Materials Testing

G&D developed extensive in-house construction materials testing capabilities in response to the needs of our construction observation services clients. As a result, we have the capability to provide the materials testing services required on most public works and private sector development projects. Our team is capable of performing a wide range of field construction materials tests on 24 hours notice, or less, in the Charlotte-metro area.

Among the tests we commonly perform are field density and moisture (nuclear density gauge, sand cone, drive cylinder, modified DCP); soil bearing capacity using the DCP; concrete sampling for compressive strength; slump; entrained air; temperature, as well as asphalt density, thickness, and temperature.

Communication is the key to our approach

G&D staff possesses various specialized equipment that may be applied to meet a project's goals. For example, nuclear density gages, sand cones, drive tubes, dynamic cone penetrometers (DCP) for pavement subgrade verification, and other testing equipment. All G&D field personnel are equipped with digital cameras, laptop computers with broadband wireless internet access, and cell phones. In addition, all field personnel are provided with all necessary safety equipment as appropriate including traffic control, vests, hard hats, confined space entry equipment, etc.

In addition, our materials testing technicians are experienced in construction observation and inspection and can provide support to the owner that goes beyond construction materials testing if the need should arise.

CMU Testing Services

G&D is currently performing a construction materials testing through two contracts for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities. One contract is an open-ended services agreement that enables CMU to employ our services on any project being undertaken by CMU. The other is for construction materials testing on the Reedy Creek Outfall sewer.

So far, our team has provided services for five different project managers on dozens of different projects. All of the projects involve pipeline construction and/or rehabilitation. Services have included field density testing for backfill in paved and unpaved areas, asphalt pavement testing, and concrete testing. Services have also included preliminary subsurface investigations, such as on the Albermarle Road Water Line project, where G&D provided soil boring services and prepared a detailed geotechnical report. The report included geotechnical guidance on boring and jacking and temporary dewatering.

Kannapolis Dakota Street Culvert

The $550,000 Dakota Street Culver replacement project was conducted for the City of Kannapolis Department of Public Works and Utilities in Kannapolis, North Carolina. G&D provided construction materials testing services that included:

 

 

 

  1. Subgrade verification
  2. Compaction testing
  3. Proofroll observation
  4. Field direction on subgrade excavation and stabilization
  5. Field direction on the application of geotextiles

The Dakota Street Culvert is a twin 8'x12', 85-foot long cast in place culvert is being built to replace the corrugated metal pipe culvert that washed out in a recent storm event. This project was recently completed. Mr. Wilmer Melton, Director of Public Works and Utilities at the City of Kannapolis, is the individual with the most knowledge of our firm's performance. His phone number is 704-920-4200.

Village Park Storm Drainage Outfall and Phase 2C Improvements

The $2.0 million Village Park Storm Drainage construction project was conducted for the City of Kannapolis Department of Parks and Recreation in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The project area was about one half of entire 16-acre area of Village Park in Kannapolis. It was completed in 2007. G&D provided construction observation and materials testing services that included:

 

 

  1. Tracking quantities of materials in unit cost contract
  2. Compaction testing
  3. Pipe testing
  4. Proofroll observation
  5. Field direction on subgrade excavation and stabilization
  6. Field direction on the application of geotextiles
  7. Special inspection services for reinforced concrete structures
  8. Inspection of construction of water and sanitary sewer infrastructure replacement and relocation
  9. Monitoring of rock excavation
  10. Shop drawing review
  11. Engineering services related to the re-work of a new 84-inch storm sewer route to minimize risk of failure and bypass pumping requirements

The Village Park Storm Sewer consisted of nearly 1,600 feet of 84-inch and 200 feet of 96-inch storm sewers, with construction of park improvements essentially on top of the storm sewer. The park improvements included construction of a scaled, operable replica of a 19th century train and tracks. The drainage upgrades were needed to accommodate extensive upstream re-development related to the construction of the NC Research Campus, a $1 billion joint venture between the Dole Foods, Duke University and the UNC system. The new storm sewer was constructed between 25 and 30 feet below the existing surface grade in what is essentially an old construction debris landfill. An existing, active 54-inch corrugated metal storm sewer dating back to the 1940’s ran beneath the entire work area, including beneath the proposed new storm sewer.

The complexity of this project, the site conditions, and the expectations of the City of Kannapolis required G&D to be prepared to deal with a wide range of issues. The greatest challenge was presented by the depth of the storm sewer and the fact that the sewer was routed through an old, unregulated debris landfill. The other challenge was the need to maintain storm drainage throughout the project. The existing 54-inch storm sewer had to be filled with flowable fill for structural support because the new storm sewer ran nearly along the same alignment and less than two feet above it. G&D worked with the Contractor, the Designer, and the City to devise a plan to enable the construction of the new facilities and maintain stormwater flows. Mr. Wilmer Melton is the individual most familiar with our work on this project.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) Greek Village

The $16.0 million Greek Village development, on the campus of UNCC, included fourteen new dormitory buildings spread across sixteen campus acres. The village will eventually accommodate as many as 640 students. There were also related water, sewer, storm drainage, parking, access, and landscape construction, including retaining walls over 20 feet in height. Common outdoor spaces create a park-like setting for activities and events and serve as a centerpiece for the Village.

G&D provided construction material testing/observation and engineering support on this project. Specifically, services included tracking and calculating quantities of cut and fill; compaction testing; subgrade verification; concrete testing; proofroll observation; field direction on subgrade excavation and stabilization; field direction on the application of geotextiles; support for special inspection services for all construction; monitoring of rock excavation; and asphalt testing. G&D also provided engineering services related to the repair of an existing sanitary sewer. The sewer had not been accepted into the CMU system due to defects. G&D was hired directly by UNCC after a repair made by the contractor under the direction of the design engineer failed to meet CMU requirements. The sewer was accepted after repairs were made.

The project site was former farmland and a spoils dump that was bisected by wetlands, jurisdictional waters and multiple utility easements. G&D was not on site from the inception of the project. G&D was hired on this project after two previous firms were released from their duties due to failure to perform. G&D entered into contract with UNCC in May 2006, six months after the start of construction. The project was completed in 2008.