TERMINAL REPORT

“On the Job Training on Materials Testing Technology”

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report starts with an overview and also of the introduction of the 22-day on the
job training on Materials Testing Technology. The purpose of the training is to discuss
the importance of Quality Assurance and Testing of materials such as coarse and fine
aggregates, cement and concrete products, asphalt and other construction materials.
Also discussed were the “cause and effect” if materials do not fulfill the requirements
in accordance with structural standards.

Quality assurance of materials used in every construction project is a must in order to

build strong, durable and cost effective structures. Construction materials should be
properly graded and selected to fulfill their designed functions.

II. INTRODUCTION

The “On the Job Training on Materials Testing Technology” is a 22-day training held on
November 16 to December 15, 2015 at the DPWH-CAR Regional Laboratory, Wangal,
La Trinidad, Benguet.

This training was attended by representative of every District Offices within CAR and of
the Regional Office. Qualiity Assurance topics were discussed and procedural step by
step testing of materials was presented by the personnel of DPWH-CAR Quality
Assurance and Hydrology Division and representative from the Bureau of Research and
Standards.

The key to reliable construction and infrastructure development is the building

materials used. Utilization of high quality and properly tested construction materials
leads to high quality infrastructures. Material testing is a must in the infrastructure
sector due to the fact that an incorrect assessment of a material used in any
construction project would ultimately be chaotic and harmful to people and the
environment. The quality of such materials should be assessed properly in an accepted
laboratory, using standard test methods. Construction materials should be taken to
comply with the relevant standards stated in the DPWH Blue Book.

Construction materials are used in buildings, highways, bridges, railway and other
infrastructure projects. Construction materials include aggregates, cement and
concrete products, reinforced steel, asphalt and asphalt mixtures, hollow blocks,
various types of composites etc. Proper assessment of the properties of these
materials is vital to ensure the quality and durability of the final structure that is made
to conform to the designed standards.
III. OBJECTIVES
The training is aimed to discuss and teach the participants in the importance and
procedure of materials testing of the following:

1. Sampling and Testing of Soils and Soil Aggregates

2. Sampling and Testing of Cement and Concrete Mix
3. Sampling and Testing of Asphaltic Materials and Asphalt Mix
4. Sampling and Testing of Miscellaneous Construction Materials (Reinforcing Steel
bars, Galvanized Steel Sheets, Hollow Blocks)

IV. ABSTRACTION

A. SALIENT POINTS DISCUSSED

All the Construction Materials Sampling and Testing
1. Soil and Soil Aggregates
2. Cement and Concrete Products
3. Asphaltic Materials and Asphalt Mix
4. Miscellaneous Construction Materials

B. ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE
The importance and the steps on how to conduct the testing of the following
materials:
1. Soil and Soil Aggregates
- Grading Test/Sieve Analysis – for soil classification
- Plastic Limit and Liquid Limit - for soil classification
- Abrasion Test – determine the structural strength of aggregate
- Organic Content
- Moisture Density Relation – OMC and MDD
- Field Density Test – assure adequate compaction
- Calibration of Sand Used in FDT
- California Bearing Ratio – determine the bearing capacity of soil
Coarse Aggregates:
Grading Test – particle size distribution
Specific Gravity and Absorption Test – proper design mix
Soundness – resistance of aggregates to weather
Unit Weight Determination
Fine Aggregates:
Grading Test – particle size distribution
Specific Gravity and Absorption Test – proper design mix
Soundness – resistance of aggregates to weather
Unit Weight Determination
Organic Impurities – determine the presence of organic compounds
Mortar Strength – determine the acceptability of source of F.A.
2. Cement and Concrete Products
Physical Test
- Normal Consistency – determine amount of water required for mix
- Time Setting – to check if the cement meets the specifications
- Soundness for cement – provides an index of potential delayed expansion
- Compressive Strength
- Fineness of Hydraulic Cement
- Specific Gravity – for design control of concrete mixture
Chemical Test
 - Loss on Ignition

