|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Climatic chamber
Towards the beginning of the 1980's, senior officials
from the Road Safety and Traffic Bureau requested the
LCPC to design a device capable of testing the reliability
of road sign materials. The objective herein: strengthen
the scientific bases of a certification process for variable
message panels (VMP) or for prism panels by means of exposure
to climatic conditions very different from those intended
for panel use. This specific purpose therefore incited
developing the climatic chamber.
Containing a volume of 72 m3 (6 x 3 x 3.9 m), this chamber
has been set up near the vibration testing bench. A programmer
station makes it possible to regulate, in parallel, temperature
and relative humidity in addition to controlling climatic
sequences, such as spraying rainfall or activating a sun
lamp.
At the present time, this climatic chamber is used for
the following applications:
- Tests on variable message
panels to determine their capacity to resist extreme climatic
conditions, coupled with vibratory tests, in order to
allow completing the entire certification testing procedure
at a single site;
- Qualification testing
on equipment or instrumentation;
- Study of the mechanical
behavior of bituminous materials as a function of temperature;
- Behavioral analysis of
measurement systems connected with traffic management
and road maintenance operations;
- etc.
|
|
Climatic chamber |
|
|
· Unit assigned responsibility for equipment operations:
Division for Metrology and Instrumentation (MI)
· Sectors of activity:
- Geotechnical engineering
- Roads
- Environment and
urban engineering
Contact:
Division
for Metrology and Instrumentation (MI)
· An exemplary application:
Certification of variable message panels (VMP)
Within the framework of the certification process
for variable message panels, it is necessary to
conduct a series of climate-based tests of resistance
to temperature, relative humidity and insolation
on behalf of specialized companies working in the
field.
|
Variable message panel into the climatic chamber |
|
|
|
· Technical characteristics:
- Dimension: 9 x 3
x 4 m
- Door passage : 2.5
x 3.5m
- Volume: 72 m3
- Temperature ranges
: -25°C and +80°C inclusive, stability more
or less of 1°C
- Velocity variation
: 30°C / hour
- Homogeneity throughout
the volume: +/-3°C,
- Relative humidity:
accuracy more or less of 5% above 5°C
- Minimum dew point:
+5°C,
- Sprinkling/spraying:
generation of a misty fog to simulate roadside conditions,
- Net consumable refrigeration
power of 23kW at -40°C for a condensation temperature
of +45°C,
- PID programmable
temperature controller,
- Associated 24-channel
measurement system
- Possibility of access
with a fork lift truck (2.5 tons max)
· Operational since: 1982
· Application examples:
LCPC research activities:
- Temperature resistance
testing of LPC network equipment prototypes
(cable
acoustic monitoring sequence, electronic APL, groundwater
height measurement sensors, etc.);
- Behavior of cement-based
powders;
- Freezing of clinker.
Regional and national missions:
- Testing on oil
platform containers,
- Tests on air conditioning
units for tractors,
- Study of dew point
behavior on the Renault car "Clio",
- Laser-guided fabric-cutting
machine,
- etc.
· Associated facilities:
- Vibration testing bench
|
|
|
| |
|
Top