Real-Time Tracking of the Dynamic Viscosity of Bitumen with Piezoelectric MEMS Resonators

Abstract

This work demonstrates lab-scale monitoring of the dynamic viscosity of bitumen with piezoelectric MEMS resonators over a period of 120 h at an elevated temperature of 100 ◦C in air. The aluminium nitride-based MEMS resonator is excited in a high-order roof-tile-shaped mode to provide high-quality factors while immersed in bitumen. The results demonstrate the robustness of the MEMS sensor, as it is capable of performing at elevated temperatures continuous measurements for a long time even in harsh environments like bitumen.