Applied Research Associates delivered two pavement testing machines called Accelerated Transportation Loading System (ATLaS) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in Virginia.

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) recently delivered two of its pavement testing machines called Accelerated Transportation Loading System (ATLaS) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in Virginia.

ATLaS enables agencies like the FHWA to effectively evaluate, validate, and implement new construction materials, infrastructure design, construction practices, and new maintenance and rehabilitation technologies in a shorter amount of time that would otherwise take years to assess test tracks or long-term monitoring sites with live traffic.

Each ATLaS pavement test machine delivered to the FHWA is 77 feet long and weighs 75,000 pounds.

By implementing an accelerated pavement test (APT) program, an agency can save millions of taxpayer dollars by selecting the best construction materials, improving the construction specifications, and improving the infrastructure lifespan.

“The successful delivery of these two ATLaS platforms is a result of our dedicated team’s hard work, commitment to excellence, and strong relationship with our customer,” said Matthew Fordham, division manager of ARA’s Integrated Products Division. 

“Our capture team, to the design and manufacturing team, are committed to excellence. As FHWA is the epicenter for accelerated pavement test systems, we are proud to work with their team, supporting efforts to build a better transportation future.”

ATLaS devices provide a unique full-scale state-of-the-art APT tool to generate applied infrastructure research that benefits an agency in a very short time. The ATLaS can operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year to induce truck, airplane, or railroad loading to highways, bridges, and railroad systems.

ARA is the sole developer and manufacturer of the ATLaS, which is available in several models. Since ARA’s first ATLaS delivery in 1997 to Ohio University, ARA has delivered ten accelerated pavement testers to research institutes across North America and China. 

Our 63,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Randolph, VT, is home to experienced engineers, designers, and technicians with decades of experience in geotechnical fields.

All of our APT platforms are custom built to accommodate traffic-induced load capacities, budget constraints, and site restrictions. 

ARA follows a rigorous standardized system engineering approach with a robust data-driven quality program. Other solutions include asphalt testing equipment, asphalt compaction testing equipment, and asphalt density testing equipment.

ARA also offers on-site, hands-on training covering all aspects of user operation, safety, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of the system. For more information on ATLaS, visit go here.

General FAQs

CPT platforms designed for Cone Penetration Testing.

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Even if you already have a solid grasp of what Cone Penetration Testing is and how CPT rigs test soils, understanding soil test results is a bigger task.

You likely already know that CPT rigs are equipped with automated interpretation programs, but that doesn’t mean test results are easily readable right away.

Fortunately, even if you aren’t a technician, it is possible to gain some understanding of soil test results. Read on to find out how. 

The basics of soil test results

At the most basic level, the results of CPT testing are based on the relationship between cone-bearing, sleeve friction, and pore water pressure.

With these three measurements, you can learn quite a bit about soil composition and conditions. For example, the friction ratio measured by the sleeve is used to determine the soil type. Soil is then classified according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).

CPT can also measure:

• Soil parameters
• Computer calculations of interpreted soil behavior types (SBT)
• Additional geotechnical parameters

It’s also possible to determine temperature shifts and zero loads offset through the use of baseline readings. This essentially means comparing test results to those generated from initial testing before work begins on a site.

With careful observation, it’s possible to determine even more about the soil tested.

Some examples include noting trends in water content to determine the type of soil (ie, sand does not retain water as well as clay) and knowing that larger values of cone resistance and sleeve friction usually indicate coarser soils, while lower values tend to indicate fine-grained soils.

Although they won’t put you on the level of a trained technician, these basics should make soil test results much easier to understand. More importantly, with this information in mind, you should have a much greater understanding of CPT testing as a whole.