Effect of Penetration and Temperature on the Performance Specification of Bitumen

In this study, the effect of penetration and temperature changes on the performance specifications of bitumen was investigated experimentally. In this regard, it was ensured that the bitumens were obtained from a constant raw material and oxidation process at different times from the reactor. Experiments were carried out on bitumen with different penetration grades of 35, 40, 50, 55 and 60 (1⁄10 mm ). The effect of changes in the penetration grades and temperature were investigated on various quality parameters of bitumen, including bitumen specifications at high and medium temperatures, after initial and long-term aging, using rheological behavior tests by dynamic shear rheometer, thin film oven and pressurized aging vessel and the corresponding comparison diagrams were drawn. The results show that the rutting resistance or permanent deformation of bitumen in both binder and residual bitumen of thin film oven test was decreased with increasing temperature in a bitumen with a constant penetration grade and also increasing the penetration grade at a constant temperature. The Fatigue cracking index in the residual bitumen of the thin film oven and pressurized aging vessel, was decreased with increasing temperature in a bitumen with a constant penetration grade and also increasing the penetration grade at a constant temperature.