Asphalt Testing to DIN EN 12697 with Two Modernized ZwickRoell Materials Testing Machines
BAM Infra is a specialist for infrastructural connections in the Netherlands, and is part of the Royal BAM Group. BAM has successfully implemented countless infrastructure projects including freeways and traffic circles, car tunnels, parking garages and bicycle bridges.
To maintain a high standard and high quality of the asphalt that is required for these projects, regular testing of stiffness, fatigue and track formation is essential. For reliable test results, BAM Infra relies on two modernized HC10 series dynamic testing machines from ZwickRoell. Both machines have been in use for many years and were recently equipped with the latest technology as part of a modernization project.
Materials testing under temperature
For simulation of realistic temperature conditions, an existing temperature chamber was enhanced and integrated into the software, allowing for tests to be performed at ambient temperature as well as low or high temperature conditions. This for example, allows the company to determine how the asphalt behaves under different temperatures.
Three different test fixtures are used
- Indirect tensile test device for determination of stiffness and fatigue via a cyclic indirect tensile test.
- 4-point flexure test kit for determination of the fatigue resistance and dynamic stiffness.
- Triaxial device for determination of permanent deformation and creep properties.
Test sequence for 4-point flexure test
The operator mounts the test fixture and clamps the asphalt specimen. The correct asphalt test program is loaded and the test can be started. Once the test has been started, the stiffness of the specimen is determined under various frequencies (EN 12697-26). The material fatigue is tested at 30 Hz and a variation of the amplitude. A total of 18 tests are performed to obtain a mean value and make an assessment about the fatigue life of the material (EN 12697-24). The described test sequence for the 4-point flexure test represents one of the above mentioned tests.
