Aggregate Testing

Name: C3S, Inc.
Address: 7100 Regency Square Blvd. Suite 183, Houston, Texas, 77036, US
Telephone: (713) 432-9200
Price range: $$

LNG plant in Angola Project

Evaluation of local sources of aggregate through aggregate testing. Identified several good sources and eliminated potentially damage-prone sources.

Date: 2005 to 2010
Project Type: Project Planning & Construction Phases

Aggregate Testing - LNG plant in Angola Project

Challenge

The Angola LNG project required reliable local sources of aggregate for concrete construction. C3S, Inc was engaged to evaluate aggregate sources from across Angola and identify materials that met project requirements while eliminating sources with durability or performance concerns.

Aggregate Testing - Bechtel’s LNG plant in Angola Project

The plant infrastructure includes storage tanks for LNG, propane, butane and condensate and an LNG loading jetty able to accommodate vessels up to 315m in length.

Services Performed

C3S, Inc conducted laboratory evaluation of locally sourced aggregate samples and provided technical assessment of their suitability for concrete applications. The work included aggregate quality testing, durability evaluation, petrographic examination, and assessment of potential alkali-silica reactivity (ASR).

Testing Methods

Testing included:

ASTM C131 — Los Angeles Abrasion
ASTM C88 — Magnesium Sulfate Soundness
ASTM C142 — Clay Lumps & Friable Particles
ASTM C295 — Petrographic Examination of Aggregates
ASTM C29 — Bulk Density
ASTM C40 — Organic Impurities
ASTM C1260 — Potential ASR by Mortar Bar Method

Rocks evaluated by petrographic analysis

Figure 1-A shows large sized aggregate of Mongo samples “as received”.

Figure 1-B shows sawn sections from a large boulder of aggregate received from Angola.

Figure 2-A shows medium sized grains of Mongo sample under crossed polarized light.

Figure 2-B shows large sized grains of Mussera sample under crossed polarized light.

Findings

Five coarse limestone aggregate sources were evaluated: Taxiera Duarte, Techno Angola, Paviterra, Afritrack, and Sourte De Costa.

The Paviterra sample was eliminated following the Los Angeles Abrasion test due to inadequate resistance to degradation. Sourte De Costa was subsequently disqualified after failing the magnesium sulfate soundness requirements.

Outcome

Testing identified Taxiera Duarte, Techno Angola, and Afritrack as suitable aggregate sources for concrete applications. The investigation helped the project team select viable local materials while eliminating sources with unacceptable durability or performance characteristics.

Featured Testing:

Aggregate Testing
Petrographic Examination
ASR Evaluation
Durability Testing
ASTM Testing

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