DETERMINATION OF DUCTILITY OF THE BITUMEN

OBJECTIVES:
(i) To measure the ductility of a given sample of bitumen.
(ii) To determine the sustainability of bitumen for its use in road construction.

APPRATUS REQUIRED:
The apparatus for the standard ductility test as per the IS 1208:1978 consists of the
following
(i) Briquette mould : It is made up of brass with the shape ,dimensions,and
tolerances as shown is figure 9.2. The ends b and b’ being known as clips and parts a
and a’ are sides of mould. The circular holes are provided in the clips to grip the fixed
and movable ends of testing machine. The mould when properly assembled form a
briquette specimen of following dimension:

Total length 75.0 ± 0.5

Distance between clips 30.0 ±0.3mm
Width at mount of slip 20.0 ±0.2mm
Width at minimum cross section 10.0 ±0.1mm
(half way between clips )
Thickness throughout 10.0 ±0.1mm

(ii) Water bath :A bath maintained within +-0.1degC of FIGURE 1 APPRATUS BRIQUET
specified test temperature, containing not less than10 liters of
water, the specimen being submerged to a depth of not less than
10 cm and supported on a performed shelf and less than 5 cm from the bottom of the
bath.
(iii) Testing machines : For pulling the briquette of bituminous material apart, any
apparatus may be used which is so constructed that the specimen will be continuously
submerged in water while two clips are being pulled apart horizontally at a uniform
speed of 50.0 ±2.5 mm per minute.
(iv) Thermometer :Range 0-44degC and readable upto 0.2deg C .

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THEORY:
The Ductility Test gives a measure of adhesive property of Bitumen and its
ability to stretch. In a flexible pavement design, it is necessary that binder should form
a thin ductile film around the aggregates so that the physical interlocking or the
aggregate is improved. Binder material having insufficient ductility gets cracked
when subjected to repealed traffic loads and it provides previous pavement surface.
Ductility of a bituminous material is measured by the distance in centimeters to which
it will elongate before breaking when two ends of standard briquette specimen of the
material are pulled apart at a specified speed and at a specified temperature.  

A certain minimum ductility is necessary for a bitumen binder. This is because of

the temperature changes in bituminous mixes and the repeated deformations that
occur in flexible pavements due to the traffic loads. It is of significant importance that
the binders form ductile thin films around the aggregates. The binder material which
does not possess sufficient ductility would crack and thus provide previous pavement
surface. This is in turn results in damaging effect to the pavement structure. The
ductility is expressed as the distance in centimeters to which a standard briquette of
bitumen can be stretched before the thread breaks. The test is standardized by the IS:
1208. The test is conducted at 27°±O.5°C and a rate of pull of 50±2.5 mm per minute.
Aim: - To measure the adhesion property of bitumen and its ability to stretch.

IMPORTANCE OF DUCTILITY:

The ductility of a bitumen specimen tells us about

i)-      Tensile strength of bitumen

ii)-      Grade of sample (ductility grade)

FIGURE 2 DUCTILITY TEST OF BITUMEN

SCOPE & SIGNIFICANCE

1. This test method provides measure of tensile properties of bituminous

materials and may be used to measure ductility for specification requirements.
2. Bituminous materials used in pavement construction should possess sufficient
ductility otherwise the pavement would crack due to temperature or traffic
stresses and may render the pavement pervious and damage the pavement
structure.
3. The ductility value varies from 5 to over 100 cm’s.

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4. Several agencies have specified minimum ductility values for various types of
bitumen pavements. However, a ductility of 100 cm’s is specified generally for
bituminous construction.
5. Roads expand at daytime while they contract at night. So, if the bitumen is not
adequately ductile cracking will occur.
6. More than one grade may be used in the same project. For example; we may use
grade 80/100 on the main traffic lane and lower grades on the arteries.

Testing
Attach the rings at each end of the clips to the pin or hooks in the testing machine and
pull the two clips apart at a uniform speed specified until the briquet ruptures.

Measure the distance in centimeters through which the clips have been pulled to
produce rupture. While the test is being made, the water in the tank of the testing
machine shall cover the specimen both above and below it by at least 2.5 cm and shall
be kept continuously at the temperature specified.

If the bituminous material comes in contact with the surface of the water or the
bottom of the bath, the test shall not be considered normal. Adjust the specific gravity
of the bath by the addition of either methyl alcohol or sodium chloride so that the
bituminous material neither comes to the surface of the water, nor touches the bottom
of the bath at any time during the test.

TABLE 1 PENETRATION GRADING SPECIFICATION

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PROCEDURE:
(i) The bituminous test material was melted completely at a temperature of 75°C to
100°C above the approximate softening point until it was thoroughly fluid.
(ii) The fluid was strained through IS.
(iii) After stirring the fluid, it was poured in the mould assembly and was placed it on
a brass plate.
(iv) In order to prevent the material under test from sticking,the surface was coated of
the plate and interior surfaces of the sides of the mould with mercury or by a mixture
of equal parts of glycerine and dextrine.
(v) After about 30-40 minutes, the plate was kept assembly along with the sample in a
water bath. The temperature of the water bath was maintained at 27°C for half an
hour.
(vi) The sample and mould assembly were from the water bath and trimmed the
specimen by levelling the surface using a hot knife.
(vii) The mould assembly was removed in water bath maintained at 27°C for 80 to 90
minutes.
(viii) The sides of the mould were removed.
(ix) The clips were hoked carefully on the machine without causing any initial strain.
(x) The pointer to was adjusted to read zero.
(xi) The machine was started and pulled two clips horizontally at a speed of 50 mm
per minute.
(xii) The distance was noted at which the bitumen thread of specimen breaks.
(xiii)The observations were recorded and computed the ductility value.The mean of
two observations was reported, rounded to nearest whole number as the ‘Ductility
Value’.

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OBSERVATIONS:
(i) Test temperature °C=26
(ii) Grade of bitumen =80 /100
All readings are greater than 100 for all bitumen specimen.
Ductility value= greater than 100.

RESULT:
Hence, the value of ductility of the given bitumen sample was found to be greater than
100.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION:

The Ductility test has been performed and the ductility value has been calculated as
more than 100 cm. The ASTM D-113 for 80/100 grade the value of Ductility = 100
minimum.(Refer table 1 for this data) Temperature was not maintained in the lab so
the value may differ at 25°C as we performed at the Lab temperature.
The length before it breaks is its ductility value. In our experiment it was
observed that the sample didn’t break even it crosses the length greater than 100. It is
due to that the testing machine shall cover the specimen both above and below it by at
least 2.5 cm and shall temperature should be as specified. If the bituminous material
comes in contact with the surface of the water or the bottom of the bath, the test shall
not be considered normal. Adjustment of the specific gravity of the bath by the
addition of either methyl alcohol or sodium chloride is compulsion so that the
bituminous material neither comes to the surface of the water, nor touches the bottom
of the bath at any time during the test. But we lack doing that in our procedure.
From that value we can conclude that the given sample was highly ductile. If the
ductility is very low than such bitumen has tendency to produce cracking in
pavement.

PRECAUTIONS:
(i) The plate assembly upon which the mould is placed shall be perfectly flat and
level so that the bottom surface of the mould touches it throughout.
(ii) In filling the mould, care should be taken not to disarrange the parts and thus
distort the briquette and to see that no air pocket shall be within the moulded
samples.