Principles and Practice of Testing in Construction

200 Pages·2006·11.484 MB·English

by  Clive Cockerton, David Doran

Principles and Practice
of Testing in Construction
Testing in Construction Series
Series editors
David K. Doran, Consultant, London and
Clive R. Cockerton, Associate, GB Geotechnics Ltd., Cambridge, UK
The growing importance of quality, durability and cost-effectiveness within
construction means that testing is central to most sectors of the industry.
Testing is necessary world-wide as part of attestation procedures and in
Europe harmonisation and compliance have become watchwords. Each
volume in this series stands independently but together will form an
invaluable library of data and practical help for anyone involved with testing;
whether relying upon the results of a test programme or working first-
hand with the materials.
This series provides a comprehensive guide, making it highly relevant
for consulting engineers and designers, civil and structural engineers,
manufacturers, contractors and testing houses on the international scene.
It will also form a useful reference for architects, chartered surveyors and
students in all these disciplines.
Other volumes in the series
Volume 2
Testing of Ceramics in Construction edited by G. Edgell
Principles and Practice
of Testing in Construction
edited by
Clive R. Cockerton
Associate, GB Geotechnics Ltd., Cambridge, UK
and
David K.Doran
Consultant, London, UK and former Chief Structural Engineer, Wimpey plc
Whittles Publishing
Typeset by
Whittles Publishing
Published by
Whittles Publishing Limited,
Dunbeath Mains Cottages,
Dunbeath,
Caithness, KW6 6EY,
Scotland, UK
www.whittlespublishing.com
© 2006 C.Cockerton & D.Doran
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, recording or otherwise
without prior permission of the publishers.
ISBN 1-870325-22-2
The publisher assumes no responsibility for any injury and/or damage to persons or property from the use or
implementation of any methods, instructions, ideas or materials contained within this book. All operations
should be undertaken in accordance with existing legislation and recognised trade practice. Whilst the
information and advice in this book is believed to be true and accurate at the time of going to press, the
author and publisher accept no legal responsibility or liability for errors or omissions that may be made.
Printed by
Contents
Foreword ix
Author biographies x
1 The development of testing in construction 1
Denis Smith
Introduction: the nature of structural design 1
Development of materials testing 2
Model testing: structural elements 9
Arch models 11
Suspension bridges 11
Girder bridges 14
Test loading of structures 19
Conclusion 24
Bibliography 24
Further reading 26
2 The philosophy of testing 27
John Manning
Introduction 27
Determination of physical and chemical properties 28
Design of test programmes 28
Materials investigation 28
Why test: advantages and disadvantages 29
Accuracy in testing 30
Compatibility of laboratories and who tests the testers? 39
The role of testing in factory production, models and buildings 40
Factory production 40
Models 42
Performance testing of buildings 46
Acceptance testing and specifications 47
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF TESTING IN CONSTRUCTION
Innovation and testing 48
Bibliography 53
3 The collection and presentation of data 55
Clive Cockerton
Introduction 55
Collection of data 55
Transmission of data 57
Information technology 57
Expert systems 58
Presentation of statistical data 58
Time dependent graph 59
Pie chart 60
Bar charts and histograms 61
Frequency distribution curves 62
Averages 62
Cumulative frequency 62
Accuracy 63
Level of accuracy 63
Statistical error 63
Rounding errors 64
Report writing 64
Types of report 64
Nature of report 65
Structure of the report 66
Language 70
Planning and preparing the report 71
Reviewing and editing 72
Report presentation 72
Materials and equipment 73
Bibliography 74
4 Laboratory planning and test equipment 75
L.W.Cheriton and J.P.Gupta
Layout and environment 75
Flexible laboratory and offices 77
Predominantly a laboratory block 78
Prestigious office and laboratory block 78
Laboratory furniture 79
Machines and equipment including calibration and maintenance 85
Physical testing equipment 85
Mortar testing 86
–vi–
CONTENTS
Paint/coatings 89
Polymers/sealants 89
Soil testing 90
Chemical testing equipment 90
Calibration and maintenance 91
Data logging 91
Site testing 92
Independent test laboratories 92
Appendix 4.1 Laboratory equipment list 93
Appendix 4.2 Testing equipment 95
Chemical testing equipment and uses 95
Physical testing equipment and use 96
Appendix 4.3 Analytical techniques 97
Appendix 4.4 Specialist equipment 99
5 Quality management 103
John Manning
Introduction 103
Management systems 105
Proformas and reports 109
Verification of testing 110
Testing and purchaser protection 112
The Construction Products Directive (CPD) 115
Bibliography 118
6 Organisations involved in standards for testing 119
David Doran
British Standards Institution (BSI) 119
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 120
European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) 120
International Union of Laboratories and Experts in
Construction Materials and Structures (RILEM) 121
ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) 121
Deutsches Institut fur Normung eV (DIN) 122
Selected list of organisations involved in testing or testing standards 122
Bibliography 125
7 Future developments 126
Clive Cockerton
Introduction 126
Quality, value for money and service life prediction 126
What has been forecast by the futurologists 127
–vii–
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF TESTING IN CONSTRUCTION
Surveying 128
Structural monitoring 129
Infrared thermography 129
Sub-surface radar 128
Ultrasonics 130
Dynamic response 130
Radiography 131
Whole building testing 131
Petrological examination 132
Bibliography 132
Appendix 1 134
A1.1 Abbreviations and acronyms 134
A1.2 The Greek alphabet 139
A1.3 Unit conversions 140
A1.4 Atomic weights 141
A1.5 Useful websites 144
A1.6 Test houses and UKAS 148
A1.7 Third party certification schemes 151
Appendix 2 Sample reports 152
Introduction 152
Acquisition survey 153
Tie search of brick walls 162
Index 175
–viii–
Foreword
This book, the first in the series, sets the scene for testing in the construction industry.
After a short introduction tracing the history of the topic, there follows a fundamen-
tal appraisal of the philosophy of testing. Subsequent chapters deal in depth with data
collection, reporting, laboratory planning, quality assurance and an explanation of
how countries deal with relevant standards and codes of practice.The book is com-
pleted with a speculative glance into the future.
This volume serves as an introduction to the many strands of testing which include
materials, element, prototype, model, full-scale, accelerated and long term testing. It is
intended to deal with monitoring and the ways in which testing can assist in assessing
design life and residual design life.
A team of experienced professionals has combined to make available a distillation
of their expert knowledge. The work, together with its companion volumes, also has
an educational value in exposing to the industry the true and vital potential of testing.
As a stand-alone volume it presents a concise appreciation of this important as-
pect of construction – as part of the series, it forms the foundation of a valuable guide
to best practice. Testing of Ceramics in Construction is available and further topics
under consideration include the testing of metals, timber, stone, concrete, plastics and
composite materials.
This series has a target audience of construction professionals, clients, manufac-
turers, students and those more intimately involved in the day-to-day operation of
testing laboratories.
Clive Cockerton and David Doran
–ix–