AUTOMAX Ultimate Automatic Computerized Control Console

Description

The AUTOMAX ULTIMATE is CONTROLS’ latest Automatic Computerized Control Console for concrete, cement and steel rebar testing, allowing modular upgrades from basic failure tests to advanced displacement-controlled tests for Fiber Reinforced Concrete characterization. Its versatility allows to connect up to four testing frames, from 15kN to 5000kN, in compression and 500 kN in tension with the capability to test any kind of material and sample dimensions.

The automatic computerized control console has been built with user comfort and testing efficiency as the main priorities. You can easily adjust its height and move the machine to your desired location ensuring that you work in a comfortable work environment and make the most of your lab’s space. It’s flexible, allowing each operator to adjust it individually in a few simple steps.

CONTROLS designed the AUTOMAX ULTIMATE to perform the widest range of tests, from basic failure tests (compression, flexure, splitting, tension) through to cyclic tests for Elastic Modulus and Poisson’s Ratio determination and up to advanced displacement controlled tests on Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) and tensile test on steel rebars by adding the suitable accessories and enabling the dedicated software modules.

Why perform Displacement-controlled tests?

These tests are mainly performed to determine the ductility of special construction materials, used for their superior capability to deform after first concrete matrix cracking.

These materials include:

• FRC (Fiber-Reinforced Concrete)
• Shotcrete
• Structural specimens reinforced with carbon fiber fabrics or similar.

How it works

• Load applied to the specimen is gradually increased in order to produce a constant rate of deformation up to the peak load value and first cracking.
• Afterwards, load is gradually decreased until a certain level of deformation is achieved by the specimen.
• The typical test result is the area subtended to the Stress-Strain diagram, higher areas are obtained with materials with high ductility and toughness.

Automatic and intuitive

FULLY AUTOMATIC

The test is carried out fully automatically, requiring no user intervention during testing, so that even less experienced technicians can complete even the most complex tests.

INTUITIVE

Test profiles are already set-up making it easy for the user to follow the step-by-step instructions according to the most important standards (below some example):

• EN 12390-13, EN 14651, EN 14488-3, EN 14488-5
• ASTM C1550, ASTM C1609

All test results are calculated automatically according to the above Standards.

RESEARCH-FRIENDLY

Users can create custom test procedures that can be carried out under load/stress/displacement or strain control with the possibility to change in real time the test parameters:

• target load/displacement
• control variables
• test speed.

Main Features

• Double frame control: expandable to four, with active frame selection via software.
• Wide range of testing methods: available through the addition of four easy-to-use software packages tailored to guide the operator through all test phases.
• Modular and expandable: precise control achieved by a high frequency (1 kHz) closed-loop PID control which adjusts oil flow every millisecond.
• High productivity: Dual stage Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) with rapid approach, soft platen-to-specimen contact and highly accurate drop-by-drop oil flow control allowing high throughput of advanced test.
• Energy saving: Adopt the latest energy saving technology for lower power consumption and silent operation.
• Software integration package: to connect our HD camera TESTVIEW PRO, bar code reader, balance, calipers, etc.
• Ease of maintenance: automatic software calibration procedure.
• High accuracy: with 17-bit effective resolution (131,000 datapoint).

Software

Main software MULTITEST allows:

• Remote control of the whole system and automatic execution of test including: fast approaching, zeroing, test execution, numerical and graphical management of test results, etc.
• Active frame selection via software.
• Printing and saving of customized test reports both for single and batch tests in Excel format.
• Multi-language selection, customizable with a further local language (only latin characters).
• Automatic load measurement verification procedure including data acquisition and printing of traceable calibration certificates, when the PC is connected to the digital readout unit (here no tinlcuded) and the suitable load cells the use of 4 software packages each one tailored for a specific test method.

DATAMANAGER software package (included) for compression, indirect tensile, 3 points and 4 points flexural tests on different types of specimens.

E-MODULE software package (optional, see Accessories) for Elastic Modulus and Poisson ratio determination allowing:

• Free unlimited programmable load/stress cycles to fulfill any kind of test procedure.
• Real time monitoring of test data, stress/time, stress/axial strain, stress/lateral strain graphs.
• Automatic verification of sample positioning and sensors functionality, as per standards requirements.
• Automatic calculation of test results as per Standards requirements.

UTS software package (optional, see Accessories) for steel tensile testing allowing:

• Test control up to yield by:
  • Stress (method B)
  • Strain by using extensometer (method A1)
  • Strain by using crosshead (method A2)
• Control after yield by grips’ separation
  Simultaneous display of: stress/elongation [mm], stress/time; stress/elongation [%] and elongation [mm]/time, with possibility to display multi diagrams
• Elaboration of tension test results: ReH, ReL or Rp, fp, Rt, A, At, Ag, Agt, A, At, Ae, E, Z , ft/fy, fy/fynom conforming to EN ISO 6892-1 (methods A1, A2, B) and EN 15630-1

D-Control software package (optional, see Accessories) for displacement controlled tests allowing:

• Automatic calculation of test results according to EN 14651, 14488-3, 14488-5, UNI 11039-2, ASTM C1550, C1609, UNE 83515.
• 8 test pre-set testing procedures according to the above Standards.
• Customizable test procedure allowing desired loading history.
• Possibility to change in real time the test parameters: target load/displacement, control variable, test speed.

Specifications

Hydraulics

• Dual stage HPU: centrifugal low pressure for fast approach with automatic switching to radial
  multi-piston high pressure for loading
• DC motor: 720 W, 50-60 Hz
• Maximum working pressure: 700 bar
• Third and fourth frame option, active frame selection by software
• Flow-sharing technology to perform loading and unloading cycles
• ES Energy Saving technology to reduce power consumption and silent operation

Hardware

• 131.000 points effective resolution
• High frequency closed-loop: P.I.D. control
• Control frequency: 1 kHz
• Sampling rate: 250 Hz
• 4 channels for load sensors (pressure transducers and load cells)
• 6 channels to measure strain values with transducers (LVDT, magnetostrictive, potentiometric)
• 4 channels for strain measurement with strain gauges, LDT, clip gauges
• Memorization of the calibration curve enables sensors to be connected and used immediately
• Digital linearization of the calibration curve (multi-coefficient)

Physical specifications

• PC included. 230 V, 50-60 Hz, 1 Ph
• Weight approx.: 200 kg

Ordering Information