The Bending Beam Rheometer BBR provides low-temperature stiffness and relaxation properties of asphalt binders.

The Bending Beam Rheometer BBR test provides a measure of low temperature stiffness and relaxation properties of asphalt binders. These parameters give an indication of an asphalt binder’s ability to resist low temperature cracking. The BBR is engineered to perform flexural tests on asphalt binder and similar specimens per ASTM D6648 and AASHTO T313.

These tests consist of a constant force being applied to a specimen in a chilled bath in order to derive specific rates of deformation at various temperatures. The system consists of a fluid bath base unit, a three-point bending test apparatus which is easily removed from the base unit for specimen loading and unloading, an external cooling unit with temperature controller, a calibration hardware kit with carrying case, and a PC and the testing software.

The Bending Beam Rheometer BBR can be used as part of your Superpave performance based testing program.

• Durable, corrosion-resistant construction
• Computerized control, data acquisition and analysis
• PID temperature controller with digital display
• Two independent platinum RTDs for precise temperature control
• Mechanically-refrigerated cooling bath with environmentally-safe non-CFC coolant
• Integral LVDT and temperature compensated load cell for accurate test results
• Includes complete calibration kit with carrying case
• Includes ASTM/AASHTO-compliant specimen molds
• PC and software included

Models	81-PV5902 81-PV5904
Conforming to Standard	ASTM D6648 AASHTO T313 EN 14771
Machine control by	PC (included) with dedicated software
Load Frame	Integral stainless steel frictionless construction
Loading shaft	In-line stailess steel with blunt point
Test Load	Variable test range from 0 to 200 g standard. System maintains required test load to within ±0.5 g throughout the  test cycle
Test Cycle Times	Cycle times for pre-load, recovery, and test load are completely operator- adjustable
Load cell	500 g (temperature-compensated)
Mechanical overload protection	Standard
Test weights	Calibrated and traceable
Sample supports	25 mm (0.98 in.) diameter stainless steel spaced 101.6 mm (4.00 in.) apart
LVDT displacement transducers	6.35 mm (0.25 in.) calibrated range to provide 2 μm resolution throughout testing and verification range
Testing Software Features	Large on-screen display of load, displacement and bath temperature provides ease of setup and operation. Real-time displacement, loading, and temperature graphs are displayed during the test cycle and can be re-scaled as needed for easy viewing
Cooling Unit	Included (non-CFC refrigerant)
Recommended Cooling Bath fluid	Non-flammable ethylene glycol mixture
Operating temperature	Ambient to -40° C (-40°F)
Temperature Measurement	Platinum RTD
Compressed air requirement	0.34 MPa (50 psi) clean, dry air supply required
Weight	approx. 115 kg