A Comparative Study on Properties of Different Grade Bitumen Used in The Transportation Projects in and Around Dhaka City Volume 3 - Issue 2

Md Razibur Rahman¹*, Subrata Chowdhury², Md abdullah², Avijit Sarkar², Saidur Rahman Sayeed² and Md Monoarul Islam Real²

• ¹Department of Civil Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), Bangladesh
• ²Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh

Received: January 28, 2019;   Published: February 15, 2019

Corresponding author: Md Razibur Rahman, Department of Civil Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), Bangladesh

DOI: 10.32474/TCEIA.2018.03.000159

Abstract PDF

Abstract

Bangladesh is a developing country as well as the number of populations is too much higher. For fulfilling the demand of people, firstly a good transportation system is necessary for our country. Among the all three modes of transport, (land transport (road, rail), water transport, air transport) roadway is mostly used mode of transport in Bangladesh. Bitumen is one of the main courses of roadway pavement structure. It is used as a binder material.

Bitumen is an oil-based element. It is a semi-solid hydrocarbon product produced by removing the lighter fractions (such as liquid petroleum gas, petrol and diesel) from bulky crude oil during the refining process. As such, it is correctly known as refined bitumen. Bitumen is a mixture of dark, sticky, highly viscous organic liquids composed mainly of aromatic hydrocarbons. It is usually black or dark brown in color. The material behavior is dependent on the ambient temperature. The main objective in this paper is to determine the actual values of different grade bitumen used in and around Dhaka city ,to compare the standard values and actual values of different grade bitumen , to select the perfect types of bitumen which are suitable for our country and finally to provide better surface conditions of roadway.

Keywords: Mode of transportation; Bitumen; Pavement; Temperature; Sticky

Introduction

A better transportation system is significant for a country’s upliftment. It is essential for safe, clean and affordable transport. A excellent transportation way diminish the space among people, markets, services and knowledge – or merely ‘getting people linked’ – which is an eminent segment of what economic growth is all about. Though virtual connectivity has become rising momentous today with the emergence of modern communication avenues, a proper and dependable transport network remains necessary. There is a highly potential positive interrelation between a state’s financial promotion and the nature of its road chain.

As Bitumen is a thermoplastic element, its firmness varies with temperature. At presently in utmost states around the Globe, bitumen are graded pursuant to a number of fundamental, and often technological examine. For illustration in UK, penetration and softening point have long been the base of the grading methods. Somewhere else, inevitable substance such as viscosity have also been identified definitely. To date, a lot of alteration on grades of bitumen used where recent grades are commenced to cater for tangible needs in erection, incognito modifiers and massive duty amalgamation.

Usually, the choice of bitumen grade in a province is depends on climate of the promised site. For hot state climate or meteorological condition, harder grade of bitumen is proposed while softer grade is worthy for cold country atmospheric condition. Whatever an unspecified amount of bitumen requisites alternation in order to meet precise requirement. Yet, not all modifiers suitable for all application because each mineral conditioner have its own chemical formation. Commonly, bitumen should be refitted to diminish temperature susceptibility and enhance the ability to stick fast to a surface and cohesive. Consequently, it is desired that this method will not only deliver importance impact in recycling agricultural waste components but also have efficient to minimize the budget and flourish the function of bitumen.

Familiar for its sticky or glue and cohesive quality, bitumen is mostly effective use of in the erection factories.

Bitumen is spread on a surface on road paving because it is viscous when hot, but solid once it cools down. Therefore, Bitumen functionate as the binder/glue for pieces of the aggregate.

The limitless advantage of refined bitumen is used in erection: mainly as a admixture of products used in paving and roofing installation, highways construction and underground water proofing works. In accordance with the conditions of the end use bitumen is produced to specification or precise requirement. This is fulfill either by refining process or mixing.

It is calculated that the running world usage of bitumen is nearly 102 million tonnes per year. On an average 85% of all the bitumen make from raw materials is usaged as the bonder in asphalt for roads. The main focus of this paper is to establish an overall and comprehensive understanding the actual values of different grade bitumen used in and around Dhaka city, bitumen properties and suggesting suitable type of bitumen in the investigated area.

Test Procedure

There are various types of tests to determine the properties of bituminous materials. We have performed here five tests such as penetration test, specific test, softening point test, ductility test, solubility test.

a. Penetration test
b. Specific gravity test
c. Softening point test
d. Ductility test
e. Solubility test (Figure 1)

Scope and importance of the above test

I. Generally, the penetration test is used as a standard unit of consistency and upper grades of penetration suggests flexible firmness.

