Innovative test equipment which fills the gap between complex laboratory tests and CBR
The Precision Unbound Material Analyser (PUMA) is a new type of laboratory test equipment designed to fill the gap between expensive and complex laboratory tools (such as triaxial cells) and more empirical methods (such as the California Bearing Ratio test). It is designed to generate realistic values of modulus for use in road pavement design.
The PUMA can be used to test unbound, hydraulically bound and asphaltic materials. It has been designed as a low cost, easy to use and practical tool, but one which is capable of generating scientifically meaningful data (Modulus and Resistance to Permanent Deformation), for use in road pavement design. It can be used to test specimens made from granular material, soil or lightly stabilized material etc, with a particle size of 31.5mm. The PUMA is proposed as a direct equivalent to the Springbox, with the advantage that initial stress conditions can be accurately controlled. It is a simple test, suited to generic specification, that holds the promise of increased confidence in pavement foundation design, particularly in cases where favorable weather conditions during construction result in unrepresentatively high Dynamic Plate Test (DPT) values, or in cases where stabilized soils or cold-mix asphalt are employed.
Key Uses
• Determination of stiffness modulus under different stress conditions, allowing pavement design to be more scientifically based than is possible when relying on an assumed relationship to an in-situ DPT value
• Measurement of rate of increase of permanent deformation, which can be directly related to design against rutting, applicable to relatively thinly surfaced roads
• Tests cold mix asphalt
Software
• User friendly, intuitive and reliable Windows software developed using LabVIEW
• The software records the following to text file for compatibility with common spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel:
Axial Stress、Axial Strain、Radial (Confining) Stress、Radial Strain、Stiffness Modulus、Poisson's Ratio
Note: Software supplied only when PUMA is ordered with our UTM.
Calibration & Maintenance
Calibration, Annual Service and Maintenance Contracts are available for this device.
Please enquire for further details.Note: This device should be checked and calibrated annually.