C223 and C224 moulds (for cubes 150mm side) main features:

- both models have “X” bands on the base and reinforced corners to grant additional resistance to abrasion and pressure

- the inside surfaces are smoothed to make easier the specimen's ejection

- C224 model is manufactured from "high density mixture" that reduces wear action and mould breakages

These new technical solutions ensure a longer duration, allowing the operator to use the same mould many times.

Cylinder moulds with reinforced bands are also available: visit our website for more information on C228 and C229 models!

Matest servo-controlled machines - manufactured in accordance to the most important International Standards (EN 12390-4, EN 12390-5, EN 1340-4) - allow the operator to perform automatically:

- Concrete compression and flexure tests;

- Mortar compression and flexure tests;- Splitting tensile test of cylinder  and cubes;

- Elastic modulus on concrete and rock specimens.

The machines are connected to the C104 Servotronic unit that - by means of a valve- provides fully automatic tests during the all phases of acquisition, visualisation, data processing and pace rate adjustment.

Servotronic is connectable with up to three frames and has been conceived to upgrade any compression and flexure machine.

A specific software, the Universal testing machines 2 software (UTM2), has been developed by Matest to manage and control each kind of test from a personal computer. The test results can be saved and printed and certificates can be issued.

Advantages:

- Reliable and repeatable results;

- Reduction of human error;

- Fast test execution with the automatic control of the piston, both on rise and fall phases;

- Easy testing procedures.

Highlight:

The versatility and flexibility of Matest testing machines also allow the user to select and combine compression and flexure groups (C092 series) in order to satisfy any specific requirements. Among the wide range of flexural frames, Matest has developed the C091 open side frame that enables the operator to position the specimen easily between the rollers.

The new C134 extensometers are made of two anodized aluminium pieces, one fixed and the other one sliding and housing a displacement transducer that measures accurately the movement of two conical points fixed at the two ends of the electronic sensor. The two conical points are coupled to the specimen’s surface with a rapid and simple fixing system composed of two elastic adjustable straps.
The new extensometer-compressometer is suitable to test cubes, cylinders, beam specimens as well as mortar prisms 40x40x160 mm by using a reducing length block.

ELASTIC MODULUS

The Elastic Modulus can be measured by using one of the following configurations: 

1. SEMI-AUTOMATIC MODE

A digital semiautomatic compression machines (made by Matest or by other manufacturers) is required. In this case the extensometers-compressometers have to be connected to S335 Datatronic, Matest Semiautomatic data acquisition system, that measures both the extensometer’s deformations and the load applied to the sample. The system will show simultaneously up to 3 sizes on the display (ex.: load, deformation, time etc.), allowing the storage of all data through its unlimited memory.

2. COMPLETELY AUTOMATIC MODE

The Automatic Servotronic Matest compression machines, equipped with C104-10 ServoPlus, is required to perform the Elastic Modulus automatically. In this case the extensometers/compressometers can be connected directly to the ServoPlus system that allows to perform the test with fully automatic control of the load, the displacement and the deformation.

SERVOPLUS is the new advanced system developed by Matest to enhance the performances of a concrete testing machine. It is the result of the electronic benefits applied to Matest SERVOTRONIC.
In addition to Servotronic configuration,  SERVOPLUS also includes a microprocessor electronic card for displacement and strain control, a basic firmware and an interactive software with icons interface to manage the load, displacement and strain applied to the specimen.

The final product is a groundbreaking solution conceived for and designed to perform:

- PUNCHING TEST ON SPRAYED CONCRETE SPECIMENS with measurement of the absorbed energy, when connected to a flexural machine, Servotronic unit and all the required accessories (UNI EN 10834, UNI EN 14488-3, UNI EN 14488-05)
- DEFLECTION TEST ON FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS (FRC) in accordance to ASTM C1018, UNI EN 11039-03, UNI EN 14487-1, UNI EN 14488-1, UNI EN 14651-0 Standards. A flexural machine with Servotronic unit and specific equipment is required
- TESTS ON REINFORCED CONCRETE WITH POLYMER FIBER LINING (FRP)
- STRAIN, ELASTIC MODULUS, DUCTILITY AND POST-BREAKING BEHAVIOUR on building materials, when combined with high stability compression machine and Servotronic unit.

