Correct option is D
Ring and ball test-steel balls are placed on top of bitumen specimen disks in test rings in a bath, Temperature of the bath is increased gradually until the specimen soften and fall under the ball weight. The recorded temp is the softening point of bitumen sample.
The Ring and Ball apparatus is a device used to determine the softening point of bitumen. The softening point is the temperature at which bitumen reaches a certain degree of softness under specified conditions. This test is crucial because it helps in understanding the temperature at which bitumen will start to soften, which is important for its performance in different climatic conditions.
How the Test Works:
The bitumen sample is placed in a brass ring and heated in a water or glycerin bath.
A steel ball is placed on top of the bitumen inside the ring.
The bath is heated at a controlled rate, and the temperature is recorded at the moment when the bitumen softens enough for the ball to fall through a specific distance.
Importance:
The softening point gives an indication of the temperature at which the bitumen will start to flow, which is critical for selecting the appropriate bitumen for road construction, particularly in regions with high temperatures.