Quality Control and Its Significance

QUALITY CONTROL FORMULA

HQ (M + W) = (HQ + E) S
WHERE:
HQ = High Quality
M = Materials
W = Work
E = Economical
S = Structure

Quality Control is an essential part of engineering practice and its vital to the development of
better public works, highways or other infrastructures. It is necessary when one party, the
builder/contractor, does the work for another party, the owner.

The owner is the individual or company who needs for a structure but does not have the
ability to build it himself. So he hires another party to do it for him.

The other party is the contractor, also an individual or company, who builds for others.

The two enter into contract, including the plans and specifications which contain, among
others, the agreed-upon requirements and the compensation to be paid.

WHAT IS QUALITY CONTROL?

Quality is degree of excellence. It is described by such general item as: STABLE, DURABLE,
RIGID OR FLEXIBLE. Some equate it to cost, others to comfort. However, quality for different
individuals may vary since it is influenced by factors such as: ECONOMICS, AESTHETICS, SAFETY OR
PERFORMANCE LEVEL.

Quality control is checking for conformance to requirements.

It is widely and increasingly used in the construction industry.
It is instituted during the course of construction as a preventive tool, not as corrective
measure. Preventive measures are always more economical.

WHAT IS CONTROL?

Control is to regulate . It is usually used in relation to weight, population, or prices.

It is instituted when there is a need to check or regulate due to some important, compelling
reasons.

THE MODERN CONCEPT OF QUALITY CONTROL

In the past, quality control inspection in a construction project was regarded as a police action
to ensure compliance and minimize neglect of the requirements.

Recently , a new concept of quality control have emerged.

 It is a joint effort of the two parties involved and it calls for a two-fold program, namely.

1. Quality control by the contractor

2. Quality assurance by the owner.

WHAT IS ASSURANCE?

Assurance is a degree of certainty. Quality assurance is the function of the owner to verify
that the work is done in accordance with specifications. Some call it acceptance inspection.

QUALITY CONTROL IN SOIL CONSTRUCTION

Soil, like wood or steel, is a construction material. It was the first, since the first man built his
shelter of soil. Although it is the most readily available natural construction materials, it is the least
understood.

Effective quality control of soils, requires, at least, a basic knowledge of soil engineering,
especially identification, classification, engineering properties and test of soils.

SOIL IDENTIFICATION

1. Granular Soils – individual particles are visible to the naked eye, non plastic
Example: Sand and Gravel
2. Fine-grained soils – individual particles are not visible to the naked eye
Example: Clay and Silt
3. Organic Soils – dark color, fibrous structure, foul odor
Example: Peat and Muck

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES

1. Granular
a. Good load-bearing qualities
b. Drain readily
c. Not susceptible to strength or volume change
d. Comparatively incompressible due to static load
e. Susceptible to Volume Change under vibratory load, if not adequately compacted

2. Fine-grained
a. Poor load-bearing qualities
b. Hard to drain
c. Susceptible to strength or volume change due to change in water content
d. Compressible due to static load, but settlement is slow.

3. Organic
The presence of organic ,matter will adversely affect the engineering properties of either
granular or fine-grained soil, if the amount is appreciable.
SOIL TESTS

1. Classification tests , grading, liquid and plastic limit.

2. Moisture-density relation, as compaction and density tests.
3. Strength tests, as unconfined compression, tri axial compression and direct shear.
4. Permeability tests.
5. Consolidation tests.

CONCRETE :

Concrete is the mixture of fine and coarse aggregates with cement and water and thereafter
observing and implementing proper curing requirements. The two major components of concrete are
the PASTE and MINERAL AGGREGATE which is the fine and coarse. The paste would be the mixture of
cement and water. You will observe in fresh concrete, the individual particles of cement and
aggregate are suspended and separated by thin layers of water which makes the mixture plastic and
workable. The volume of aggregate is about 70% of the volume of concrete mix.

