CP Tech Center lab scores well
Equipment for the Rapid Chloride Permeability test.
Conducting a boil test.
In June 2007, Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Concrete Research Engineer Rodney Montney invited 5 concrete research labs to take part in a “round-robin” set of tests. The objective was to compare test results from different labs. The test results should be similar; however, they may be influenced by the different labs’ operations, technicians, and equipment.
The CP Tech Center’s lab results were right on the average. Lab manager Bob Steffes said, “These results show that our technician and equipment are doing good work.”
About the testing
KDOT created identical concrete samples:
- 6 4”x8” concrete cylinders with 5% silica fume and
- 6 4”x8” concrete cylinders with 7% silica fume.
Each lab was ordered to follow the exact same test standards and procedures covering 2 different tests:
- Rapid Chloride Permeability (ASTM C1202-97) and
- Volume of Permeable Voids (Boil Test) (ASTM C 642).
Results
KDOT analyzed all the labs’ results from the 2 tests.
| Test performed | Cylinders tested (3 per test) |
Range of results | Average results from all labs | CP Tech lab results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volume of Permeable Voids(%)(ASTM C 642) | 5% silica fume | 10.3 % to 8.9 % | 9.7 % | 9.7 % |
| 7% silica fume | 10.0% to 8.2% | 9.0 % | 9.2 % | |
| Rapid Chloride Ion Permeability (Coulombs) (ASTM C 1202-97) | 5% silica fume | 3258 to 1847 | 2420 | 2446 |
| 7% silica fume | 3054 to1727 | 2251 | 2288 |
These results show that the CP Tech Center lab performance is very well centered within the range of results from all the participating labs.
Congratulations to Jeremy McIntyre, CP Tech Center lab technician, and Bob Steffes, CP Tech Center lab manager.