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Lab 1

This document is a report on a penetration test of bitumen conducted by Qusai Alsaadat for the Pavement Lab class CEE533. The penetration test determines the hardness of bitumen by measuring how far a needle penetrates a sample over 5 seconds at 25°C. The objectives are to classify bitumens by consistency, with higher penetration indicating softer consistency. This test used a bitumen sample that gave a penetration value of 43.5, classifying it as a grade 40-50 hard bitumen suitable for cold weather. The conclusion is that penetration tests classify bitumens used in road construction based on hardness.

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96 views4 pages

Lab 1

This document is a report on a penetration test of bitumen conducted by Qusai Alsaadat for the Pavement Lab class CEE533. The penetration test determines the hardness of bitumen by measuring how far a needle penetrates a sample over 5 seconds at 25°C. The objectives are to classify bitumens by consistency, with higher penetration indicating softer consistency. This test used a bitumen sample that gave a penetration value of 43.5, classifying it as a grade 40-50 hard bitumen suitable for cold weather. The conclusion is that penetration tests classify bitumens used in road construction based on hardness.

Uploaded by

Qusai
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Class Name: Pavement lab

Class Number: CEE533

Report Title: Penetration test

Name: Qusai Alsaadat

Date: 13/7/2020
Introduction:

Penetration test of Bitumen determines the hardness or softness of bitumen by


measuring the depth in millimeter to which a standard loaded needle will penetrate
vertically in five seconds while the temperature of the bitumen sample is maintained
at 25°C.

Also, the Penetration test of bitumen is used to measure the consistency of bitumen.
This test is applied almost exclusively to bitumen. For Tars, cutbacks, and emulsions
other consistency tests are used.

Objectives:

Penetration test is used to measure the consistency of bitumen, so that they can be
classified into standard grades. Greater value of penetration indicates softer
consistency. Generally higher penetration bitumen is preferred for use in cold
climate and smaller penetration bitumen is used in hot climate areas.

Apparatus:

1. Penetration Apparatus
2. Needle
3. Container
4. Water bath
5. Thermometer
6. Stopwatch

Materials used:

Bitumen sample
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 above the needle.
5. Use the water bath to maintain the temperature of specimen.
6. Mount the needle on bitumen, such that it should just touch the surface of
bitumen.
7. Then start the stopwatch 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.

Calculation:

Type of material Bitumen

Reading No. Dial gauge reading Penetration value


(1/10mm), 25°C, 100g, 5sec

1 42 42

2 44.5 44.5

3 44 44

Final penetration value (0.1mm) = 43.5

Average of the readings= 43.5

Final penetration value = (42+44.5+44)/3 = 43.5

-Grade 40-50.

-Hard bitumen

-Could be used in cold weather


Conclusion:

Penetration test of bitumen is applied exclusively to bitumen. Tars being soft,


penetration tests on these materials cannot be carried out.

Penetration value of different types of bitumen used in road construction range


between 20 to 225. However, 30/40 and 80/100 grade bitumen are more common
for road construction depending upon the type of construction and climate
conditions. In hot 30/40 bitumen is preferred.

The value of temperature effects the use of the bitumen. Lower penetration grade is
used in warm climate condition to avoid softening and high penetration grade range
of 180/210 are used in cold climate condition to prevent it from excessive
brittleness.

In the last word, the Penetration test of Bitumen is used for the Garde of bitumen
material in terms of its hardness. A 70/100 grade bitumen shows that its penetration
value lies between 70 & 100.

References:

1. https://www.slideshare.net/MTKhang_90/penetration-test-of-bitumen
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HZE6DNfF5U

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