Dynamic strain rate response with changing temperatures for wax-coated granular composites

Triaxial tests were conducted at varying load rates and temperatures for a wax-coated granular composite material. This material is used as a surface for Thoroughbred horse racing. The purpose of the test is to examine how the shear strength of a synthetic track responds to changing strain rates. The temperatures used correspond to the temperatures of the surfaces during operations. These same temperatures have been shown using differential scanning calorimetry to correspond to thermal transition regions for the wax used to coat the sand in these surfaces. Preliminary results show that these tracks are sensitive to both an increase in the rate of loading and the temperature. However there may be an upper strain rate limit where temperature effects diminish. At low strain rates, temperature affects the dynamic strengthening response, while at higher strain rates; the dynamic load governs the strength response.