Facilities

Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA)

Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA)

DMA is a electromechanical technique that applies a sinusoidal tensile or compressive deformation, stress or strain, to a sample and measures the viscoelastic response. The frequency and magnitude of the deformation can be held constant or varied during an experiment. The material response to the deformation can be monitored as a function of temperature, frequency, or time. DMA is used to determine a variety of mechanical properties, i.e., complex moduli, storage and loss moduli and damping properties as well as the fatigue behavior. Typical materials tested are bitumen, mortar, mastic and stone-mastic interfaces at a wide range of frequencies and temperatures.

Max Force: 450 N (dynamic), 320 N (static)
Temperature range: -50°C to 315°C
Frequency range: 0.0001 – 200 Hz
Displacement range: 13 mm
Extended stroke: 150 mm

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS)

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS)

DVS is a measuring system that provides valuable insights into how materials interact with moisture, organic solvents and gases. The DVS can be used to investigate sorption kinetics, moisture diffusion coefficients, Tg and RH phase transitions, and sorption/desorption isotherms of various materials. This technique allows for a better understanding of material behavior in response to environmental conditions, making it an essential tool for characterizing and optimizing a wide range of materials used in various applications, from pharmaceuticals to construction materials.

Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)

Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC)

With the PerkinElmer DSC 6000, the thermal response of a material upon heating and cooling can be determined. For binders in pavements, DSC is used to study the melting and the glass transition of binders, among other phenomena, e.g., cold crystallization. It can also be used to conduct forensic analyses of materials used in pavements and other civil engineering structures.
Working temperature: -50°C to 300°C.

Indirect Tension Modulus Test

With this test set-up the Resilient Modulus and Fatigue behaviour of asphalt mixtures can be determined at different temperatures and frequencies.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 5 kN
Temperature range: -5 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.01 - 10 Hz

Indirect Tension Strength and Fatigue Test

With this test set-up an indication of the tensile strength of asphalt mixtures can be measured. The basic idea is to submit a slice of the material under investigation to a compressive force along its vertical axis. This results in a tensile stress along the horizontal axis, which causes splitting failure. With this set up also the Fatigue properties of an asphalt specimen can be measured.

Salient features:
Max Force: 150 kN
Temperature range: -5 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.001 - 30 Hz

Uniaxial Tension Strength Test

With this test set-up the tensile strength of asphalt mixtures can be determined at different temperatures and strainrates. With this set up also the Tensile Modulus and the Fatigue properties in tension can be measured as a function of temperature and frequency.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 50 kN
Temperature range: -20 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.001 - 30 Hz
Strainrate range:0.001-5% per sec

Uniaxial Compression Strength Test

With this test set-up the compressive strength of asphalt mixtures can be determined at different temperatures and strainrates.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 150 kN
Temperature range: -20 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.001 - 30 Hz
Strainrate range:0.001-5% per sec

Uniaxial Compression Modulus Test

With this test set-up the Compressive strength of asphalt mixtures can be determined at different temperatures and strainrates.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 50 kN
Temperature range: -20 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.001 - 30 Hz

Semi-Circular Bending Test

With this test set-up the tensile strength or fracture toughness of an asphalt mixture can be measured at different temperatures.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 50 kN
Temperature range: -5 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.001 - 30 Hz

Shear Test (Leutner)

With this test set-up the shear strength of an asphalt mixture can be determined at different temperatures and shear rates.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 150 kN
Temperature range: -5 to 60°C
Shearrate range : 0.001 - 10% per sec

Four Point Bending Test

The 4-point bending test can be used to determine the flexural stiffness, phase angle, dissipated energy and fatigue behaviour of an asphalt beam as a function of temperature and frequency (master curve) in displacement-control or stress control mode.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 10 kN
Temperature range: -5 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.001 - 30 Hz

Triaxial Permanent Deformation Test

This test applies a repeated pulsed uniaxial stress to a cylindrical asphalt specimen together with a constant confinement and continually plots the resulting axial permanent and resilient strain.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 5 kN
Temperature range: -10 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.01 - 10 Hz

Dynamic Shear Rheometer Test

With the Dynamic Shear Rheometer the complex shear modulus, phase angle and fatigue behaviour of bitumen, bituminous binders, mortar and stone-mortar-stone columns can be determined at different temperatures and frequencies.

Salient Features:
Max Torque 300 mNm
Temperature range: -20 to 200°C
Frequency range : 10-7 - 200 Hz

Mortar Tensile Test

With this test set-up the tensile strength of mortar can be determined at different strainrates and temperatures. With this set up also the Tensile Modulus and the Fatigue properties in tension of mortar can be measured as a function of temperature and frequency.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 5 kN
Temperature range: -10 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.01 - 10 Hz
Strainrate range:0.001-5% per sec

Mortar Compression Method

With this test set-up the compressive strength of mortar can be determined at different strainrates and temperatures. With this set up also the Compressive Modulus and the Fatigue properties in compression of mortar can be measured as a function of temperature and frequency.

Salient Features:
Max Force: 5 kN
Temperature range: -10 to 60°C
Frequency range : 0.01 - 10 Hz
Strainrate range:0.001-5% per sec

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer

The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer, specifically the Nicolet iS50 device, makes IR spectra of absorption or emission of solid or liquid samples reveal sample composition and are used in the identification of unknown materials and confirmation of production materials. The FTIR spectrometer operates by measuring the absorption of infrared radiation by the sample, providing valuable insights into molecular vibrations and functional groups. At the pavement section, it is employed for characterizing bituminous binders, studying bitumen aging, and investigating the modification of bitumen with polymers and fillers. The Nicolet iS50 in Pavement Engineering, serves as an indispensable tool for characterizing and optimizing materials crucial to the field, contributing significantly to advancements in both theoretical understanding and practical applications within the realm of asphalt technology.