Aashto T313-12

Standard Method of Test for
Determining the Flexural Creep

Stiffness of Asphalt Binder Using
the Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR)
AASHTO Designation: T 313-12
This document is only for acquaintance
1. SCOPE
1.1. This test method covers the determination of the flexural creep stiffness or compliance of
asphalt binders by means of a bending beam rheometer. It is applicable to material having
a flexural stiffness value from 20 MPa to 1 GPa (creep compliance values in the range of 50 nPa–1
to 1 nPa–1) and can be used with unaged material or with material aged using T 240 (RTFOT)
or R 28 (PAV), or both. The test apparatus is designed for testing within the temperature range
from –36 to 0°C.
1.2. Test results are not valid for beams of asphalt binder that deflect more than 4 mm, or less than
0.08 mm, when tested in accordance with this method.
1.3. This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does
not purport to address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is the responsibility of
the user of this procedure to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS
2.1. AASHTO Standards:
 M 320, Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder
 R 28, Accelerated Aging of Asphalt Binder Using a Pressurized Aging Vessel (PAV)
 R 66, Sampling Asphalt Materials
 T 240, Effect of Heat and Air on a Moving Film of Asphalt Binder (Rolling Thin-Film Oven
Test)
 T 314, Determining the Fracture Properties of Asphalt Binder in Direct Tension (DT)
2.2. ASTM Standards:

 C670, Standard Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements for Test Methods for
Construction Materials
 C802, Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Test Program to Determine the
Precision of Test Methods for Construction Materials
 E77, Standard Test Method for Inspection and Verification of Thermometers
 E220, Standard Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples By Comparison Techniques
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TS 2b T 313-1 AASHTO
2.3. Deutsche Industrie Norm (DIN) Standard:
 43760, Industrial Platinum Resistance Thermometers and Platinum Temperature Sensors
2.4. NCHRP Document:

 NCHRP Web-Only Document 71 (Project 09-26), Precision Estimates for AASHTO Test
Method T 308 and the Test Methods for Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder in AASHTO
Specification M 320
3. TERMINOLOGY
3.1. Definitions:
3.1.1. asphalt binder—an asphalt-based cement that is produced from petroleum residue either with or
without the addition of nonparticulate organic modifiers.
3.1.2. physical hardening—a time-dependent stiffening of asphalt binder that results from the time-
delayed increase in stiffness when the asphalt binder is stored at low temperatures. The increase in
stiffness due to physical hardening is reversible when the temperature is raised.
3.2. Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1. flexural creep—a test in which a simply supported asphalt binder prismatic beam is loaded with a
constant load at its midpoint and the deflection of the beam is measured with respect to
loading time.
3.2.2. measured flexural creep stiffness, Sm(t)—ratio obtained by dividing the maximum bending stress
in the beam by the maximum bending strain.
3.2.3. estimated creep stiffness, S(t)—the creep stiffness obtained by fitting a second-order polynomial to
the logarithm of the measured stiffness at 8.0, 15.0, 30.0, 60.0, 120.0, and 240.0 s and the
logarithm of time.
3.2.4. flexural creep compliance, D(t)—ratio obtained by dividing the maximum bending strain in the
beam by maximum bending stress. D(t) is the inverse of S(t). S(t) has been used historically in
asphalt technology, while D(t) is commonly used in studies of viscoelasticity.
3.2.5. m-value—absolute value of the slope of the logarithm of the stiffness curves versus the logarithm
of the time.
3.2.6. contact load—load required to maintain positive contact between the beam and the loading shaft;
35 ± 10 mN.
3.2.7. seating load—load of 1-s duration required to seat the beam; 980 ± 50 mN.
3.2.8. test load—load of 240-s duration required to determine the stiffness of material being tested;
980 ± 50 mN.
3.2.9. testing zero time, s—time at which the signal is sent to the solenoid valve to switch from zero load
regulator (contact load) to the testing load regulator (test load).

4. SUMMARY OF TEST METHOD
4.1. The bending beam rheometer measures the midpoint deflection of a simply supported beam of
asphalt binder subjected to a constant load applied to the midpoint of the beam. The device
operates only in the loading mode; recovery measurements are not obtained.
4.2. A test beam is placed in the controlled temperature fluid bath and loaded with a constant load for
240 s. The test load (980 ± 50 mN) and the midpoint of deflection of the beam are monitored
versus time using a computerized data acquisition system.
4.3. The maximum bending stress at the midpoint of the beam is calculated from the dimensions of the
beam, the span length, and the load applied to the beam for loading times of 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, and
240 s. The maximum bending strain in the beam is calculated for the same loading times from the
dimensions of the beam and the deflection of the beam. The stiffness of the beam for the loading
times specified above is calculated by dividing the maximum stress by the maximum strain.
4.4. The load and deflection at 0.0 and 0.5 s are reported to verify that the full-testing load (980 ±
50 mN) during the test is applied within the first 0.5 s. They are not used in the calculation of
stiffness and m-value and should not be considered to represent material properties. The rise time
of the load (time to apply full load) can be affected by improper operation of the pressure
regulators, improper air bearing pressure, malfunctioning air bearing (friction), and other factors.
By reporting the 0.0- and 0.5-s signals, the user of the test results can determine the conditions of
the loading.
5. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

