Construction Materials Engineering and Testing

Construction Materials Engineering & Testing

New York State County Highway Superintendents Association

August 30, 2011

ATLANTIC TESTING LABORATORIES

Soil/AggregateConcreteMasonry


Materials Testing

Special Inspection

QA/QC Program

Quality Control-Verify materials in accordance with contract documentsTests performed in accordance with applicable standards (e.g. ASTM,ACI, AASHTO, NYSDOT)Correlation between quality materials and quality projectOptions


Shear StrengthCompressibility/ConsolidationPermeability

Soil Properties

Particle-Size Analysis of Soils (with and without hydrometer) (ASTM D422)Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard (ASTM D698) and Modified effort (ASTM D1557)Atterberg Limits (ASTM D4318):

Liquid LimitPlastic LimitPlasticity Index

Expansion Index (ASTM D4829)

Soil - Laboratory

Soil-Laboratory Compaction Values

Optimum Moisture (%)

Optimum Dry Density (pcf)

Gravel 4-8 130-150

Sand 6-13 100-135

Silt 10-18 90-130

Clay 15-30 80-130

Permeability TestingRigid Wall(ASTM D2434)Flex Wall (ASTM D5084)

Soil - Laboratory

Aggregate-Laboratory

Pre-qualification testing to identify quality aggregates for subsequent approval and production

Evaluate aggregate properties against federal, state, or private standards


Aggregate Soundness (ASTM C88, NYSDOT)

Specific gravity and absorption of aggregate (ASTM C127/128)

Resistance of coarse aggregates to freezing & thawing (NYSDOT)

Unit weight and voids in aggregate (ASTM C29)

Flat and Elongated Particles (ASTM D4791)



Aggregate Sampling (ASTM D75)

Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate In-place by:

Nuclear Method (ASTM D2922)Other: Sand Cone (ASTM D1556) and Rubber Balloon Method (ASTM D2167)

Soil - Field

Soil - Field

Field CompactionSoil Type, Material Gradation, Water Content, Lift Thickness, Compactive Effort% = Field Dry Density/Laboratory Dry DensityCompaction IssuesProblem Soils

Oversize ParticlesDegradationGap-Graded

Soil - Field

Soil Properties

Soil - Field

Soil - Field

Soil - Field

Soil - Field

Soil - Field

Soil - Field

StrengthDurabilityPermeability

Concrete Properties

Starts in the Laboratory-Develop Economical, Workable Mix to Meet Project RequirementsProportioning

Strength, Environment, Unit WeightW/C Ratio, Entrained AirAggregatesOther Admixtures

Performed Under Controlled Laboratory ConditionsCompressive Strength Based on 28-Day Curing Time

Concrete-Mix Design

Sampling Freshly Mixed ConcreteSlump of Hydraulic Cement ConcreteAir Content of Freshly Mixed ConcreteUnit Weight of Freshly Mixed ConcreteTemperature of Freshly Mixed ConcreteFabrication of compressive strength specimens

Concrete - Field

Sampling of Freshly Mixed Concrete(ASTM C172)

Representative composite sampleCollected from middle portion of batch1 cu. ft. for compressive strength specimensSampling Point

Concrete - Field

Concrete - Field

Slump of Hydraulic Cement Concrete (ASTM C143)

Measures concrete consistencyStarted within 5 min. after sample collectionNot indicative of water content or concrete strength

Concrete - Field

Self Consolidating Concrete (SCC)

ASTM C1611 - Slump FlowASTM C1621 - Passing AbilityASTM C1610 - Static

Segregation

Concrete - Field

Air Content of Freshly Mixed ConcreteASTM C231-Pressure Method

Normal and Heavy WeightASTM C173-Volumetric Method

Light WeightEntrained and entrapped airToo little air reduces freeze-thaw resistanceExcessive air reduces strength and durabilityCan be affected by concrete temperature and pumping to placement

Concrete - Field

Unit Weight of Freshly Mixed Concrete(ASTM C138)

Indicative of a change in concrete propertiesConcrete yieldImportant for light and heavy weight concrete

Concrete - Field

Temperature of Freshly Mixed Concrete(ASTM C1064)

Measured in container or formwork

Used to evaluate curing and strength development

Concrete - Field

Fabrication of Compressive StrengthSpecimens (ASTM C31)

Used for strength determinationStarted within 15 minutes of sample collectionMold sizesLaboratory vs. field cured specimens

Concrete - Field

Concrete - Field

Material finer than 75 microns (ASTM C117)Dry Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates (ASTM C136) Compressive Strength of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens (ASTM C39)

Concrete - Laboratory



Other Tests:Flexural Strength

(ASTM C78)Cement Testing

(ASTM C150)Rapid ChloridePermeability

(ASTM C1202)


Coring (ASTM C42)Rebound hammer (ASTM C805)Windsor probe (ASTM C803) Maturity method (ASTM C1074)

Concrete-In-Place Evaluation

Concrete-Coring

Concrete-Rebound Hammer

Concrete-Maturity

Concrete-Maturity

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000

Maturity (ºC-Hours)

Com

pres

sive

Str

engt

h (p

si)

Day 1Average

Day 3Average

Day 7Average

Day 14Average

Day 28Average

Average

Water Retention and Air Content Determination (ASTM C91)Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Mortars (ASTM C109)Sampling and Testing CMUs and Related Units (ASTM C140)Mortar Water Content (ASTM C140)Mortar Aggregate Ratio (ASTM C780)Compressive Strength of Molded Masonry Mortar Cylinders and Cubes (ASTM C780)Compressive Strength of Masonry Prisms (ASTM C1314)

Masonry - Laboratory



Sampling and Testing of Grout (ASTM C1019)Slump of Freshly Mixed GroutAir Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Volumetric Method Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure MethodCompressive Strength of Molded Masonry Cylinders and Cubes (ASTM C780)Fabricate mortar and grout compressive strength cubes, cylinders, or specimensCollect samples of concrete masonry units, field mixed mortar, or mortar batch materials for laboratory testing

Masonry - Field

Final Comments

Properly trained, certified, and approved testing personnel

Performed in accordance with the appropriate test procedures

Timely reporting of test results

Question & Answer

Question and Answer

What organization publishes standards for the sampling, testing, and evaluation of soil/aggregate, concrete, and masonry construction materials?

Answer: ASTM

Question and Answer

What are two of the most common laboratory tests performed on soils for use as fill in building construction?

Answer: Particle Size Analysis and Laboratory Compaction

Question and Answer

What is the most common test method for evaluating the in-place density of fill materials?

Answer: Nuclear Density

Question and Answer

What are three of the most common tests performed on fresh, plastic concrete?

Answer: Slump, Air, and Temperature

Question and Answer

True or False: Non-Destructive Test methods, such as the rebound hammer, may be used as the sole basis for the acceptance or rejection of suspect hardened concrete?

Answer: False

Question and Answer

True or False: Clay soils typically have a higher optimum dry density than gravel soils.

Answer: False

Question and Answer

True or False: Air-entraining admixtures are added to plastic concrete to provide freeze/thaw protection.

Answer: True

Answer: Individual components and Prisms

Question and Answer

What are two methods for evaluating masonry materials during construction?

The design compressive strength of concrete is based on a cure time of ______ days?

Question and Answer

Answer: 28 days

Question and Answer

True or False: An increase in the air content of concrete will increase the concrete’s compressive strength?

Answer: False

Technology

Construction Materials Engineering and Testing