PENETRATION TEST CIS: 1203-1978) 1. INTRODUCTION Various types and grades of bituminous materials are available in variety of types and grades. The penetration test determines the hardness of these materials by measuring the depth in tenth of a milimter to which a standard needie will penetrate vertically under specified conditions of standard load, time and temperature. The sample is maintained at the standard temperature of 25°C. fhe total load on needle is 100g. The penetration test set up is illustrated n -Feqv—sefter—the bitumen the greater witi-be—this number af penetration Units. Indian Standards Institution has standardized the equipment and test procedure vide [$:1203-1978. Penetration test is widely used world over for classifying the bituminous materials © into “different grades. Even though it is recognized cecently that the empirical tests like penetration, softening point etc. are incompetent to qualify the paving . binder for its temperature susceptibility characteristics, the quickness and simplicity of operations cannot be ignored. Correlations are also established between penetration test and absolute viscosity test values. OBJECTIVE = To determine penetration value of a given sample of bituminous material with the help of 1S apparatus. 3. APPARATUS + it consists of items like container, needle, water oath penetrometer, stop watch etc. Following are standard specifications as per ISI for the above apparatus. (a) Container : ® flat bottomed cylingrical metallic container 55 mm in diameter and 35 mm or S7 mm in meight. ae —