Concrete Mix Sampling

Slump Test
Sampling of Beam (Flexural Strength Test)
Sampling of Concrete Cylinder (Compressive Strength Test)
Concrete Hollow Block
- Compression test
- Absorption test
- Moisture Content
- Specific Gravity
3. Asphaltic Materials and Asphalt Mix
Asphaltic Material
- Ductility (original and after loss) – ability of the asphalt to stretch
- Loss on Heating – measure the loss on volatile
- Penetration (original and after loss) – measure of consistency
- Flash Point – safe heating temperature
- Specific Gravity (semi-solid and liquid asphalt) – job mix
- Spot Test – check if supply of asphalt is not overheated
Asphalt Mix
- Extraction – determine amount of asphalt on mix
- Grading Test
- Immersion-compression Test – compressive strength of asphalt
- Specific Gravity – design job mix
4. Miscellaneous
- Reinforcing Steel Bars
- Variation in Mass
- Deformation
- Tensile Strength
- Elongation
- Galvanize Iron Sheet
- Zinc Coating

V. APPLICATION

A. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

Soils
In determining the quality of aggregate, the particle size distribution, specific gravity
and water absorption, soundness, impact and abrasion are important factors. Impact
or abrasion property is checked either in dry condition or in fully saturated condition.
Soundness and water absorption are directly related with durability. It is important
that the results from the soundness tests are not viewed in isolation. They should be
considered with the results from the porosity and water absorption tests and the
experience gained regarding them. There is a direct relation between water
absorption and soundness. In general strength reduces when moisture content
increases. Clay in aggregate also affects the quality of concrete produced with such
aggregate.

Cement
Chemical properties, compressive strength of mortar prisms, fineness, soundness
and setting time are important factors in testing cement. However, there could be
 batch to batch variation in properties of cement which should be checked and
controlled. The chemical properties of the cement affect the ultimate
performance in all of its applications. Many of the performance characteristics could
be assessed by means of physical tests. The compressive strength of hardened
cement is the most important of all the properties. Therefore, cement is always
tested for its compressive strength at the laboratory using standard sand and
distilled water before it is used in important works. Strength tests are not carried out
on neat cement paste because of difficulties arising from excessive shrinkage and
subsequent cracking of neat cement. Strength of cement is determined from cement
sand mortar prisms made by mixing cement with standard sand in given proportion
as specified in the standards.

Concrete mix designs are done in a standard manner in order to obtain required
strength and workability with economy. It can be observed that the use of different
cement brands give rise to appreciable strength variation even with the same water
cement ratio.

Asphalt
As explained, asphalt is a strong, versatile weather and chemical- resistant binding
material which adapts itself to a variety of uses. Asphalt binds crushed stone and
gravel (commonly known as aggregate) into firm, tough surfaces for roads, streets,
and airport run-ways. Asphalt, also known as mineral pitch, is obtained from
either natural deposits such as native asphalt or brea or as a by-product of the
petroleum industry (petroleum asphalt).

On finished asphalt mix laid, the compacted pavement shall have a thickness
tolerance of – 5 mm. Thickness in excess of the specified thickness shall not be
considered in the payment of asphalt pavement. The asphalt pavement represented
by the individual core shall not be accepted if the deficiency in the core thickness is
more than 5 mm. If the deficiency in the core thickness is more than 5 mm,
additional layer maybe permitted in order to meet the designed thickness, however,
the minimum additional asphalt overlay thickness should be dependent on the
minimum thickness capacity of asphalt pavement but it should not be less than 50
mm (2 inches) and that proper construction procedures are followed.

B. RECOMMENDATION

The training should be encouraged not only to Materials Engineers but also all the
technical key players in the infrastructure industry for us to have “Quality Assured”
projects.

JO-MAN NOVEITH T. AZARCON CHOPIN P. BACARRA

Engineer II Engineer II
Abra DEO Abra DEO