JTC

John M Turner
JT Consultant Services
28 Wing Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire, LU7 2NJ United Kingdom

Mobile: +44 (0) 7710 668302 Email: jtc@jtconsult.co.uk

Web site: www.jtconsult.co.uk

Issue 5  JT Consultant Services 2015

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INDENTATION OF HOT MIX ASPHALT

Contents

Health and Safety 3

Hazard Warning

References 4
Introduction and principle
Application 5
Preparation of apparatus
Test procedures 6
EN 12697-20 Indentation test
BS 5284 Hardness number test 9
Apparatus 11

Disclaimer

 This document has been produced taking into account the published test method (s)
and accepted good practice.

 JT Consultant Services can accept no responsibility for any test results and their
subsequent use in any design, control or other such activity obtained when using this
document.

 The application of the data obtained to the design process is outside the scope of this
document.

 Users are advised to consult the latest standard in force at the time of use.

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Health and Safety

 The method may involve the use of hazardous materials, operations and apparatus.

 It is the responsibility of management and the users of this document to ensure

that appropriate health and safety practices are adopted and to comply with current
local health and safety regulations in force.

Hazard Warning

 Solvents/chemicals may be hazardous to health and are subject to occupational

exposure limits as detailed in statutory national and/or local regulations. Exposure
levels are related to both handling procedures and ventilation precision.

 Adequate training should be given to staff in the use of these substances.

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References

 EN 12697-20 Indentation using cubes or Marshall specimens

 EN 12697-27 Sampling
 EN 12697-30 Specimen preparation by impact compactor
 BS 1447 Mastic asphalt (limestone fine aggregate) for roads, footways and paving
 BS 5284 Sampling and testing mastic asphalt
 BS 6925 Specification for mastic asphalt (limestone aggregate)

Introduction

 The surfacing required where excessive indenting loadings are envisaged may require
special types of surfacing where channelized trafficking arises or where for any other
reason unduly high stress is placed on the surfacing.

 Examples of such situations are:

 Where solid metal support feet or dolly-wheels of heavy trailers are in contact
with the surfacing.
 Where goods are to be stored on the surfacing, particularly if there is heavy
point contact with the surfacing, e.g. through rims of drums, corner feet of
containers etc.
 Where tight manoeuvring by heavy vehicles gives rise to abnormally high
stress wheel scuffing.
 Where there is use of the surfacing by fork lift trucks.
 Where heavy objects are likely to be dropped on the surfacing.
 Where heavy vehicles are travelling in tightly defined wheel-tracks, e.g. bus
lanes.

Principle

 A flat-ended indentor pin of specified cross-sectional area is allowed to indent the

mastic asphalt under a standard load for a specified period of time at a specified
temperature.

 The resulting indentation depth is then measured and recorded as the indentation
according to EN 12697-20 or in the case of BS 5284, the hardness number.

 The EN indentation test is only applicable to mastic asphalt manufactured with

aggregates < 11.2 mm particle size.

 The BS hardness number test is only applicable to mastic asphalt when tested prior to
the addition of any coarse aggregate specified in the mixture composition.

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Application

 The indentation (or hardness) is a measure of the resistance to permanent deformation

that is specified in e.g. EN 13108-6, BS 1447 and BS 6925.

 The test is normally used as following:

 At the place of manufacture for quality control purposes and establishing

compliance with the specification.
 At the re-melting and laying stage for quality control purposes.

 The stability of mastic asphalt increases with time so, depending on the age of the
asphalt, indentation/hardness of samples taken at a later date may be significantly
lower than at the time of laying.

 Most of this process is completed in the first year and characteristically this can be
equal to a 40% reduction of the indentation/hardness value from that at the time of
laying.

Apparatus

 Prior to testing all apparatus should be cleaned, assembled and tested for compliance.

 The cross-sectional area of the indentor pin and the loads applied differ between EN
12697-20 and BS 5284.

 EN 12697-20 specifies that before commencing a series of tests the full test force
shall be applied to a standard calibration block.

 The coefficient of variation of the depth of indentation obtained from 10 consecutive

applications of the force shall not exceed 5% of the arithmetic mean.

