A 15.2 m (50 ft) diameter circular accelerated test track has been built at the University of Central Florida (UCF) with a reinforced concrete slab on a compacted earth embankment. The loading system of the test track, powered by a 220 horse-power diesel engine, includes three equally spaced support beams 7.6 m (25 ft) long, each attached to a hydraulically driven dual-wheel truck assembly, and is capable of speeds up to 48 km/hr (30mph). The total weight of the loading apparatus can vary between 133 kN (30,000 lb) and 356 kN (80,000 lb). This facility has been used to conduct three projects funded by the Florida Department of Transportation in recent years: 1. Investigation on the performance testing of ultra-thin fiber reinforced concrete (UTFRC) overlay on asphalt and concrete pavements. This project included the studies of the optimum thickness and content of polyolefin and polypropylene fibers, the laboratory testing of compressive and flexural strength, and a full scale accelerated performance testing of eight UTFRC overlay segments on the test track. 2. Accelerated performance testing and analysis of concrete pavement containing recycled concrete aggregate (RCA). Five test sections with various percentage of RCA in Portland cement concrete and four test sections with RCA as base were constructed at the test track to evaluate the response of RCA as a mix and base material. 3. Accelerated performance testing and evaluation of patching materials (PM) for rigid pavement. Testing was conducted to monitor the performance of quality PM and the wheel loads on potholes and spalls. Fourteen partial depth patches were artificially installed in the test track to evaluate seven fast-setting patch materials. Results of the testing for all these projects are included in this paper. (a)
Samenvatting