades (30/40) are preferred to resist deformation.
o In cold regions: softer grades (80/100) are preferred to avoid thermal cracking.
o Moderate climates: 60/70 grade is widely used.
• Connection to Pavement Performance:
o Proper penetration ensures balance between flexibility and stiffness, reducing
premature failures like bleeding, shoving, or low-temperature cracking.
2. Softening Point Test – Temperature Susceptibility
• Performance Relevance:
o Softening point indicates the temperature at which bitumen starts to flow.
o Critical for preventing bleeding, rutting, and binder drainage under high
summer temperatures.
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• Requirement for Pavement:
o Should be higher than the maximum pavement temperature expected in
service.
o For Indian conditions, softening point of 45–55 °C is typical for paving grade
bitumen.
o For modified binders and expressways, higher values (≥ 60 °C) are desirable.
• Connection to Pavement Performance:
o Higher softening point → less rutting, bleeding, and flushing in hot weather.
o Ensures thermal stability of the pavement surface.
3. Ductility Test – Adhesion and Flexibility
• Performance Relevance:
o Bitumen must be flexible enough to stretch with traffic loads and temperature
variations without breaking.
o Ensures good bonding with aggregates and reduces risk of fatigue cracking.
• Requirement for Pavement:
o IS:73 specifies minimum ductility of 75 cm at 27 °C for paving grades.
o High ductility is essential for surface courses exposed to repeated wheel loads.
• Connection to Pavement Performance:
o Good ductility → resistance to cracking, better aggregate coating, longer
pavement life.
o Low ductility → brittle pavements, leading to early fatigue or temperature-
induced cracks.
4. Flash and Fire Point Test – Safety and Stability During Mixing
• Performance Relevance:
o Determines the safe temperature range for heating and mixing bitumen with
aggregates.
o Overheating bitumen beyond flash/fire point causes hardening, oxidation, and
fire hazards.
• Requirement for Pavement:
o Flash point must be ≥ 220 °C (per IS standards) to ensure safety during hot-mix
preparation (mixing temp ~150–170 °C).
• Connection to Pavement Performance:
o Adequate flash/fire point ensures safe plant operation and prevents binder aging
due to overheating.
o Maintains designed binder properties, reducing risks of brittle pavements.
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5. Stripping Value Test – Moisture Susceptibility
• Performance Relevance:
o In wet conditions, water may displace bitumen from aggregates (called
stripping).
o Leads to potholes, raveling, and disintegration of the pavement.
• Requirement for Pavement:
o Retained coating should be ≥ 95% (i.e., stripping ≤ 5%).
o Anti-stripping agents (hydrated lime, liquid additives) must be added if adhesion
is poor.
• Connection to Pavement Performance:
o High stripping resistance ensures durability in waterlogged or rainy areas.
o Reduces moisture damage and pothole formation, which are common in
flexible pavements.
Summary in Performance Context
• Penetration → Selects right grade for climate, avoids rutting (too soft) or cracking (too
hard).
• Softening Point → Ensures binder doesn’t flow at service temperatures, preventing
bleeding/rutting.
• Ductility → Provides flexibility and adhesion, preventing fatigue and thermal cracks.
• Flash/Fire Point → Ensures safe heating and prevents premature aging of binder.
• Stripping Value → Ensures moisture resistance, preventing potholes and early surface
failure.
Desirable Values for VG Bitumen (as per IS:73-2013)
Test Property for Pavement VG-10 VG-20 VG-30 VG-40
Performance
Absolute Viscosity Consistency at service temp; 800– 1600– 2400– 3200–
at 60 °C (Poise) rutting vs cracking balance 1200 2400 3600 4800
Kinematic Viscosity Workability in ≥ 250 ≥ 300 ≥ 350 ≥ 400
at 135 °C (cSt) mixing/compaction
Rotational Viscosity Pumping/mixing ability in ≤ 3.0 ≤ 3.5 ≤ 4.0 ≤ 4.5
at 135 °C (Pa·s) HMA plants
Penetration (25 °C, Hardness; climate suitability 80–100 60–80 50–70 40–60
100 g, 5 s) (0.1 mm)
Softening Point (°C) Temperature susceptibility; ≥ 40 ≥ 45 ≥ 47 ≥ 50
bleeding/rutting resistance
Ductility at 27 °C Flexibility & adhesion; crack ≥ 40 ≥ 40 ≥ 40 ≥ 40
(cm) resistance
Flash Point (°C) Safety in heating ≥ 220 ≥ 220 ≥ 220 ≥ 220
Fire Point (°C) Continuous burning threshold ~230– ~230– ~230– ~230–
250 250 250 250
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Stripping Value Adhesion in wet conditions ≥ 95 ≥ 95 ≥ 95 ≥ 95
(Retained Coating,
%)
Notes on Viscosity and Pavement Performance
• Absolute viscosity at 60 °C: Core grading parameter for VG system. Higher values →
stiffer bitumen → more rutting resistance in hot climates.
• Kinematic viscosity at 135 °C: Ensures the binder is fluid enough for proper coating of
aggregates in hot-mix plants.
• Rotational viscosity at 135 °C: Limits are set to ensure mixing/laying temperatures do
not exceed safe limits (~165 °C), preventing aging and hardening.
• Penetration/Softening Point: Kept as secondary checks for consistency with earlier
penetration grade practice.