II. Penetration test is commonly used all around the world for categorizing bituminous materials into various grades.

III. Largely rely on the atmospheric condition and type of erection, bitumen of various penetration grade is used. Normally used grades are enlisted here, such as 30/40, 60/70 and 80/100

IV. Generally, in hot areas, minor penetration values are considered and in colder areas bitumen with upper penetration values are choose.

V. Usually Specific gravity of a bitumen binder is a elementary property which is frequently requisite as an aid in classing binders for use in paving jobs.

VI. Ordinarily specific gravity is also used in recognizing the origin of bitumen binder.

VII. Normally softening point is the temperature at which the bituminous binders have a same viscosity (i.e. the consistency of all the grades will be same at the softening point e.g. if two samples have softening points of 40 °C and 80 °C respectively, both will have the same consistency at their softening point.).

VIII. The test indicates the idea of the temperature at which the bituminous materials attain assure viscosity.

IX. In grossly bitumen with upper softening point may be applied in warmer regions

X. In fact, softening point should be larger than the hottest day temperature, which is anticipated in that area otherwise bitumen may adequately soften and result in bleeding and improvement of ruts.

XI. Tensile strength of bitumen (Ductility test)

XII. Grade of sample (ductility grad)

XIII. Finally, this experiment covers the meanings of the degree of solubility in trichloroethylene of asphalt materials having lower or no mineral substantiality.

Collected Samples

Our collected samples are indicated below:

a) Sample 1: Penetration Grade 60/70 (from Mirpur road, New Market, Dhaka)
b) Sample 2: Penetration Grade 80/100 (from LGED)
c) Sample 3: Penetration Grade 60/70 (from Panthapath, Dhaka)

Calculation and Analysis of the Experimental Data

Data Analysis of Penetration Test

For Sample 1 (Penetration Grade 60/70)
Observations and Results: (Table 1)

Comments: The examination has been operated effectively and the mean penetration value came out to be 64.55. Accordingly, the tables the values ranging from 50 to 149 should have variation of maximum 4. In our case the difference is 67-63 = 4 which is equal to 4 so our executed experiment and the penetration value are almost authentic and correct. We accomplished the experiment at room temperature (Figure 2).

For Sample 2 (Penetration Grade 80/100)
Observations and Results: (Table 2)

Comments: The examination has been operated effectively and the mean penetration value came out to be 93.67. In accordance with the tables the values ranging from 50 to 149 should have difference of highest 4. In our case the difference is = 95-92 = 3 which is lesser then 4 so our performed experiment and the penetration value is perfectly correct. We performed the experiment at room temperature.

For Sample 3 (Penetration Grade 60/70)
Observations and Results: (Table 3)

Comments: The examination has been operated with success and the mean penetration value came out to be 63.11. According to the tables the values ranging from 50 to 149 should have variation of maximum 4. In our case the variation is 64-62 = 2 which is lesser to 4 hence our accomplished experiment and the penetration value is correct and genuine. We executed the experiment at room temperature.

Data Analysis of Specific Gravity Test

For Sample 1 (Penetration Grade 60/70)

Mass of Pycnometer (+ stopper), A = 21gm

Mass of Pycnometer filled with water, B = 77gm
Mass of Pycnometer partially filled with bitumen, C = 59gm
Mass of Pycnometer + asphalt + water, D = 78gm

Specific Gravity =

Observations and Results: (Table 4)

Comments: The test has been executed with success and the specific gravity determined is 1.03 which is in the range of 1.00 to 1.05. So it is acceptable. There were no bubbles in the pycnometer so chance of mistake was dispelled and then the value become correct.

For Sample 2 (Penetration Grade 80/100)

Mass of Pycnometer (+ stopper), A = 40gm

Mass of Pycnometer filled with water, B = 94gm

Mass of Pycnometer partially filled with bitumen, C = 80gm

Mass of Pycnometer + asphalt + water, D = 95gm

Specific Gravity =

Observations and Results: (Table 5)

Comments: Since the test has been executed successfully, the specific gravity determined as 1.03 which is in the range of 1.01 to 1.06. So, it is perfectly acceptable. There were no single bubbles in the pycnometer so the possibility of error was eliminated and thus the value become correct.

