1. Material Sampling & Handling Cameron Richardson – Vulcan Materials
Back to Basics
Material Sampling & Handling
from Pit to Project
Cameron Richardson – Vulcan Materials

2. Project Cycle and Typical Failures
- Supplier Quality Control Testing
-Submittals
-Aggregate samples for mix design
-Contractor Mix Design
-Submittal
Project Construction
Typical Failures:
- Gradation
-Sand Equivalent
-Cleanness Value (coarse)

3. Sampling from Pit to Project
“It is very difficult to ensure unbiased samples when sampling from stockpiles. This is due to segregation that occurs when material is stockpiled and coarser particles roll to the outside base of the pile. “
“For all aggregates, use a loader to develop a separate, small sampling pile composed of materials drawn from various levels and locations in the main pile. Drag off the top half of the new pile. Take a shovel full of material from several locations of the remaining half of the pile. “
Large
Medium
Small

4. Sample Tube for Stockpiles
“When sampling stockpiles of fine aggregate, remove the outer layer which may have become segregated and take the sample from the material beneath. If available, sampling tubes (with a diameter of approximately 1 in. and a minimum length of 5 ft) may be inserted into the pile at random locations to extract a minimum of 5 portions of material to form the sample.”

5. Good Material… …Gone Bad HOMOGENOUS CONSISTENT WITHIN SPEC
CONTAMINATED
DEGRADED
SEGREGATED

6. CONTAMINATION DEGRADATION SEGREGATION Any unwanted material…
Trash/Chemicals
Aggregate
Material Breakdown…
Driven on
Moved multiple times
SEGREGATION
Unnatural separation…
Stockpiling Habits
Sampling/ Splitting Techniques

7. Contamination
Degradation
Segregation

8. Financial Ramification$

9. Reference Materials AASHTO T-2 Caltrans ASTM CTM 125 AGG (Sampling)
CTM 201 (Splitting)
ASTM
Volume 4.03 D75 – 14
AASHTO T-2

10. Sampling of Bituminous Materials (Asphalts and Emulsions)
Bob Staugaard
Asphalt Pavement & Recycling Technologies, Inc.

11. Sampling of Asphalt & Emulsions
Topics of Discussion
Proper Sample Containers
Sample Locations
Proper Sampling Methods
Sample Labeling and Identifications
Test Guidelines

12. Sampling of Asphalt & Emulsions
Wear Personal Protective Equipment
These items could include but are not limited to Gloves, Safety Glasses, Face Shield and Long Sleeves.
Abide by the agency and company policies.

13. Sample Containers
Choose the correct size and type of container needed.
The sample size is normally specified in the contract; however, if it is not, the size would depend on the amount of testing required.

14. Sample Containers
Acceptable
Acceptable

15. Sample Containers
Acceptable ?
Unacceptable

16. Sample Containers
Acceptable
Unacceptable

17. Sample Containers Emulsions
If full specification testing is needed, at least ½ gallon of emulsion should be taken.
If only limited tests are required, one quart may be sufficient.

18. Sample Containers Asphalt Rubber
One gallon of Asphalt Rubber is needed for Viscosity testing at the manufacturing location. For other testing, a one quart sample is needed.

19. Sample Containers Asphalt Rubber
If the viscosity is to be performed somewhere other than the manufacturing location, then five quart samples should be taken for heating and blending at the lab.

20. Sample Location At the Manufacturing Source
Sample Valve on the Storage Tank
Circulating Line
Emulsion Mill

21. Sample Location Jobsite Distribution Truck Sample Valve on the Truck
At the Spraybar
Thief from the Top of the Truck
Valve on the Circulating Line

22. Proper Sampling Method
Sampling from a sample valve:
A minimum of 1 gallon of the material should be drawn and discarded.
A new sample container should be used when obtaining a sample for retain or testing.

23. Proper Sampling Method
Sampling from a Spraybar
Sample should be drawn from the distribution truck mid-load during operations.

24. Proper Sampling Method
Sampling by Thief
A sample container, attached to a
specialized device, is lowered into the
top of the vessel to obtain the sample.
This is repeated and the third sample
taken is used.
THIS METHOD IS NOT RECOMMENDED

25. Proper Sampling Method
DO NOT USE a dirty container to obtain a sample and then transfer into a clean container.

26. Proper Sampling Method
Containers should then be sealed
The lids to the emulsion samples should be taped, preferably using black electrician tape. The most effective way is to wrap the tape around the lid, not across the lid.

27. Sample Identification
A Sample Identification label including at least the following information should be prepared:
Product:
Project:
Sample Date:
Sample Time:
Sample Location:

28. Sample Identification
The label should be affixed to the sample container. DO NOT put the identification information on the lid of the sample container.

29. Sample Storage/Shipment
Emulsion samples should be immediately placed in an insulated container such as a styrafoam ice chest for shipment to the lab. All shipments should be made by ground transportation to reduce the possibility of the emulsion breaking during transport.

30. Test Guidelines Emulsions Per AASHTO
Testing of Emulsions should be completed within 7 days of sampling.
Testing of the residue of the emulsion should be completed within 30 days of sampling.

31. Questions?