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3 Softening Point Test

This document describes an experiment to determine the softening point of bituminous material using a ring and ball apparatus. The ring and ball apparatus consists of steel balls, a thermometer, and stirrer. Bituminous material is heated and poured into rings on a glycerine-coated plate. The apparatus is assembled and submerged in heated water, rising 5°C per minute. The temperature is recorded when balls pass through the softened material. The average of two ball temperatures provides the softening point. The results section presents the softening point temperatures for two balls, with an average of 58°C. The conclusion is that softening point indicates the temperature at which a material loses viscosity and protects joint fillers from

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amer tayem
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77 views

3 Softening Point Test

This document describes an experiment to determine the softening point of bituminous material using a ring and ball apparatus. The ring and ball apparatus consists of steel balls, a thermometer, and stirrer. Bituminous material is heated and poured into rings on a glycerine-coated plate. The apparatus is assembled and submerged in heated water, rising 5°C per minute. The temperature is recorded when balls pass through the softened material. The average of two ball temperatures provides the softening point. The results section presents the softening point temperatures for two balls, with an average of 58°C. The conclusion is that softening point indicates the temperature at which a material loses viscosity and protects joint fillers from

Uploaded by

amer tayem
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pavement Design Lab ASU-Civil Engineering Department

Name: ‫عامر كمال عبدهللا الحسن‬ Title of Experiment:

Student ID: 201610187 Number of Experiment:

Partners Name List: Laboratory Instructor:

Date:23/11/2020 Laboratory Supervisor:

Abstract:

The softening point of Bituminous material is the temperature at which the material attains a
particular degree of softening.

As per IS: 334-1982, it is the temperature (in ⁰C ) at which a standard ball passes through a
sample of bitumen in a mold and falls through a height of 2.5 cm, when heated underwater or
glycerine at specified conditions of test given below.

For the purpose of use in the road, the binder should have sufficient fluidity. And for various
road use applications, the determination of the softening point helps to know the temperature up
to which a bituminous binder should be heated.

Softening point of bituminous materials is determined by Ring and Ball apparatus.

Table of Content

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. Objective
4. Methodology and Theory
5. Apparatus and Procedure
6. Discussion and Conclusion:
7. Results and sample of calculation:
8. Errors and Problems:
Pavement Design Lab ASU-Civil Engineering Department

Introduction:
the softening point is defined as the temperature at which a bitumen sample
can no longer support the weight of a 3.5-g steel ball. 

Objective:

To determine the softening point of bitumen/tar.


Pavement Design Lab ASU-Civil Engineering Department
Pavement Design Lab ASU-Civil Engineering Department

Apparatus and Procedure:


List the various tools and apparatus you have used in the experiment. Describe the basic
principle of the apparatus and the role of each tool in your experiment. You are asked to
summarize the procedures that you performed without repeating the procedures listed in the
laboratory manual. This section should provide detailed description of all procedures so the
reader can be able to repeat the experiment after reading this section.

 The ring and ball apparatus consist of following:

 Steel balls
 A thermometer
 Stirrer

 Preparation of test sample: Heat the material to a temperature between 75 ⁰C – 100 ⁰C


above its softening point; stir until it is completely fluid and free from air bubbles and
water.
    If necessary filter it through IS sieve 30. On a metal plate, place the rings, previously
heated to a temperature approximating to that of the molten material. This metal plate has
been coated with a mixture of equal parts of glycerine and dextrin.
  level the material in the ring by removing the excess with a warmed, sharp knife after
cooling for 30 minutes in the air.
 Assemble the apparatus as shown in fig with the rings, thermometer and ball guides in
position.
 Fill the bath with distilled water to a height of 50 mm above the upper surface of the
rings. The staring temperature should be 5 ⁰C.    

 Apply heat to the bath and stir the liquid so that the temperature rises at a uniform rate of
5 ±0.5 ⁰C per minute.

 As the temperature increases, the bituminous material softens and the ball sinks through
the ring, carrying a portion of the material with it.

 Note down the temperature when any of the steel ball with bituminous coating touches
the bottom plate.

 And carefully record the temperature when the second ball just touches the bottom plate.
Then calculate the average of the two readings to the nearest 0.5 ⁰C, that value is the
softening point.
Pavement Design Lab ASU-Civil Engineering Department

Results and sample of calculation:

In this section, you should summarize your data in graphs, tables as appropriate and should
contain formal analysis of your data. Please present your data in the way which serves the
purpose of experiment outcomes. Please do not list the obtained raw data in this section. Please
number your graphs and tables consecutively. The label of the graphs should be written in the
below while the table’s title should be above the table. Please label axis, columns and provide the
corresponding units for dimensions. The results section should also stat the meaning of each
graph and table as well as explaining the meaning of any visual observation.

Ball No. Softening Point C Average Softening Point

1 57 58

2 58.5
Pavement Design Lab ASU-Civil Engineering Department

Discussion and Conclusion:


he temperature at which binders possess the same viscosity is an indication of the Softening
point. It is observed that bituminous materials do not have a definite melting point. Rather the
change of state from solid to liquid is gradual and over a wide range of temperatures.

The softening point has a very important function for the determination of the materials that are
to be used as joint and crack fillers. A higher softening point indicates and protects that they will
not flow during service.

In general, the higher the softening point, the lesser the temperature susceptibility.

For the construction in warm places, bitumen with a higher softening point may be preferred.

Errors and Problems:

Appendixes:
Original data and data control sheets

References:
AASHTO T 53 and ASTM

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