Tags – Weighing in Motion
Moving scales are an essential tool for anyone who needs to weigh vehicles in motion. With the right scale, you can get accurate measurements of any vehicle, no matter its size or speed.
Weighing a vehicle that is in motion requires a different type of scale, and a different approach to measurement. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the science of moving scales, and find out how they work!
The Application
Weighing in motion scales are frequently used to promote weight overloading enforcement. Weigh-in-motion systems may be utilised with existing roadside inspection stations or as part of virtual examination stations.
One of the most common spaces to add weighing in motion scales is bridges. The application of weighing in motion to bridges is the evaluation of traffic loading. The amount of traffic on a bridge varies considerably, depending on which roads are more heavily travelled.
This is critical when it comes to bridges that have deteriorated, as a less-travelled bridge is safer and more traffic-heavy bridges should be prioritised for maintenance and repair.
The Sensing Technology
Moving scales are designed to weigh vehicles in motion, and they work by using a series of sensors to measure the weight of the passing vehicle. The sensors are located at strategic points along the scale, and they work together to provide an accurate measurement.
The weighing platform of the earliest WIM systems is still an instrumented existing bridge. The bending plates span a hole cut into the road surface and use the flexure as a way to measure weight when the wheel rolls over them. Strain sensors in the corner supports of a large platform embedded in the street are used by load cells.
The majority of current systems employ strip sensors, which are pressure sensitive materials installed in a 2 to 3 cm groove cut into the road pavement. Strip sensors utilise a variety of sensing materials, including piezo-polymer, piezo-ceramic, capacitive and piezo-quartz.
Many of these sensing systems are temperature-dependent, and algorithms are used to compensate for this.
The field of weighing technology has witnessed significant progress in recent years, with optical fibre grating sensors being used to weigh things.
The Calibration Process
The first step in using a moving scale is to calibrate it. This process ensures that the scale is accurate, and that it will provide consistent results. Once the scale has been calibrated, it can be used to weigh any type of vehicle.
To calibrate a moving scale, you will need to adjust the sensitivity of the sensors. This can be done by adjusting the amount of weight that is placed on the scale, and by adjusting the speed at which the vehicle passes over the scale. Once the sensors have been calibrated, the moving scale can be used to weigh any type of vehicle.
Types of Moving Vehicle Scales
There are two types of moving scales: static and dynamic. Static scales are designed for weighing vehicles that are travelling at a constant speed, while dynamic scales can be used for weighing vehicles that are accelerating or decelerating.
Other Considerations
When choosing a moving scale, it’s important to consider the type of vehicles that will be weighed. For example, if you’re weighing trucks, you’ll need a scale that can accommodate their size and weight. If you’re weighing cars, a smaller scale may be sufficient.
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