Beam Flexural Fatigue
The GCTS Beam Fatigue Testing Equipment was designed to test the fatigue life of a beam of Hot Mix Asphalt. This test is performed through the use of a four-point loading jig to apply a repetitive load to a prismatic specimen under constant stress or constant strain conditions. When used with a GCTS Servo Controller, the included software can perform the test according to the AASHTO, ASTM and EN standards while also allowing the user to perform custom loading conditions for research purposes. This software allows the operator to automatically obtain the fatigue life parameters, including initial stiffness, maximum tensile stress/strain, flexural stiffness, phase angle, dissipated energy per cycle, cumulative dissipated energy to failure, and number of cycles to failure.The standard beam fatigue loading jig requires a suitable load frame to provide the repeated loading. GCTS also offers pneumatic or hydraulically-powered loading jigs for use anywhere in a laboratory.
As a complete solution, GCTS offers the BFFS-P, which includes the pneumatic loading jig, a fiberglass environmental chamber for temperature control, and a servo-controller and data acquisition system with a battery backup system to ensure the test will continue during a power outage.
Category: Pavement Testing Solutions
Tags: AASHTO, AASHTO T321, ASTM, ASTM D7460, battery backup system, beam fatigue testing, beam flexural fatigue, compressed air supply, constant strain, constant stress, cumulative dissipated energy, Data Acquisition System, dissipated energy per cycle, EN 12697-24, EN 12697-26, EN standards, fatigue life parameters, fiberglass environmental chamber, flexural stiffness, four-point loading jig, GCTS, Hot Mix Asphalt, hydraulic loading jig, initial stiffness, loading frequency, LVDT sensor, maximum tensile stress, number of cycles to failure, pavement, pavement mechanics, pavement testing, phase angle, pneumatic loading jig, repetitive loading, Servo-Controller, specimen dimensions, Temperature control
BFFS-H
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hydraulic, stand-alone test system
- 4-point loading jig
- ± 1 mm range LVDT sensor
- ± 5 kN load capacity
- 60 Hz maximum loading frequency
- 75mm x 75mm x 381mm specimen dimensions
- Includes environmental chamber for -15°C to +70°C
BFFS-P
HIGHLIGHTS
- Economical, stand-alone test system
- 4-point loading jig
- ± 1 mm range LVDT sensor
- ± 5 kN load capacity
- 10 Hz maximum loading frequency
- 75mm x 75mm x 381mm specimen dimensions
- Includes temperature stability chamber for 21°C
- Requires 800 kPa compressed air supply
BFFA
HIGHLIGHTS
- 4-point loading jig
- ± 1 mm range LVDT sensor
- ± 5 kN load capacity
- 60 Hz maximum loading frequency
- 75mm x 75mm x 381mm specimen dimensions
- Temperature rating: -15°C to 70°C (non-condensing)
- Requires a suitable load frame or upgrade to pneumatic / hydraulic loading jig
- Requires a suitable environmental chamber for temperature stability
Relevant Standards
AASHTO T321 Standard Method for Determining the Fatigue Life of Compacted Asphalt Mixtures Subjected to Repeated Flexural Bending
ASTM D7460 Standard Test Method for Determining Fatigue Failure of Compacted Asphalt Concrete Subjected to Repeated Flexural Bending (Withdrawn 2019)
EN 12697-24 Bituminous mixtures. Test methods. Resistance to fatigue
EN 12697-26 Bituminous mixtures. Test methods. Stiffness