Evaluation Form

Univ. of Science
& Tech.
Civil Eng. Dept.
Dr. Taisir Khedaywi

Evaluation Element

Course No. : - CE444 Stud Name: Hassoneh Ata

Course Name: - pavement lap Stud No : 990023029
Topic: penetration& softening
Lab No
:2
Due Date : 21-7-2003
Section :1
Day
: Wednesday
Points
Value

Points Received
1

Title Page

Abstract

Introduction

Objectives

Material Used

Laboratory Work

Result& Discussions

20

Conclusions

10

Acknowledgment

------

10 References

11 Table With Titles

12 Figures

13 Appendix

14 Spelling, Punctuation
Clearly Sentence
15 Overall Effectives &
Formatting
Total

10
10
100

CE 444

Lab# 2
Penetration & Softening of Asphalt
Submitted to: Dr.Tisir Khidaywi
Submitted by: Hassoneh Kiswani

Date:

Abstract
The penetration test and softening point(ASTM D5 & ASTM
D2399) are two of tests that is used for determining a lot of
properties of bituminous material. Determination the
penetration of asphalt sample & Determination the softening
point of a sample of asphalt using , Penetration apparatus,
Water bath to maintain temperature at 25c, Timing device,
Rings,
Steel balls Ring holder& Thermometer sample test was
asphalt 60/70 & 80/90.softening point was (49.75 &51.25).

For penetration test, the sample is melted and cooled under

controlled conditions. The penetration is measured with a
penetrometer by means of which a standard needle is
applied to the sample under specific conditions, for softening
point test, a steel ball of specified weight is placed upon a
disk of sample contained within a horizontal, shouldered,
metal ring of specified dimensions. The assembly is heated
in an ethylene glycol bath at a uniform, prescribed rate and
the temperature is taken when the ball envelop in the
sample material to fall a distance of 1 in.

Introduction:
Penetration test and softening point are the important tests
that are used for determining a lot of properties of asphalt.
Penetration test is used to evaluate asphalt hardening Softening
point: is the temperature at which a sample of bituminous
becomes soft enough to allow a steel ball enveloped in the
sample material.

Objectives:

1) To be familiar with the penetration test and softening point

test.
2) Determination the penetration of a sample of asphalt.
3) Determination the softening point of a sample of asphalt.
4) Determining the type of asphalt, and the conditions that are
good for this type.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)

Material used:

Penetration apparatus.
Penetration needle weight 50 g.
Water bath to maintain temperature at 25c.
Sample container.
Timing device.
Thermometer.
Rings.
Steel balls in diameter.
Ball centering guide.
Bath-heat resistance glass vessel.
Ring holder.
Thermometer.
Ethylene glycol, or water if there is no ethylene glycol.

Laboratory work:

Penetration test:
1- Heat the sample to 150c for hour.

2- Put the samples in a water path at 25c.

3- Level the penetration test apparatus by the screws.
4- Put the sample under the needle and clean the needle with
kerosene.
5- Put the pointer to zero & level the device.
6- Get down the needle using the fast motion screw until the
needle is
directly above the surface of specimen about
mm.
7- Press the bottom of needle and hold for five seconds and
then release and take the reading by pressing on the reading
gage.
Softening
1- Paint two rings and plate with fat.
2- Heat the asphalt to 150c less than 1/2 hour and fill the
rings with it.
3- Remove any excess asphalt on the rings.
4- Put the rings in the ring holder and put them in the frame
with a thermometer in the middle, put the two balls in the
rings.
5- Put the frame in water.
6- When the ball go through the asphalt and fall for 1 in, the
temperature is taken which is the softening point.

Results:
Table 1-1: Results of penetration test
Group no.

Penetration

Average

Group #1

92

91

89

86

91

Group#2

60

60

55

61

70

Group#2

62

60

60

61

62

Group#4

92

93

90

95

89

33.1428
25.642
39.671
27.3571

Table 2-1: Results of softening point

Group no.

Temp. for first

ball, c

Temp. for second

ball, c

Average

49.9

50

49.75

51

51.5

51.25

Group #1
Group #2
Group #3

Group#4

Discussion:

These two tests are considered very important indicators that

must be known in any project that the asphalt is used in it.
The penetration test is used for measuring the consistency of
the asphalt and to give an idea about the type of asphalt and the
best using of it, since every conditions of using must have an
appropriate properties in asphalt. Penetration test also can be
used for evaluation of damage due to overheating, since the
overheated asphalt has lower penetration than the undamaged
asphalt. Beside this it can be used for measuring the
temperature susceptibility of the asphalt and determining that if
it is low temperature susceptibility asphalt or high temperature
susceptibility asphalt.
It can be seen from the results that most of the results are
around 31 which is the average of all results, which means that
the needle penetrate 3.1 mm in the asphalt, since every
penetration unit equal 0.1 mm.
On the other hand, it can be seen that there is some readings
that is far from penetration of 31, this is may be caused by many
reasons, may be the sample was cold at these readings, since
the sample must have a certain temperature during all trials, and
this is may be because these results were too close to the edge
of the can or to previous readings, where the standards say that
every reading must be far about 0.5 cm from the edge of the can,
and 1 cm from any previous reading.
One of the reasons of errors that the temperature of laboratory
was more than 30c, while the standards say that the specimen
must be at 25c.
Usually the high penetration asphalt is used in cold areas and
the low penetration asphalt is used in the hot areas, because in
cold areas when the temperature is low and the asphalt is low
penetration it may cause what is called low temperature
cracking, and when high penetration asphalt is used in hot areas
it may flow at high temperature. This indicate that the
penetration test is very important factor in choosing the type of
asphalt to be used.
Some of the advantages of the penetration test are:
It has relatively low cost equipment.
The short testing time.
The test can be done in the field.
Some of the disadvantages of the penetration test are:

The grades overlap in the specifications, in other words, two

different penetrations may give the same results.
The test not available at different temperatures.
Shear rate of the needle is variable, since the needle is not a
cylinder but closer to a cone.
The softening point can be defined as the temperature that the
asphalt cant carry itself at it, and this property is very important
in using asphalt, because we dont want the asphalt to flow if the
atmospheric temperature rises more than the softening point,
especially with the sloped roofs.
It can be seen from the results that the asphalt has a softening
point 66.5c for the first specimen and 68c for the second
specimen, these results may be considered not good in Arab
countries, because in the direct sunlight the temperature may
reach these value and then the asphalt will not carry itself and
will flow, while in northern countries like Europe it is may be
acceptable because the temperature in their countries may not
reach these values.
Beside that, these values may have some errors, like using
water instead of Ethylene glycol, because water dont distribute
the heat evenly like Ethylene glycol.
The errors in this experiment can be summarized as the
following:
1.) The samples may not be prepared well.
2.) The temperature was not like in the standards.
3.) Using water instead of Ethylene glycol.
4.) The existing of some entrapped air in the samples.
5.) Human errors in timing for penetration test and taking
readings of temperatures in softening point.
6.) Errors in devices (penetration apparatus).

Conclusion:
1) Penetration test is a measure for consistency of the asphalt.
2) Softening point is the temperature that the asphalt start to
loss its ability of carrying itself.
3) Penetration test gives an indication about the conditions that
the asphalt can be used in it, for example high penetration
asphalt used in cold areas.
4) The softening point must be watched for any asphalt used to
be sure that the asphalt will not flow if the temperature
increases, especially in hot areas.

References:

1)
2)
3)
4)

Laboratory manual.
ASTM, D5-73,D2398-76
Pavement analysis and design, by Yang H. Huang.
Notes.