CEN/TS 15963:2010

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2010
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Bitumen and bituminous binders - Determination of the fracture toughness temperature
by a three point bending test on a notched specimen
Bitumen und bitumenhaltige Bindemittel - Bestimmung der Bruchwiderstandstemperatur
mittels eines gekerbten Drei-Punkt- Biegeversuches
Bitumes et liants bitumineux - Détermination de la température de résistance à la rupture
par un essai de flexion 3 points sur un barreau entaillé
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: CEN/TS 15963:2010
ICS:
75.140 Voski, bitumni in drugi naftni Waxes, bituminous materials
proizvodi and other petroleum products
91.100.50 Veziva. Tesnilni materiali Binders. Sealing materials
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CEN/TS 15963
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
January 2010
ICS 91.100.50
English Version
Bitumen and bituminous binders - Determination of the fracture
toughness temperature by a three point bending test on a
notched specimen
Bitumes et liants bitumineux - Détermination de la Bitumen und bitumenhaltige Bindemittel - Bestimmung der
température de résistance à la fissuration par un essai de Bruchwiderstandstemperatur mittels eines Drei-Punkt-
flexion 3 points sur un barreau entaillé Biegeversuches an einem gekerbten Probekörper
This Technical Specification (CEN/TS) was approved by CEN on 26 October 2009 for provisional application.

The period of validity of this CEN/TS is limited initially to three years. After two years the members of CEN will be requested to submit their
comments, particularly on the question whether the CEN/TS can be converted into a European Standard.

CEN members are required to announce the existence of this CEN/TS in the same way as for an EN and to make the CEN/TS available
promptly at national level in an appropriate form. It is permissible to keep conflicting national standards in force (in parallel to the CEN/TS)
until the final decision about the possible conversion of the CEN/TS into an EN is reached.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2010 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. CEN/TS 15963:2010: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3
1 Scope .4
2 Normative references .4
3 Terms and definitions .4
4 Principle .6
5 Apparatus .6
6 Preparation of test samples .9
7 Procedure to determine the Fracture Toughness temperature T . 12
FT
8 Calculation . 12
9 Expression of results . 13
10 Precision . 14
11 Test report . 15
Annex A (informative) Calculation of Critical Stress Intensity factor . 16
Bibliography . 18

Foreword
This document (CEN/TS 15963:2010) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 336 “Bituminous
binders”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to announce this Technical Specification: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

1 Scope
This Technical Specification specifies a method for the determination of the Fracture Toughness temperature,
T , of bituminous binders by means of a three point bending test on a notched binder sample.
FT
WARNING — The use of this Technical Specification can involve hazardous materials, operations and
equipment. This Technical Specification does not purport to address all of the safety problems
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this Technical Specification to establish
appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations
prior to use.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 58, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Sampling bituminous binders
EN 12594, Bitumen and bituminous binders — Preparation of test samples
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
maximum force
F
highest force measured during the bending test
NOTE 1 The test is done in the brittle state or close to that, so that the maximum force is considered as the onset of
the crack propagation.
NOTE 2 Force is expressed in Newtons (N).
3.2
displacement at maximum force
D
bending of the test beam from the beginning of the test (from the zero point) to the break point
NOTE Displacement is expressed in millimetres (mm).
3.3
work
W
area under the force-displacement curve from the beginning of the test to the break of the sample, i.e. at the
maximum force
NOTE Work is expressed in Newtons ⋅ metres (N⋅m) or in Joules (J).
3.4
Fracture Toughness temperature
T
FT
temperature at which the displacement at the maximum force is 0,3 mm (from the zero point)
NOTE Fracture Toughness temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius (°C).
3.5
initial stiffness
S
value calculated as the tangent of the force-displacement curve at the inflection point
NOTE 1 See Figure 1.
NOTE 2 Stiffness is expressed in Newtons per millimetre (N/mm).
3.6
zero point
intersection of the x-axis and the tangent of the force-displacement curve at the inflection point
Figure 1 presents an example of the Force versus displacement curve at a temperature T close to T .
FT
Key
X displacement, in millimetres (mm) A maximum force (defined as F)
Y force, in Newtons (N) B X point at maximum force
C tangent at the inflection point
D displacement at maximum force, (D = B - E)

