Page 61 - Urban Construction Project Management

36 Chapter Three
Exhibit 3-1
Testing
Testing flowchart.

Use of established
standards

Outside testing laboratory performs the
required tests

Results of testing are analyzed against
the established standards

If results are approved, work proceeds

If results indicate below standards, then
remedial work must be accomplished

Mixtures
Since mixtures are made up of a blend of materials that are typically manufactured
separately but combined to act as a composite material, testing may require additional
steps and techniques. A good example is concrete, a composite of (1) cement, (2) sand,
(3) aggregate, and (4) water mixed together to form a cohesive strong material. This
material requires checks on temperature of the mixture, the ratio of water to cement,
and the percentage of weight of all materials to confirm that the composite mix meets
the requirements of the job.

Connections

In the case of connections, tests are performed to determine the capacity of a connec-
tor to join two pieces of material together to sustain a required load. For steel beam
construction, a typical connection may be welded. These welds need to be tested for
subsurface imperfections that may reduce the holding strength of the connection.
Various methods for testing weld connections, especially for hidden problems, include
x-ray, dye penetration, and ultrasonic or magnetic particle procedures. Additionally, a
micrometer or a measuring ruler checks the thickness of the weld (as specified by the
structural calculations and shop drawing).

Assemblies

An assemblage of various materials requires testing of the entire constructed assembly
to ensure that all materials are acting in concert with one another without failure. For
example, when fully assembled a typical curtain wall includes (1) glass, (2) frame,
(3) gaskets, (4) caulking, (5) setting blocks, (6) weep holes, (7) structural supports, and
(8) anchorage. Testing is performed on the entire assembly to check for water leakage,
air infiltration, and glass and mullion failures, and to verify that it has met all design
criteria.