Factors affecting the strength of concrete

1. Quality of aggregate and cement

2. Quantity of mixing (water and cement) (Water-cement Ratio) – The lower the water-cement
ratio is, the higher the strength.
3. Time of mixing – Concrete batches of up to I cu.m shall be mixed at not more than one and
one-half (1 ½) minutes. Mixing time shall be increased from ½ to 1 min for every cubic meter,
but in no case shall a batch be mixed more than 5 min. For this reason, the biggest mixes as
yet, is 8 cu.m capacity.
4. Curing conditions – occasionally treated with water or with curing compound.
5. Age – It should be opened to traffic after the curing period.

Physical properties of Concrete:

1. Workability
2. Durability
3. Strength
4. Impermeability

Quality Control Measures:

In order to produce satisfactory concrete the following should be observed:

1. Selection of materials
2. Design of concrete mixture
3. Aggregate production control
4. Concrete production control
5. Control in transporting and placing
6. Control in consistency
7. Sampling and testing of mixture
8. Curing and protection
Design of Concrete Mixture

Purpose:
To determine the proportioning of the ingredients that will produce concrete of the proper
workability when fresh and desired durability and strength after it has hardened. In proportioning
concrete, we must consider the following:

1. Requirement as to placing
2. Interrelationships of cement content, water-cement ratio and gradation of aggregate
3. Required strength
4. Quality of concrete necessary to satisfy the condition of exposure.
5. Considerations of economy.

Selection of maximum size of aggregates;

Maximum size of aggregate to be used as basis in the concrete design mix computation – is
the smallest sieve size opening thru which the entire amount of aggregate is required to pass.

Trial mixes from laboratory data should be immediately done in the field and adjustments
when necessary be made to suit field conditions. These trial mixes are made part of the monthly
reports and should be reported regularly so that any under or overrun on cement can be avoided.

In estimating the required batch of weight of any concrete mixture, the following sequence of
steps is suggested:

1. Choice of slump
2. Choice of maximum size of aggregate (see Blue Book)
3. Estimate amount of mixing water (from laboratory design mix) and water content
4. Select water-cement ratio. Maximum permissible values for non-air entrained concrete.
5. Calculate cement content (from laboratory design mix)
6. Estimate quantity of fine and coarse aggregate 9from laboratory design mix)
7. Adjust for moisture content of aggregates
8. Checked calculated mixture proportions by preparing testing trial batches. Adjustments
are made , if found necessary.

Concrete Composition:

Air – 6%
Portland Cement – 11%
Gravel or Crushed Stone (Coarse Aggregate) – 41%
Sand (Fine Aggregate) – 26%
Water – 16%

Water:

If you can drink it, you can use it. In the jobsite, you may check the following:
1. SMELL – the water should not have any usual smell.
2. TASTE – the water should not taste unusual. Remember not to drink it if you doubt its
portable quality
3. CLEAR – the water should look clear and clean with little or no sediments. It is also
important that no oil is present.
Coarse Aggregate:

The best coarse aggregates are:

- Strong crushed mountain rock

- Minimal weathered material
- Fairly free of rock dust
- Nearly cubical in shape
Particle size distribution is determined by getting how much percentage of the aggregates
goes into each sieve.

If the size ranges are in an optimum proportion that they are all fit well together such that
they require minimum cement paste to fill the voids, then this gives denser and stronger concrete.

Fine Aggregates:

Crusher sand or manufactured sand (S-1) can be used if it is not too flaky and there is little
rock dust.

It shall also consist of natural sand, stone screening or other inert materials with similar
characteristics, or combinations thereof, having hard, strong and durable particles.

Use of beach sand is not allowed.

Chemical Admixtures:

Type Description Effect

A Water-Reducer The fresh concrete will require

less water to achieve the same
workability

B Set Retarder The setting time is delayed:

good for hot weather
concreting

C Accelerator The setting time and strength

development becomes faster

D Water Reducer and Set Combined A and B

Retarder

F High-Range Water Reducer Same as Type A, with much

less water is required; good for
higher strength concrete

G High-Range Water Reducer Combined Type A and B

and Set Retarder
TYPES OF PORTLAND CEMENT

Portland Cement Type I – a hydraulic cement for use in general concrete construction when special
properties specified for other type are not required.

