University of Moratuwa

M.Eng. / PG Diploma in Highway & Traffic Engineering and

M.Sc. /PG Diploma in Transportation
Department of Civil Engineering
Cover Sheet for Assignment

Name with Initials: Y.A.P.M Yahampath

Student Registration No:

Title of Assignment: Bitumen Specifications and Testing

Assignment No: Project 01 Group Individual x

Subject Code: CE 6601

Subject: Highway Construction and Maintenance Techniques

Lecturer: Dr. W.K Mampearachchi

Student’s Statement

I certify that I have not plagiarized the work of others or participated in unauthorized
collusion when preparing the assignment

Signature …………….. Date: 25/01/2019

Office use only

On/ before deadline Extension Given Late Submission

Signature: ………………………

Marks Given:
Introduction

Bitumen

A black, sticky substance such as tar or asphalt, used for making roads.

Coal Tar

Tar is a Black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons which can be obtained as a bi product from the
destructive distillation of coal. Due to its distinctive odour and also carcinogenic due high benzene
content tar is no longer using for road construction.

Asphalt

Black viscous mixture of hydrocarbons which can be obtained from refined residue from fractional
distillation process of crude oil.

Natural Asphalt ( Lake Asphalt )

Obtained naturally from deposits.

Comparison of tar and asphalt

Tar Asphalt
Highly temperature susceptible (properties Low temperature susceptible
change with temperature )
Carcinogenic due high benzene content tar Non Carcinogenic
Poor adhesion in the presence of water Excellent binding properties
Distinctive odour Good water proofing surface.

Because of these fats asphalt is preferred over tar

Classification of Bitumen
 Bitumen

Asphalt Tar

Petrolium Natural
based Asphalt Asphalt

Penetration
Liquid Asphalt
Grade Asphalt

Cutback Emlsified
Asphalts Asphalt

Slow Curing
Anionic
(SC)

Medium
Curing Cationic
(MC)

Rapid Curing
(RC)

Note –

Geologists worldwide often prefer the term “Asphalt’ for the naturally occurring variety.

In American English asphalt" (or "asphalt cement") is commonly used for a refined residue
from the distillation process of selected crude oils. Outside the United States, ( Eg : UK ) the
product is often called "bitumen".

This material is using in road construction industry very widely.

This material can be found in the form of semi-solid or highly viscous liquid.

In road construction Bitumen is mixed with aggregates to produce asphalt which is using for
road surfacing layers.

History of Bitumen (Petroleum based Asphalt binders) Specifications

From 1878 to 1900 most of the asphalt used was obtained from Trinidad Lake.
first specification for asphalt based on

 appearance of crude Trinidad asphalt

 Analytical tests to determine the amounts of bitumen insoluble organic and inorganic matter.
(solubility in Carbon Disulphide)

Petroleum asphalts came into use about 1900.

After that to measure consistency chewing an asphalt ball to check weather soft or hard. Later it was
developed as penetration test was developed to measure consistency.

Later specified load, falling height, time, temperature, needle size was determined for penetration test.

The first bitumen specification implemented by the American Association for State Highway and
Transportation officials (AASHTO) in the USA dates back to 1931.

These specifications recognized bitumen as a semi-solid and therefore consistency measures were
used to develop the Pen-grading system.

Tests included penetration and ductility, both were used at 25ºC originally developed for natural
bitumen, which are more solid-like than petroleum refined bitumen.

Petroleum asphalts were significantly less viscous (less solid) and in comparison to natural asphalts
could be considered oils. In fact until today asphalt contractors in the USA call bitumen the oil in the
mix.

Later tests for penetration gradation specification were developed as

 Penetration test
 Ductility test
 Solubility
 Aging test ( thin film oven aging and testing for penetration and ductility )
 Flash point test (as a safety test)

But these specifications were flawed for two main reasons:

• These tests are empirical in nature and can give only index properties,

• There is no real control on temperature sensitivity as related to pavement conditions.

Although the penetration grading includes testing at 25 ºC ( because service temperature in USA is 25
ºC) there were no tests at high or low temperatures and the limits on penetration and ductility
were so relaxed that many bitumen of various temperature sensitivity and performance could fit in
the same grade.

But during application bitumen heat to high values.

In the early 1960s the viscosity grading system was introduced. Testing included penetration at
25ºC, the viscosity at 60ºC, and the kinematic viscosity at 135 ºC.
Ageing was also considered and the thin film oven test was used to measure relative ageing of
bitumen.

In the early 1970s the oil embargo created more challenges for the bitumen industry. Crude oil
sources diversified and refining procedures were significantly varied due to focus on maximizing
fuel production. This made the use of viscosity grading even more difficult and various highway
agencies started amending the viscosity grading to prevent early failures that started to show up
on various projects. The amendments of specifications included temperature susceptibility,
shear susceptibility, primitive rheological properties, and other compositional characteristics.
These amendments were based on important research studies, mainly done in Europe and the
USA.
While some of these amended specifications were successful in different local areas, the total
number of specifications used across the USA increased exponentially. In the mid 1980s there
were more than 35 different bitumen specifications, which created major problems for bitumen
suppliers limited by storage capacity and localized markets. In 1987 the Strategic Highway
Research Program (SHRP) was initiated to include significant focus on developing national
uniform bitumen specifications. While initially it was expected that the national bitumen
standards would include compositional properties it was very quickly found that only physical
properties that describe the viscos-elastic nature of bitumen will be included. In 1991 the first
version of performance grading system based on fundamental rheological properties was
introduced. It took 5 to 6 more years to implement what is called today the Super pave PG
grading throughout the USA.

