CETB 411 : Transportation and Highway Laboratory

Table of Content

Content Page

1. Summary / Abstract 1

2. Statement of Purposes / Introduction / Objectives 2

3. Theory 3

4. Equipment / Description of Apparatus 4

5. Procedure 4

6. Data, Observations and Results 8

7. Discussion 9

8. Conclusions 10

9. References 11

10. Appendices 12

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CETB 411 : Transportation and Highway Laboratory

Summary / Abstract
Penetration test is a test which measures the consistency of bituminous material.
Bitumen is a mixture of organic liquids that are highly viscous, black, sticky, and entirely
soluble in carbon disulfide. Bitumen is the residual fraction obtained by fractional
distillation of crude oil. It is the heaviest fraction and the one with the highest boiling
point.
This test was conducted by using the penetrometer, where a standard needle
penetrates the specimen under known condition of time (5 seconds), loading of 100 g and
temperature of 25oC. The penetration was done at five different locations on the same
sample, and then the average values are taken.

Statement of Purpose / Introduction / Objective

Penetration test is a consistency test of bituminous material, which is expresses as
the distance (in 1/10 mm) that a standard needle vertically penetrates the material under
known condition of time, loading and temperature. Higher values of penetration indicate
softer consistency. The penetration test is required to classify the bituminous into several
grades.
The objectives of these experiments are:
1. To measure grade of the bituminous specimen and the consistency of its
hardness quality.
2. To deduce the penetration index (PI) of the specimen.

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Theory

The penetration test gives an empirical measurement of the consistency of a

material in terms of the distance a standard needle sinks into material under a prescribed
loading and time. Although more functional tests are now being substituted for this test, it
may still be included in specifications for viscosity of asphalt cements to ensure the
exclusion of materials with very low penetration values at 25oC (77oF).

This is the most widely used method of measuring the consistency of a

bituminous material at a given temperature. It is a mean of classification rather than a
measure of quality. The consistency is a function of the chemical constituents of bitumen;
the relative proportions of asphaltenes (high molecular weight, responsible for strength
and stiffness), resins (responsible for adhesion and ductility) and oils (low molecular
weight, responsible for viscosity and fluidity). The type and amount of these constituents
are determined by the source petroleum and the method of processing at the refinery.
Softer bitumen allows the needle to penetrate to a greater depth than hard bitumen, thus
the higher the penetration grade indicates softer bitumen.

The softening point value has particular significance for materials which are to be
used as thick films, such as joint and crack fillers and roofing materials. A high softening
point ensures that they will not flow in service. For a bitumen of a given penetration
(determined at 25oC), the higher the softening point indicates lower temperature
sensitivity. The penetration grade from the penetration test and the softening point from
the ring and ball test can then be related to the Penetration Index (PI).

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Equipment / Description of Experiment Apparatus

Penetration test:

1. Penetrometer

2. Lab Thermometer

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CETB 411 : Transportation and Highway Laboratory

3. Laboratory water bath

4. Container with 55 mm diameter and 35 mm depth

5. Bitumen specimen

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Procedure

Penetration test:

1. Bitumen specimen is softened in a container to a temperature of 75 – 100 oC. Stir

constantly until it is completely fluid and free from air bubbles.
2. The bitumen sample is poured into 3 containers about 3 mm from the top to rim.
3. The samples is then cooled for one hour in a temperature less than 13oC before it is
placed in a constant water bath at temperature of 25oC for another one hour.

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4. The penetration needle is then adjusted until its tip touches the surface of the sample.
The reading of the penetrometer is set to zero.

5. The needle then is released together with 100 g weight for 5 seconds. Then the depth
of the penetration is recorded.
6. Three readings of penetration on the surface of the samples is then taken. The
distance of each penetration should not be less than 10 mm apart and not less than 10
mm from the side of the container.
7. Clean needle is used for each penetration.
8. The procedures are then repeated for other bitumen specimen.

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Data / Observations and Result

Penetration test:
Penetration (mm)
Sample
1 2 3 Average
1 42 41 40.5 41.2
2 39 39 38.5 38.8
3 50 54 55 53

Sample Calculation:

Sample 3:
Penetration test

Average penetration = 42+41+40.5

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= 41.2 mm

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Discussion

In penetration test, we did the test on three samples of bitumen. Three penetration
readings were taken for each sample (i.e at the centre, top, bottom). For the third sample,
the average penetration value that we obtained was the highest among the three samples
tested, 53 mm. The average penetration value for the second sample is 38.5 mm and for
the first sample, 41.2 mm. We were supposed to obtain the values of penetration ranging
from 40mm to 50mm for the bitumen we used was in the grade of 40/50.

However, as shown in the results, only the first sample was in the range of the
correct penetration values. Since we were using the same grade of bitumen, the results we
obtained were supposed to be more or less the same. From our observations, we could see
that the value of the penetration depends on the depth of the bitumen we poured into the
container. As for us the sample that we had done the test on was not prepared by us. It
was already prepared earlier.
Other factors that might include in error of the results are the temperature the
bitumen is in, supposedly 25oC, but due to time shortage, the time which we should left
the sample to be in room temperature in one hour is lessen to 50 minutes.

In order for us to obtain better and more accurate results, we have to be more
careful while conducting the experiment. We must take the gauge reading at the correct
position to avoid parallax error and the reading must be taken at approximately 5 seconds
after the needle starts to penetrate the samples. Apart from that we also have to double
check that the needle we used is thoroughly cleaned before proceeding with the next
penetration. We also have to make sure that we maintained the temperature as while
cooling down as required by monitoring the temperature every once in a while. Other

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than that, we have to make sure that the temperature is increasing uniformly and we
should have not increase the temperature after we begin the heating. The temperature
should be checked before the heating begun to avoid uneven heating rate.

Conclusions

The penetration values of each specimen indicate the grade of the bitumen.
However, due to some mistakes and errors as mentioned in the discussion, the average
values of penetration that we acquired from this experiment are 41.2mm, 38.8mm and
53mm for sample 1, sample 2 and sample 3 respectively.
From the penetration test that we did we can conclude that the grade of
material/bitumen used is AC 40-50. Lack in information on asphalt properties and basic
concepts, more information on this grade of bitumen cannot be relayed properly.

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CETB 411 : Transportation and Highway Laboratory

References

1. Traffic And Highway Engineering

Nicholas J. Garber and Lester A. Hoel
Second edition, PWS publishing

2. Transportation And Highway Engineering Laboratory Manual

Department Civil Engineering

3. http://www.wikipedia.com

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CETB 411 : Transportation and Highway Laboratory

Appendices

Grade of Asphalt Cement

Asphalt Cement Grade Penetration Range (100 g, 5 sec)
AC 40 - 50 (hardest grade) 40 - 50
AC 60 - 70 60 - 70
AC 85 - 100 85 - 100
AC 120 - 150 120 - 150
C 200 - 300 (softest grade) 200 - 300

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CETB 411 : Transportation and Highway Laboratory

Penetrometer Lab Thermometer

Laboratory water bath

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CETB 411 : Transportation and Highway Laboratory

Stopwatch

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