Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment

Dpartment of Civil Engineering & Geomatics

Bachelor of Technology: Civil Engineering
Transportation Engineering 2, TPE370S
CLOSED BOOK Class Test 1, 14 March 2023
Examiner: Mrs Cheryl Belford

MEMO: TOTAL 20
• The memo is a first draft. The assessor wil add to the draft as a product of marking the
class test and issue as final to students.
• Marked Tests will be scaned and sit visible in blackboard.
1. Discuss the characteristics of a 35/50 penetratation grade bitumen from its name. (2)
ü Hardest penbit
ü Highest viscsoty penbit

2. Briefly descrbe the penetration test? (4)

ü A needle of specific weight ü under a specific weight
ü penetrates a base bitumen speciman ü for a specific period of time

3. Why is the viscosity of penetration grade bitumen tested at 1350C? (1).

ü 1350C – mixing temperature respectively

4. Why is an MC70 prime preferred to an MC30 prime for open graded base material? (1)
MC70s has higher viscosity resists shear and deformation more so than MC30 and so penetrates the
more open gaps in open mix.

5. A Cationic Spray Grade Bitumen Emulsion 65% is used to prime a dense base. When the road is opened
shortly thereafter, there is a lot of stone whip off under the moving load. Why is this? (1)
The bitumen is a not a preferred prime binder (inverts are) as it does not penetrate dense bases well.

6. Polymer modified bitumen improves the performance of the bitumen by reducing the strain caused by
increased tyre pressures, axles and loads. Explain how this affects the viscoelastic properties of the
binder’. (2)

The answer would focus on the viscous and elastic propertis as per the question.
Increase in the elastic component and reduction in the viscous component
or
Stiffening of the bitumen to reduce the viscous response of the layer

7. Briefly describe the Modified Binder Elastic Recovery Test? (2)

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 ü is where a sample of the binder is stretched for a specific duration and then released;
ü the recovery is measured; the result of which indicated the resistance to deformantion.

8. For cold applied modified emulsions; when is the binder modified in the South African situation? (2) ü
spray seals and ü microsurfacings

9. Why is Inverted emulsion not suited to

o a base with material containing soluble salts? (2) ü Salt reacts with the water sinking to the
bottom of the mix, binder floats to the top. ü Can lead to bleeding.
Extra explanation: salt is heavier than water, so when you pour salt on the oil, it sinks to the bottom of
the mixture, carrying a blob of oil with it. In the water, the salt starts to dissolve. As it dissolves, the salt
releases the oil, which floats back up to the top of the water.
o A base with high moisture content? (2) ü An invert emulsion has oil is the continous phase and
water the internal phase. ü If more water is introduced (>45%) then anti-wear characteristics of
the fluid will be reduced

10. Can it be assumed that a prime binder will perform as expected if there has been rainfall subsequent to
to the original testing and resurfacing is imminent? Explain! (2)
No! ü It is not impermeable, ü its moisture content must be checked before any resurfacing

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