Constructing Quality Concrete

Pavements, Quality
Control/Quality Assurance

Quality Control/Quality Assurance

The process of constructing quality concrete

pavements has many components:
Reasonable design and specifications.
A well executed QC/QA program for all important
parameters.
High quality materials and uniform production/delivery.
Quality construction methods.

Quality Assurance (QA)

QA typically involves testing by the agency or its

representative to determine compliance with
specifications
The most frequently used QA criteria for paving
jobs include:
ƒ Slab thickness
ƒ Concrete strength
ƒ Entrained air content
ƒ Ride quality

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Quality Control (QC)

QC generally refers to testing by the contractor

for the purpose of process control and to ensure
meeting or exceeding specifications
A comprehensive QC program is much more
involved than QA because all aspects of the
project must be proactively monitored
(materials, batching, placement, etc.)

Qualifications

QC/QA personnel must be adequately trained

(and certified in a number of states)
The testing facilities must be certified by
AASHTO, ASTM, or other qualifying
organizations
Repeatability and reproducibility of results are
critical for both QC and QA functions

Basis for Testing

Random testing assumes that the results are

normally distributed
The mean and standard deviation of test results
are used to determine if the samples are within
specified limits
Variability is due to the operator (and equipment),
the test procedure, and the material being tested

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Precision and Bias

Established test procedures (ASTM, AASHTO)

have accounted for test variability through
precision and bias statements
All physical tests have built in variability that must
be accounted for in some manner
The following slide illustrates the problem in
determining a “right answer”

Precision and Bias (cont.)

Record Keeping

Keeping accurate records is mandatory under

QC/QA specifications and is highly desirable for
any project
Information must be clearly recorded in a logical
and systematic manner
All pertinent information should be entered as it
is received to avoid confusion later

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Quality Control Charts

Quality control charts (QCC) are statistically

based and used primarily for process control
The graphical format of QCC permit a simple
and effective means to determine when a
specific process is trending out of limits
An example of standard tabular records and the
corresponding QCC is shown in the following
slide

Statistical Process Control

Concrete Batching QC

Uniformity between concrete batches in critical

in producing a smooth and long-lasting
pavement
The following parameters are routinely checked
during batching:
ƒ Aggregate moisture
ƒ Water content
ƒ Water/cementitious materials ratio
Plant calibration and continuous monitoring are
required

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ASTM Batching Tolerances

Construction Operations QC

Construction operations require many varied

types of QC measures including the following:
• Concrete temperature at time of placement
• Entrained air content
• Consolidation (internal vibration)
• Dowel bar placement
• Potential for many others depending on
specification requirements

Test Methods for QC/QA

Established testing procedures are generally

balloted and approved by ASTM, AASHTO, or both
Recently developed test procedures may not yet be
approved but can still provide much needed
information (e.g., AVA)
Tests applicable to paving projects :
ƒ Materials and mix design
ƒ Preconstruction verification
ƒ Construction QC

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Test Methods

The test methods included in this presentation do not

represent all available tests.
This information is provided for guidance only; the actual
AASHTO or ASTM specification should be consulted
when performing a test.
The ultimate goal is to assess materials or process
variability.

Aggregate Sampling

ASTM D 75 (AASHTO T 2)
Practice for Sampling of Aggregates

ASTM C 702 (AASHTO T 248)

Practice for Reducing Samples to Testing
Size

Aggregate Grading

ASTM C 136 or
AASHTO T 27
Sieve Analysis of Fine
and Coarse Aggregates

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Moisture Content

ASTM C 566 (AASHTO T 255)

Total Evaporable
Moisture Content of
Aggregate by Drying

Laboratory and Field Tests for

Freshly Mixed Concrete
Sampling
Consistency
Temperature
Air content
Density
Preparation of strength
specimen
Setting Time

Sampling Fresh Concrete

ASTM C 172 (AASHTO T 141)

Sampling Freshly Mixed Concrete
Requirements:
Sample size ≥ 1 ft3
Less than 15 min between first
and last portion of sample
Sample should not be taken from
first or last portion of batch
discharge

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Slump Test

Frequency of Testing — Slump

First batch of concrete each day

Whenever the consistency of

concrete appears to vary

Whenever strength-test
cylinders are made at jobsite

Temperature Measurement

ASTM C 1064
(AASHTO T 309)
Temperature of
Freshly Mixed
Portland Cement
Concrete

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 Density (Unit Weight) and Yield

ASTM C 138
(AASHTO T 121)
Density (Unit Weight), Yield, and Air
Content (Gravimetric) of Concrete

ASTM C 1040
(AASHTO T 271)
Density of Unhardened and Hardened
Concrete in Place By Nuclear Methods

Air Content

Pressure method
ASTM C 231 (AASHTO
T 152)
Volumetric method
ASTM C 173 (AASHTO
T 196)
Gravimetric method
ASTM C 138 (AASHTO
T 121)
Air indicator method
AASHTO T 199

Frequency of Testing — Air Content

Made often enough at point

of delivery to ensure proper
air content.
Whenever strength-test
cylinders are made at jobsite
Record of concrete
temperature should be kept

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Testing Hardened Concrete

Compressive strength
ASTM C 39 (AASHTO T 22)
Flexural strength
ASTM C 78 and C 293 (AASHTO T 97 and T 177)
Tensile strength
ASTM C 496 (AASHTO T 198)
Air content
ASTM C 457
Density, absorption and voids
ASTM C 642
Portland cement content
ASTM C 1084 (AASHTO T 178)

Testing Hardened Concrete (cont.)

SCM and organic admixture content

Chloride content
Petrographic analysis
ASTM C 856
Length Change—drying shrinkage
ASTM C 157 (AASHTO T 160)
Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson’s Ratio
ASTM C 469
PH testing methods
Permeability
Moisture content

Flexural, Compressive Strength

Flexural or compressive strength of concrete is

one of the most common tests performed
It is usually a combination of field preparation and
laboratory (or mobile laboratory) testing
Although the test is relatively simple, variability in
results can often be attributed to slight variations
in procedure

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Frequency of Testing — Strength

ACI 318 and ASTM C 94 require

that strength tests be taken —
of each class of concrete placed each
day not less than once a day
nor less than once for each 150 yd3

Average strength of two 28-day test

cylinders is required

Preparation of Strength Specimens

Field-molded specimen
ASTM C 31 (AASHTO T 23)
Laboratory molded specimen
ASTM C 192
(AASHTO T 126)

Time Limit:
Start molding
≤ 15 min after
sampling

Curing Test Specimens

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Testing Compressive Strength

Evaluation of Compression Test

Results From Cylinders

Compressive strength considered

satisfactory if —
The average of all sets of three
consecutive strength tests equal to or
exceed ƒc′
No individual strength test (average of 2-
cylinders) is more than 500 psi below
the specified strength

If results do not meet criteria

Strength evaluation by drilled cores

Evaluation of Compressive Strength of

Cores

Concrete represented by the cores are

considered structurally adequate if —
Ave. strength of 3-cores is at
least 85% of ƒc′
No single core less than 75% of
ƒc′

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Testing Flexural Strength

Compressive Vs. Flexural Strength

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