Institute of Technology of Cambodia Road design II (TP)

4) Fill the water bath at a maintained temperature of 5°C.

5) Fix the rings filled with bitumen in the support stand and place them in the 5°C water bath.
Then put a steel ball on the top of the rings attached to the support and place it in the water
bath. (The water level at least 5cm higher that the ball’s top surface)
6) Put the mixer into the water bath and begin heating the bath at a controlled rate of 5°C ±
0.5°C per minute. As the temperature rises, the bitumen will soften. Observe the steel balls.
The test is complete when a steel ball touches the bottom plate of the bath due to the
softened bitumen beneath it.
7) Record the temperature reading on the thermometer every 10 minutes.

Fig 11: Mix glycerin and Fig 12: Soak in water Fig 13:Trim off any Fig 14: Creating a
talc on glass surface excess bitumen around smooth surface
the mold’s edge

Fig 15: The rings filled Fig 16: Water bath at a Fig 17: Start of the test Fig 18: Temperature
with bitumen in the maintained temperature rising
support stand of 5°C

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 Institute of Technology of Cambodia Road design II (TP)

6. Data and Calculations

Table 5: Data obtained

Time (min) Temperature (°C) Time (min) Temperature (°C)

0 10 6 32
1 12 7 36
2 18 8 39
3 23 9 42
4 26 10 45
5 30 11 49/50

Remarks: At 11 minutes, the first ball have fallen at 49 °C.

At 11 minutes and 30 seconds, the second ball have fallen at 50 °C.
Therefore, the average temperature of the bitumen:

7. Conclusion
The softening point test successfully evaluated the heat susceptibility of the bitumen
sample. The measured softening point of 49.5 °C falls within a typical range for road
construction applications. Further evaluation based on project specifics and expected climatic
conditions is recommended.

8. References
[1]. Zahedi, M. (2022). The Softening Point Test of Bitumen – Ring and Ball Method Procedure.
Retrieved from INDINITY GALAXY: https://infinitygalaxy.org/softening-point-test-of-
bitumen/
[2]. Zahedi, M. (2024). Bitumen Penetration Test – Procedure and Purpose. Retrieved from
Infinity Galaxy: https://infinitygalaxy.org/bitumen-penetration-test/

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