Requirements of Bitumen

 Attainment of required stability of the mix.

 To maintain the stability under adverse weather conditions.
 To maintain sufficient flexibility and thus avoid cracking of bituminous surface
 To have sufficient adhesion with the aggregates in the mix in presence of water

Desirable Properties of Bitumen

1) Viscosity
The viscosity of the bitumen at the time of mixing and compaction should be adequate. This is
achieved by heating the bitumen and aggregate prior to mixing or by use of cutbacks or emulsions of
suitable grade.

2) Temperature Susceptibility
The bituminous material should not be highly temperature susceptible. During the hottest weather of
the region the bituminous mix should not become too soft or unstable. During cold weather the mix
should not become too hard and brittle, causing cracking. The material should be durable.

3) Adhesion Property
In presence of water the bitumen should not strip off from the aggregate. There has to be adequate
affinity and adhesion between the bitumen and aggregate used in the mix.

Tests on Bitumen

 Penetration test
  Softening point test
 Ductility test
 Solubility
 Aging test ( thin film oven aging and testing for penetration and ductility )
 Flash point test (as a safety test)

Penetration Test

Test method

AASHTO T 49
ASTM D 5-97
BS EN 1426-2000

Objective

The test measures the hardness or softness of bitumen in terms of penetration expressed in mm/10th
of standard needle.

Standards
Temperature= 250C [test to be performed after sample is kept for 1hr in H2O bath at this temperature]
Load on needle = 100 g
Time in which penetration is recorded = 5 s
The penetration is measured by a graduated dial.( 1 unit = 0.1 mm )

Background

An indirect method of measuring viscosity is the measure of penetration of a standard needle under
standard conditions of load, time & temperature. The test measures the hardness or softness of
bitumen in terms of penetration expressed in mm/10th of standard needle.

Procedure

Bitumen is softens to a poring consistency a depth more than 15mm in the container is poured.
The expected penetration sample is cooled in 60 min in air and 60 min in water before testing.
The standard needle is positioned to get a penetration value for 5sec and is noted.

In cold region bitumen with High penetration value is used.

In warm region low penetration value is used. ex. 30/40 grade.

Softening point test

Test method
ASTM D 36-95
BS EN 1427-2000

AASHTO 53-96(2000)

Objective

The softening point is the temperature at which the substance attains a particular degree of softening
under specified condition of test.

Background

A viscosity material like bitumen or tar doesn’t have a well defined softening point. However a std
test determines the temperature at which a standard ball will pass through a disc of bitumen contained
in ring. The test is known as ring & ball test.

Equipment

A brass ring of internal dia 17.5 mm at top and 15.9 mm at bottom and of depth 6.4mm.

The steel ball of 9.5mm dia and 2.5g. Support distance is 25mm between the bottom of the ring and
top surface of the bottom plate of support is provided.

Glass container of 85mm dia and 120mm depth is used.

Procedure

The bitumen is heated to poring consistency and poured into ring and cooled for half an hour before
testing.
A brass ring containing the bitumen sample is suspended in H2O or glycerin at given temperature a
steel ball is placed on the disc of bitumen.
The liquid medium is then heated at a rate of 50C increase per minute.
Metal plate placed at a specified bituminous material touches the bottom at the softening point.
With increase in temperature bitumen melts and come down with the weight of ball at particular
temperature it touches the bottom plate that point temperature is noted.
The softening point is range between 35 to 750C.
The liquid water is used for bitumen having softening point less than 80 0C and Glycerin is for
softening point more than 800C.
Higher softening point indicates lower temp. susceptibility and in warm climate.

Bitumen Specifications

ICTAD Specification – Standard Specification for Construction and Maintenance of Roads

and Bridges (ICTAD publication No. – SCA/5, Second edition – June 2009)
Table 1702 .1 - Penetration grade bitumen for chapter 500 & section 406 and others

Type Test Method 60/70 80/100

Property Specification Requirements
Specification Section 1802

Penetration ASTM D 5-97 60 – 70 80 - 100

@ 25 0C ,100g ,5 secs, BS EN 1426-2000
0.1 mm AASHTO T49-97(2001)
Loss on heating for 5 hrs ASTM D 6-95 (2000)
at 1630C BS 2000: Part 45:1993
1. Loss in weight % ASHTO T47-98 < 1 < 0.5
2. Loss in  75  80
penetration % of
original value
Solubility in ASTM D 2042-93  99  99.5
trichloroethylene % BS EN 12592:2000
AASHTO T 44-97(2001)
Flash point 0C ASTM D 92-96  232  232
AASHTO T48-99
Softening point 0C ASTM D 36-95 48/56 80/100
BS EN 1427-2000
AASHTO 53-96(2000)

Each consignment of bitumen delivered to site must be accompanied by a certificate of testing as per
BS-3690-1:1989 (1997) or ASHTO M20:1996 from the supplier.

IOC Specifications

Property Test Method 60/70 80/100

ASTM D

Specification Requirements
(1) Specific Gravity @ 25/25°C 1.01-1.06 1.01-1.06
(2) Penetration @ 25°C 100 G S 5 60-70 80 - 100
secs. 1/10 mm
(3) Softening point °C 36 48-56 47 -55
(4) Loss on heating for 5 HRS AT 163 °C
i. Loss by weight percent 6 0.2Max. 0.5 Max.
ii. Penetration after loss on heating 5 80 Min. 80 Min.
test, % of its original value
(5) Solubility in CS 2 or CCL 4 or 99.0 Min. 99 Min.
Trichloroethylene weight %
(6) Flash point COC °C 250 Min. 232 Min.
(7) Ductility @ 25 °C (MM) 100 Min. 100 Min.