Civil Raw Materials Sampling, Testing and Review of Test Reports

This article is about Civil Raw Materials Sampling, Testing and Review of Test Reports/ Plant Calibration Certificate.

Civil Raw Materials Sampling, Testing and Review of Test Reports

1. Aggregate Materials shall be sampled in accordance with ASTM D75 by an independent testing laboratory in the presence of Contractor and Saudi Aramco Representatives.
2. Third Party Agency’s Quality Personnel assigned to the Work must be technically competent to perform their duties and shall have a recommendation for approval from Saudi Aramco to perform applicable Tests.
3. Tests performed in accordance to applicable Standards in the presence of Contractor and Saudi Aramco Representatives.
4. Test for Saudi Aramco acceptance shall be performed by a Saudi Aramco approved independent testing laboratory.
5. When tested according to ASTM C117 and ASTM C136, the combined mineral aggregate shall conform to the following grading:

   

6. The combined mineral aggregates for Base Course and Wearing Course shall not consist of soft and friable particles.
7. The combined mineral aggregates for base course and wearing course shall conform to the following Physical Requirements:

   Plasticity Index (ASTM D4318)               6 max. (Base Course)  and  3 max. (Wearing Course)
   Loss by Abrasion % (ASTM C131)           40 max.
   Thin/Elongated Pieces                               5% max.
   Soundness Using MgSO4 (ASTM C88)  25% max.
   Sand Equivalent                                          50% min.

8. When the combined grading of the coarse and fine aggregate is deficient in material passing the No. 200 sieve, Mineral Filler conforming to AASHTO M17 shall be added as approved by Saudi Aramco. Mineral filler shall conform to the following grading:

   100% passing the No. 30 Sieve;
   95-100% passing the No. 50
   And 70-100% passing the No. 200 Sieve.

9. The batch plant shall maintain a Quality Control Program which shall include the following tests at the stated frequencies:
   Penetration of Asphalt Binder                           1/week or 1 per lot
   Gradation of fine/course aggregates                1/day or  1 per lot
   Specific Gravity of Aggregates                           1/week
   Resistance to LA Abrasion                                  1/month
   Magnesium Sulfate Soundness                           1/month
   Sand Equivalent                                                     1/month
   Plasticity Index                                                        1/month
   Flat/Elongated Particles by Weight                    1/month
10. All weighing scales for mineral aggregates and bitumen shall be calibrated and certified within the 6-month period before use by one of Saudi Aramco approved calibration agencies.
11. All temperature gauges and thermometers shall be calibrated and certified two times a year by one of Saudi Aramco approved calibration agencies.