5.1. The test temperature for this test is related to the temperature experienced by the pavement in the
geographical area for which the asphalt binder is intended.
5.2. The flexural creep stiffness or flexural creep compliance, determined from this test, describes the
low-temperature, stress–strain–time response of asphalt binder at the test temperature within the
linear viscoelastic response range.
5.3. The low-temperature thermal cracking performance of paving mixtures is related to the creep
stiffness and the slope of the logarithm of the creep stiffness versus the logarithm of the time curve
of the asphalt binder contained in the mix.
5.4. The creep stiffness and the slope of the logarithm of the stiffness versus the logarithm of the time
curve are used as performance-based specification criteria for asphalt binders in accordance with
M 320.
6. APPARATUS
6.1. Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) Test System—A bending beam rheometer (BBR) test system
consisting of (1) a loading frame that permits the test beam, supports, and the lower part of the test
frame to be submerged in a constant temperature fluid bath; (2) a controlled-temperature liquid
bath that maintains the test beam at the test temperature and provides a buoyant force to
counterbalance the force resulting from the mass of the beam; (3) a computer-controlled
automated data acquisition component; (4) specimen molds; and (5) items needed to calibrate
and/or verify the BBR.
6.1.1. Loading Frame—A frame consisting of a set of sample supports, a blunt-nosed shaft that applies
the load to the midpoint of the test specimen, a load cell mounted on the loading shaft, a means for

zeroing the load on the test specimen, a means for applying a constant load to the loading shaft,
and a deflection measuring transducer attached to the loading shaft. A schematic of the device is
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1—Schematic of the Bending Beam Rheometer
6.1.1.1. Loading System—A loading system that is capable of applying a contact load of 35 ± 10 mN to the
test specimen and maintaining a test load of 980 ± 50 mN.
6.1.1.2. Loading System Requirements—The rise time for the test load shall be less than 0.5 s. The rise
time is the time required for the load to rise from the 35 ± 10 mN contact load to the 980 ± 50 mN
test load. During the rise time, the system shall dampen the test load to 980 ± 50 mN. Between 0.5
and 5.0 s, the test load shall be within ±50 mN of the average test load, and thereafter shall be
within ±10 mN of the average test load.
6.1.1.3. Sample Supports—Sample supports with specimen support strips 3.0 ± 0.30 mm in top radius and
inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with the horizontal (see Figure 1). The supports, made of
stainless steel (or other corrosion-resistant metal), are spaced 102.0 ± 1.0 mm apart. The width of
the supporting area of the supporting strips shall be 9.5 ± 0.25 mm. This is required to ensure that
the edges of the specimen, resulting from the molding procedure, do not interfere with the mid-
span deflection of the specimen measured during testing. The supports shall also include vertical
alignment pins 2 to 4 mm in diameter placed at the back of each sample supports at 6.75 ±
0.25 mm from the center of the supports. These pins should be placed on the back side of the
support to align the specimen on the center of the supports. See Figure 1 for details.
6.1.1.4. Loading Shaft—A blunt-nosed loading shaft (with a spherical contact point 6.25 (±0.30) mm in
radius) continuous with a load cell and a deflection measuring transducer that is capable of
applying a contact load of 35 ± 10 mN and maintaining a test load of 980 ± 50 mN. The rise time
for the test load shall be less than 0.5 s where the rise time is the time required for the load to rise
from the 35 ± 10 mN preload to the 980 ± 50 mN test load. During the rise time, the system shall
dampen the test load after the first 5 s to a constant ±10-mN value.
6.1.1.5. Load Cell—A load cell with a minimum capacity of 2000 mN, having a minimum resolution of
2.5 mN mounted in-line with the loading shaft and above the fluid to measure the contact load and
the test load.
6.1.1.6. Linear Variable Differential Transducer (LVDT)—A linear variable differential transducer
or other suitable mounted device mounted axially above the loading shaft capable of resolving
a linear movement ≤ 2.5 µm with a range of at least 6 mm to measure the deflection of the
test beam.
6.1.2. Controlled-Temperature Fluid Bath—A controlled-temperature liquid bath capable of maintaining

the temperature at all points within the bath between –36 and 0°C within ±0.1°C. Placing a cold
specimen in the bath may cause the bath temperature to fluctuate ±0.2°C from the target test
temperature; consequently, bath fluctuations of ±0.2°C during isothermal conditioning shall be
allowed.
6.1.2.1. Bath Agitator—A bath agitator for maintaining the required temperature homogeneity with
agitator intensity such that the fluid current does not disturb the testing process, and mechanical
noise caused by vibrations is less than the resolution specified in Sections 6.1.3 and 6.1.3.1.
6.1.2.2. Circulating Bath (Optional)—A circulating bath unit separate from the test frame that pumps the
bath fluid through the test bath. If used, vibrations from the circulating system shall be isolated
from the bath test chamber so that mechanical noise is less than the resolution specified in
Sections 6.1.3 and 6.1.3.1.
6.1.3. Data Acquisition System—A data acquisition system that resolves loads to the nearest 2.5 mN,
beam deflection to the nearest 2.5 µm, and bath fluid temperature to the nearest 0.1°C. The system
shall sense the point in time when the signal is sent to the solenoid valve(s) to switch from zero
load regulator (contact load) to the testing load regulator (test load). This is zero time. Using this
time as a reference, the system shall provide a record of load and deflection measurements relative
to this time. The system shall record the load and deflection at the loading times of 0.0, 0.5, 8.0,
15.0, 30.0, 60.0, 120.0, and 240.0 s. All readings shall be an average of three or more points
within ±0.2 s from the loading time, e.g., for a loading time of 7.8, 7.9, 8.0, 8.1, and 8.2 s.
6.1.3.1. Signal Filtering—Digital or analog smoothing of the load and the deflection data may be required
to eliminate electronic noise that could otherwise affect the ability of the second-order polynomial
to fit the data with sufficient accuracy to provide a reliable estimate of m-value. The load and
deflection signals may be filtered with a low-pass analog or digital filter that removes signals of
greater than 4-Hz frequency. The averaging shall be over a time period less than or equal to ±0.2 s
of the reporting time.

