Quality Control Procedure in Soils

and Soil Aggregate Construction

P R E PA R E D B Y:
E N G R . Y U R I M . VA L E N C I A
ENGINEER II
B U R E A U O F R E S E A R C H A N D S TA N D A R D S
Objectives
1. Recognize the significance of quality control in soils and soil
aggregate construction to ensure stability of structures and
pavements. Identify each kind of tests and its significance.
2. Understand the key components and properties of soils and soil
aggregates that require quality control measures during
construction.
3. Gain insights into the practical implementation of quality control
procedures, including sampling techniques, laboratory testing.
4. To know the standard specification of Soils and Soil Aggregates.
Pavement Composition

ITEM 201 – Base Course

ITEM 200 – Subbase Course

ITEM 104 - Embankment

ITEM 104 - Embankment
An Embankment refers to a
volume of earthen material that
is placed and compacted for the
purpose of raising the grade of a
roadway (or railway) above the
level of the existing surrounding
ground surface.
ITEM 200 – Subbase Course
Subbase Course. The layer
between the base course
and subgrade. It functions
primarily as structural support but it
can also minimize the intrusion of
fines from the subgrade into the
pavement structure and improve
drainage.
ITEM 201 – Base Course
The base course layer is positioned
between the sub-base course and
the surface layer. It receives the
loads exerted from the layers above,
distributes them and passes them to
the next later below sub-base or
subgrade.
Video Presentation (Earthworks)
Video Presentation (Subbase Course)
Sampling and Testing of Materials
Sampling and Testing
Testing means procedure or method to check the quality, performance
or reliability of construction materials prior to incorporating or utilizing in
the project.
Sample means a small part or quantity intended to show what the
whole is like.
Sampling is equally as important as testing in ensuring high-quality,
specified aggregates are being used. A sample is merely a small fraction
of the total material so it's important that the sample is truly
representative.
Minimum Testing Requirement
Materials Minimum Testing Minimum Quantity
Requirements of Materials for Each
Sample Submitted

1. Soil Aggregates 1 sample per 1500

cu.m. or fraction
thereof

a. Classification 20 kg
b. Routinary Test 50 kg
c. Moisture Density 50 kg
and CBR
Video Presentation (Field Sampling)
Soil Sampling (Laboratory Sampling)
1. By Method of Quartering 2. By the use of mechanical splitter
Soil Sampling
Time and again the need for accurate and scientific sampling had been
greatly emphasized. If samples are not truly representative, both
sampling and testing are complete waste of time as the test results
will be of no value. Laboratory testing involves much time and great
expense, therefore considerable care and judgment must be exercised in
sampling. The minimum number of samples that will furnish adequate
and trustworthy data for design should be taken.
Soil Tests
1. Moisture Content Determination
2. Sieve Analysis (Grading Test)
3. Plastic and Liquid Limit Test Soil Classification
4. Soil Classification (AASHTO Soil Classification)
5. Compaction Test (Moisture Density Relation Test)
6. Field Density Test
7. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test
8. Abrasion Test
Moisture Content
Significance:
Moisture content has an important characteristic in the soil material
where the behavior of soil is markedly influenced by the amount of
moisture it contains.
Moisture content is the ratio of the mass of water in the soil to the
mass of oven-dried soil after it has been dried to a constant mass at a
temperature of 110 plus or minus 5 degress celsius.
 Particle Size Distribution
Particle size analysis (Sieve
Analysis) is the determination of
particle size distribution in soils by
sieve.

Particle size distribution is widely

used in the classification and
identification of soils. It is an important
criteria in the classification of highway
subgrade materials.
DPWH BLUEBOOK
SPECIFICATIONS
Item 200 – Aggregate Subbase Course
“The subbase material shall conform to Table 200.1, Grading
Requirements”
DPWH BLUEBOOK
SPECIFICATIONS
Item 201 – Aggregate Subbase Course
“The base course material shall conform to Table 201.1, whichever is
called for in the Bill of Quanties”
Results Analysis
3511
3494
2891

0 3494 100
0 3494 100
0 3494 100 100 Passed
165 3329 95
360 2969 85 55 - 85 Passed
215 2754 79
319 2435 70
2314 66 40 - 75 Passed SAMPLE MEETS
121
258 2056 59 GRADING
REQUIREMENTS
342 1714 49
643 1071 31
456 615 18 0 - 12 Passed
12
603
Results Analysis
3511
3494
2891

0 3494 100
0 3494 100
0 3494 100 100 Passed
165 3329 95
360 2969 85 60 - 85 Passed
215 2754 79
319 2435 70 35 - 65 FAIL
2314 66
SAMPLE FAILS TO
121
2056 59 20 - 50 MEET GRADING
258 FAIL
REQUIREMENTS!
342 1714 49
643 1071 31 5 - 20 FAIL
456 615 18 0 - 12 FAIL
12
603
 Plastic Limit and Liquid Limit
Stated that depending on the water content, soil may appear in four states:
Solid
semi-solid (brittle, some water)
plastic (moldable)
liquid (fluid)

In each state the consistency and behavior of a soil is different and thus so
are its engineering properties.

The boundary between each state can be defined based on a change in the
soil's behavior
 ATTERBERG LIMITS
VOLUME OF SL – SHRINKAGE LIMIT
SOIL PL – PLASTIC LIMIT
LL – LIQUID LIMIT

LIQUID
STATE
PLASTIC
STATE
SEMI
SOLID
SOLID

0 wc% SL PL LL WATER
CONTENT
LIQUID LIMIT
The liquid limit (LL) is the
water content where a soil
changes from liquid to plastic
behavior
The liquid limit is expressed
as the moisture content
corresponding to 25 shocks
PLASTIC LIMIT
The plastic limit (PL) is
the water content where
soil starts to exhibit
plastic behavior
 ATTERBERG LIMITS
VOLUME OF SL – SHRINKAGE LIMIT
SOIL PL – PLASTIC LIMIT
LL – LIQUID LIMIT

LIQUID
STATE
PLASTIC
STATE
SEMI
SOLID
SOLID

SL PL LL WATER
CONTENT
PLASTICITY INDEX
DPWH BLUEBOOK
SPECIFICATIONS
Item 201 – Aggregate Base Course
“the fraction passing the No. 40 sieve shall have a LL not greater than
25 and PI not greater than 6 as determined by AASHTO T89 & T90,
respectively”.
Item 201 – Aggregate Base Course
“the fraction passing the No. 40 sieve shall have a LL not greater than
25 and PI not greater than 6 as determined by AASHTO T89 & T90,
respectively”.
End of Introduction