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TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

KHWOPA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING


An undertaking of Bhaktapur Municipality
Libali, Bhaktapur

A Report on: Transportation Engineering I


Report no: 3
Title: DETERMINATION OF SOFTENING POINT OF THE BITUMEN

SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:


Name: Sushrut Gautam Department of Civil Engineering
Roll no: KCE074BCE089 Khwopa College of Engineering
Group: D2 Libali, Bhaktapur

Date of Submission: 2077/10/29


DETERMINATION OF SOFTENING POINT OF BITUMEN

OBJECTIVE
To determine the softening point of bitumen or tar.

REQUIREMENTS
I. Standard Ring and Ball Apparatus
II. Steel balls (2 numbers each of 9.5mm diameter and 3.5 ± 0.05kg)
III. Brass Rings (2 numbers each of depth 6.4mm with inside diameter 15.9mm and
17.5mm at bottom and top respectively)
IV. Thermometer
V. Water bath and stirrer
VI. Bitumen

THEORY
Softening point is the temperature at which the substance attains a particular degree of
softening under specified conditions of test. The softening point is useful in the classification
of bitumen. It is the temperature at which a standard ball pass through a sample of bitumen in
a mould and falls through a height of 2.5cm when heated under water or glycerin at specified
conditions of test. The binder should have sufficient fluidity before its application in road uses.
The determination of softening point helps to know the temperature up to which a bituminous
binder should be heated for various road use application. Softening point is determined by ring
and ball apparatus.
Softening point indicates the temperature at which binders possess the same viscosity.
Bituminous materials do not have a definite melting point. Softening point has particular
significance for materials that are to be used as joint and crack fillers. Higher softening point,
lesser the temperature susceptibility. Bitumen with higher softening point may be preferred in
warmer places. The determination of softening point helps to know the temperature up to which
a bituminous binder should be heated for various road use applications. Softening point is
determined by ring and ball apparatus.

PROCEDURE
1. The material was heated to a temperature between 75 to 100°C above its softening point. It
was stirred until completely fluid and free from air bubbles and water.
2.The rings were placed previously heated to a temperature approximately to that of molten
material on a metal plate, which had been coated with a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and
dextrin.
2. The mould was filled with sufficient melt to give excess above the level of the ring. The
excess material was removed.
3. The apparatus with the rings was assembled with thermometer and ball guides in position.
4. The bath was filled to a height of 50mm above the upper surface of the rings with the freshly
boiled distilled water at a temperature of 5°C.
5. Heat was applied to the bath and liquid was stirred so that the temperature raised at a uniform
rate of 5 + 0.5 °C per minute until the material softened and allowed the balls to pass through
the ring.
6. The temperature was recorded when any of the steel ball with bituminous coating touched
the bottom plate.
Fig: Softening point test of Bitumen

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS


Sample 1 Sample 2
Temperature when the ball touches
59.9 °C 60 °C
bottom, °C
Average 59.95 °C
Softening point of bitumen/tar = 59.95 °C

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION


In this way, it can be concluded that softening point of bitumen can be found in lab using Ring
and bell apparatus. From the data above, the average softening point of bitumen was found to
be 59.95°C.
Softening point indicates the temperature at which bitumen possess the same viscosity. The
softening point is reported as the mean of the temperatures at which the two disks soften
enough to allow each ball, enveloped in bitumen, to fall and touch the bottom of apparatus.
So, softening point is temperature at which a bitumen sample can no longer support the
weight of a 3.5g steel ball. Hard grade bitumen has a high degree of softness temperature
compared with soft bitumen grade. Bitumen with higher softening point do not flow during
service and is preferred in warmer places. As the temperature rises, the bitumen will change
from solid to liquid state which cause the reduction in hardness. While doing the experiment,
some safety measures have to be followed since the bitumen used is hot. Errors may arise
during the experimentation due to the following reasons:
i. The bath temperature not being in range of 5 ± 2°C.
ii. Surrounding temperature not being in range of 27 ± 2°C.
In general, the higher the softening point, the lesser the temperature susceptibility. Softening
point has particular significance for materials that are to be used as joint and crack fillers.

PRECAUTIONS
1. The bulb of the thermometer should be at about the same level as the rings.
2. Distilled water should be used as the heating medium for accurate readings.
3. Equipment used in testing should be cleaned thoroughly.
4. Experiment should be performed carefully and safely.
5. Procedure should be followed as instructed.

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