Mass of Pycnometer filled with water, B = 78gm

Mass of Pycnometer partially filled with bitumen, C = 63gm

Mass of Pycnometer + asphalt + water, D = 79gm

Specific Gravity =

For Sample 3 (Penetration Grade 60/70)

Mass of Pycnometer (+ stopper), A = 21gm

Observation and results: (Table 6)

Comments: The experimental test has been finished in a successful manner and the specific gravity consider as 1.02 which is in the range of 1.00 to 1.05. So, it is acceptable which is perfectly correct. There were no bubbles in the pycnometer so chance of mistake was eliminated and thus the value being correct.

Data Analysis of Softening Point Test (Figure 3)

For sample 1 (Penetration Grade 60/70)

Observations and Results: (Table 7)

Comments: The experiment has been performed successfully and the softening point came out to be 46.5 °C which is not in the range of 49 °C to 56 °C. So it is not acceptable.

For Sample 2 (Penetration Grade 80/100)

Observations and Results: (Table 8)

Comments: The experiment has been performed successfully and the softening point came out to be 45.7 °C which is not in the range of 45 °C to 52 °C. So, it is acceptable which is perfectly correct.

For Sample 3 (Penetration Grade 60/70)

Observations and Results: (Table 9)

Comments: The test has been executed in a successful manner and the softening point came out to be 49.2 °C which is not in the range of 49 °C to 56 °C. So, it is adoptable which is absolutely correct.

Data Analysis of Ductility Test

For Sample 1 (Penetration Grade 60/70) (Figure 4)

Observations and Results

Grade of Bitumen = 60/70
Test Temperature = 27 °C
Ductility Value = 97cm

Comments: As the Ductility test has been accomplished perfectly, the ductility value has been counted as 97cm. The ASTM D-113 for 60/70 grade the value of Ductility = 100min. Temperature was not maintained in the laboratory so the value may varies at 25 °C as we accomplished at the Laboratory temperature.

For Sample 2 (Penetration Grade 80/100)

Observations and Results

Grade of Bitumen = 80/100
Test Temperature = 25 °C
Ductility Value = 106cm

Comments: The Ductility test has been executed perfectly and the ductility value has been computed as 105cm. The ASTM D-113 for 60/70 grade the value of Ductility = 100min. So, it is accepted which is perfectly correct.

For Sample 3 (Penetration Grade 60/70)

Observations and results

Grade of Bitumen = 60/70
Test Temperature = 26oC
Ductility Value = 102cm

Comments: As the Ductility test has been executed perfectly, the ductility value has been counted as 102cm which is perfectly correct. The ASTM D-113 for 60/70 grade the value of Ductility = 100min. Temperature was not maintained in the laboratory so the value may differ at 25 °C as we performed at the Laboratory temperature.

Data Analysis of Solubility Test

For Sample 1 (Penetration Grade 60/70)

Total weight of insoluble, A= 0.15gm
Total weight of sample, B= 2.1gm
Insoluble, percent = (A/B)*100 = (0.15/2.1)*100 = 7.14%
Soluble, percent = 100- [(A/B)*100] = 100-7.14 = 92.86%
Result: The solubility of the bitumen is 92.86 percent

For Sample 2 (Penetration Grade 80/100)

Total weight of insoluble, A= 0.10gm
Total weight of sample, B= 2.0gm
Insoluble, percent = (A/B)*100 = (0.10/2.0)*100 = 5.0%
Soluble, percent = 100- [(A/B)*100] = 100-5.0 = 95%
Result: The solubility of the bitumen is 95 percent.

For Sample 3 (Penetration Grade 60/70)

Total weight of insoluble, A= 0.12gm
Total weight of sample, B= 2.0gm
Insoluble, percent = (A/B)*100 = (0.12/2.0)*100 = 6%
Soluble, percent = 100- [(A/B)*100] = 100-6.0 = 94%
Result: The solubility of the bitumen is 94 percent

Comparison Between Standard Values and Experimental Values of Different Grade Bitumen

(Table 10 & 11)

Conclusion

During the study period we collected three samples. Two of these are penetration grade 60/70 and one is penetration grade 80/100. In the lab we performed five tests on bitumen to assess its consistency, gradation, temperature susceptibility, and safety. These tests are: penetration test, ductility test, softening point test, specific gravity test and solubility test. We determined and evaluated different properties of bituminous materials throughout these tests. From these properties of bituminous materials (such as hardness or softness, tensile properties, solubility) we can easily select a suitable grade of bitumen for roadway construction according to the surrounding conditions and climates. From our study we prefer the Penetration Grade 80/100 which is most suitable for transportation projects in and around Dhaka city. Before Applying this Grade of Bitumen pavement should be harden [1-9].

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