Construction Materials Testing + Research Laboratory
Providing Advanced Testing + Forensic Capabilities For Construction Materials
Thorough testing and analysis on construction materials is sometimes needed before, during and after construction to ensure a structure’s integrity and safety. Our accredited and independent Materials Laboratory houses state-of-the-art equipment for standardized and specialty testing and applied research. The laboratory provides chemical and physical testing and petrography for aggregates, cement, mortar, concrete and other construction materials.
CEMENT + SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS
We conduct standardized and specialized testing of the chemical and physical properties of Portland cement, supplementary cementitious materials and other finely divided materials providing information concerning:
- Strength
- Soundness
- False Set
- Composition
- Time of Set
- Sulfate Resistance
- ASR Mitigation
- Absorption
- Shrinkage
- Fineness
DURABILITY + SPECIALTY
We conduct standard and specialty testing for concrete construction materials providing information concerning:
- Freeze Thaw
- Salt Scaling Resistance
- Sulfate Resistance
- Volume Stability
- ASR Resistance
- ASR Mitigation
- Chemical Resistance
- Alkali-Carbonate Reactivity
CONCRETE
Our laboratory provides standard and specialty testing of durability and volume stability properties of both fresh and hardened concrete, providing information concerning:
- Mixture Verification
- Fresh Properties
- Mechanical Properties
- Absorption
- Shrinkage and Expansion
- Service Life Prediction
- Abrasion Resistance
- Freeze-Thaw Resistance
- Deicer Scaling Resistance
- Chloride Ion Penetration
- Alkali-Silica Mitigation
- Alkali-Carbonate Mitigation
- Petrographic Examination
AGGREGATES
We perform standard and specialty testing on chemical, physical and durability properties of aggregates providing key data on:
- Absorption
- Specific Gravity
- Gradation
- Soundness
- Clay and Friable Particles
- Lightweight Particles
- Organic Impurities
- Scratch Hardness
- Flat and Elongated Particles
- Petrographic Examination
- Abrasion Resistance
- Freeze-Thaw Resistance
- Alkali-Silica Reactivity
Accreditations
American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
- Quality Management System
- Aggregate
- Concrete
- Cement
- Pozzolan
- Slag Cement
Departments of Transporation
- Illinois (IDOT): ASTM C1567 and ASTM C1293
- Massachusetts (MassDOT): AASHTO T303, ASTM C1260
and C1567
Petrographic Services
Petrographic methods combine visual analyses using stereo, petrographic and scanning electron microscopes to examine and evaluate the optical properties and microstructural characteristics of the materials
The information from a petrographic analysis is regularly used to identify causes of distress and deterioration in materials, as well as predict future performance of the materials, and can aid in the evaluation of several issues, which include, but are not limited to:
- Surface Scaling
- Delamination
- Improper Finishing or Curing Techniques
- Discoloration of Staining
- Cause of Cracking Distress
- Freeze-Thaw Deterioration
- Corrosion of Reinforcing Steel
- Aggregate Popouts
- Long Strength Results
- Cement-Aggregate Reactions
- Chemical Attack
- Mix Design Verification
- Coating Failures
- Fire-and-Heat Related Damage
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Global presence, local reach
We have more than 90 offices worldwide.