Materials testing

GDA Materials laboratory is a modern spacious testing premises satisfying the requirements of international Codes and Standards for the testing agencies, In addition to the legal HSE requirements. The testing laboratory consists of two subsections, one for the physical testing, and the other for sensitive chemical testing.

GDA testing laboratory, in both physical and chemical subsections, is equipped with a wide range of modern equipment and testing apparatuses, covering not only the routine testing required but also a range of specialized non-routine tests.

All testing activities are carried out strictly in compliance (personnel, equipment & procedures) with the latest versions of a recognized National or International test Standards. We are mainly following either the ASTM and/or British standard depending on the projects specifications.

In addition to the laboratory sections, GDA has a designated premises for routine and special care storing of customers samples, for a various periods extending for few   months in some cases as per our Quality Management System.

The following presents the testing range covered by both physical & chemical subdivisions:

• Fresh Concrete Testing:

• Sampling
• Slump test
• Temperature measurement
• Air content
• Bleeding
• Setting time
• Preparing of cube specimens compacted manually or by vibration for compressive strength, and/or durability testing.
• Preparing Cylinders specimens for compressive strength testing and/or for durability testing.
• Preparing of beams for flexural strength test

• Hardened Concrete Testing:

• Concrete & Masonry Mix Designs
• Compressive strength using cylinder or cube specimens.
• Flexural strength test
• Modulus of Elasticity
• Brazilian test ( tensile splitting test)
• Density
• Air Voids and Water Absorption
• Water Penetration test
• Initial Surface Absorption Test (ISAT).
• Rapid Chloride Penetration Test (RCPT)
• Total sulphate content
• Total chloride content
• Water Cement Ratio
• Cement content
• Aggregate content

Cement, GGBS, FA & MS Testing:

• Chemical Composition
• Consistency
• Setting time
• Heat of hydration
• Particle density
• Soundness
• Fineness
• Compressive strength
• Pozzolanic activity Index

Aggregate Testing:

• Sieve Analysis
• Moisture content
• Silt dust & clay
• Specific gravity & water absorption
• Bulk density
• Compaction fraction
• Coefficient of uniformity
• Sand Equivalent
• Soundness
• Sell Content
• Shape analysis ( flakiness & elongation indexes)
• Organic content
• Clay lumps & friable particles
• Light weight pieces
• Drying shrinkage
• Aggregate alkali reactivity
• Crushed stone faces
• 10 % fines
• Aggregate crushing value (ACV)
• Aggregate impact value (AIV)
• Los Angeles abrasion resistance
• Acid soluble sulphates
• Acid soluble chlorides

Soil Testing:

• Particle size distribution by Sieve Analysis
• Hydrometer Analysis
• Moisture content’
• Specific gravity –particle density
• Liquid limit (LL)
• Plastic limit(PL)
• Plasticity index (PI)
• Linear Shrinkage
• Soil classification
• Drained direct shear strength
• Drained Consolidation test
• Maximum moisture density relationship by standard Proctor
• Maximum moisture density relationship by modified Proctor
• California Bearing Ratio (CBR)(Laboratory & Field)
• Field density of compacted soil layers by Sand Cone Method
• Field density of compacted soil layers by Sand Nuclear Method
• Plate bearing test
• Sulphate content
• Chloride content
• Total soluble salts in soils
• PH value
• Soil thermal resistivity ( laboratory & field)
• Soil electrical resistivity ( laboratory & field)

Rock Testing:

• Moisture content
• Unconfined compressive strength
• Modulus of Elasticity
• Petrographic analysis
• Carbonate content
• Point Load Index

Bitumen & Hot Mix Asphalt Testing:

• Hot mix asphalt MIX DESIGN
• Bitumen content by extraction
• Bitumen content by ignition
• Sieve analysis of extracted aggregates
• Marshall density
• Marshall stability & flow
• Maximum theoretical density (GMM)
• Coring in asphalt layers
• Thickness & degree of compaction of asphalt layer
• Spray rate of bitumen coats
• Bitumen sampling
• Penetration grade
• Softening point
• Specific gravity

Water Testing:

• Sulpfate content
• Chloride content
• PH value
• Hardness
• TDS
• TSS

Structural and Concrete Reinforcing Steel Testing:

• Yield, Tensile & Elongation ,
• Bend & Rebend,
• Coating thickness for epoxy coated reinforcing steel ,
• Coating flexibility for epoxy coated reinforcing steel ,
• Coating continuity for epoxy coated reinforcing steel,
• Chemical analysis including carbon equivalent,

 

Construction Materials Testing;

• Masonry blocks testing for compressive strength,
• Masonry blocks testing for water absorption strength,
• Masonry blocks testing for dimensions & density,
• Terrazzo tiles , dimensions, absorption & Flexural strength ,
• Ceramic tiles, dimensions, modulus of rupture, absorption,
• Ceramic tiles , chemical resistance,
• Paving blocks, flexural & compressive strength, absorption, abrasion resistance,
• Curbstone, dimensions, flexural & compressive strength & absorption,
• Cast iron manhole covers load test.

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