Designation: D 1188 – 07

Standard Test Method for

Bulk Specific Gravity and Density of Compacted Bituminous
Mixtures Using Coated Samples1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1188; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope E 12 Terminology Relating to Density and Specific Gravity

1.1 This test method covers the determination of bulk of Solids, Liquids, and Gases3
specific gravity of specimens of Parafilm-coated, compacted 3. Significance and Use
bituminous mixtures as defined in Terminology E 12.
1.2 This method should be used with samples that contain 3.1 This test method is useful in calculating percent air
open or interconnecting voids or absorb more than 2 % of voids as given in Test Method D 3203. Since specific gravity
water by volume, or both, as determined by Section 8. has no units, it must be converted to density when this type of
1.3 The bulk specific gravity of the compacted bituminous measurement is required. This conversion is made by multi-
mixtures may be used in calculating the unit weight of the plying the specific gravity at a given temperature by the density
mixture. of water at the same temperature.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4. Apparatus
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.1 Balance, with ample capacity, and with sufficient sensi-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- tivity to enable bulk specific gravities to the specimens to be
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. calculated to at least four significant figures, that is, to at least
three decimal places. It shall be equipped with a suitable
2. Referenced Documents apparatus to permit weighing the specimen while it is sus-
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 pended in water. The balance shall conform to Specification
D 979 Practice for Sampling Bituminous Paving Mixtures D 4753 as a class GP2 balance.
D 1461 Test Method for Moisture or Volatile Distillates in 4.1.1 Since there are no more significant figures in the
Bituminous Paving Mixtures quotient (bulk specific gravity) than appear in either the
D 2726 Test Method for Bulk Specific Gravity and Density dividend (the mass of the specimen in air) or in the divisor (the
of Non-Absorptive Compacted Bituminous Mixtures volume of the specimen, obtained from the difference in mass
D 3203 Test Method for Percent Air Voids in Compacted of the specimen in air and in water), this means that the balance
Dense and Open Bituminous Paving Mixtures must have a sensitivity capable of providing both mass and
D 4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying volume values to at least four figures. For example, a sensi-
Balances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and tivity of 0.1 g would provide four significant figures for the
Construction Materials Testing determination of a mass in the range from 130.0 to 999.9 g
D 5361 Practice for Sampling Compacted Bituminous Mix- when the specific gravity is 2.300.
tures for Laboratory Testing 4.2 Water Bath, for immersing the specimen in water while
D 6752 Test Method for Bulk Specific Gravity and Density suspended, equipped with either an overflow outlet for main-
of Compacted Bituminous Mixtures Using Automatic taining a constant water level or an electronic tare feature on
Vacuum Sealing Method the scale.
5. Materials
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road 5.1 Parafilm—Is an elastomeric film obtainable from most
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.21 on scientific suppliers.
Specific Gravity and Density of Bituminous Mixtures. 5.2 Polyurethane Foam—A foam mat of a minimum of
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2007. Published October 2007. Originally
approved in 1951. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 1188 – 96 (2002)e1. 50 3 50 cm (20 3 20 in.) shall be used for the working surface
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
3
the ASTM website. Withdrawn.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 1188 – 07
by about 12.5 mm (0.5 in.) thick. Additionally, a minimum of 8.2.1 On a hard surface, cut two 100 3 100-mm (4 3 4-in.)
one foam pad with a size approximately equal to the top and one 100 3 200-mm (4 3 8-in.) pieces of Parafilm from the
surface dimensions of the sample shall be on hand. roll with a sharp blade.
5.3 Calibration Cylinder—An approximately 100-mm (4- 8.2.2 Peel the backing off of one of the 100 3 100-mm
in.) diameter by 60-mm (2.5-in.) smooth-sided aluminum (4 3 4-in.) pieces.
cylinder. 8.2.3 Grasp opposite sides of the film and stretch. Repeat
