Materials Sampling and Testing Flashcards
7 cards from real CTQP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Materials Sampling and Testing flashcards as text
What is the standard acceptable age range for testing concrete cylinders designated as '28-day' compressive strength specimens?
Answer: Cylinders may be tested between 26 and 30 days and still qualify as the 28-day break
AASHTO T 23 and ASTM C 39 allow a ±2 day tolerance for the 28-day break, so cylinders tested between 26 and 30 days are acceptable as the 28-day result.
When a materials test result fails to meet FDOT specification requirements, what is the required course of action?
Answer: The material represented by the failing test must be evaluated, remediated, removed, or disposed of per specification requirements
FDOT specifications require that material represented by a failing test be addressed — options typically include removal, reworking, or evaluation by an engineer with potential pay adjustment; the contractor cannot simply retest without addressing the represented material.
What does Chain of Custody documentation ensure in the materials testing process?
Answer: That the sample identity and integrity are maintained and documented from collection through final testing and reporting
Chain of Custody documents every transfer of a sample, ensuring it can be traced from the point of collection to the final test report, protecting the integrity and legal defensibility of results.
What requirements apply to nuclear density gauges used for field compaction testing on FDOT projects?
Answer: Gauges must be calibrated per the manufacturer's schedule and operated by trained, licensed personnel who comply with NRC or Agreement State regulations
Nuclear gauges contain radioactive material and are regulated; operators must hold a radiation safety license or work under a licensed program, and gauges must be regularly calibrated and logged.
When must construction materials be sampled for FDOT acceptance testing?
Answer: At the frequency and location specified in FDOT's Materials Sampling, Testing, and Reporting Guide for the applicable material
FDOT's Materials Sampling, Testing, and Reporting Guide specifies the required sampling frequency, sample size, and sampling location for each material type to ensure statistically valid acceptance decisions.
What is the primary purpose of a Project Materials File (PMF) on an FDOT construction project?
Answer: To maintain all materials documentation including test results, certifications, and source approvals for the project
The PMF is the complete materials record for the project — it must contain all materials certifications, approved product lists, test reports, and other documentation demonstrating that materials met specifications.
In FDOT's quality-based acceptance system, what is the function of a 'pay factor' applied to materials test results?
Answer: It is a multiplier applied to the pay item quantity, rewarding higher quality with a bonus and penalizing lower quality with a reduction
Pay factors incentivize quality by multiplying the payment for a lot based on the statistical quality level — material exceeding specification targets earns a bonus while material below targets results in a pay reduction.