Page 61 - HIGHWAY ENGINEERING LABORATORY_FLIP BUILDER

Page :
WORK INSTRUCTION
Edition :
Checking No.
FLOAT TEST OF BITUMEN
(Reference Standard:
CIVIL ENGINEERING ASTM D139 – 16) Effective Date:

JKA/ DCC30112/ 2021 Amendment Date:

1.0 OBJECTIVE OF EXPERIMENT :

To determine the consistency of the bitumen by float test.

2.0 SUMMARY OF THEORY :

A Float test of Bitumen is generally used to determine the consistency of a highly viscous

bitumen sample. The consistency of bitumen is an important property of bitumen to find
out before using. The float test of bitumen gives us an idea about how the bitumen sample
behaves in temperature changes and resistance to flow.

The float test of Bitumen measures the consistency of the bitumen when it is not possible to

determine the consistency by penetration test or viscosity test. Consistency of Highly
viscous bitumen is tested by float test. The distillation residues and residues from emulsion
are tested by float test. Consistency of bitumen is an essential parameter to analyze the

quality of bitumen.

Consistency measures the susceptibility of the bitumen to temperature change and
resistance to flow. The bituminous binder used in the pavement should be able to resist
the deformations applied to it. and consistency affects the ability of bitumen to resist

deformations. Hence, it is important to ascertain the consistency of bitumen before its use.

Higway Engineering Laboratory page 48