DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

DCC 3113-HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

TEST 4 : PENETRATION OF BITUMINOUS MATERIALS

NAME : MUHAMAD SYAHMI NAZMI BIN BADRUL HISHAM

NO. MATRIX : 06DKA18F1066
CLASS : DKA3S3
LECTURER : DR. SIVANANDAN A/L BALAKRISHNAN
OBJECTIVE
To examine the consistency of a sample of bitumen by
determining the distance in tenths of a millimetre that a
standard needle vertically penetrates the bitumen specimen
under know conditions of loading, time and temperature.

APPARATUS

Penetrometer Spatula

Transfer dish Stop watch

PROCEDURE

1. Sample heated till it becomes fluid.

2. Pour it in a container to a depth such that when cooled, the

depth of sample is at least 10mm greater than the expected
penetration.

3. Allow it to cool in an atmospheric temperature.

4. Needle cleaned and a weight placed on the needle.

5. Water bath used to maintain the temperature of specimen.

6. Mount the needle on bitumen, such that it should just touch

the surface of bitumen.

7. Then start the stop watch and allow the penetration needle
to penetrate freely at same time for 5 seconds. After 5
seconds stop the penetration.

8. Result will be the grade of bitumen.

9. Take at least three reading.

DATA

Sample Penetration (mm) Mean

1 2 3
1 2.90 2.81 2.69 2.80
2 3.47 3.42 3.43 3.44
3 2.22 2.26 2.31 2.26

Average value of each sample:

Sample 1 – 2.80

Sample 2 – 3.44

Sample 3 – 2.26
DISCUSSION
Sample 3 is the good value for the average mean penetration on
this experimental which is 2.26 . The average for sample 1 is 2.80
and sample 2 is 3.44 . The good suitable penetration is 80/100
which is 0.8 , so the value not achieves is must be less 1.46 .
Bituminous penetration grade 80/100 is standard penetration
grade. Bitumen usually used as a paving grade bitumen suitable
for road construction and for the production of asphalt
pavements with superior properties. There should be no
movement of the container while needle
penetratesinto sample.The sample should be
free from any extraneous matter.The needle should be
cleaned with benzene and dried before penetration.Type of
needle to be used is brass.

CONCLUSION

Penetration test is a commonly adopted test on asphalt to grade the

material in termsof its hardness. An 80/100 grade bitumen
indicates that its penetration value liesbetween 80 &
100.Grading of asphalt helps to assess its suitability in different
climatic conditions and types of construction. In Malaysia, lower
penetration grades are preferred to avoid softening where as
higher penetration grades like 180/200 are used in
colder regions to prevent the occurrence of excessive
brittleness. High penetration grade isused in spray application
works.
REFERRENCES

1. The constructor Civil Engineering.Penetration value of

Bitumen. 1(1):[4screen]. Available
from:URL:http://theconstructor.org/practicalguide/penetrati
on-value-of-bitumen-2/1627/

2. NPTEL.Pavement Materials.1(1): [8 screen]. Available

from:URL:http://www.cdeep.iitb.ac.in/nptel/Civil%20Engin
eering/Transportation%20Engg%20I/23Ltexhtml/nptel_ceT
EI_L23.pdf

3. Muniandy R., Radin Umar Radin Sohadi.Highway Materials, A

GuideBook For Beginners.University Putra Malaysia: Penerbit
Universiti PutraMalaysia; 2010.d.Paul H.W., Karen K.D.Highway
Engineering [Seventh Edition].USA:John Wiley & Son; 2003.

4. Highway and traffic engineering notes

5. Highway and traffic engineering lecturers