6.2. Temperature Measuring Equipment—A calibrated temperature transducer capable of measuring
the temperature to 0.1°C over the range of –36 to 0°C mounted within 50 mm of the midpoint of
the test specimen supports.
Note 1—Required temperature measurement can be accomplished with an appropriately
calibrated platinum resistance thermometer (RTD) or a thermistor. Calibrations of an RTD or
thermistor can be verified as per Section 6.6. An RTD meeting DIN Standard 43760 (Class A) is
recommended for this purpose. The required precision and accuracy cannot be obtained unless
each RTD is calibrated as a system with its respective meter or electronic circuitry.
6.3. Test Beam Molds—Test beam molds of suitable dimensions to yield demolded test beam 6.35 ±
0.05 mm thick by 12.70 ± 0.05 mm wide by 127 ± 2.0 mm long, fabricated from aluminum flat
stock as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2—Dimensions and Specifications for Aluminum Molds

6.3.1. The thickness of the two spacers used for each mold (small end pieces used in the metal molds)
shall be measured with a micrometer and shall not vary from each other in thickness by more than
0.05 mm.
Note 2—Small errors in the thickness of the test specimen can have a large effect on the
calculated modulus because the calculated modulus is a function of the thickness, h, raised to the
third power.
6.4. Items for Calibration or Verification—The following items are required to verify and calibrate
the BBR.
6.4.1. Stainless Steel (Thick) Beam for Compliance Measurement and Load Cell Calibration—One
stainless steel beam, 6.4 ± 0.1 mm thick by 12.7 ± 0.25 mm wide by 127 ± 5 mm long, for
measuring system compliance and calibrating the load cell.
6.4.2. Stainless Steel (Thin) Beam for Overall System Check—One stainless steel beam, 1.3 ± 0.3 mm
thick by 12.7 ± 0.1 mm wide by 127 ± 5 mm long, with an elastic modulus reported to three
significant figures by the manufacturer. The manufacturer shall measure and report the thickness
of this beam to the nearest 0.01 mm and the width to the nearest 0.05 mm. The dimensions of the
beam shall be used to calculate the modulus of the beam during the overall system check. See
Section 10.1.2.1.
6.5. Standard Masses—One or more standard masses are required as follows:
6.5.1. Verification of Load Cell Calibration—One or more masses totaling 100.0 ± 0.2 g and two masses
of 2.0 ± 0.2 g each (see Note 3) for verifying the calibration of the load cell.
Note 3—Any suitable object may be used if the mass is confirmed to be 2.0 ± 0.2 g.
6.5.2. Calibration of Load Cell—Four masses, each of known mass ±0.2 g, and equally spaced in mass
over the range of the load cell.
6.5.3. Daily Overall System Check—Two or more masses, each of known mass to 0.2 g, for conducting
overall system check as specified by the manufacturer.
6.5.4. Accuracy of Masses—Accuracy of the masses in Section 6.5 shall be verified at least once each
every three years.
6.6. Calibrated Thermometers—Calibrated liquid-in-glass thermometers for verification of the

temperature transducer of suitable range with subdivisions of 0.1°C. These thermometers shall be
partial immersion thermometers with an ice point and shall be calibrated in accordance with Test
Method E77 at least once per year. A suitable thermometer is designated 133C. An electronic
thermometer of equal accuracy and resolution may be used.
6.7. Thickness Gauge—A stepped thickness gauge for verifying the calibrations of displacement
transducer as described in Figure 3.

Figure 3—Typical Thickness Gauge Used to Calibrate Deflection Detector
7. MATERIALS
7.1. Plastic Sheeting—Clear plastic sheeting, 0.12 ± 0.04 mm thick, for lining the interior faces of the
three long aluminum mold sections. Sheeting should not be distorted by hot asphalt binder.
Note 4—Transparency film sold for use with laser printers has been found suitable.

7.2. Petroleum-Based Grease—A petroleum-based grease used to hold the plastic strips to the interior
faces of the three long aluminum mold sections.
Note 5—Warning: Do not use any silicone-based products.
7.3. Glycerol-Talc Mixture—Used to coat the end pieces of aluminum molds.

Note 6—A mixture of 50 percent by weight USP grade glycerin and 50 percent USP grade talc or
kaolin (china clay) is suitable for this purpose.
7.4. Bath Fluid—A bath fluid that is not absorbed by or does not affect the properties of the asphalt
binder tested. The mass density of the bath fluid shall not exceed 1.05 g/cm3 at testing
temperatures. The bath fluid shall be optically clear at all testing temperatures. Silicone fluids or
mixtures containing silicones shall not be used.

Note 7—Suitable bath fluids include ethanol, methanol, and glycol–methanol mixtures (e.g., 60
percent glycol, 15 percent methanol, 25 percent water).
8. HAZARDS
8.1. Observe standard laboratory safety procedures when handling hot asphalt binder and preparing test
specimens.
8.2. Alcohol baths are flammable and toxic. Locate the controlled temperature bath in a well-ventilated
area away from sources of ignition. Avoid breathing alcohol vapors and contact of the bath fluid
with the skin.
8.3. Contact between the bath fluid and skin at the lower temperatures used in this test method can
cause frostbite.
9. PREPARATION OF APPARATUS
9.1. Clean the supports, loading head, and bath fluid of any particulates and coatings as necessary.
Note 8—Because of the brittleness of asphalt binder at the specified test temperatures, small
fragments of asphalt binder can be introduced into the bath fluid. If these fragments are present on
the supports or the loading head, the measured deflection will be affected. The small fragments,
because of their small size, will deform under load and add an apparent deflection of the beam.
Filtration of the bath fluid will aid in preserving the required cleanliness.
9.2. Select the test temperature and adjust the bath fluid to the selected temperature. Wait until the
temperature stabilizes and then allow the bath to equilibrate to the test temperature ±0.1°C prior to
conducting a test.
9.3. Activate the data acquisition system and load the software as explained in the manufacturer’s
manual for the test system.
10. STANDARDIZATION
10.1. Verify the calibration of the displacement transducer, load cell, and temperature transducer as
described in Sections 10.1.1 through 10.1.6. As a minimum, each of the verification steps and their
frequency of performance shall be performed as described in this section. Additional verification
steps may be performed at the recommendation of the manufacturer. Calibration procedures are
described in the Annex. At the option of the manufacturer, the verification and calibration steps
may be combined.

