Construction Materials Testing

Construction materials testing (CMT) and special inspections (SI) are important activities in the construction of roadways, buildings, and other structures. These tests and inspections can reveal defects and quality issues in construction materials or workmanship.

From design to delivery of your construction project, American Engineering Testing (AET) is your trusted partner for construction material testing, special inspections, and quality assurance/quality control services.

Our highly trained technicians, engineers, and geologists assist with project specification conformance keeping your project safe, on schedule, and within budget.

AET laboratories in Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Wausau, Sheridan, Fargo, Sioux Falls, and Williston are accredited by  the AASHTO Accreditation Program .  Our offices in Saint Paul, Rochester, Duluth, Fargo, and Rapid City also carry a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) validation. Our staff is certified by AWS, ACI, ASNT, ICC, and NICET.

Construction materials testing and inspection with cost-effective solutions

Our experience across thousands of projects, combined with our diverse range of internal resources, mean that our construction services professionals are able to test, troubleshoot, and guide each client throughout all phases of their construction project.

Solving problems before they happen is a strength of AET. We work with owners, contractors, and engineers to provide practical solutions — resulting in well-built projects that function as intended for the end users.

AET helps you reduce risk and we put our reputation on the line every day with each project’s result.

Construction Materials Testing Overview

Aggregate Testing

• Sieve analysis
• Deleterious materials (Mn/DOT and ASTM)
• Specific gravity and absorption
• Abrasion – Los Angeles Rattler
• Soundness
• Unit weight
• Insoluble residue
• Crushing

Asphalt Testing

• Extraction/gradation analysis
• Marshall properties
• Rice specific gravity
• Field process control testing
• Thickness and in-place density by core removal
• Mix design and verification

Concrete Testing

• Plastic concrete testing (including slump, air, spread, unit weight, and temperature)
• Aggregate gradations (both coarse and fine aggregates)
• Casting test specimens for unit weight and strength testing (both compressive and flexural)
• Concrete shrinkage testing
• Mix design and verification

Soil Testing

• Nuclear and sand cone
• Moisture/density
• Moisture/density/relation of soil (Proctor)
• Sieve analysis
• Topsoil analysis
• Monitoring of engineered fill placement

International Building Code (IBC) Chapter 17 Special Inspections

• Compressive strength testing of hardened concrete
• Deep foundation testing (rammed aggregate piers, driven pile, helical pile, auger cast pile, drilled piers/caissons, and rigid inclusions)
• Double ring infiltrometer testing
• Excavation observations
• Fireproofing and fire stopping inspections
• Floor flatness testing
• Masonry observations and product testing
• Micropile testing
• Moisture migration monitoring
• Post tensioned reinforcing inspection and testing
• Reinforced concrete observation
• Sound monitoring
• Stormwater conditions
• Structural steel inspections including bolted and welded connections
• Vibration monitoring

In addition to the basic Special Inspections we can provide:

• EIFS Inspections
• Wood construction
• Subgrade proof rolling
• Anchor bolt tensioning
• Tie back and retention system observations and testing 

Construction observation for project specification conformance

Whether you need observations of soil excavations, reinforcing steel, concrete, masonry placement, or structural steel placement and their connections, AET is the firm to assist you in project specification conformance throughout the design and construction phases of your project.

We can provide experienced engineers and technicians to help with most construction-related testing/inspections activities. We strive to mobilize staff within a 1-2 days’ notice.

AET also offers in-house independent laboratory expertise in chemistry, petrography, asphalt, soils, and cement/concrete to support your projects.

Efficient Data Reporting

AET teams across the company use cloud-based systems to prepare, review, and manage data from our construction tests and observations and electronically distribute clear and concise reports to our clients.

These systems include “Spectra QEST”, a Laboratory Information Management System, and the “Construction Hive”, which provides a platform for field and lab technicians to enter test data and observations at the site, along with supporting documents and photos, and then upload them to secure cloud storage. Use of these two systems increase efficiency and help maintain quality and consistency in data reporting across all AET offices.