the stretching with the other two sides until the film has been
6. Test Specimens stretched to an approximately 150 3 150-mm (6 3 6-in.)
6.1 Test specimens may be molded from laboratory-mixed square. Take care not to create holes in the film.
field samples or be cut from bituminous pavement in the field. 8.2.4 Place the stretched film over one end of the specimen
Field samples should be obtained in accordance with Practice and press the sides of the film around the sample.
D 979. Pavement specimens shall be taken from pavements 8.2.5 Turn the specimen over and place on the foam mat.
with a core drill, diamond, or carborundrum saw, or other Repeat 8.2.2-8.2.4 for the other end of the specimen.
suitable means, in accordance with Practice D 5361. 8.2.6 After both ends have been wrapped (and working on
6.2 Size of Specimens—It is recommended, (1) that the the foam mat) place another piece of foam on top of the
diameter of cylindrically molded or cored specimens, or the specimen that is approximately the same size and shape as the
length of the sides of sawed specimens be at least equal to four specimen. Use another specimen of the same size to press
times the maximum size of the aggregate; and (2) that the down on top of the foam. This will eliminate the air pockets
thickness of specimens be at least one and one half times the from both surfaces.
maximum size of the aggregate. 8.2.7 Use a sharp knife to trim the excess film from the sides
6.3 Take pavement specimens from pavements with a core of the sample. Take care not to damage the sample. There
drill, diamond or Carborundum saw, or by other suitable should be a minimum of 15 mm (approximately 0.5 in.) of film
means. remaining on the side of the specimen at each end.
6.3.1 Take care to avoid distortion, bending, or cracking of 8.2.8 Next, peel the backing off of the remaining piece of
specimens during and after removal from pavement or mold. film. Grasp the film at the ends and stretch out to about 400 mm
Store specimens in a safe, cool place. (16 in.).
6.3.2 Specimens shall be free of foreign materials such as 8.2.9 Place one end of the stretched film on the side of the
seal coat, tack coat, foundation material, soil, paper, or foil. specimen and roll it over so that the film is stretched tightly
When any of these materials are visually evident, they shall be over the surface.
removed in accordance with 6.3.3. 8.2.10 Fold and press the edges around and over the edges
of the specimen.
6.3.3 If desired, specimens may be separated from other
pavement layers by sawing or other suitable means. 8.2.11 Determine the mass of the coated specimen in air.
Designate this mass as D.
7. Determine if Coating of Specimens is Needed 8.2.12 Determine the mass of the coated specimen in a
water bath at 25°C (77°F). Designate this mass as E. Measure
7.1 Determine the bulk specific gravity of the uncoated the temperature of the water and if it is different from
specimen according to Test Methods D 2726 or D 6752. 25°C 6 1°C (77 6 1.8°F), a correction to the bulk specific
7.2 Use the data collected in 7.1 to calculate the percent gravity to 25°C must be made in accordance with 10.3. If the
water absorbed by the specimen (on volume basis) as follows: temperature of the specimen differs from the temperature of the
B2A water bath by more than 2°C (3.6°F), the specimen shall be
% Water Absorbed by Vol. 5 B 2 C 100 (1) immersed in the water bath for 10 to 15 min.
8.3 Apparent Specific Gravity of Parafilm:
8.3.1 Determine the specific gravity of the aluminum cali-
where:
A = mass of the dry specimen in air, g bration cylinder at 25°C (77°F) 6 1°C (1.8°F) first determin-
B = mass of the saturated surface-dry specimen in air, g ing the mass in air and then under water. The specific gravity
C = mass of specimen in water, g. is:
7.3 If the percent water absorbed by the specimen in Section AAl
GAl 5 A 2 B (2)
7.2 exceeds 2 %, continue with the procedures outlined in Al Al
Section 8. If the percent water absorbed by the specimen does
not exceed 2 %, report the bulk specific gravity of the uncoated
where:
specimen as determined in 7.1.
Aal = dry mass in air, g,
Bal = mass under water, g.
8. Procedure 8.3.2 Dry and wrap aluminum cylinder as described in 8.2
8.1 Mass of Uncoated Specimens—After the sample has and determine the dry, wrapped mass and the mass of the
been dried under a fan until a constant mass has been achieved, wrapped specimen under water.
determine the mass of the sample. Designate this as mass A. 8.3.3 Determine the specific gravity of the Parafilm at
8.2 Mass of Coated Specimen: 25°C (77°F) 6 1°C (1.8°F):

