CRYSTAL CLEAR: QUARTZ-BASED WIM SENSORS

The properties of quartz make it a suitable sensor material for high-speed weigh-in-motion (HS-WIM) applications. This article describes a system, using this principle, which has been undergoing winter weather testing in the Cold Environment Test at Lulea, Sweden, conducted under the European Test Programme (ETP). The two techniques used most often for HS-WIM measurements are piezoceramic cables and bending plates equipped with strain gauges, but they have several disadvantages. Quartz has the advantages of being very stable electrically and mechanically, with an almost negligible temperature coefficient. Swiss company Kistler Instrumente AG has produced quartz-based sensors for many applications, and it has now developed the Lineas quartz WIM sensor, which combines the accuracy of a bending plate with the easy installation of a piezo-cable system. This sensor can remain in the road with very little maintenance throughout its life cycle; extensive life-cycle tests have proved its reliability under high lorry axle loads and various climatic conditions, so that it can provide precise measurements for extended periods. The tests in the very harsh winter environment of Lulea showed the sensor's stability over a wide temperature range, and its ability to measure dynamic lorry weights reasonably accurately.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/32663949
• Corporate Authors:

  Cap Gemini

  ,    

  PB Farradyne

  444 South Flower Street, Suite 3700
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90071

  iMPath Networks

  ,    

  Georgia Department of Transportation

  One Georgia Center
  600 West Peachtree Street, NW
  Atlanta, GA  United States  30308

  Pantech

  ,    

  System Innovations, Incorporated

  1551 Forbes Street
  Fredericksburg, VA  United States  22405
• Authors:
  • Kunz, J
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 28,30-1
• Serial:
  • Traffic Technology International
  • Publisher: AutoIntermediates Limited
  • ISSN: 1356-9252
  • Serial URL: http://www.ukipme.com/mag_traffic.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Axle load force; Cables; Mechanical stability; Motion; Moving industry; Properties of materials; Quartz; Sensors; Slabs; Tests; Trucks; Vehicles; Weather; Weighing devices; Winter
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• ITRD Terms: 3067: Axle load; 4530: Cable; 1236: Lorry; 5483: Movement; 9050: Moving; 5925: Properties; 4123: Quartz; 6120: Sensor; 3491: Slab; 5930: Stability; 8109: Sweden; 6255: Test; 1255: Vehicle; 2545: Weather; 6195: Weighing apparatus; 2575: Winter
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Materials; Motor Carriers; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00779139
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 7 1999 12:00AM