CEN/TS 15963:2010

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 15963:2009
01-september-2009
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Bitumen and bituminous binders - Determination of the Fracture Toughness temperature
by a notched three point bending test
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: FprCEN/TS 15963
ICS:
91.100.50 Veziva. Tesnilni materiali Binders. Sealing materials
kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 15963:2009 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 15963:2009
kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 15963:2009
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
FINAL DRAFT
FprCEN/TS 15963
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
June 2009
ICS 91.100.50
English Version
Bitumen and bituminous binders - Determination of the Fracture
Toughness temperature by a notched three point bending test
Bitumes et liants bitumineux - Détermination de la
température de résistance à la rupture par un essai de
flexion 3 points sur un barreau entaillé
This draft Technical Specification is submitted to CEN members for formal vote. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee CEN/TC
336.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, 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.
Warning : This document is not a Technical Specification. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice
and shall not be referred to as a Technical Specification.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2009 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. FprCEN/TS 15963:2009: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 15963:2009
FprCEN/TS 15963:2009 (E)
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

kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 15963:2009
FprCEN/TS 15963:2009 (E)
Foreword
This document (FprCEN/TS 15963:2009) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 336
“Bituminous binders”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This document is currently submitted to the Formal Vote.

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FprCEN/TS 15963:2009 (E)
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 Newton (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 millimetre (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 Newton ⋅ meter (N ⋅ m) or in Joule (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)
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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 Stiffness is expressed in Newton per millimetres (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, mm A maximum force, F
Y force, N B displacement at maximum force, D
C tangent at the inflection point
W work, J
E zero point
I inflection point of F versus displacement
Figure 1 — Example of a Force versuss displacement curve at temperature T (close to T )
FT
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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 The fracture properties of bituminous binders are strongly dependent on test temperature, loading rate and
sample preparation method.
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. A schematic picture of the set up is shown on Figure 2.
5.1.2 Loading frame
A loading frame consisting of 2 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.
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 % 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 20 mm, and capable of resolving linear movement of 0,5 µm. The deflection may be
measured using this separate transducer or by measuring the vertical movement of the tension/compression
device.
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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). To ensure
that the specimen is perpendicular to the supports and the loading pin, two vertical alignment pins of 2 mm to
4 mm in diameter shall 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
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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 surroundings of
the specimen, at a distance of not more than 25 mm from the middle of the parallelepipedal specimen.
NOTE A platinum resistance thermometer meeting DIN 43760 (Class A) requirements is recommended.
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 % – 50 % mass potassium acetate-water solution has been found to be suitable
as a bath liquid.
5.1.11 Data acquisition and control system
A data acquisition and control system shall resolve loads to the nearest 100 mN, test specimen deflection to
the nearest 0,5 µm, 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 ends of the mould. The notch is made by installing 2
layers of 25 µm thick PTFE film into the pre-notched mould frame.

Key
• beam length, L • specimen height, H • notch depth, a
Be
• specimen length, L • specimen thickness, B • notch thickness, b

• insert length, L
In
Figure 3 — Specimen geometry
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Table 2 — Test specimen dimensions and tolerances
Dimension Size Tolerance
mm mm
Beam length, L 120,0 ± 0,3
Be
Insert length, L 40,0 ± 0,1
In
Specimen length, L 40,0 ± 0,2
Specimen height, H 25,0 ± 0,5
Specimen thickness, B
12,5 ± 0,3
Notch depth, a 5,0 ± 0,1
Notch thickness, b 2 × 25 µm /
6 Preparation of test samples
6.1 Preparation of test samples
The laboratory sample shall be taken in accordance with EN 58 and the test samples shall be prepared in
accordance with EN 12594.
6.2 Preparation of moulds
The moulds for making the samples shall be assembled from aluminium side spacers. On the side spacers
and on the bottom a plastic film is glued with an anti-sticking agent to prevent sticking of the bitumen binder to
the mould. Two aluminium inserts are installed in the ends of the mould. The surfaces of the aluminium inserts
that are in contact with bitumen should be roughened to ensure good adhesion. A series of such assemblies
may be clamped together to make more than one specimen at a time. Figure 4 shows the different parts of the
mould. Figure 5 shows a picture of such an example assembly and its parts.

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Key
• beam length, L • specimen height, H • notch depth, a
Be
• specimen length, L • specimen thickness, B • notch thickness, b

Figure 4 — Mould assembly for specimen preparation
The mould assembly
...