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INDENTATION OF HOT MIX ASPHALT

TEST PROCEDURES

PROCEDURAL STAGES

EN 12697-20

PREPARE APPARATUS CONDITION SPECIMENS

AND TEST SPECIMENS AND APPLY FORCE

EVALUATE AND REPORT

RESULTS

Sample preparation

 Take and prepare a bulk sample of the mastic asphalt to be tested following the
procedures described in EN 12697-27.

 For each test at least one cast slab 40 mm thick and 250 mm2 shall be used. This
amount is essential to obtaining a representative sample from one batch of mastic
asphalt.

 The quantity of mixture required to make up each mixed batch is calculated from the
mass of a test cube with a volume of 353 ml plus a little extra to allow for losses
occurring during the preparation of the specimens.

 Heat the mastic asphalt gently to allow small increments to be taken over the entire
thickness of the slab without crushing the particles.

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Moulding of specimens

 Pre-heat the mastic asphalt in an oven to a temperature of 235 + 5 OC then

homogenise thoroughly by stirring until it is mixed and capable of being spread.

 Spoon the mixture into a mould that has been coated with release agent and pre-
heated to a temperature not less than 100 OC but not more than 150 OC.

 Distribute the mastic asphalt evenly in the mould and remove any air bubbles by
rodding with a spatula or other suitable implement.

 With a hardwood tamper, tamp the mastic asphalt flush with the top of the mould
taking particular care that all corners are filled.

 Form the top of the cube into a slightly raised dome and after about 15 min, when the
specimen has cooled sufficiently, smooth the surface with a heated spatula.

 As soon as the specimen has cooled to a temperature between 18 OC and 28 OC

remove it from the mould and place on a flat surface.

 For Marshall specimens, compact according to EN 12697-30 and leave in the moulds.

 For each test result prepare 2 cubical (70.7 mm3) or 2 Marshall specimens for testing.

Preparation and conditioning

 Clamp the cubes in adjustable moulds with one side facing downwards (i.e.
perpendicular to the direction of filling) and place on the test bed with this side
uppermost.

 Place Marshall specimens on an intermediate baseplate 100 mm diameter and at least

15 mm thick and locate this on the test bed.

 Condition the specimens and their moulds for at least 60 min under water at the
appropriate test temperature.

Test conditions

Application Specimen type Indentor pin Test temperature Readings taken

base area mm2 O
C after minutes
Road construction Cubes or 500 40 + 1 30 + 1 and 60 + 1
Marshall
Building and 100 22 + 1 300 + 1
waterproofing Cubes 100 40 + 1 120 + 1
500 40 + 1 30 + 1

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Application of force

 Ensure that the moulds are at least 0.5 mm clear of the test bed.

 Position the indentor pin vertically and central to the specimens and bring lightly but
firmly into contact with the top of the specimens then zero the dial gauge.

 Apply an initial force of 25 + 1 N for a period of 10 + 1 min then record the initial
indentation to the nearest 0.1 mm.

 Without impact, apply the total force of 525 + 1 N for the selected test condition and
record the resultant indentation at the appropriate times.

Note

If a time/indentation graph is required, readings of indentation should be taken at 1, 2 4, 8,

15, 30 and 60 min and, where appropriate, at 120 and 300 min.

Calculations

 Calculate the mean of the two indentations to the nearest 0.1 mm.

 The permissible range of the separate values shall be < 20% of the mean value, but at
least 0.2 mm.

Report

 Report that the test was carried out in accordance with EN 12697-20;
 name of the testing organisation and date of test;
 sample identification reference or number and location;
 unavoidable variations from specified procedure, with reasons;
 The type of specimen (cube or Marshall).
 Cross-sectional area of the indentor pin used.
 The test temperature.
 The mean indentation in mm at the stated test time.

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PROCEDURAL STAGES

BS 5284

PREPARE APPARATUS CONDITION SPECIMENS

AND TEST SPECIMENS AND APPLY FORCE

EVALUATE AND REPORT

RESULTS

Sampling procedures

 Take and prepare a bulk sample of the mastic asphalt to be tested following the
procedures described in BS 5284.