10.1.1. Verification of Temperature Transducer—On each day, before conducting tests, and whenever the
test temperature is changed, verify calibration of the temperature detector by using a calibrated
thermometer as described in Section 6.6. With the loading frame placed in the liquid bath,
immerse the thermometer in the liquid bath close to the temperature transducer, and compare the
temperature indicated by the thermometer to the temperature displayed by the data acquisition
system. If the temperature indicated by the data acquisition system does not agree with the
thermometer within ±0.1°C, calibration is required.
10.1.2. Verification of Freely Operating Air Bearing—On each day, before conducting tests, verify that
the air bearing is operating freely and is free of friction. Sections 10.1.2.1 and 10.1.2.2 shall be
used to verify that the shaft is free of friction. If the requirements of Sections 10.1.2.1 and 10.1.2.2
are not satisfied, friction is present in the air bearing. Clean the shaft, and adjust the clearance of
the displacement transducer as per the manufacturer’s instructions. If this does not eliminate the
friction, discontinue use of the BBR and consult the manufacturer.
Note 9—Friction may be caused by a poorly adjusted displacement transducer core that rubs
against its housing, an accumulation of asphalt binder on the loading shaft, by oil or other
particulates in the air supply, and other causes.
10.1.2.1. Place the thin steel beam (Section 6.4.2) on the sample supports, and apply a 35 ± 10-mN load to
the beam using the zero load regulator. Observe the reading of the LVDT as indicated by the data
acquisition system. Gently grasp the shaft, and lift it upward approximately 5 mm by observing
the reading of the LVDT. When the shaft is released, it shall immediately float downward and
make contact with the beam.
10.1.2.2. Remove any beams from the supports. Use the zero load regulator to adjust the loading shaft so
that it is free-floating at the approximate midpoint of its vertical travel. Gently add a 2-g mass to
the loading shelf. The shaft shall slowly drop downward under the mass.
10.1.3. Verification of Displacement Transducer—On each day, before conducting tests, verify the
calibration of the displacement transducer using a stepped gauge block of known dimensions
similar to the one shown in Figure 3. With the loading frame mounted in the bath at the test
temperature, remove all beams from the supports, and place the gauge block on a reference
platform underneath the loading shaft according to the instructions supplied by the instrument
manufacturer. Apply a 100.0 ± 0.2-g mass to the loading shaft, and measure the rise of the steps
with the displacement transducer. Compare the measured values as indicated by the data
acquisition system with the known dimensions of the gauge. If the known dimensions as
determined from the gauge block and the dimensions indicated by the data acquisition system
differ by more than ±5 µm, calibration is required. Perform the calibration, and repeat Section
10.1.1. If the requirements of Section 10.1.1 cannot be met after calibration, discontinue use of the
device, and consult the manufacturer.
10.1.4. Daily Overall System Check—On each day, before conducting tests and with the loading frame
mounted in the bath, perform a check on the overall operation of the system. Place the 1.3 ±
0.3-mm-thick stainless steel (thin) beam of known modulus as described in Section 6.4.2 on the
sample supports. Following the instructions supplied by the manufacturer, place the beam on the
supports and apply a 50.0 or 100.0 ± 0.2-g initial mass (491 or 981 mN ± 2 mN) to the beam to
ensure that the beam is seated and in full contact with the supports. Following the manufacturer’s
instructions, apply a second additional load of 100.0 to 300.0 ± 0.2 g to the beam. The software
provided by the manufacturer shall use the change in load and associated change in deflection to
calculate the modulus of the beam to three significant figures. The modulus reported by the
software shall be within 10 percent of the modulus reported by the manufacturer of the beam;
otherwise, the overall operation of the BBR shall be considered suspect and the manufacturer shall
be consulted.

10.1.5. Verification of Load Cell—Verify the calibration of the load cell as follows:
10.1.5.1. Contact Load—On each day, verify the calibration of the load cell in the range of the contact load.
Place the 6.4-mm-thick stainless steel compliance beam (Section 6.4.1) on the supports. Apply a
20 ± 10-mN load to the beam using the zero load pressure regulator. Add the 2.0 ± 0.2-g mass as
specified in Section 6.5.1 to the loading platform. The increase in the load displayed by the data
acquisition system shall be 20 ± 5 mN. Add a second 2.0 ± 0.2-g mass to the loading platform.
The increase in the load displayed by the data acquisition system shall be 20 ± 5 mN. If the
increases in displayed load are not 20 ± 5 mN, calibration is required. Perform the calibration. If
the requirements for the contact load cannot be met after calibration, discontinue use of the device
and consult the manufacturer.
10.1.5.2. Test Load—On each day, before conducting tests, verify the calibration of the load cell in the
range of the test load. Place the 6.4-mm-thick stainless steel compliance beam (Section 6.4.1) on
the supports. Use the zero load regulator (contact load) to apply a 20 ± 10-mN load to the beam.
Add the 100.0-g mass to the loading platform. The increase in the load displayed by the data
acquisition system shall be 981 ± 5 mN. Otherwise, calibrate the load cell. If the requirements for
the test load cannot be met after calibration, discontinue use of the device and consult the
manufacturer.
10.1.6. Verification of Front-to-Back Alignment of Loading Shaft—Every 6 months, check the alignment
of the loading shaft with the center of the sample supports with an alignment gauge supplied by
the manufacturer or by measurement as follows: Cut a strip of white paper about 25 mm in length
and slightly narrower than the width of the compliance beam. Stick the paper strip to the center of
the compliance beam with tape. Move the frame out of the bath, place the compliance beam on the
supports, and place a small section of carbon paper over the paper. With the air pressure applied to
the air bearing, push the shaft downward, causing the carbon paper to make an imprint on the
white paper. Remove the beam, and measure the distance from the center of the imprint to each
edge of the beam with a pair of vernier calipers. The difference between the two measurements
shall be 1.0 mm or less. If this requirement is not met, contact the manufacturer of the device.
11. PREPARATION OF MOLDS AND TEST SPECIMENS

11.1. To prepare molds, spread a very thin layer of petroleum-based grease, only sufficient to hold the
plastic to the aluminum, on the interior faces of the three long aluminum mold sections. Place the
plastic strips over the aluminum faces and rub the plastic with firm finger pressure. Assemble the
mold as shown in Figure 2 using the rubber O-rings to hold the pieces of the mold together.
Inspect the mold and press the plastic film against the aluminum to force out any air bubbles. If air
bubbles remain, disassemble the mold and recoat the aluminum faces with grease. Cover the inside
faces of the two end pieces with a thin film of glycerol and talc to prevent the asphalt binder from
sticking to the aluminum end pieces. After assembly, keep the mold at room temperature until
pouring the asphalt binder.
Note 10—Thickness of the specimen is controlled by the end pieces. The thickness of the
end pieces should be measured periodically to make sure that it meets the requirements of
Section 6.3. The stiffness is proportional to the third power of the thickness.
11.2. If unaged binder is to be tested, obtain test sample according to R 66.
11.3. Degassing Prior to Testing—If the asphalt binder is also being tested according to T 314 (DT) and
has been conditioned according to T 240 (RTFO) and R 28 (PAV), degas the asphalt binder as
described in R 28 prior to testing. Otherwise, degassing of the asphalt binder sample is not
required.