Portland Cement Type II – a hydraulic cement for use in general concrete construction more specially
when moderate sulfate resistance or moderate heat of hydration is desired.

Portland Cement Type III – a hydraulic cement for use in general concrete construction when high
early strength is desired.

Portland Cement Type IV – a hydraulic cement for use in general concrete construction when low heat
of hydration is desired.

Portland Cement Type V – a hydraulic cement for use in general concrete construction when high
sulfate resistance is desired.

KINDS OF HYDRAULIC CEMENT

Portland Cement – a hydraulic cement produced by pulverizing cement clinker and gypsum (Calcium
Sulfate).

Blended cement – a hydraulic cement consisting of two or more inorganic constituents (at least one of
which is not Portland Cement or Portland Cement Clinker) which separately or
in combination contribute to the strength gaining properties of the cement.

Masonry Cement – a hydraulic cement manufactured for NON-STRUCTURAL applications such as in

mortars for masonry construction or in plasters, or both. Masonry cement is
composed of clinker, gypsum, plasticizing materials and other performance-
enhancing addition(s).

TYPES OF PORTLAND-POZZOLAN CEMENT

Type I (PM) – a hydraulic cement consisting of an intimate and uniform blend of Portland cement or
Portland blast-furnace slag cement and fine pozzolan used in general concrete construction where the
special characteristics attributable to the pozzolan will vary based on quantities contained within the
blended cement.

Type IP – a hydraulic cement consisting of an intimate and uniform blend of Portland cement or
Portland blast-furnace slag cement and fine pozzolan used in general concrete construction when
moderate sulfate resistance and moderate heat of hydration are desired.

Type P – a hydraulic cement consisting of an intimate and uniform blend of Portland cement or
Portland blast-furnace slag cement and fine pozzolan used in general concrete construction not
requiring high early strength and when high sulfate resistant and low heat of hydration are desired.

SETTING OF CEMENT

The condition by which the cement paste, mortar or concrete mix starts to lose its plasticity
and gain a certain degree of rigidity.
HARDENING OF CEMENT

The condition by which the mortar or the concrete starts to develop and gain its strength.

IMPORTANCE OF CEMENT TESTING

- Hydraulic cement are manufactured products that find their principal uses in concrete and
related construction materials
- When cement and water mixed, they undergo various chemical reactions that gradually
change the mixture from a plastic (or fluid), which can be molded or cast into a rigid solid,
capable of bearing substantial compressive loads.
- Thus cement and its reactions with water are largely responsible for most of the key
aspects of concrete.
- The difficulty of understanding it can only be lessened by ascertaining fully the chemical
compositions and all its physical properties.
-The quantity of testing has a direct bearing on the reliability of such determinations,
specially on quality control, and is therefore a key element in the construction
process.
- Testing or characterizing cement is important because we want to ensure that the cement
we bought will serve its purpose or will do its work for which it was produced.
- If not properly characterized, the health and safety of the consumers and the general
public is jeopardized.
- Since Portland and Blended cements are classified as a product under mandatory
certification, under the Philippine National Standard, ascertaining or characterizing them
becomes mandatory.

COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
- Strength is the property of cement that is probably the most important to engineers, both
as general indicator of concrete quality and to assure that the concrete will perform as
intended during design of the structure.
- It also provides an excellent indication of the overall quality of hydrated cement.
- The strength of cement developed either when tested as a mortar or a concrete is
dependent on the following:
a. Grading of the sand and aggregate
b. The proportion of water used
c. The degree of mixing
d. The temperature and humidity of the atmosphere in which it is conducted
e. The method by which the material is placed in the molds and the specimen made
f. The method of testing
g. The age at which the tests are carried out

For testing purposes it is necessary to define all these conditions, and in all standards
specifications this is done as closely as possible.

