Measurement of the Viscoelastic Properties of Bitumen Using Instrumented Spherical Indentation

摘要

Indentation testing as a tool for determination of the viscoelastic mechanical properties of bitumen is examined in some detail using theoretical, numerical as well as experimental methods. In particular Brinell indentation is analysed and simple but rigorous formulae for a complete characterization of linear viscoelastic materials are presented. Numerical methods (finite element methods) are used in order to verify and substantiate these relations for an experimental situation. Indentation experiments are then performed on bitumen and special efforts are made in order to avoid size effects, i. e. anomalous results due to the fact that the indented specimens are too small and as a result, far field boundary conditions will influence the interpretation of the experimental output. The mechanical properties determined experimentally by indentation are compared with corresponding results from standard mechanical tests, and the results are encouraging considering the fact that non-linear effects are also influencing the outcome of the experiments.