Methods and apparatus for sealing and analyzing material samples including uncompacted bituminous samples according to water displacement testing methods

A sealably encased sample specimen used for evaluations involving liquid displacement tests, comprising:

• a quantity of a material forming a material sample which is selected from a larger mixture quantity comprising one or more of loose and/or compacted aggregates and/or bituminous materials, such that said material sample is representative of the larger mixtures composition, wherein said material sample has a coarse exterior surface contour;
• at least one preformed resilient bag, the bag having outer walls and a sealed edge portion and a predetermined apparent density value associated therewith, wherein said bag is configured and sized to hold said material sample therein, wherein said quantity of material sample is sealed within said resilient bag such that a region of said bag proximate to said sealed edge is free of said material sample, wherein said preformed bag is configured to provide a vacuum sealed bag which encases said material sample such that said bag outer walls substantially conform to said material sample's exterior surface contour and can prevent the migration of water therein during immersion in a liquid water bath, and wherein said bag apparent density value is used to establish the density of the material sample, wherein the at least one preformed bag comprises a first preformed bag held inside a second preformed bag, the first preformed bag being open at a first end portion with the second preformed bag being sealed.

A vacuum system for preparing and sealing in a pre-formed bag an uncompacted or compacted material specimen for liquid immersion evaluation, comprising:

• a vacuum apparatus with a vacuum receiving chamber having a perimeter defining an internal holding region with a floor, wherein said holding region is configured and sized to receive a preformed bag with a coarse material sample held therein, wherein said vacuum apparatus comprises:
• a sealing ledge located in said vacuum chamber along a perimeter portion thereof, wherein, in operation, said sealing ledge is configured to apply heat to and seal an edge of the preformed bag together;
• an air channel in fluid communication with said vacuum chamber;
• a vacuum pump in fluid communication with said vacuum chamber;
• and
• a support member positioned on said floor, said support member configured and sized to hold the specimen in the preformed bag, wherein, in operation, said support member is configured within said vacuum chamber to translate toward said sealing ledge.

A method for transferring an evacuated material specimen from a vacuum apparatus to a liquid displacement bath, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a material sample comprising at least one of an uncompacted, compacted or loose bituminous material mixture, soil sample, aggregate sample and/or concrete sample into a first collapsible bag;
• engaging the bag with the material sample to a vacuum apparatus;
• evacuating the bag with the material sample held therein;
• sealing the bag to encase and maintain an evacuated state on the material sample held encased therein;
• removing the sealed material specimen from the vacuum apparatus;
• transferring the sealed bag holding the material specimen to a liquid displacement bath;
• and
• opening the bag wit the material sample while immersed in the liquid displacement bath.

A method for transferring an evacuated material specimen from a vacuum apparatus to a liquid displacement bath, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a material sample comprising at least one of an uncompacted, compacted or loose bituminous material mixture, soil sample, aggregate sample and/or concrete sample into a first collapsible bag;
• engaging the bag with the material sample to a vacuum apparatus;
• evacuating the bag with the material sample held therein;
• sealing the bag to encase and maintain an evacuated state on the material sample held encased therein;
• removing the sealed material specimen from the vacuum apparatus;
• and
• transferring the scaled bag holding the material specimen to a liquid displacement bat,
• wherein the material sample is held in a second bag that is positioned inside the first bag, and wherein the sealing step is carried out so that the second bag remains open at a first end portion and the first bag is sealed.