E zero point
G work (defined as W)
I inflection point of F versus displacement
Figure 1 — Example of a Force versus displacement curve at temperature T (close to T )
FT
4 Principle
The notched three point bending test is used to measure cracking perfomance of unmodified and modified
bituminous binder samples. The test sample is a beam with a notch in the middle of one side of the beam. The
sample is conditioned in a temperature controlled bath. The beam is placed on two supports with the notch
facing downwards and a vertical downward force is applied on the middle of the upper face of the sample. The
beam is loaded until failure with a specified displacement rate, whereby force is recorded versus
displacement.
NOTE 1 The fracture properties of bituminous binders are strongly dependent on test temperature, loading rate and
sample preparation method.
NOTE 2 This test is based on the work done by S. Hesp for the Ministry of Transportation in Ontario, Canada [1].
5 Apparatus
5.1 Testing apparatus
5.1.1 Tension-compression device
A universal tension-compression device, which is capable of sustaining a constant, predetermined
displacement rate.
5.1.2 Bending rig
A bending rig consisting of two cylindrical specimen supports, a cylindrical-nosed shaft to apply the load to the
mid-point of the test specimen and a load cell mounted in line with the loading shaft.
The dimensions and tolerances of the loading frame are given in Table 1.
5.1.3 Loading system
A loading system, which is capable of applying a rate of displacement of 0,01 mm/s. The specified
displacement rate shall fluctuate by no more than ± 10 % over time. The maximum stroke of the instrument
shall be at least 20 mm for this test.
5.1.4 Loading shaft
A loading shaft, which is continuous and in line with the load cell and deflection measuring transducer. The T-
shape shaft shall have a cylindrical-shaped loading pin in the end. The diameter of the pin shall be
(10,0 ± 0,1) mm.
5.1.5 Load cell
A load cell having a minimum capacity of no less than 500 N and an accuracy of ± 1 % above 5 N with a
minimum resolution of at least 100 m⋅N is required. The load cell shall allow the measurement of the force at
any time during the test.
5.1.6 LVD-transducer
An LVD transducer or other suitable device to measure the deflection of the sample is necessary. It shall have
a linear range of at least 5 mm with an accuracy of 2 µm. The deflection may be measured using this separate
transducer or by measuring the vertical movement of the tension/compression device.
5.1.7 Specimen supports
Specimen supports which shall consist of two non-corrosive metal half-rounds or cylinders with a diameter of
(10,0 ± 0,1) mm that are spaced (100 ± 1) mm apart (cylinder centre point to cylinder centre point). The
specimen shall be placed perpendicular to the supports and the loading pin. To facilitate that, two vertical
alignment pins of 2 mm to 4 mm in diameter can be provided at the back of each support. A schematic
diagram of the sample supports is shown on Figure 2.
5.1.8 Ventilated oven, capable of maintaining a temperature up to 200 °C, with an accuracy of ± 1 °C.
The specified temperature shall only be assessed in the surroundings of the sample (see 6.3).
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
1 cylindrical loading shaft pin 4 alignment pin
2 specimen (see details on Figure 3) F force applied
3 specimen supports
Figure 2 — Bending rig
Table 1 — Measurement and tolerances of the rig
Dimension Size Tolerance
mm mm
Loading shaft pin length 25 ± 2
Loading shaft diameter 10,0 ± 0,1
Specimen support length 25 ± 2
Specimen support diameter 10,0 ± 0,1
Specimen support span 100 ± 1
5.1.9 Temperature measurement device
A calibrated temperature transducer capable of measuring the temperature with the accuracy of ± 0,1 °C over
the range of – 40,0 °C to 0,0 °C. The temperature measuring head shall be mounted in the near vicinity of the
specimen, at a distance of not more than 25 mm from the middle of the specimen.
5.1.10 Liquid bath
A liquid bath shall be capable of maintaining the required test temperature near the test specimen within
± 0,2 °C during the isothermal conditioning and the test procedure, enabling to reach the lower temperature
required for testing the specimen.
Bath liquid shall not affect the properties of the bituminous binder being tested.
NOTE 95 % volume ethanol or a 40 % to 50 % mass potassium acetate-water solution has been found to be suitable
as a bath liquid.
5.1.11 Data acquisition
The data acquisition system shall resolve loads to the nearest 100 mN, record specimen deflection to the
nearest 0,5 µm, record time to the nearest second and temperature around the sample to the nearest 0,1 °C.
The software shall control the measuring system and record time, load, deflection and temperature during the
test.
5.2 Test specimen
A test specimen as shown on Figure 3 is used. The sample is moulded from the bituminous binder to be
assessed. Two aluminium inserts are installed at the
...