OBJECTIVE

1) To determine the penetration value of bitumen and the consistency of the bitumen sample.

2) To assess the suitability of bitumen for use under different climatic conditions and various types of construction.

QUESTION

1) What are the actual purpose of penetration test? To obtain the value as a measure of consistency of penetration bitumen.

2) What does it mean by bituminous grade 80/100? Bitumen 80/100 grade bitumen having the qualities of adhesion, the nature of both the cement and water-resistant properties. 3) State the importance of this test. The importance of this test is so that it can determine the hardness of bitumen and also classify the bitumen as according to the infiltration. 4) Which is the better condition? Higher value of penetration or lower value? In warmer regions, lower penetration grades are preferred to avoid softening whereas higher penetration grades like 180/200 are used in colder regions to prevent the occurrence of excessive brittleness. High penetration grade is used in spray application works. So, the better used is lower value of penetration.

DISCUSSION

Based from the result that were obtain from the test, it is found out that the uniformity of temperature of the bituminous sample are not uniform which are then lead to the result obtain are not as predicted it will be. This is because the temperature of the bituminous sample are in range of 23C where it was supposed to maintain at 25C. The result obtain are not satisfied because the temperature are low which have causing the bitumen sample to freeze faster than it should be. Next is the bitumen sample maybe are overheated and the sample used are not in a good condition and also this factor will lead to the unpredictable result obtain. The result that we obtain form the test for sample one is 71.2% while the 2nd sample was 61.6%. The both result are nearly to 80% but are cant be classify according to types of pavement for 80% penetration value. Therefore, this type of bitumen sample are suitable to be used for Cold climate places, road on hills.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion that we got from the experiment is that the uniformity of the bituminous sample temperature are important while running the experiment so that the result acquired are accurate and satisfied according to data. The both result that are obtain are 60-80 penetration value which are then be classify to its type of pavement. Therefore the sample used can be accepted. Precaution steps are required to be taken while conducting the experiment so that it will not affect the result later. The needle needed to be cleaned with benzene and been wiped till it dried for each sample and every penetration that are being done. The temperature also need to be maintained at 25C for one hour so that the sample can be tested with accurately. The needle also need to be on top of the surface of the sample and cant be moved in order to get the best result. Five times penetration are done so that to acquire the average data of the sample.

REFERENCES

1) INTERNET
http://www.engineeringcivil.com/determining-penetration-of-bitumen.html http://theconstructor.org/building/building-material/penetration-value-ofbitumen/1403/

2) BOOKS
Highway laboratory, Civil Engineering Department, Sultan Azlan Shah Polytechnic (labsheet) Textbook of Highway Engineering, R Srinivasa Kumar