AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT

To determine the viscosity of bituminous material.

CODE OF REFERENCE

 ASTM D88-07: Standard test method for Saybolt viscosity

 ASTM D7496-11: Standard test method for viscosity of emulsified asphalt by Saybolt Furol
Viscometer.

 AASHTO T72, “Standard Method of test for Saybolt Viscosity”, 2005.

APPARATUS USED

 Viscometer- A Saybolt Furol Viscometer.

 Filter Funnel- It is equipped with interchangeable 150 μm (no. 100) and 75 μm (no. 200) wire
cloth.

 Thermometer- ASTM No. 17C or 17F for tests at (770 F)

 Water Bath- Capable of maintaining the required tes ng temperature within the specified
limit

 Receiving flask.

Fig 1: Saybolt Viscometer

THEORY
Viscosity is the inverse of fluidity and it is a measure of resistance of flow. The viscosity of liquid
bitumen is measured by efflux visconnectors. At low viscosity the bitumen binder simply lubricates
the aggregate par cles instead of providing a binder ac on. In case of high viscosity it will resist the
compac ve effort but mixture is heterogenous. Furol viscosity is a specific test which is only used for
the measurement of liquid bituminous materials.
The Saybolt Universal Second (S.U.S) is a measure of kinema c viscosity. It is the me required for 60
ml of oil to flow through a calibrated tube at a controlled temperature. It is used when the oils have
flow me upto 5600 seconds.

When the flow me is in excess of 5600 seconds, Saybolt Furol Seconds should be used instead of
Saybolt Universal Second. The tube diameter in two scales is such that the Furol Viscosity is one-
tenth of Universal Viscosity.

In this test, the efflux me required for 60 ml of sample to flow through the calibrated tube is
recorded and it is mul plied by a suitable factor called the orifice factor and the result is reported as
the viscosity of the sample at a given temperature in which the test will be conducted.

RELEVANCE OF THE EXPERIMENT

 The viscosity test is conducted to determine viscosity of a fluid which is the property by
which it offers resistance to flow.

 Higher the viscosity, the slower will be the movement of liquid. The viscosity affects the
ability of binder to spread, move into and fill up the voids between aggregates.

 It plays an important role in coa ng of aggregates. Binder which are highly viscous may not
fill up the voids completely thereby resul ng in poor density of the mix.

 At lower viscosity the binder does not hold the aggregates together but just acts as a
lubricant. The viscosity of bituminous binders falls down very rapidly as the temperature
rises. Since binders exhibit viscosity over wide ranges, it is necessary to use different
methods.

 For binders in liquid state (road tars, cutback bituminous), the viscosity is determined as the
me in seconds by 50 c.c of material to flow from a cup through a specified orifice under
standard condi ons of temperature.

PROCEDURE

 Prepara on of apparatus:
a) Universal orifice for SUS and furol orifice for SFS is used.
b) The viscometer along with the bath should be setup in area where there is no rapid
change in temperature.
c) The receiving flask is kept beneath the viscometer tube.

 The test temperature should be set in bath.

 The flask is immersed in boiling water for 30 min.

 It is mixed well; the sample is removed from the water bath and the sample is strained
through 75 μ wire cloth in the filter funnel directly into the viscometer ll the level is such
that it I about to overflow.

 The sample is s rred in viscometer using an appropriate viscosity thermometer.

 The receiving flask is checked to be in correct posi on. The cork is then removed from
viscometer and the mer is started.

 The mer is stopped as soon as the oil meniscus reached the gradua on mask on the
receiving flask.
  The efflux me is repeated in seconds.

OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS

DISCUSSION

 The determina on of me of flow of binder through the orifice gives an indirect measure of
viscosity of tars and cutbacks. Higher the dura on of flow greater is the viscosity.

 Viscosity of binder is one of the criteria for their classifica on. The viscosity should fall within
range.

 Binders having very low viscosity can be advantageously used in excep onally cold weather
condi ons.

 High viscosity binder should be heated before their applica on.

PRECAUTIONS

 The bitumen should be filtered thoroughly a muslin cloth to remove solid par cles that may
clog the jet.

 The receiving flask should be placed in such a manner that the bitumen stream from jet
strikes the neck of receiving flask and do not cause any foaming.

 A er each reading the bitumen should be completely dried out of receiving flask.
Experiment Title:

Determina on of Viscosity of Bitumen using Tar Viscometer

Apparatus Required:

 Tar Viscometer (with cup and valve)

 Receiver Flask (graduated)

 Thermometer (0°C to 200°C range)

 Water Bath (part of viscometer setup)

 Stopwatch

 Bitumen Sample

Principle:

The viscosity test measures the me taken for a specific volume of bitumen to flow through a
specified orifice at a given temperature. It indicates the resistance of bitumen to flow and is
important for assessing its consistency and temperature suscep bility in road construc on.

Standard Reference:

IS: 1206 (Part 2) – 1978 / ASTM D 1206

Test Setup Overview:

 The Tar Viscometer consists of a cup (orifice at bo om), fi ed with a valve to control flow.

 A thermometer is inserted to monitor the bitumen temperature.

 A receiver (graduated flask) collects the ou low.

Procedure:

1. Prepara on:

o Clean and dry the viscometer cup and orifice thoroughly.

o Check that the valve is properly fi ed and leakproof.

2. Filling the Cup:

o Heat the bitumen sample to make it fluid (do not overheat).

o Pour the bitumen into the viscometer cup un l it reaches the marked level.

3. Temperature Adjustment:
 o Insert a thermometer into the bitumen.

o Surround the cup with a water bath to maintain the test temperature (commonly
35°C or 60°C based on test specifica on).

o Wait un l the desired test temperature is reached and stabilized (±0.1°C).

4. Flow Measurement:

o Place the receiver flask below the orifice.

o Open the valve and simultaneously start the stopwatch.

o Allow exactly 50 ml of bitumen to flow into the receiver.

o Stop the stopwatch as soon as the 50 ml mark is reached.

5. Record Time:

o Note the elapsed me in seconds.

Observa ons Table:

Trial No. Test Temp (°C) Volume Collected (ml) Time Taken (sec) Viscosity (sec)

1 60°C 50 ml … …

2 60°C 50 ml … …

Result:

 The viscosity of the bitumen sample is the average me taken to collect 50 ml of bitumen at
the specified temperature.
Viscosity = ___ seconds at ___ °C

Precau ons:

 Ensure the orifice is not blocked.

 Maintain accurate and constant temperature during the test.

 Use a clean and dry receiver.

 Avoid parallax error while reading the thermometer and volume.