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FULL SCALE ROAD TEST TRACK

Description

The Road Test Track is a facility designed for the accelerated and controlled test of pavement behaviour at full scale.

The tests consist on running load traffic simulating vehicles continuously, on different pavement sections, analysing their behaviour under load and the appearance and evolution of deterioration.

The track has two straight sections, 75 m each one, linked by two round sections. Six different types of pavement, 25 m each one, can be tested simultaneously. At the round sections, tests on horizontal road marking and surface treatments are implemented.

The pavements are built with materials and machinery standard in road construction. The traffic is simulated with vehicles having the characteristics of a truck with the maximum legal load, guided by a concrete beam.

A Control Center, placed inside the track, completes the facility. All data collected by the sensors are sent to this center, that manages the data acquisition and storage system and controls the installation.

The capacity of load application per vehicle is one million per year.

Technical characteristics

• Track formed by two straight sections, 75 m each one, linked by two semi-circled sections.
• The test section is 8 m wide, 2.6 m deep and is built inside a concrete U shaped box, that isolates the pavement section from the surrounding ground.
• Test sections are covered and it exists a device for controlled simulation of rain.
• Two load traffic simulating vehicles. Characteristics: gravity loads, simple tractor semi-axle, simple wheel, maximum speed of 60 km/h, programmed transversal variation of the load, 1,3 m wheel paths width, variable load between 5.5 and 7.5 T (11-15 T per axle).
• Vehicle control through a specific program with command transmission by cable. Both, the functioning and the data acquisition system and are computerized.
• The behaviour of pavements under load and its evolution are motorized by means of surveying equipment and sensors placed inside the pavement. The installation allows the management of 400 sensors.
• Instrumentation: The sensors of the track consist on:
  • Pressure cells for measurement of stress in soils and granular bases.
  • LVDT sensors and strain gauge systems for measurement of the relative vertical strain in soils and granular bases.
  • H shaped strain gauge systems in plastic or metal embedded.
  • LVDT sensors and an anchor bar at the bottom of the section, for the measurement of deflections.
  • Temperature gauges for measurement of temperatures inside the pavement.

Applications

• Comparison of bearing capacity and service life of different pavement sections and subgrades.
• Comparison of surface dressing and road marking.
• Measurement of stress and strain in different layers of pavement.
• Checking, calibration and development of theoretical models of pavement performance.

For further information on the current test Third Test on the Full Scale Road Tests Track.

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