11.4. Heat the material in an oven set at the minimum temperature and for the minimum time necessary
for it to be sufficiently fluid to pour.
Note 11—Minimum pouring temperatures that produce a consistency equivalent to that of SAE
10W30 motor oil (readily pours but not overly fluid) at room temperature are recommended. In all
cases, heating time should be minimized. These precautions will help avoid oxidative hardening
and volatile loss that will further harden the sample. During the heating process, the sample should
be covered and stirred occasionally to ensure homogeneity.
11.5. Molding—Pour the binder from the one end of the mold and move toward the other end, slightly
overfilling the mold. When pouring, hold the sample container 20 to 100 mm from the top of the
mold and pour continuously toward the other end in a single pass. Allow the mold to cool 45 to
60 min to room temperature after pouring, and trim the exposed face of the cooled specimens flush
with the top of the mold using a hot knife or heated spatula.
11.6. Store all test specimens in their molds at room temperature prior to testing. Schedule testing so
that it is completed within 4 h after specimens are poured.
Note 12—Time-dependent increases in stiffness can occur when asphalt binders are stored at
room temperature for even short periods of time. This increase in stiffness is the result of
molecular associations and is referred to as steric hardening in the literature.
11.7. Just prior to testing, cool the aluminum mold containing the test specimen in a freezer or ice bath
at –5°C ± 7°C for 5 to 10 min, only long enough to stiffen the asphalt binder beam so that it can be
readily demolded without distortion (Note 8). Some softer grades may require lower temperatures.
Do not cool the molds containing the specimens in the test bath because it may cause temperature
fluctuations in the bath to exceed ±0.2°C.
Note 13—Excessive cooling may cause unwanted hardening of the beam, thereby causing
increased variability in the test data.
11.8. Immediately demold the specimen when it is sufficiently stiff to demold without distortion by
disassembling the aluminum mold. Discard the plastic sheeting (lining the mold sections) if they
become distorted.
Note 14—Minimize distortion of the specimen during demolding. If the plastic sheeting does not
fully separate from the testing beam, you may remove the final portion of the sheeting as the beam
is being immersed in the test bath to avoid distortion. Full contact at specimen supports is assumed
in the analysis. A warped test beam yields a measured stiffness less than the actual stiffness.
12. PROCEDURE
12.1. When testing a specimen for compliance with M 320, select the appropriate test temperature from
Table 1 of M 320. After demolding, immediately place the test specimen in the testing bath and
condition it at the testing temperature for 60 ± 5 min.
Note 15—Asphalt binders may harden rapidly when held at low temperatures. This effect, which
is called physical hardening, is reversible when the asphalt binder is heated to room temperature or
slightly above. Because of physical hardening, conditioning time must be carefully controlled if
repeatable results are to be obtained.
12.2. Checking Contact Load and Test Load—Check the adjustment of the contact load and test load
prior to testing each set of test specimens. The 6.35-mm-thick stainless steel beam shall be used
for checking the contact load and test load.
Note 16—Do not perform these checks with the thin steel beam or an asphalt test specimen.
12.2.1. Place the thick steel beam in position on the beam supports. Using the test load regulator valve,
gently increase the force on the beam to 980 ± 50 mN.

12.2.2. Switch from the test load to the contact load, and adjust the force on the beam to 35 ± 10 mN.
Switch between the test load and contact load four times.
12.2.3. When switching between the test load and contact load, watch the loading shaft and platform for
visible vertical movement. The loading shaft shall maintain contact with the steel beam when
switching between the contact load and test load while maintaining these loads at 35 ± 10 mN and
980 ± 50 mN, respectively.
12.2.4. Corrective Action—If the requirements of Sections 12.2.1 to 12.2.3 are not met, the device may
require calibration as per the manufacturer’s instructions or the loading shaft may be dirty or
require alignment (see Section 10.1.2). If the requirements of Sections 12.2.1 to 12.2.3 cannot be
met after calibration, cleaning, or other corrective action, discontinue use of the device and consult
the equipment manufacturer.
12.3. Enter the specimen identification information, test load, test temperature, time the specimen is
placed in the bath at the test temperature, and other information as appropriate into the computer
which controls the test system.
12.4. After conditioning, place the test beam on the test supports, and initiate the loading sequence of
the test. Maintain the bath at the test temperature ±0.1°C during testing; otherwise, the test shall be
rejected.
12.5. Manually apply a 35 ± 10-mN contact load to the beam to ensure contact between the beam and
the loading head for no more than 10 s. The specified contact load is required to ensure continuous
contact between the loading shaft and support, and the specimen. Failure to establish continuous
contact within the required load range gives misleading results. The contact load shall be applied
by gently increasing the load to 35 ± 10 mN. While applying the contact load, the load on the
beam shall not exceed 45 mN, and the time to apply and adjust the contact load shall be no greater
than 10 s.
12.6. Activate the automatic test system that is programmed to proceed as follows:
12.6.1. Immediately after the application of the 35-mN contact load, increase the load from 35 ± 10 mN to
the 980 ± 50-mN seating load for 1.0 ± 0.1 s.
Note 17—The seating loads described in Sections 12.6.1 and 12.6.2 are applied and removed
automatically by the computer-controlled loading system and are transparent to the operator. Data
are not recorded during the initial loading.
12.6.2. Reduce the load to 35 ± 10 mN and allow the beam to recover for 20.0 ± 0.1 s.
12.6.3. Apply a test load ranging as specified in Section 6.1.1.2.

