Kansas State University
Brief Description:
This APT facility is entirely owned and operated by Kansas State University and is located in the Civil Infrastructure Systems Laboratory (CISL). More than APT research projects have been conducted at KSU since the program was established in 1997. The APT program is financed through contributions to the Midwest States Accelerated Pavement Testing Pooled Fund from the departments of transportation (DOTs) of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The facility consists of a test frame in which a bogie with dual wheels can move forward and backwards while a load is applied by means of two main longitudinal girders. The frame span is approximately 12.8 m long. At the end of the travel distance, an energy absorption and release system transforms the kinetic energy of the carriage into potential energy in the springs; the springs are used to launch the bogie in the opposite direction. The wheel assembly consists of a single or tandem axle with airbag suspension. The wheel assembly is an actual bogie from a standard truck. Loading of the axle is achieved by varying pressure in the suspension system. It is possible to achieve simulated one-way traffic through a hydraulic pump that can lift the wheels off the pavement surface. Tests can be conducted on three test pits. Lateral traffic wander can be applied in 12.5 mm (0.5 in) increments, to a maximum wander of ± 0.6 m (24 in). The temperature of the pavement can be controlled within the range of –10°C to 45°C.
