CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Sem/Session 1 2020/2021

Name of CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB 4

Experiment (CIVE 3122)
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST FOR BITUMEN
Date of Experiment 19/ 11 / 2020

Group 1 1. AFIQ JUNAIDI BIN JAZLAN (1727681)

2. AMIRUL FARIS BIN ZAIDI (1726121)

3. AIMI NAJLA’ BINTI MOHAMMAD NYISAK (1626544)

4. SITI AISYAH NABILAH BINTI MOHD TARMIZI (1726100)

5. NURUL AISHA BINTI SHAIKH MANSOR (1714672)

Lecturer’s Name DR. WAN NUR AIFA BINTI WAN AZAHAR

Due Date of 23 / 11 / 2020

Submission
Lecturer’s Comment(s)

Lecturer’s Stamp and Sign:

Date Received:
 STANDARD PENETRATION TEST FOR BITUMEN

INTRODUCTION

Bitumen is generally obtained from the three sources which are naturally occurring,
extracted from limestone and sandstone and also from refineries of crude. Consistency of a
bituminous material, expressed as the distance in tenths of a millimeter that a typical needle
vertically penetrates a sample of the material under known loading, time and temperature
conditions. The penetration test is used as a consistency measure. Softer accuracy is
demonstrated by higher values of penetration. The test is commonly used worldwide for the
classification of bituminous materials into various grades. Bitumen of various penetration
grades is used depending on the climatic conditions and method of construction. The grades
widely used are 30/40, 60/70 and 80/100.

To assess the strength of bitumen, penetration tests are used so that they can be graded
into regular groups. Greater penetration value implies smoother quality. For use in cold
climates, higher density bitumen is usually preferred and lower penetration bitumen is used in
hot climate zones. It should be noted that the penetration value is largely affected by any
imprecision in terms of needle size, needle weight and test temperature. A 40/50 bitumen rating
means that the penetration value is within the range of 40 to 50 under normal test conditions.
A lower penetration grade is favoured in hot climates.

OBJECTIVES
• To introduce the method of testing
• To determine the penetration of semi-solid and solid bituminous materials.

THEORY

The penetration of bituminous material is its consistency expressed as the distance in tenths of
a millimeter that a standard needle penetrates vertically into a specimen of the material under
specified conditions of temperature, load, and duration of loading.
Grades of straight-run bitumen are designated by two penetration values, for example, 40/50,
60/80, 80/100 etc.; the penetration of an actual sample of the bitumen in any grade should fall
between the lower and upper value given.

APPARATUS

1. Penetrometer

2. Penetration needle

3. Sample container

4. Water bath

5. Transfer dish

6. Stopwash

7. Thermometers

PROCEDURE

1. The sample is softened to a pouring consistency, stirred well, and poured into the test
containers.
2. The depth of bitumen in the container is kept at least 10mm more than the expected
penetration. Two separate portions poured for each variation in test conditions.
3. Each container loosely covered as a protection against dust. The sample containers are
placed in the atmosphere between 15° and 30°C for 1 to 1.5 h for the small container
and 1.5 to 2 h for the larger. Then at the end of the time taken, the two samples together
placed with the transfer dish in the water bath maintained at the prescribed temperature
of test. The smaller (3 oz) container remained for 1 to 1.5 h and the larger (6 oz)
container remained for 1.5 to 2 h.
4. Where the conditions of test are not specifically mentioned, the temperature, load, and
time are understood to be 25°C, 100 g and 5 sec, respectively.
5. The needle holder been examined and guide to establish the absence of water and other
extraneous matter. A penetration noodle cleaned with toluene or other suitable solvent,
dried with clean cloth and the needle inserted in the penetrometer.
6. The sample container placed in the transfer dish, covered the container completely with
water from the constant temperature bath, and the transfer dish placed on the stand of
the penetrometer.
7. The needle positioned by slowly lowering it until its tip contacts the surface of the
sample. This is accomplished by bringing the actual needle tip into contact with its
image reflected by the surface of the sample from a properly placed source of light.
8. The reading of the penetrometer dial recorded, or the pointer brought to zero. The
needle holder released for the specified period of time. The instrument adjusted to
measure the distance the distance penetrated in tenths of a millimetre.
9. At least three determinations made at points on the surface of the sample not less than
10mm from the side of the container and not less than 10mm apart. The sample and
transfer dish returned to the constant temperature bath between determinations. Clean
needle used for each determination. At least three needles used leaving them in the
sample if the penetration is greater than 200 until the three determinations have been
completed.
10. The result reported to the nearest whole unit the average of three penetrations whose
values do not differ by more than the amounts shown in the following table:
Penetration 0 – 49 50 – 149 150 – 249 >250
Maximum difference between 2 4 6 8
highest and lowest determination

11. The test repeated if the differences are exceeded using the second sample.
RESULTS AND CALCULATION

STANDARD PENETRATION TEST

BS2000 : Part 29 : 1983 / ASTM D5*

Temperature : 25°c Load : 100 g Time : 5 sec

Determination Initial Reading (mm) Final Reading (mm) Differences (mm)

1 43.63 47.28 3.65

2 43.58 47.5 3.92

3 43.42 47.72 4.3

Maximum differences = 0.65

Table 1.1; Result standard penetration test

𝐷𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 = 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 − 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔

For determination 1 47.28 − 43.63 = 3.65

For determination 2 47.5 − 43.58 = 3.92

For determination 3 47.72 − 43.42 = 4.3

𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 = ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

4.3 − 3.65 = 0.65

DISCUSSION

Penetration test is used for evaluating consistency of bitumen and to determine the
suitability of bitumen use under different climatic conditions and various types of construction.
According to the table the values ranging from 0 to 49 should have difference of maximum 2.
Based on result from this test, we got the maximum difference between highest and lowest
penetration is 0.65 which is acceptable as it is still in the range. If the maximum difference
exceeded the values from table, the test needs to be repeated again. Thus, it can be said that our
grade for this bitumen is 30/40 as the penetration value is in the range 30 to 40 at standard
penetration test. In warmer regions, lower penetration grades like our bitumen grade are
preferred as the bitumen is quite hard so it will prevent the bitumen to become soft or melt
easily. However, higher penetration grades like 180/200 are used in colder regions to prevent
the occurrence of excessive brittleness.

The tendency for this penetration test to fail is high because there are a lot of
precautions need to be taken off. For example, there should be no movement of the container
while needle penetrates into sample. Besides that, the sample should be free from any
extraneous matter. Also, the needle should be cleaned with benzene and dried before
penetration because it will allow the needle to penetrate without much friction and accurately
calibrated to give results in one tenth if millimetre.

Penetration (mm) 0-49 50-149 150-249 250-500

Max difference between
highest and lowest 2 4 12 20
penetration (mm)

Table 2.1; Table of maximum differences

CONCLUSION
The goal of our experiment is to introduce ourselves to the method of testing of
penetration test and determine the penetration value for bitumen sample provided. To achieve
this we conducted the standard penetration test for bitumen, where we used a needle with
known force, time, and temperature to measure the penetration depth into the bitumen and
compared it to the standard penetration values. Our experiment experiment shows that the
sample of bitumen provided have a penetration value in the range of 30 to 40 which is suitable
to be used as road binder for warmer regions such as Malaysia. As such our experiment was a
success, we learned that the higher the penetration of the bitumen, the softer and more viscous
which is more suitable for colder climates and vice versa.

REFERENCES

• The Constructor. 2020. Penetration Value Of Bitumen -Determination For Road

Construction. [online] Available at: <https://theconstructor.org/building/building-
material/penetration-value-of-bitumen/1403/> [Accessed 23 November 2020].