PTI Research and Testing Track Facility
A major research and testing facility of the Pennsylvania
Transportation Institute (PTI) is the track and the facility located
in Bellefonte, PA. The 5042-foot long oval shaped track provides the needed
place for a wide range of transportation related research.
The track, built in 1970, provides service to all programs of the PTI,
specifically the Vehicle Systems and
Safety program (VS&S) and the Transportation
Infrastructure Program (TIP).
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Bridge Research Facility
An integral part of PTI’s facilities, the Bridge Research Facility is located on the large curve of the Pavement Durability Research Facility. Since its construction, the site has contained two successive experimental bridges. Past research has focused on the evaluation of strength and durability of the bridge superstructure, comparison of deck constructions, evaluation of fabrication and erection procedures, determination of modes of girder failure caused by overloading and related safety factors, segmental bridge construction, field testing under actual environmental conditions and controlled traffic conditions (ultimate loads), and supplemented by testing in the laboratory.
Vehicle Durability Course
This 1,665-ft (507.8-m) "dog bone"-shaped durability course includes the following elements:- 1-in deep random chuckholes
- 0.75-in (1.91-cm) chatter bumps at a 15-degree angle
- a section simulating a high crown intersection
- 4-in-deep (10.16 cm) chuckhole
- a section simulating a railroad crossing
- 6-in (15.24-cm) staggered bumps
- a section designed to twist the bus frame
Pavement Durability Research Facility
The pavement durability research facility, designed in the early 1970s and expanded in 1982, is a full-scale experimental highway. A large curve with a design speed of 45 mi/h (72 km/h) and a smaller curve with a design speed of 35 mi/h (56 km/h) connect two 1,000 ft (305 m) long tangents, one totally in cut, one totally in fill, to form a 1-mile oval track.In a recent project, researchers used the facility as a test bed to investigate effective methods for improving the surface drainage of pavements. Some of the other research conducted at the facility has included the evaluation of seal coat performance, the evaluation of in-situ instrumentation, and the effects of axle loads, tire types and tire pressures on pavement performance, and the evaluation of the structural behavior of various pavements materials.
Controlled, Experimental Driving Environment
The Test Track was also used as an experimental platform to investigate and improve upon conventional road sign legibility. The current highway guide sign alphabet is incompatible with recent improvements in signing material and changes in driver characteristics. The thick stroke design of the Series E(M) highway alphabet, both upper and lower case, when used with newly developed, high-brightness signing materials, results in a phenomenon known as irradiation or halation. Irradiation occurs when the reflective letter material is so bright that it bleeds into the letter form's open spaces, creating a blobbing effect that reduces legibility. This irradiation effect is particularly troubling for older drivers.Field research was conducted at the Test Track using older travelers. Conventional and experimental signage was compared in the controlled but real driving environment offered by the Test Track. A new font, name Clearview, was developed by opening the interior spaces of the letter forms to allow irradiation to occur without diminishing the distance at which the alphabet could be read. With a 15-inch letter height, this was found to increase legibility distance by 150 ft, allowing drivers vehicles traveling at highway speeds almost two seconds longer to read highway guide signs. The Clearview font has been broadly adopted for use.
Large-Scale Impact Pendulum
The large scale impact pendulum was developed for the testing of full-scale structural components under impact loading. The pendulum was designed to deliver an impact load from a mass of up to 10,000 lbs raised to a height of up to 35 ft. Test specimens are anchored to a large concrete foundation mat.Tests have been conducted on both cast-in-place and precast concrete bridge barrier systems to study their behavior under impact loading simulating vehicle crash impact. Tests have also been conducted on cast-in-place concrete beams to study fundamental behavior under impact loading. The facility is also being used to investigate performance of timber bridge barriers under impact loading.
Rail-Guided Crash Test Facility
PTI's Crash Safety Research Center is one of the few university-owned crash testing facilities in the United States. A focal point for research pertaining to vehicle accidents, the center provides researchers with the means to examine crash-related injuries and occupant safety issues; vehicle and highway apparatus design, testing, and analysis; and crash-related data and literature. The center also offers educational and training opportunities for students, transportation officials, and the public.Research facilities at the center include a rail guidance system for full-scale crash testing; large- and small-scale pendulums for impact testing of vehicles, vehicle components, and highway structures; and advanced computer and sensor systems for high-speed data acquisition, vehicle impact simulation, and data analysis. The center's facilities, systems, and equipment enable researchers to test passenger vehicles, buses, and heavy vehicles for factors such as structural integrity and crashworthiness. The full-scale crash testing facilities give researchers the opportunity to investigate vehicle interaction with roadside barriers, lampposts, and signs.
Weigh-In-Motion Research Facility
As part of a research study eight quartz-based weigh-in-motion sensors and the associated electronics have been installed in the pavement of the vehicle handling area. The sensors were installed in high strength epoxy mixture and the surface was ground to be flush with the pavement surface. Two rows of sensors spaced at approximately 12 feet apart allow for calculation of vehicle speed in addition to measurement of axle weights. A roadside cabinet protects the signal amplifiers and the data acquisition equipment. This installation allows researchers to study static and dynamic calibration of the system. Vehicle load, vehicle speed, and tire pressure are being studied; in particular, how variation in these parameters affects WIM system performance. Advanced processing algorithms for improved system performance are also being studied.The
Pennsylvania Transportation Institute ©2002
This page was last updated August 25, 2004.
Comments and questions may be directed to PTI-Web@psu.edu