Test Method Used: ASTM C109/109M – Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of
Hydraulic cement Mortars
QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM

Prepared for every project after the contract was awarded to the contractor following the
schedule of minimum test requirements.

Materials Quality Control Requirements: (Quality Test)

Cement
For every 2,000 bags or fraction thereof: Q–1

F.A
For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof: Q–1

C.A
For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof: Q–1

Reinforcing Steel Bars

For every 10,000 kgs or fraction thereof: Q – 1/size

Curing Compound
For every shipment : Q–1

Asphalt Sealant
For every shipment: Q–1

RCPC
For every 50 pieces or fraction thereof: Q-1
(Strength, absorption and dimension)

CHB
For every 10,000 pieces/size or fraction thereof: Q–1

Paint
One 20 liters can for every 100 cans or fraction thereof: Q–1

Gabion/Matress/Filter Fabric
For every shipment : Q–1

Item 200 – Agg. Sub base Course

For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof: Abrasion – 1
For every 2,500 cu.m or fraction thereof: CBR – 1

Item 201 – Agg. Base Course

For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof: Q–1
For every 2,500 cu.m or fraction thereof: CBR – 1

Item 612 – Thermoplastic Paint (White and yellow)

For every 100 bags or fraction thereof: Q–1
Minimum Testing Requirements; (Commonly use materials)

Item 103 (Structure Excavation) and Item 104 (Embankment)

For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof
1 – G, Grading Test
1 – P, Plasticity Test (LL, P.I, PL)
1 – C, Compaction Test

For each 500m of each layer of compacted fill or fraction thereof at least one group of three
in- situ density tests. The layer shall be placed not exceeding 200mm in loose measurement or based
on the result of compaction trials.

Quantity
FDT = ________ X 3
500 (0.20)

Item 200 (Agg. Sub Base Course)

For every 300 cu.m or fraction thereof
1 – G, Grading Test
1 – P, Plasticity Test (LL, P.I, PL)

For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof

1 – C, Compaction Test
1 – Abr, Abrasion Test

For each 500m of each layer of compacted fill or fraction thereof at least one group of three
in- situ density tests. The layer shall be placed not exceeding 150mm in loose measurement or based
on the result of compaction trials.

Quantity
FDT = ________ X 3
500 (0.15)

For every 2,500 cu.m or fraction thereof

1 – CBR, California Bearing Ratio Test

Item 201 (Agg. Base Course)

For every 300 cu.m or fraction thereof
1 – G, Grading Test
1 – P, Plasticity Test (LL, P.I, PL)

For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof

1 – C, Compaction Test
1 – Q, Quality Test

For each 500m of each layer of compacted fill or fraction thereof at least one group of three
in- situ density tests. The layer shall be placed not exceeding 150mm in loose measurement or based
on the result of compaction trials.

Quantity
FDT = ________ X 3
500 (0.15)
 For every 2,500 cu.m or fraction thereof
1 – CBR, California Bearing Ratio Test

Fine and Coarse Aggregate

For every 75 cu.m or fraction thereof:

1 – G, Grading Test

For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof:

1 – Q, Quality Test

ROCKS
For every 1,500 cu.m or fraction thereof:
1 – Sp.gr, Specific Gravity
1 – I.R, Inspection Report

Item 405 (Structural Concrete)

For every 75 cu.m of concrete or fraction thereof for each pouring day:
# - 1, Cylinder samples consisting of three (3) pieces to be tested for Compressive Strength
Tests

Item 311 (PCCP)

For every 75 cu.m of concrete or fraction thereof for each pouring day:
## - 1, Beam samples consisting of three (3) pieces to be tested for Flexural Strength Test

Item 500 (RCPC)

For every 50 pieces or fraction thereof: Q-1

(Strength, absorption and dimension)

For every 25 pieces or fraction thereof:

1 – I.R, Inspection report

11-LPC/mie
09-12-11