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| Light Weight Deflectometer TRENCH |
In contrast to the Künzel (drop penetration) rod, pipes are not at risk of being damaged when using this measurement method and the individual layers can be compressed in layers and compaction quality can be measured in layers too. This means there are no nasty surprises later on. "Digitalisation" is the magic word on everyone's lips. All over Germany, work is in full swing to lay the new fibre optic network. Our country is being made fit for the new 5G network so that we don't miss out on the high-speed connection. In the meantime, valuable time has already elapsed, since the high-speed network is due to be ready by 2020. The german Telecom now wants to accelerate the expansion of the network using the time and cost-saving Trenching method.
Trenching involves slitting 15-20 cm narrow trenches in asphalt or soil into which empty pipes are then inserted. The trenches are often only 60 cm deep.
Fibre optic cables can then be blown into these empty pipes later on. After the empty pipes have been inserted, the trenches must be filled and professionally compacted. For the compaction work, proof of compaction must be provided to the client and archived.
With the new TERRATEST 4000 TRENCH, TERRATEST® now presents a Light Weight Deflectometer that can provide proof of compaction, even in narrow trenches with a width of only 15 cm or even less. The load plate of the new device is oval in shape and has a width of only 10 cm compared to the conventional 300 mm diameter plate, thus adapting to the narrow trench widths of the Trenching method. This means that the oval load plate has a smaller working depth than the circular 300 mm plate, but this does not pose a problem in Trenching, because the layers are also smaller at just 20 cm when filled.
The loading device has a smaller and narrower drop weight of 5 kg, which also fits well into a narrow trench due to the shallow construction depth. The drop weight has a circular groove for ease of catching. The device is particularly suited for the control of compaction quality of footpaths and cycle paths. It provides the same values as the 10 kg deflectometer, but unlike the latter, it is not covered by the ZTV (Additional Technical Terms of Contract in Germany.)
However, following consultation with the local authorities, TERRATEST 4000 TRENCH can be used for proof of compaction, as there is no alternative economical method suitable for this application.
The good news for owners of TERRATEST® drop weight equipment: a TERRATEST 4000 TRENCH Light Weight Deflectometer can also be purchased as a retrofit kit if you already own a TERRATEST® device. This means it is possible to use the measurement electronics of existing deflectometer devices and with extended firmware make them capable of carrying out measurements during the Trenching method. Alongside the firmware update, the existing measurement electronics must be calibrated with the TRENCH mechanics. For this, the measurement electronics must be sent to TERRATEST for calibration when purchasing the TRENCH. TRENCH will initially be available as a cable model. At a later stage, retrofitting of TERRATEST® Bluetooth devices will also be possible.
The TRENCH Light Weight Deflectometer with narrow load plate and 5 kg drop weight is manufactured according to TP BF-StB part B8.3 (Technical testing regulations for soil and rock in road construction) and calibrated according to TERRATEST® factory standards.
