Efforts to Improve Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Concrete in Virginia

Some efforts undertaken by the Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT) to improve the quality assurance and quality control of concrete are described. Such improvements lead to safe, cost-effective structures that require minimal maintenance and minimal inconvenience to travelers. Virginia DOT's primary effort in this regard is to develop end-result specifications for hydraulic cement concrete that include concrete parameters or characteristics that are expected to lead to satisfactory performance. End-result specifications address the certification of personnel and equipment that ensures proper equipment is used and that workers are knowledgeable and capable of conducting the tests or inspections. The concrete produced is within the authority and responsibility of the contractor or producer. Concrete is prequalified before delivery to the job site. The contactor conducts the prequalification tests on fresh and hardened concretes and performs part of the acceptance tests related to the fresh concrete. Virginia DOT is responsible for acceptance tests on hardened concrete only. Record keeping of data is required for the prequalification and during construction. Data are collected not only for future reference but also to apply necessary corrections during the project. Any discrepancies or unsatisfactory responses are immediately addressed.