DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

SEP/OCT SEMESTER 2018

CIVE 2803D-STRUCTURE AND HIGHWAY LAB
REPORT : SOFTENING POINT OF BITUMEN

NAME SURENDREN A/L RAVIN DAAREN A/L GANESAN A/L

MURUGAN MANYVANNAN SUNDRARAJA

MATRIC NO. 172018606 172018489 171018148

INTRODUCTION

Asphalt mix design is a complex issue with a lot of variables involved. However two methods of
mix design have become popular worldwide. They are the Marshall Mix Design and the Hveem
Mix Design Method. In Malaysia the Marshall Mix Design method has become the norm in the
road industry.

Marshall Mixture Design Method is one of the mix designs that used to design the
pavement in the road industry and it is widely used in Malaysia. The performance prediction
determine for the Marshall mix design method is provided by the Marshall stability and flow test.
The stability portion of the test determines the maximum load supported by the test specimen at a
loading rate of 50.8 mm/minute. Load is applied to the specimen till failure occurred, and the
maximum load is designated as stability. During the loading, an attached dial gauge measures the
specimen’s deformation as a result of the loading. The deformation value is recorded in 0.25mm
increment while the maximum load is recorded.

Before any asphalt mixes can be placed and laid on the road, the aggregate and the binder types
are generally screened for quality and requirement. Approximately 15 samples are required to be
prepared to determine the required Optimum Asphalt Content (OAC). The prepared samples are
to be analyzed for bulk density, air void and stability. By using the Asphalt Institute Method, the
OAC are determined from the individual plots of bulk density, voids in total mix, and stability
versus percent asphalt content. The average of the 3 OAC values is taken for further sample
preparation and analysis.

OBJECTIVE

➢ To determine optimum binder content and suitable combination of aggregates for a

bituminous mix.
APPARATUS

1. Weighing machine
2. Compaction Hammer machine
3. Oven
4. Spatula
5. Mixing bowl
6. Specimen mould
7. Thermometer
8. Hydraulic Jack

PROCEDURE
Preparation of Marshall Specimen :

1. The dry and sieve to individual size aggregate, cement, and asphalt or bitumen is prepared
as required and minimum 3 specimens are prepared with 4.5%, 5.0% and 5.5% weight of
bitumen.
2. The required aggregate and cement weight according to the retained weight of each
material weight is weighed
3. The mix is heated in oven dry of 110 oC for 15 minutes and then the mix is “cooked” or
stirred while heating until it reaches 160 oC.
4. The bitumen is also heated in oven dry about 163oC – 177oC and added into the mix with
desired bitumen content.
5. The bitumen mix is mixed until the aggregate is fully coated with bitumen and reaches 160
o
C.
6. The whole mix is then transfer to a specimen mould and tamped. The specimen is then
ready for compaction when the temperature reaches 130 oC
7. The compaction is done on both sides of the specimen, 75 blows each side and left
overnight at room temperature for further testing.
Weighing, Marshall Stability and Flow :
1. The specimen is “jacked” to be removed from the mould, weighed in air, in water, wiped
and weighed in air again.
2. The water bath is heated to 60oC and the specimen is place in the bath at least 30 – 45
minutes.
3. After heating for the required amount of time, the specimens is removed from the bath and
pat with towel to removed access of water, and quickly place in to the Marshall testing
head. The stability and flow value is recorded.

DATA COLLECTION AND RECORDINGS

Weight of Materials

Specific Gravity of Aggregate = 2.602 Specific Gravity of Bitumen = 1.02

Materials Percentage (%) Weight

(g)
14.0mm 26 291.2
10.0mm 24 268.8
Quarry Dust 48 537.6
Cement 2 22.4
Total 1120

Bitumen (%) Weight (g)

4.5 52.8
5.0 58.9
5.5 65.2

total weight  percentage of bitumen

Weight =
(100 − percentage of bitumen )
1120.0∗4.5
= = 52.23 g
100−4.5
Result :

Sample %Bit Height Weight (g) Bulk Specific Volume - %Total Voids - %
ID (mm) Vol. Gravity
In Air SSD In CC Bulk Max. Bit. Agg. Voids Agg. Filled Total
Water Theor (Bit.) Mix
a b c d e f g h I j k l m n o
1 4.5 62.68 1155.0 1158.9 655.8 503.1 2.300 2.430 10.15 84.4 5.45 15.6 65.06 5.35
2 5.0 61.97 1164.3 1166.8 669.4 497.4 2.340 2.410 11.47 85.43 3.1 14.57 78.72 2.90
3 5.5 63.84 1169.6 1175.5 664.5 511.0 2.289 2.398 12.34 83.13 4.525 16.86 73.17 4.545
5 2 8 4

Sample ID Corr. Factor Stability (kN) Flow (mm) Stiffness (N/mm)

Meas. Corr
a p q r S t
1 1.0 15.034 15.034 3.267 4.602
2 1.0 17.767 17.767 4.846 3.666
3 1.0 12.235 12.235 4.508 2.714
Graph

Sample %Bi Bulk Stability Flow Voids in Total Voids Filled with
ID t SG (kN) (mm) Mix (%) Bitumen (%)
1 4.5 2.30 15.034 3.267 5.35 65.06
2 5.0 2.34 17.767 4.846 2.90 78.72
3 5.5 2.289 12.235 4.508 4.545 73.17
Bulk specific gravity vs bitumen content :

Stability vs bitumen content :

Flow vs Bitumen Content

Voids in Total Mix (VTM) vs Bitumen Content :

Voids Filled with Bitumen (VFB) vs Bitumen Content
DISCUSSION

The graph of bulk specific gravity against bitumen content shows that the peak value for
density is at bitumen content of 4.9 %. The graph of stability against bitumen content shows that
the stability is at 17 .9kN, where 4.9 % of bitumen content is used. For the flow against bitumen
content, the graph shows that the flow’s peak is reached at a bitumen content of 5.1 %. The VTM
against bitumen content graph shows that 3.25 % of VTM is reached at a bitumen content of 4.9
% and it exceeds the criteria of 3-5%. From the graph of VFB against bitumen content, 77% VFB
is reached at bitumen content of 4.9% and fulfilled the criteria of 70-80%. Thus, from all of these
5 graphs, we can conclude that the average optimum bitumen content is at 4.9 %.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the mean optimum bitumen content obtained is 4.9 %. Based on our
observations and also the values which does not meet the criteria, the results of this experiment is
highly questionable because it is not within the range of values specified. It also required to paid
full attention during the mixing of bitumen content with aggregate which must add an accurate
percentage (according to the specimen weight), adding less or much of these will generate last
variable of value in term of unit weight. It will also affect the value of Marshall Stability, density,
flow and air void through plotting graph.
REFERENCE

➢ http://www.ce.memphis.edu/3137/Powerpoint%20Handouts/13%20-
%20Marshall%20Mix%20Design.pdf
➢ http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/6226/9/09_chapter%204.pdf

APENDIX