 Sampling procedures will depend upon where the sample is to be taken. BS 5284
specifies sampling procedures to be adopted when taking samples from:
 The manufacturing plant during discharge.
 Block material.
 Site re-melting plant and mobile mixers.
 Laid and finished material.

 The minimum mass of a bulk sample to produce a laboratory sample shall be as

defined in the table below.

Minimum mass of laboratory samples

Maximum size of Minimum Minimum Minimum mass
coarse aggregate number of mass of each of laboratory
specified increments increment sample
Passing 3.35 mm sieve 3 1 3
Passing 14 mm sieve 3 2 6

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Moulding of specimens

 Heat the laboratory sample in an oven at a temperature not exceeding 180 OC

avoiding prolonged heating.

 As soon as it has softened just sufficiently to be broken down, remove it from the
oven; break into small pieces and take a representative portion for specimen
preparation.

 Prepare this portion for moulding 2 test specimens by careful heating for the shortest
possible time at a temperature not exceeding 205 OC.

 Pour the molten material into duplicate hardness number test moulds and float finish.
Avoid excessive floating as this can influence the hardness number.

Preparation and conditioning

 Cool the specimens in air for not less than 3 h or in cold water for not less than 1 h.

 After the above period, immerse the specimens and moulds in water maintained to
within 0.1 OC of the specified test temperature for not less than 1 h prior to testing.

Test conditions

Application Test temperature OC Hardness number

Asphalt for road construction 30 to 60
Asphalt for bus stops, loading 25 + 0.1
15 to 25
bays and high stress areas

Application of force

 Position the indentor pin vertically and central to the specimens and bring lightly but
firmly into contact with the top of the specimen then zero the dial gauge.

 Apply a force of 311 N for 60 s then record the depth of indentation at the end of this
period to the nearest 0.1 mm.

 Take at least 5 readings at test points not less than 25 mm apart and not less than 25
mm from the edge of the test piece.

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Calculations

 Calculate the mean of the 5 test results to the nearest 0.1 mm.

 Reject any result that differs from the mean by more than 2 hardness units (0.2 mm)
or 15% of the mean, whichever is the greater.

 If more than 1 result is rejected discard the specimen and test the duplicate specimen.

 If the test on the duplicate specimen fails to provide 4 acceptable results, reject and
repeat the test on freshly cast specimens.

Report
 Report that the test was carried out in accordance with BS 5284;
 name of the testing organisation and date of test;
 sample identification reference or number and location;
 unavoidable variations from specified procedure, with reasons;
 The test temperature.
 The mean hardness number to the nearest 0.1 mm.

Apparatus

EN 12697-20
 Indentation test apparatus, capable of maintaining the total test force of 525 + 1 N.
Apparatus permitting the testing of 2 specimens simultaneously is preferred.

 Indentor pins, with base areas of 100 mm2 and 500 mm2 respectively.

 Water bath, thermostatically controlled, incorporated in the indentation apparatus and

capable of maintaining the test temperature within + 1 OC.

 70.7 mm3 cube moulds.

 Adjustable moulds used for clamping the specimens during the test.

 A calibration block.

 Hardwood tamper about 30 mm2 tamping face.

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BS 5284

 Indentation test apparatus, capable of maintaining the total test force of 311 N.

 Indentor pin, with a base diameter of 6.35 mm.

 Water bath, thermostatically controlled, incorporated in the indentation apparatus and

capable of maintaining the test temperature within + 0.1 OC.

 Test moulds, 100 mm diameter x 25 mm high.

Notes

Quality assurance requirements specify that the equipment used shall be recorded and be
within its valid calibration period.

All apparatus should be clean, in good condition and comply with the dimensions specified.

Where a dimension or other specified requirement has a tolerance applied, this should be
checked regularly for compliance and a record maintained.

Where a dimension is specified with manufacturing tolerances or limits, it shall be an

essential dimension. Dimensions stated without tolerances are given for guidance.

Where mass is specified, the manufacturing tolerance shall be within + 1 % of the specified
mass unless otherwise stated.

Working tolerances apply to apparatus after being subjected to wear in use, and shall not
exceed twice the manufacturing tolerance unless other requirements are specified

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