ASTM_F_559_-_05_2010.pdf

Designation:F55905(Reapproved 2010)Standard Test Method forMeasuring Length of Road Test Courses Using a FifthWheel1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F559;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of originaladoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the determination of the accu-rate length measurement of road courses used for testing alltypes of pneumatic tires on various associated vehicles.1.2 This test method is intended for use on public highwaysor closed circuit test courses,or both,that cannot be measuredpractically by surveying techniques.1.3 Use of this test method requires that the surface of thetest course to be measured shall be sufficiently smooth topreclude bounce or hop of the fifth wheel,which will affect theaccuracy of the measurement.The normal highway surface isadequate for this test method.1.4 It is not the intent or scope of this test method toencompass distance measurements of test courses whose sur-faces are irregular,broken up,jagged,and so forth,such asrock courses,Belgian block,“rumble”surfaces,and the like.Snow-and ice-covered surfaces also are excluded.1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.The values given in parentheses are for informationonly.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F457 Test Method for Speed and Distance Calibration ofFifth Wheel Equipped With Either Analog or DigitalInstrumentationF538 Terminology Relating to the Characteristics and Per-formance of TiresF1082 Practice for TiresDetermining Precision for TestMethod Standards(Withdrawn 2005)33.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsSee Terminology F538 for terminologyused in this test method.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 This test method includes the use of a fifth wheel ofknown accuracy,incorporating a distance counter that isattached to the test vehicle and used to measure distancestraveled by that vehicle.5.Significance and Use5.1 Maps,automobile odometers,and highway and distancemarkers are not sufficiently accurate to describe the length of aroute for tire testing purposes.The proposed procedure de-scribes a test method for measuring the length of a road coursewith sufficient accuracy for tire testing purposes.6.Apparatus6.1 Fifth WheelThe fifth wheel shall meet the require-ments of Test Method F457 and shall incorporate an odometeror distance counter capable of accumulating the distance of thecourse to be measured.Preferably,the distance counter readoutwill be in units of 1 m(3.28 ft)or a minimum of 0.25revolution of the fifth wheel.In any case,the distance readoutshall meet the requirements of Test Method F457.7.Procedure7.1 Attach the fifth wheel to the rear of the vehicle at a pointnot in line with the vehicle wheelpath but midway between thevehicle wheelpaths.7.2 Adjust the fifth wheel tire inflation pressure to themanufacturers specification.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F09 on Tiresand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F09.10 on Equipment,Facilitiesand Calibration.Current edition approved Oct.1,2010.Published December 2010.Originallyapproved in 1978.Last previous edition approved in 2005 as F55905.DOI:10.1520/F0559-05R10.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 7.3 Warm up the fifth wheel by running a minimum of 3 km(2 miles)at approximately 65 km/h(40 mph).7.4 Calibrate in accordance with Test Method F457.7.5 With the fifth wheel in contact with the road surface,drive the vehicle to the starting point of the test course to bemeasured.Set its odometer or counter to zero.If the unit isnon-resettable,record the reading.7.6 Drive the vehicle from the starting point of the coursecompletely through the course.At the end of the course,recordthe reading on the fifth wheel odometer or counter.If thecounter is non-resettable,subtract the initial reading at the startof the course from the reading at the end of the course.Thisfigure represents the distance traveled by the vehicle within thetolerances as specified in Test Method F457.If the course issufficiently long that rest or meal breaks are required,thenrecord each“leg”driven between starting and stoppi