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 D 1188 – 07
DAl 2 AAl Bulk Specific Gravity at 25°C 5 K ~Bulk at other temperature! (7)
F5 AAl (3)
DAl 2 EAl 2 G where:
Al
K = determined from Table 1.
10.3.2 For a difference of water temperature greater than
where:
3°C (5.4°F), a correction to the mass of water displaced shall
DAl = dry mass of wrapped specimen, g,
Eal = mass of wrapped specimen under water, g. be made using the following equation:

9. Moisture Correction
S
Correction 5 DT Ks D 2 E 2
D2A
F D (8)

9.1 In case the specimen has been obtained during construc- where:
tion or from a pavement and contains moisture, it is necessary DT = 25°C minus the temperature of
to correct the masses determined in the following sections. the water bath,
9.2 The moisture may be determined by one of two meth- Ks = 6 3 10−5 ml/ml/°C average coef-
ods. ficient of cubical thermal expan-
9.2.1 Determine the original mass of the sample. Then dry sion of bituminous concrete,
the uncoated sample to a constant mass in an oven maintained (D − E − (D − A) / = mass of the volume of water for
at a temperature of approximately 110°C (230°F). A constant F) the volume of the specimen at
mass is defined as less than a 0.05 % change in mass between 25°C.
consecutive 15 min drying intervals. Designate this oven-dry
mass as Edry. The mass of the moisture, Emoist is: 11. Report
Emoist 5 Eoriginal 2 Edry (4) 11.1 Report the following information:
11.1.1 Test method used to determine bulk specific gravity.
where: 11.1.2 Percent water absorbed.
Eoriginal = original mass of the specimen, g, 11.1.3 Specific gravity of Parafilm to three decimal places.
Edry = oven dry mass, g.
9.2.2 Subtract Emoist from any further determinations of 11.1.4 Moisture correction to four significant figures.
mass in subsequent sections. 11.1.5 Bulk specific gravity at 25°C (77°F) 6 1°C (1.8°F)
9.2.3 Alternatively, determine the mass of moisture in the to four significant figures.
samples by using Test Method D 1461. This method should be 11.1.6 Density to four significant figures.
used if the bituminous material in the mixture contains any
distillates volatile at a temperature of 110°C (230°F). The mass 12. Precision and Bias
of the moisture is then subtracted from any determination of
mass in the following sections. 12.1 Criteria for judging the acceptability of bulk specific
gravity test results obtained by this test method are given in the
10. Calculations following table:
10.1 Calculate the bulk specific gravity of the film-coated
specimen as follows: TABLE 1 Relative Density of Water and Conversion Factor K for
A Various Temperatures
Bulk Specific Gravity 5 D2A (5)
Temperature, °C Absolute Density of WaterA Correction Factor K
D2E2 F 10 0.999728 1.002661
11 0.999634 1.002567
12 0.999526 1.002458
where: 13 0.999406 1.002338
A = mass of dry specimen in air, g, 14 0.999273 1.002204
15 0.999129 1.002060
D = mass of dry, coated specimen, g,
16 0.998972 1.001903
E = mass of coated specimen under water, g, 17 0.998804 1.001734
F = specific gravity of coating determined at 25°C (77°F). 18 0.998625 1.001555
10.2 Calculate the density of the specimen as follows: 19 0.998435 1.001364
20 0.998234 1.001162
Density 5 ~Bulk Specific Gravity! g (6) 21 0.998022 1.000950
22 0.997801 1.000728
23 0.997569 1.000495
24 0.997327 1.000253
where: 25 0.997075 1.000000
g = density of water at 25°C (77°F) (997.0 kg/m3 or 62.24 26 0.996814 0.999738
lb/ft3). 27 0.996544 0.999467
28 0.996264 0.999187
10.3 Correction for Water Bath Temperature Other than 29 0.995976 0.998898
25°C (77°F). 30 0.995678 0.998599
10.3.1 For a difference of water temperature less than or A
Data taken from Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 55th ed., CRC Press,
equal to 3°C (5.4°F), determine the specific gravity as follows: Inc.

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 D 1188 – 07
Acceptable Range of Two 13. Keywords
Test and Type Index Standard Deviation Test Results (D2S)
Single Operator 0.028 0.079 13.1 bituminous paving mixtures—compacted; bulk spe-
Multiple Laboratory 0.034 0.095 cific gravity/density
1: 10 laboratories, 2 materials, 3 replicates for 1 material and 2 replicates for
the second

12.2 Since there is no accepted reference material suitable

for determining the bias for the procedure for measuring
density, no statement on the bias of this test method is being
made.

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