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THE WHEEL TRACKER

THE WHEEL TRACKER

CEN PrEN 13108/12697-22).

DEFINITION

Wheel tracking is used to assess the resistance to rutting of asphaltic materials under conditions which simulate the effect of traffic.

A loaded wheel tracks a sample under specified conditions of speed and temperature while the development of the rut is monitored continuously during the test.

The rut resistance can be quantified as the rate of rutting during the test or the rut depth at the conclusion of the test.

Test specimens can be either slabs prepared in the laboratory or 20cm diameter cores cut from the highway.

CHARACTERISTICS

  • User friendly Windows software

  • Integral temperature controlled cabinet

  • Test temperature range 30°C to 65°C

  • Tracks for specified number of passes or to specified rut depth

  • Double glazed doors for observation of testing

  • Automatic test stop/start and speed control

  • Calibrations traceable to National Standards(UKAS) in the UK

  • Other models include immersion wheel trackers for durability assessment

  • Powerful fans

  • PID temperature control

  • The Wheel Tracking test is now included in proposed CEN specifications (Test method number: CEN PrEN 13108/12697-22).




    • THE WHEEL TRACKER





    SPECIFICATION

    The Wheel Tracking test is now included in proposed CEN specifications (Test method number: CEN PrEN 13108/12697-22).

    The wheel tracking apparatus shall consist of a loaded wheel which bears on a sample held on a moving table. The table shall reciprocate with simple harmonic motion through a distance of 230 ±5mm with a frequency of 42 passes (±1%) per minute.

    THE WHEEL TRACKER

    The wheel shall be fitted with a solid rubber tyre of outside diameter 20Omm. The tyre shall be of rectangular section 5 0 ± 1 mm wide and 1Omm to 13 mm thick. The rubber shall have a hardness number of 80 ± 5 IRHD units. The wheel load, under standard conditions, shall be 520 ± 5 N.

    The wheel tracker shall be fitted with a temperature controlled cabinet with a temperature range of 30 C to 60 C ± 1 C.

    Temperature shall be controlled using a PID controller with feedback from a PRT sensor.

    The cabinet shall have double polycarbonate glazed doors to permit full access to the test area. Safety switches shall be fitted to prevent operation of the drive and temperature control systems when the doors are open.

    The cabinet shall contain shelves to enable up to six 20cm diameter specimens to be conditioned at the test temperature.

    THE WHEEL TRACKER

    The sample shall be either a 20Omm diameter core or a 305mm square slab of asphaltic mixture from 40mm to 10Omm thick and the wheel tracker table shall be fitted with clamps necessary for securing specimen holders.

    The wheel tracker shall be fitted with a 25mm (min) stroke LVDT transducer for monitoring rut depth in the centre of a sample during a test to better than 0. 1 mm.

    The wheel tracker interface unit shall be fitted with two thermocouple inputs for optional specimen temperature measurement.

    The deformation and sample temperature shall be recorded by an IBM 486DX (or compatible) computer fitted with a data acquisition and control (DAC) board.

    The operational software shall run under Windows 3.1 or 95 to start and stop the wheel tracker, control speed and acquire deformation and temperature data via a DAC board and interface unit. An on-screen display shall provide a continuously updated graph of time versus deformation. The test data will be shall be stored in a text file for subsequent analysis and comparison using a spreadsheet. On completion of a test, the option of using a printer to produce a copy of the graphical and tabulated results shall be provided.

    The wheel load shall be verified and the deformation transducer calibrated using equipment traceable to National Standards.

    THE WHEEL TRACKER


    The equipment is powered from a normal 230V, 13A supply.

    The user should provide a computer and printer. Suitable computers and printers can be supplied if required.