• Ductility: A minimum of 40 cm (lower than old 75 cm) is sufficient since viscosity
grading already ensures proper binder performance.
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1. Penetration Test (IS:1203)
1. Sample of bitumen is melted and poured into a standard container, cooled at room temp.
2. Test carried out at 25 °C in a water bath.
3. Standard needle (1 mm dia) is used.
4. Load = 100 g applied.
5. Needle allowed to penetrate for 5 seconds.
6. Depth of penetration measured in 0.1 mm units.
7. Repeat test at least 3 times.
8. Mean of readings is taken as penetration value.
9. Indicates hardness/consistency.
10. Softer bitumen → higher penetration; harder → lower.
2. Softening Point Test (Ring & Ball Method) (IS:1205)
1. Bitumen sample poured into brass rings, cooled.
2. Rings supported in a beaker with glycerin or water.
3. Steel balls (9.5 mm dia, 3.5 g) placed on each sample.
4. Liquid medium heated at 5 °C per minute.
5. Temp recorded when softened bitumen allows ball to fall 25 mm.
6. Average of two samples is reported as softening point.
7. Higher softening point → more suitable for hot climates.
3. Ductility Test (IS:1208)
1. Standard briquette mold filled with molten bitumen.
2. After cooling, specimen is removed.
3. Test conducted at 27 °C in water bath.
4. Specimen ends are gripped in a ductility testing machine.
5. Pulled apart at a constant speed of 50 mm/min.
6. Distance stretched before breaking is measured in cm.
7. Minimum ductility = 40 cm for VG bitumen.
8. Indicates adhesion and flexibility of binder.
4. Flash & Fire Point Test (Cleveland Open Cup) (IS:1209)
1. Bitumen sample filled in an open brass cup.
2. Placed on a controlled heating device.
3. Heated at 5–6 °C/min.
4. Small flame passed across cup at intervals.
5. Flash Point: Lowest temperature where vapor ignites momentarily.
6. Heating continued further.
7. Fire Point: Temperature at which vapors sustain burning for ≥5 sec.
8. Flash Point must be ≥ 220 °C.
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5. Stripping Value Test (IS:6241)
1. Clean, dry aggregates heated to 150 °C.
2. Bitumen heated to 160 °C and coated on aggregates (approx. 5% by weight).
3. Bitumen-coated aggregates immersed in distilled water at 40 °C.
4. Left undisturbed for 24 hours.
5. Aggregates visually examined under water.
6. % of surface where bitumen film stripped off is noted.
7. Retained coating ≥ 95% is acceptable.
8. If stripping > 5%, anti-stripping agent/lime is required.
INSTRUMENTS SPECS
Penetration Test (IS:1203)
Instruments / Apparatus
• Penetrometer Apparatus – with a free-moving needle holder, graduated dial gauge (0–
400 penetration units, least count 0.1 mm).
• Standard Needle – 1.0 mm dia, length 50 mm, made of stainless steel.
• Weights – Total 100 g (including needle, shaft, and added weights).
• Penetration Cups – Brass, 55 mm dia × 35 mm height.
• Water Bath – Maintains 25 ± 0.1 °C.
• Stopwatch – For 5-second penetration time.
2. Softening Point Test (Ring & Ball Method) (IS:1205)
Instruments / Apparatus
• Brass Rings – 2 rings, 6.4 mm height, 15.9 mm internal dia.
• Steel Balls – 2 balls, 9.5 mm dia, 3.5 ± 0.05 g.
• Ball Guides – To centrally place balls on bitumen.
• Heating Beaker – Glass beaker of 800 ml capacity.
• Heating Bath – Glycerin or water bath with a stirrer.
• Thermometer – Range 0–100 °C, accuracy 0.5 °C.
• Ring & Ball Apparatus Frame – For suspension of rings and guiding balls.
3. Ductility Test (IS:1208)
Instruments / Apparatus
• Ductility Testing Machine – Motorized, with two clips that pull at a uniform speed (50
mm/min).
• Briquette Moulds – Brass molds to cast bitumen specimens (75 mm length between
clips).
• Water Bath – Maintains test temperature at 27 ± 0.5 °C.
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• Measuring Scale – Graduated scale fixed along the path of elongation (least count 1
mm).
• Thermometer – Range 0–50 °C, accuracy 0.1 °C.
4. Flash & Fire Point Test (Cleveland Open Cup Method) (IS:1209)
Instruments / Apparatus
• Cleveland Open Cup Apparatus – Brass cup (75 mm depth, 65 mm dia) with heating
arrangement.
• Test Flame Applicator – Gas flame jet (diameter 4 mm) for passing across vapors.
• Thermometer – Range up to 400 °C, accuracy 1 °C.
• Heating Device – Electrically controlled or gas burner with regulator, giving uniform
heating rate.
• Stirrer (optional) – For uniform heating of sample.
5. Stripping Value Test (IS:6241)
Instruments / Apparatus
• Oven – For heating aggregates (to ~150 °C).
• Bitumen Heating Pan – For heating bitumen (to ~160 °C).
• Glass Beaker / Jar – To keep bitumen-coated aggregates immersed in water.
• Water Bath – Maintains water at 40 ± 1 °C.
• Forceps & Stirrer – For handling aggregates.
• Observation Setup – White enamel tray or magnifying glass for visual examination.
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