Note 18—The actual load on the beam as measured by the load cell is used in calculating
the stress in the beam. The 980 ± 50-mN initial seating and test load includes the 35 ± 10-mN
preload.
12.6.4. Remove the test load and terminate the test.
12.6.5. At the end of the initial seating load, and at the end of the test, monitor the computer screen to
verify that the load on the beam returns to 35 ± 10 mN in each case. If the beam does not return to
35 ± 10 mN, the test is invalid and the rheometer should be calibrated.
12.7. Remove the specimen from the supports and proceed to the next test.

13. CALCULATION AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS
13.1. See Annex.
14. REPORT
14.1. Report data as shown in Figure 4 that describes individual test, including:
14.1.1. Maximum and minimum temperature of the test bath measured during the 240 s of testing
measured at 1.0-s intervals to the nearest 0.1°C;
14.1.2. Date and time when test load is applied;
14.1.3. File name of test data;
14.1.4. Name of operator;
14.1.5. Sample identification number;
Test Information
Project: Testing Target Temp: 23.0°C Conf. Test 2.199e + 008
Operator: JSY Actual Temp: 14.8°C Date: 09/17/93
Specimen: Plastic Beam B Soak Time: 0.0 s Load Const: 0.24
Time: 11:47:03 Beam Width: 12.70 mm Defl Const: 0.0024
Date: 09/18/93 Thickness: 6.35 mm Date: 09/17/93
File: 0818934.DAT
Results
t P d Measured Estimated
Time Force Defl Stiffness Stiffness Difference
(s) (N) (mm) (kPa) (kPa) (%) m-value
8 0.9859 0.9126 87030.0 87060.0 0.03532 0.176
15 0.9894 1.022 77990.0 77930.0 –0.08120 0.175
30 0.9913 1.158 68690.0 68990.0 0.04809 0.175
60 0.9910 1.308 61110.0 61110.0 0.004487 0.174
120 0.9908 1.475 54150.0 54150.0 –0.001551 0.174
240 0.9906 1.664 48010.0 48000.0 –0.005077 0.174
Regression Coefficients:
a = 5.100 b = –0.1784 c = 0.001020 R^2 – 0.999996
– Cannon bending beam rheometer – P to print – ESC to continue
Figure 4—Typical Test Report
14.1.6. Time beam in bath;
14.1.7. Time test started;
14.1.8. Any flags issued by software during test;
14.1.9. Correlation coefficient, R2, for log stiffness versus log time, expressed to nearest 0.000001;

14.1.10. Anecdotal comments (maximum 256 characters);
14.1.11. Report constants A, B, and C to three significant figures; and
14.1.12. Difference between measured and estimated stiffness calculated as:

(Estimated – Measured) × 100 percent/Measured.
14.2. Report load and deflection as for times 0.0 and 0.5 s.
14.3. Report data as shown in Figure 4 for time intervals of 8.0, 15.0, 30.0, 60.0, 120.0, and 240.0 s,
including:
14.3.1. Loading time, nearest 0.1 s;
14.3.2. Load, nearest 1.0 mN;
14.3.3. Beam deflection, nearest 1 μm;
14.3.4. Measured Stiffness Modulus, MPa, expressed to three significant figures;
14.3.5. Estimated Stiffness Modulus, MPa, expressed to three significant figures;
14.3.6. Difference between measured and estimated Stiffness Modulus in percent;
14.3.7. Estimated m-value, nearest 0.001; and
14.3.8. Regression Coefficients and least square fit R2 value.
15. PRECISION AND BIAS

15.1. Precision—Criteria for judging the acceptability of creep stiffness and slope results obtained by
this method are given in Table 1.
15.1.1. Single-Operator Precision (Repeatability)—The figures in Column 2 of Table 1 are the

coefficients of variation that have been found to be appropriate for the conditions of test described
in Column 1. Two results obtained in the same laboratory, by the same operator using the same
equipment, in the shortest practical period of time, should not be considered suspect unless the
difference in the two results, expressed as a percent of their mean, exceeds the values given in
Table 1, Column 3.
15.1.2. Multilaboratory Precision (Reproducibility)—The figures in Column 2 of Table 1 are the

coefficients of variation that have been found to be appropriate for the conditions of test described
in Column 1. Two results submitted by two different operators testing the same material in
different laboratories shall not be considered suspect unless the difference in the two results,
expressed as a percent of their mean, exceeds the values given in Table 1, Column 3.

Table 1—Precision Estimates
Coefficient of Acceptable Range of
Variation Two Test Results
Condition (1s%)a (d2s%)a
Single-Operator Precision:
Creep Stiffness (MPa) 2.5 7.2
Slope (m-value) 1.0 2.9
Multilaboratory Precision:
Creep Stiffness (MPa) 6.3 17.8
Slope (m-value) 2.4 6.8
a
These values represent the 1s% and d2s% limits described in ASTM C670.
Note 19—The precision estimates given in Table 1 are based on the analysis of test results from
eight pairs of AMRL proficiency samples. The data analyzed consisted of results from 174 to 196
laboratories for each of the eight pairs of samples. The analysis included five binder grades: PG
52-34, PG 64-16, PG 64-22, PG 70-22, and PG 76-22 (SBS modified). Average creep stiffness
results ranged from 125.4 MPa to 236.8 MPa. Average slope results ranged from an m-value of
0.308 to 0.374. The details of this analysis are in the final report for NCHRP Project No. 9-26,
Phase 3.
Note 20—As an example, two tests conducted on the same material yield creep stiffness
results of 190.3 MPa and 200.7 MPa, respectively. The average of these two measurements is
195.5 MPa. The acceptable range of results is then 7.2 percent of 195.5 MPa or 14.1 MPa. As the
difference between 190.3 MPa and 200.7 MPa is less than 14.1 MPa, the results are within the
acceptable range.
15.2. Bias—No information can be presented on the bias of the procedure because no material having
an accepted reference value is available.
16. KEYWORDS
16.1. Flexural; creep stiffness; flexural creep compliance; bending beam rheometer.
ANNEX
(Mandatory Information)
A1.1. Calibration of Displacement Transducer—Calibrate the displacement transducer using a stepped

