DUCTILITY TEST

IS: 1208 1978

A test on Bitumen
HIGHWAY ENGINEERING PRACTICAL

PPT Prepared by;

Nado Rinchen
Dhendup Tashi
Pemba Tshering
Rigesh Lama
Rohit Adhikari

Objective:
1. To measure the ductility of a given bitumen
sample.
2. To determine the suitability of bitumen for its use
in road construction.

Apparatus:
1.

Briquette mould

2.

Water bath

3.

Testing machine

4.

Thermometer

Figure: Mould for ductility Test

Procedure:
1.

The bitumen sample is melted to a temperature of 75 to 100 C above the

approximate softening point until its fluid.

2.

It is strained through IS sieve 30, poured in the mould assembly and placed
on a brass plate, after a solution of glycerin and dextrin is applied at all
surfaces of the mould exposed to bitumen.

3.

30-40 minutes after the sample is poured into the mould, the sample and
mould assembly are removed from water bath and excess bitumen
material is cut off by leveling the surface using hot knife.

4.

After trimming the specimen, the mould assembly containing sample is

replaced in water bath maintained at 27 C for 85-95 minutes.

5.

The sides of the mould are now removed and the clips are carefully
hooked on the machine without causing any initial strain.

Procedure Contd
6.

Two or more specimens may be prepared in the moulds and clipped

to the machine so as to conduct these test simultaneously.

7.

The pointer is to read zero.

8.

The machine is started and the two clips are thus pulled apart
horizontally.

9.

While the test is in operation, it is checked whether the sample is

immersed in water at a depth of at least 10mm.

10.

The distance at which the bitumen thread of each specimen breaks,

is recorded (in cm) to report as ductility value.

Precaution
1.

The plate assembly upon which the mould is placed shall be

perfectly flat and level so that the bottom surface of the mould
touches it throughout.

2.

In filling the mould, care should be taken not to disarrange the parts
and thus distort the briquette and to see that no air pocket shall be
within the mould sample.

3.

Use glycerin/grease for easily removal of bitumen from the

container.

4.

Equipment should be cleaned thoroughly before testing & after

testing.

Observation:
1.

Bitumen grade

2.

Pouring temperature (in C)

3.

Test temperature (in C)

4.

Periods of cooling (in minutes)

i.In

air

ii.In

water bath before trimming

iii.In

water bath after trimming

=
=
=
=
=

Observation Table
Reading

Briquette No.
1

Initial Reading

Final Reading

Ductility = ii-I (cm)

Limits:

For bitumen construction minimum ductility of 50 cm.

The minimum ductility values specified by Indian Standards Institution

for various grades of bitumen available in India are given below:
Source of paving bitumen and penetration
grade

Minimum ductility value

(cm)

Assam petroleum A25

A35

10

A45

12

A65, A90 & A200

15

Bitumen from sources other than Assam

petroleum S35

50

S45, S65 & S90

75

Result:

Ductility Value of the specimen =

ANNEXURE 1

SAMPLE Observation:
1.

Bitumen grade

=RT-4

2.

Pouring temperature (in C)

=75oC to 100oC

3.

Test temperature (in C)

=80oC

4.

Periods of cooling (in minutes)

i.In

air

=30 mins

ii.In

water bath before trimming

= 30 mins

iii.In

water bath after trimming

= 90 mins

SAMPLE Observation Table

Reading

Briquette No.
1

Initial Reading

Final Reading

>100

>100

>100

Ductility = ii-I (cm)

>100

>100

>100

SAMPLE Result:

Ductility Value of the specimen = Greater than 100.