Being connected to pressure or displacement/strain transducers, the system automatically controls the displacement of the hydraulic piston of the frame, according to the type of transducers selected by the operator. As a matter of fact the pressure transducer/ load cell controls the load, while the linear strain gauge transducer detects the piston displacement and also measures the specimen’s strain.
The system is supplied with a personal computer - complete with keyboard and printer - for a remote test control and a real-time graphical/numerical visualization of the data. Moreover Servoplus can be connected to two frames with different characteristics and capacities as well as  manage up to 7 analogical inputs (4 for displacement/strain transducers and 3 for pressure transducers or load cells).
Servoplus system (code C140-10) can be only applied to Servotronic unit (C104) and the installation can be carry out by Matest technicians at our premises.

There is a great news into Matest range of portable, non-destructive concrete testing instruments: the ultrasonic pulse velocity tester (cod. C372N). It is one of the top-products that has been recently improved by our research department and that will be included into the new edition of Matest general catalogue.
This latest model has a TFT VGA colour touch screen display (640x480) for a better visualization of the data as well as the shape of the transmitting wave, transforming the instruments into a real oscilloscope. The appliance basic configuration has also been updated: 64 MB Flash memory, 64 MB Ram and a pack of rechargeable Li-Ion 11.1 V batteries for a long-lasting operation. The tester has a new ergonomic design and in addition to the previous functions now it allows to calculate the crack depth.
Above all, Matest new ultrasonic pulse velocity tester can turn into a two-in-one testing solution by combining it with Matest digital test hammer. By means of a cable provided with the equipment, the rebound values are automatically transmitted to the ultrasonic tester, then stored and processed together with the measures of the ultrasonic pulse velocity. This new testing solution allows the operator to obtain even more accurate and reliable results for the determination of the concrete compressive strength, giving information about the dynamic modulus of elasticity, the Poisson’s Ratio and the possible presence of voids, cracks and pits in a building structure. Moreover the combined test allows to correct some inaccuracies that may occur during a simple rebound hammer test and to acquire precise information about the concrete compressive strength that cannot be obtained with the only ultrasonic test.
The combined test can be carried out even if the operator has a mechanical test hammer or a model of another brand: in both cases the rebound values have to be entered into the ultrasonic data logger manually.

The digital bearing plate is an easy to use equipment developed and manufactured by Matest to guarantee:
- accurate results: load and subsidence values are read out directly by the pressure and linear displacement transducers connected to the data acquisition system;
- fast test execution;
- user friendly operations with Test Software (accessory, code S224-21) that allows the automatic data processing and the graphical display of the results.

Matest offers three different versions (100, 200 and 500 kN) that can be equipped with a wide range of accessories: loading plate, Benkelmann beam apparatus ecc.

Learn more...

Matest Bitumen and Asphalt business area has been increased with a new high technology product: the Automatic Digital Ring and Ball apparatus (code B070N).
This digital tester, entirely designed and manufactured by Matest, determines automatically the softening point of asphalts and pitches thanks to the two laser sensors that detect the balls fall and therefore the softening point.
The bath temperature is measured by an electronic system, assuring the gradient growth at 5°C./min as specified by the Standards, while the magnetic stirrer is supplied with an electronic speed device that could be adjusted from 0 to 160 rpm in order to keep an uniform temperature in the vessel during the test. Moreover, the microprocessor enables the selection of one of the following tests allowed by the Standards in force:
- test on boiled distilled water for softening point from 30 to 80°C.
- test on glycerol for softening point from 80 up to 150°C.
This new product is the result of Matest’s commitment to offer an even more functional and easy to use appliance. As a matter of fact a friendly-driven menu, available in different languages (English, French, Spanish, German and Italian), allows the control of all test phases as well as the selection of the parameters of the heater/stirrer, temperature probe, laser sensors and pre-heating phase of the plate. The setting of the clock calendar, test number, user name, start/end of the test and general notes is also possible through the control panel, composed of a membrane keyboard and a selection encoder.
Compared to the manual apparatus, the appliance is claimed to guarantee very precise and repeatable results, thanks to the inner microprocessor. In fact, the Automatic Ring and Ball apparatus has been developed for storing up to 300 tests, recording them in its permanent memory. All the results can also be downloaded on PC and printed by means of the RS 232 port.
Basically composed of top quality elements such as the ceramic-glass heating plate with automatic cut off at the end of the test cycle, the laser sensors and the electronic magnetic stirrer, the appliance is supplied with an high resolution graphic display for the setting of the control panel and the real time visualization of bath temperature, test progress and stirrer’s rmp.