gauge block of known dimensions similar to the one shown in Figure 3. With the loading frame
mounted in the bath at the test temperature, remove all beams from the supports, and place the
stepped gauge block on a reference platform underneath the loading shaft according to the
instructions supplied by the instrument manufacturer. Apply a 100-g mass on the loading shaft,
and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to obtain a displacement transducer reading on each
step. The software provided by the manufacturer shall convert the measurements to a calibration
constant in terms of µm/bit to three significant figures and shall automatically enter the new
constant into the software. The calibration constant should be repeatable within 10 percent from
one calibration to another; otherwise, the operation of the system may be suspect.

A1.2. Calibration of Load Cell—Calibrate the load cell in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions using a minimum of four masses evenly distributed over the range of the load cell.
The software provided by the manufacturer shall convert the measurements to a calibration
constant in terms of mN/bit to three significant figures and shall automatically enter the new
constant into the software. The calibration constants should be repeatable within 10 percent from
one calibration to another; otherwise, the operation of the system may be suspect. Repeat the
process for each test temperature.
A1.3. Calibration of Temperature Transducer—Calibrate the temperature detector by using a calibrated

thermometer of suitable range meeting the requirements of Section 10.1.5. Immerse the
thermometer in the liquid bath close to the thermal detector, and compare the temperature
indicated by the calibrated thermometer to the detector signal being displayed. If the temperature
indicated by the thermal detector does not agree with the thermometer within ±0.1°C, follow the
manufacturer’s instructions for correcting the displayed temperature to agree with the thermometer
temperature.
A1.4. Determine the System Compliance—Determine the system compliance in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions using a minimum of four masses evenly distributed over the range of
the load cell. The data acquisition software shall measure the position of the displacement
transducer at each load. The compliance shall be calculated as the measured deflection per unit
load. The software provided by the manufacturer shall convert the measurements to a compliance
in terms of µm/N to three significant figures and shall automatically enter the compliance into the
software. The compliance measurement may be performed as part of the load cell calibration or as
a separate operation. The compliance measurement shall be performed each time the load cell is
calibrated. The compliance value should be repeatable within 10 percent from one determination
to another; otherwise, the operation of the system may be suspect. Repeat the process for each test
temperature.
A1.5. Typical Test Result—A typical test result is shown in Figure 4. Disregard measurements obtained
and the curves projected on the computer screen during the initial 8 s of the application of the test
load. Data from a creep test obtained immediately after the application of the test load may not be
valid because of dynamic loading effects and the finite rise time. Use only the data obtained
between the 8- and 240-s loading time for calculating S(t) and m.
A1.6. Deflection of an Elastic Beam—Using the elementary bending theory, the midspan deflection of
an elastic prismatic beam of constant cross section loaded in three-point loading can be obtained
by applying Equations A1.1 and A1.2 as follows:
PL3
δ= (A1.1)
48 EI
where:
δ = deflection of beam at midspan, mm;
P = load applied, N;
L = span length, mm;
E = modulus of elasticity, MPa; and
I = moment of inertia, mm4.
and:
bh3
I= (A1.2)
12

where:
I = moment of inertia of cross section of test beam, mm4;
b = width of beam, mm; and
h = thickness of beam, mm.
Note A1—The test specimen has a span-to-depth ratio of 16:1 and the contribution of shear to
deflection of the beam can be neglected.
A1.7. Elastic Flexural Modulus—According to elastic theory, calculate the flexural modulus of a
prismatic beam of constant cross section loaded at its midspan using the following equation:
PL3
E= (A1.3)
4bh3 δ
where:
E = time-dependent flexural creep stiffness, MPa;
P = constant load, N;
b = width of beam, mm;
h = thickness of beam, mm; and
δ = deflection of beam, mm.
A1.8. Maximum Bending Stress—The maximum bending stress in the beam occurs at the midspan at the
top and bottom of the beam. Calculate σ thus:
3PL
σ= (A1.4)
2bh 2
where:
σ = maximum bending stress in beam, MPa;
b = width of beam, mm; and
h = thickness of beam, mm.
A1.9. Maximum Bending Strain—The maximum bending strain in the beam occurs at the midspan at the
top and bottom of the beam. Calculate Є using the following equation:
6δh
Є= (mm/mm) (A1.5)
L
where:
Є = maximum bending strain in beam, mm/mm;
δ = deflection of beam, mm;
h = thickness of beam, mm; and
L = span length, mm.

A1.10. Linear Viscoelastic Stiffness Modulus—According to the elastic-viscoelastic correspondence
principle, it can be assumed that if a linear viscoelastic beam is subjected to a constant load
applied at t = 0 and held constant, the stress distribution is the same as that in a linear elastic beam
under the same load. Further, the strains and displacements depend on time and are derived from
those of the elastic case by replacing E with 1/D(t). Since 1/D(t) is equivalent to S(t), rearranging
the elastic solution results in the following relationship for the stiffness:
PL3
S (t ) = (A1.6)
4bh3 δ(t )
where:
S(t) = time-dependent flexural creep stiffness, MPa;
b = width of beam, mm;
h = thickness of beam, mm;
δ(t) = deflection of beam, mm; and
δ(t) and S(t) indicate that the deflection and stiffness, respectively, are functions of time.
A1.11. Presentation of Data:
A1.11.1. Plot the response of the test beam to the creep loading as the logarithm of stiffness with respect to
the logarithm of loading time. A typical representation of test data is shown in Figure 4. Over the
limited testing time from 8 to 240 s, the plotted data shown in Figure A1.1 can be represented by a
second-order polynomial as follows:
log S´(t) = A + B[log(t)] + C[log(t)]2 (A1.7)
and, the slope, m, of the logarithm of stiffness versus logarithm time curve is equal to
(absolute value):
d [ log S ′(t ) ]
| m(t )=| = B + 2C [ log(t ) ] (A1.8)
d [ log(t ) ]
where:
S´(t) = time-dependent flexural creep stiffness estimated using Equation A1.7, MPa;
t = time in seconds; and
A, B, and C = regression coefficients.

