THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM MALAYSIA
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Module Title:
ADVANCED PAVEMENT MATERIALS
Module Code:
H24PAM
Session:
2014-2015
Semester:
Autumn
Coursework-1:
Rheological Analysis of Bitumen
Assessment value: 15% of total assessment
Introduction
Rheological data has been generated for three bitumens consisting of a penetration grade
bitumen, an EVA polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and a SBS PMB using the DSR. You
are asked to analysis the data using a range of rheological data presentation techniques
and plots and then comment on the effect of polymer modification compared to the
unmodified penetration grade bitumen.
Current Form of Data
The rheological data has been measured within the linear viscoelastic region of
response of the binders using two testing geometries:
8 mm parallel plates with a 2 mm gap
25 mm parallel plates with a 1 mm gap
The data has been generated by undertaking frequency sweeps (0.01 Hz to 15 Hz) at
different temperatures ranging from 10C to 75C. The smaller (8 mm) geometry has
been used at low temperatures while the larger (25 mm) geometry has been used at
high temperatures. For all three binders there has been an overlap of rheological data
where measurements have been taken with both parallel plate geometries at the same
temperature(s). The rheological data has then been grouped together into 5 tables in a
spreadsheet. Each table has a particular rheological parameter (e.g. phase angle,
complex viscosity, complex modulus, etc) as a function of frequency and temperature
{red data from 8 mm geometry}. You will only need to use the phase angle and complex
modulus data.
Tasks
You are asked to undertake the following tasks:
1. Produce isothermal plots of phase angle () and complex modulus (G*) on
separate graphs using all the rheological data (both testing geometries).
2. Select the appropriate testing geometry at the temperatures where there is data
overlap using you knowledge of testing compliance errors (see Note 1).
3. Comment on why you have selected a particular testing geometry over another.
4. Use the now adjusted isothermal plots (remove data associated with incorrect
testing geometry) to produce master curves of complex modulus versus frequency
and phase angle versus frequency at a reference temperature of 25C. Your
horizontal shifting of complex modulus and phase angle data can be done either
graphically or using a calculation routine in a spreadsheet. Youmay also want to
5.
6.
7.
8.
try calculating the shift factor versus temperature relationship using either the
WLF equation or the Arrhenius equation and then use this shift factor/temperature
relationship to shift the rheological data (see Note 2).
Comment on the method you used and the ease/difficulty involved in generating
the master curves.
Comment on the shape and smoothness of the final master curves for the three
binders.
Produce Black diagrams for the three binders.
Comment on the similarities/differences between the Black diagrams and master
curves for the three binders
Note 1
In theory the rheological parameters (G*, , etc) should be the same irrespective of
testing geometry (8 mm or 25 mm parallel plate geometries) if the binder is tested at the
same temperatures, frequencies and within the linear viscoelastic response of the
material. However, we know that there will be slight differences between testing
geometries due to compliance errors. These errors can be identified by comparing
isothermal plots of the rheological data from the two testing geometries.
Note 2
Master curves can be generated by shifting (horizontally) isothermal plots of the
rheological parameters (G*, , etc) determined as different temperatures to a single
reference temperature. The amount of shifting is covered by a shift factor versus
temperature relationship which can be modelled using either a WLF equation or an
Arrhenius equation. However, master curves can be formed by manually shifting the data
based on either graphical or mathematical techniques without the need to establish the
complete shift factor/temperature relationship. To do this you would need rheological
data that overlap at different temperatures and was therefore able to be shifted
horizontally to lie on one continuous line (master curve).
Reporting
1. Produce plots for the three binders as described above.
2. Produce descriptive comments on the various aspects of the data analysis and
presentation techniques and methods.
Supplementary Information
Penetration grade bitumen data: Microsoft Excel Workbook DSR Data Pen Bitumen
EVA PMB data: Microsoft Excel Workbook DSR Data EVA PMB
SBS PMB data: Microsoft Excel Workbook DSR Data SBS PMB