Detailed introduction to the asphalt mixture penetration tester

　The asphalt mixture penetration tester is primarily used to conduct penetration tests on asphalt mixtures intended for bridge pavement, in order to determine their deformation under specified temperature and load conditions. It can perform penetration tests on a single specimen or simultaneously carry out parallel penetration tests on two specimens. The tester allows setting the heating temperature of circulating water, and automatically records the penetration depth.
　　Performance characteristics:
　　1. Digital display displacement
　　2. And automatically analyze the experimental results.
　　3. Automatically controls the entire experimental process.
　　4. Equipped with segmented sampling functionality. Sampling rate: Within the first 10 seconds after loading begins, the sampling rate shall be no less than 100 Hz; thereafter, for the following 5 minutes, the sampling rate shall be no less than 1 Hz; and then, the sampling rate shall remain no less than 0.2 Hz until the end of the experiment.
　　5. The digital display shows displacement and time.
　　6. Equipped with a water circulation system to ensure temperature balance.
　　7. The loading method employs vertical loading with a constant load, ensuring reliable performance.
　　Instructions for Using the Asphalt Mixture Penetration Tester
　　1. Demold the specimens that have been cooled and allowed to stand according to the specified rules, ensuring that the side surface of the specimen serves as the test surface, and then reinsert the specimens into the test molds.
　　2. Place the test mold and the test specimen together into a water bath pre-set to the desired temperature and keep them warm for 60 minutes.
　　3. Insert the penetration rod vertically into the center of the specimen’s surface, ensuring that it also contacts the surfaces of other specimens.
　　4. Remove the penetration rod and simultaneously start the stopwatch to begin timing. Apply an initial load of 2.5 kgf (24.5 N), and record the dial gauge reading (penetration depth) at 10 minutes.
　　5. Secure the penetration rod, and adjust the dial gauge reading at 10 minutes under this load to zero. In the absence of any impact force, place a 50 kgf (480.5 N) weight on the loading platform, and record the dial gauge readings (penetration values) at 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes.
　　6. The penetration at 30 minutes is the penetration depth of the specimen. The difference between the penetration at 60 minutes and the penetration at 30 minutes is the incremental penetration. The deviation between the two measurements shall not exceed 0.1 mm.