Figure A1.1—Typical Load and Deflection Plots
A1.11.2. Smoothing the data may be required to obtain smooth curves for the regression analysis as
required to determine an m-value. This procedure can be performed by averaging five readings
taken at the reported time ±0.1 and ±0.2 s.
A1.11.3. Obtain the constants A, B, and C from the least squares fit of Equation A1.7. Use data equally
spaced with respect to the logarithm of time to determine the regression coefficients in Equations
A1.7 and A1.8. Determine experimentally the stiffness values used for the regression to derive the
coefficients A, B, and C and to, in turn, calculate values of m after loading times of 8, 15, 30, 60,
120, and 240 s.

A1.12. Calculation of regression coefficients, estimated stiffness values, and m:
A1.12.1. Calculate the regression coefficients A, B, and C in Equations A1.7 and A1.8 and the denominator
D as follows:
S y ( S x 2 S x 4 − S x23 ) – S xy (S x1 S x 4 – S x 2 S x 3 ) + S xxy ( S x1 S x 3 – S x22 )

A= (A1.9)
D
6( S xy S x 4 − S xxy S x 3 ) − S x1 ( S y S x 4 − S xxy S x 2 ) + S x 2 ( S y S x 3 − S xy S x 2 )
B= (A1.10)
D
6( S x 2 S xxy − S x 3 S xy ) − S x1 ( S x1 S xxy − S x 3 S y ) + S x 2 ( S x1 S xy − S x 2 S y )
C= (A1.11)
D
D = 6(Sx2Sx4 – Sx32) – Sx1(Sx1Sx4 – Sx2Sx3) + Sx2(Sx1Sx3 – Sx22) (A1.12)
where, for loading times of 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 s:
Sx1 = log 8 + log 15 + ... log 240;
Sx2 = (log 8)2 + (log 15)2 + ... (log 240)2;
Sx3 = (log 8)3 + (log 15)3 + ... (log 240)3;
Sx4 = (log 8)4 + (log 15)4 + ... (log 240)4;
Sy = log S(8) + log S(15) + ... log S (240);
Sxy = log S(8)(log (8)) + log S(15) log (15) + ... log S(240) log (240); and
Sxxy = [log (8)]2 log S(8) + [log (15)]2 log S(15) + ... [log (240)]2 log S(240).
A1.12.2. Calculate the estimated stiffness S´(t) at 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 s as follows:
log S´(t) = A + B[log(t)] + C [log(t)]2 (A1.13)
A1.12.3. Calculate the estimated m-value at 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 s as the absolute value of
m = B + 2C [log(t)] (A1.14)
A1.12.4. Calculate S the average of the stiffness values at 8, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 s as:
[log S (8) + … log S (240)]
log S = (A1.15)
6
A1.12.5. Calculate the fraction of the variation in the stiffness explained by the quadratic model as:

R 2 1.00 − 
=
[ log S ( 8 ) − log S ′ ( 8 )] + ...[ log S ( 240 ) − log S ′ ( 240 )]  (A1.16)
   
( ) ( )
2 2
  log S ( 8 ) − log S  + ...  log S ( 240 ) − log S  

 
A1.12.6. Use the estimated values of the stiffness and m at 60 s for specification purposes. Measured and
estimated stiffness values should agree to within 2 percent. Otherwise, the test is considered
suspect.


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Standard Method of Test for

Determining the Flexural Creep

2.2. ASTM Standards:

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2.4. NCHRP Document:

3.2. Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard:

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5. SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

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Figure 1—Schematic of the Bending Beam Rheometer

6.1.2. Controlled-Temperature Fluid Bath—A controlled-temperature liquid bath capable of maintaining

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stock as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2—Dimensions and Specifications for Aluminum Molds

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6.5. Standard Masses—One or more standard masses are required as follows:

6.6. Calibrated Thermometers—Calibrated liquid-in-glass thermometers for verification of the

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Figure 3—Typical Thickness Gauge Used to Calibrate Deflection Detector

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7.3. Glycerol-Talc Mixture—Used to coat the end pieces of aluminum molds.

mixtures containing silicones shall not be used.

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11. PREPARATION OF MOLDS AND TEST SPECIMENS

11.2. If unaged binder is to be tested, obtain test sample according to R 66.

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12.6.3. Apply a test load ranging as specified in Section 6.1.1.2.

12.6.4. Remove the test load and terminate the test.

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14.1.2. Date and time when test load is applied;

14.1.3. File name of test data;

14.1.4. Name of operator;

14.1.5. Sample identification number;

Figure 4—Typical Test Report

14.1.6. Time beam in bath;

14.1.7. Time test started;

14.1.8. Any flags issued by software during test;

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14.1.11. Report constants A, B, and C to three significant figures; and

14.1.12. Difference between measured and estimated stiffness calculated as:

14.3.1. Loading time, nearest 0.1 s;

14.3.2. Load, nearest 1.0 mN;

14.3.3. Beam deflection, nearest 1 μm;

14.3.4. Measured Stiffness Modulus, MPa, expressed to three significant figures;

14.3.5. Estimated Stiffness Modulus, MPa, expressed to three significant figures;

14.3.6. Difference between measured and estimated Stiffness Modulus in percent;

14.3.7. Estimated m-value, nearest 0.001; and

14.3.8. Regression Coefficients and least square fit R2 value.

15. PRECISION AND BIAS

15.1.1. Single-Operator Precision (Repeatability)—The figures in Column 2 of Table 1 are the

15.1.2. Multilaboratory Precision (Reproducibility)—The figures in Column 2 of Table 1 are the

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A1.1. Calibration of Displacement Transducer—Calibrate the displacement transducer using a stepped

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A1.3. Calibration of Temperature Transducer—Calibrate the temperature detector by using a calibrated

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