Roads and Highways
In addition to the materials testing services offered, Simtec can carry out a comprehensive range of monitoring and workmanship testing for completed highway works. This includes surface texture and irregularity, layer thickness, inter-layer bond and air void content.
Road & Highway Testing Services
Delivered Material Temperature Control
Delivery and rolling temperatures are critical in ensuring adequate compaction of hot bituminous material. Failure to achieve this leads to high air voids, cracking, and a probable reduction in service life.
Because of the difference between the surface temperature and the material delivery temperature, a monitor of the rolling temperature is needed to ensure compaction takes place before the layer temperature is too low. Our highly trained field teams are trained and equipped to control both aspects using state-of-the-art equipment, including infrared thermometry.
Core Samples using the Hydraulic Drilling Rig
Road cores are taken for several reasons, including:
- Quality control of new surfacing works
- Verification of the compacted layer’s thickness
- Investigation of existing pavements
- Facilitation of road stud fitting and fencing
- Assistance in magnetometer installation
The modern hydraulic drilling rig can drill a road core in just a few minutes and can supply power to a range of satellite tools for carrying out the reinstatement of the core holes. The results determine the service life of the as-built pavement.
Cores can also be used to gain material for retrospective Compositional Analysis of the bituminous materials used in a pavement and to recover cores as samples for retrospective compressive strength testing or other laboratory analysis.
The modern hydraulic drilling rig can drill a road core in just a few minutes and can supply power to a range of satellite tools for carrying out the reinstatement of the core holes. The results determine the service life of the as-built pavement.
Cores can also be used to gain material for retrospective Compositional Analysis of the bituminous materials used in a pavement and to recover cores as samples for retrospective compressive strength testing or other laboratory analysis.
Other materials testing for civil engineering projects include:
- Surface Texture testing using the Volumetric Patch Method
- Rolling Straight Edge
- Transverse 3m Beam or Straight Edge
Testing For the Rail Sector
Both new railway works, and general maintenance involve considerable earthworks. Simtec provides a range of soil and aggregate testing to ensure full compliance with these elements.
Sand replacement density and non-nuclear density gauge testing are just two of the many UKAS* accredited tests offered. Quality and compliance of recycled rail ballast is also tested in Simtec’s state-of-the-art laboratories.
Airports and Runways
Runway works, entail the placement of considerable tonnages of unbound aggregates, concrete, and bituminous materials. Simtec is UKAS* accredited for many tests involved in the quality control of these elements and can supply skilled technicians for site work and can respond quickly to requests for sampling.
Laboratory testing of samples is undertaken as soon as possible with minimal turnaround times adhered to wherever possible.
