AUSTROADS Seal Design Test SDT 10.
5:2001
Calibration of Bitumen Sprayers
Part 5: Road Speed and Distance Calibration
PREFACE
This Seal Design Test Method was prepared by an APRG Working Group on behalf of AUSTROADS.
Representatives of AUSTROADS, ARRB Transport Research and Industry through the Australian Asphalt
Pavement Association (AAPA), and the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) have been
involved in the development and review of this test method.
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METHOD
1 SCOPE
This test method sets out the procedures for determining pump volumetric output plus the transverse distribution
of bitumen sprayers and is based on the fixed facility approach using a trough capture system with a low
temperature calibrating oil.
2 RELATED DOCUMENTS
The following document is related to this test method:
AUSTROADS SDT 10.0 Calibration of Bitumen Sprayers – Part 0: General Introduction, List of
Methods and Certificate of Calibration.
3 EQUIPMENT
3.1 Speed (field calibration equipment)
See Appendix A for equipment requirements.
4 ROAD SPEED and DISTANCE CALIBRATION
The accuracy and performance of the road speed and distance indicator equipment fitted to the bitumen sprayer,
and the factors required in order to be able to provide the necessary information on the “Bituminous Surfacing
Spraying Certificate” must be determined. A check of the performance of the sprayer, and the equipment
required to maintain a uniform road speed is required in order to be able to apply bituminous binders at the
specified rates of application. See Appendix A for a detailed method and explanation.
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AUSTROADS SDT 10.5:2001
5 REPORT
The following information shall be reported:
• Correction factor for road distance;
• Forward speed in metres/minute for specified ranges of rates of application of bituminous binders.
(The above can not be used directly for spraying Polymer Modified Binders)
6 PRECISION
No estimate of precision is currently available.
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AUSTROADS SDT 10.5:2001
APPENDIX A ROAD DISTANCE AND SPEED INDICATOR TEST
1 SCOPE
This test method sets out the procedure for assessing the accuracy and performance of the distance and
road speed indicator equipment fitted to the bitumen sprayer, and provides a method of calculating the
factors required to complete the necessary information on the “Bituminous Surfacing Spraying
Certificate”. It also provides a check of the performance of the sprayer, and the fitted equipment
required to maintain a uniform road speed within the required range in order to be able to apply
bituminous binders at the specified application rates.
2 EQUIPMENT
2.1 TEST STRIP A length of surfaced road pavement meeting the following requirements:
• Reasonably flat, not exceeding 1% grade;
• Straight;
• No side streets or access/exits which could interrupt the test;
• Low traffic volumes (no traffic for the duration of the test is desirable);
• Low speed area (preferably 60kph or less);
• At least 700 m long.
A section of pavement 500m long with painted, clearly visible, transverse lines at 00m, 250m and 500m.
At least 100m should be available at each end of the measured test strip for the sprayer to start and
stop. The measured test lengths shall be accurate to within 100mm.
2.2 Timing Equipment Two stop watches able to record up to 30 minutes, accurate and
readable to 0.01 seconds.
2.3 Distance Indicator The accuracy of the distance indicator is checked by driving the
sprayer over the test strip. This shall be carried out twice, once in each direction or twice in the
same direction. The lengths measured on each run shall not differ by more than 1 metre. E.g 496.5m
for run 1 and 497.3m for run 2.
Recorded distance: Calculate the average of the two results and correct to the nearest whole
metre.
E.g. (496.5 + 497.3)/2 = 496.9 = 497m
Deviation distance = Actual distance - recorded distance
E.g. 500 – 497 = 3m
deviation distance x 100
Percentage deviation = ------------------------
actual distance
E.g. 3/500 x 100 = 0.6%. Accepted, as it is within the ± 2.5% specified tolerance.
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AUSTROADS SDT 10.5:2001
Results Calculate the following and record on the Bituminous Surfacing Spraying Certificate:
1 Distance calibration (m) / kilometre
Recorded distance x 1000
Distance calibration = ------------------------
500
E.g. for a recorded reading of 497m over the test strip:
497 x 1000/500 = 994m / kilometre.
2 Actual distance (m)
Calculate the factor used to correct the recorded distance to obtain the actual distance
sprayed.
E.g. for a recorded reading of 497m over the 500m test strip, the factor is
500/497 = 1.006
and for a recorded distance of say 310m the actual distance sprayed is
310 x 1.006 = 312m.
2.4 Road Speed Indicator The road speed indicator is tested by driving the sprayer at a series of
uniform speeds over the measured test strip. The road speed may be in either metres per minute
(m/min) or metres per second (m/s) depending on the particular instrument.
Test Speeds
The test speeds must include speeds in the lower range, middle range and higher range to cover
the various rates of application of binder specified in sprayed work for priming, primersealing and
sealing. The test speeds shall be within the range shown below:
Test Speed Range
m/min m/s
60 - 70 10 - 12
150 - 170 25 - 30
250 - 270 40 - 45
350 - 370 60 - 65
450 - 470 70 - 75
The road speed is established by starting the sprayer far enough from the test strip to ensure the
specified speed is achieved at the start of the test. The timing is commenced (both stop watches)
when the sprayer crosses the line with the front wheel or other part of the sprayer easily seen by
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AUSTROADS SDT 10.5:2001
the tester. One stop watch is used to record the time taken to travel 250m, and the second watch
to record the full 500m distance.
During the test run the speed indicated should be stable and uniform. If the sprayer cannot
maintain a uniform speed, or the instrument cannot maintain a uniform reading, the cause shall be
rectified before completing the test.
The time taken to travel the 500m distance must be twice the 250m distance ± 1%.
If the deviation is greater, the test must be repeated.
Overall, for a satisfactory speed indicator, the error shall be less than ± 2.5%.
Results
For each speed record the time for the 250m and 500m distances to 0.01 second
Multiply the time for the 250m distance by 2 and compare against the time recorded for the 500m.
These values shall be within ±1%.
For the 500m distance - Calculate the Actual Speed for each Indicated Speed
Plot the Indicated Speed against the Actual speed. This may be done manually using graph paper,
or using a computer generated spread sheet and graph. As a general rule the speeds calculated
should give a straight line plot, but there may be some deviation at the low and/or high end of the
range depending on the type of instrument used.
From the graph, or spread sheet, determine the Indicated Speed to be used for the range of
applications of material specified, and enter these on the Bituminous Surfacing Spraying Table.
E.g. Time for 250m at an indicated 150m/min = 1m 43.45 s
(103.45 s)
Time for the 500m = 3m 26.50 s
(206.50 s)
Compare the two - 103.45 x 2 = 206.90 ± 2.07 s
= 204.83 to 208.97 s
The times are within the accepted tolerance.
Actual speed - (500 / 206,5) x 60 = 145.2 m/min
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