Preparation for Aramco Interview

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 SATIP - A114 - Earthwork - Site Preparation, Excavation and Backfill during
Construction

1. Sieve Analysis and Atterberg Limits Test Reports Review - SAIC-A-1001

2. Fill, Select Fill and Marl Cap Materials Receiving Inspection - SAIC-A-1002
3. Soil Protection and Control, Drainage and De-watering Inspection - SAIC-A-1003
4. Fill Placement and Compaction Inspection - SAIC-A-1004
5. Compaction Testing - SAIC-1005
6. Final Fill Inspection - SAIC-1006

SAES – A114

1. Brackish water = TDS > 10000ppm

2. Clean sand

a) Organic materials < 3% ( In soil gradation )

b) Sieve Size Percent Passing
¼ in (6.25 mm) 100
No. 10 (2.00 mm) 90 – 100
No. 200 (0.075 mm) 10 or less

3. Dune sand

Sieve Size Percent Passing

No. 16 (1.18 mm) 100
No. 200 (0.075 mm) < 10

4. Fill & Backfill materials

Fill Materials Select fill Materials (50mm) Marl cap materials

(75mm)

Max. 75mm/ One- 50 mm sieve = 100 %

Size of half lift thickness passing
materials
No. 200(0.075mm) sieve = 0-20% No. 200 = 11-35%
passing passing

No.40 sieve LL = 0-35 & PI = 0-12 LL = 0 - 35 & PI = 0 - 12

Atterberg Atterberg
Limits limits not required ( Not required when # 200 sieve % ( Not required when %
passing is <15% fines ) passing is <15% fines )

Composed of Inorganic material

Delivered fill materials shall be free from organic material, trash or other unsatisfactory materials
  Proof rolled = crossing the area repeatedly mini. 10 ton weight rubber tire or steel-wheel roller
 Top 150mm (6 inches) shall be scarified & re compacted prior to receive any fill
 Fill materials shall be placed in lifts not exceeding 200 mm / 100 mm in loose depth for hand operated compaction
 Fill & backfill adjacent to structures such as retaining walls, pits, basements not compacted with heavy equip. but
compact with hand operated compaction to a distance of 1.2m or greater
 Optimum moisture content of the compacted material shall be within +/- 3% by ASTM D1557, but as per ASTM
D4253/4254 no optimum moisture
 Compaction by water jetting/flooding only for cohesion less soil
 A clear space of 0.6 m provided on all sides of excavation & entry/exit should every 7.5m of excavation
 Install shoring when depth of excavation is more than 1.2m / banks greater than 1.5m
 Soft/compressible soils & over excavation of footing/grades should be removed & replaced with fill & compacted or
lean concrete
 Compaction on slopes = 1 V – 5 H ( 20% slope )
 For surface protection, 150 – 300 mm thickness of dune/clean sand can be used

Sieve Size Percent Passing

Max size 75 mm
No. 200 (0.075 mm) 11 – 35%

LL = 35 & PI = 12

Compaction Densities

Cohesion soil Granular soil / Cohesion less

soil
Normal loading 90% of max. modified proctor 70% of relative density
density by ASTM D1557 determined by ASTM 4253 & 4254
Heavy loading 95% of max. density by ASTM 85% of relative density by ASTM
D1557 D1557

A) Depth of test hole shall be no greater than 300mm & minimum 100 mm
B) Tests of Gradation/Density/plasticity/moisture content shall be performed for each type of fill material and include
tests as follows,

a) Sieve analysis in accordance with ASTM C136 / D422 / D1140

b) LL & PI determination in accordance with ASTM D4318
c) Modified/standard proctor in accordance with ASTM D1557 / C698

5. Types of test methods for the determination of density & moisture content of soils.

a) Sand-cone method ( ASTM D1556 )

b) Rubber balloon method ( ASTM D2167 )
c) Nuclear method ( ASTM D2922 )
d) Drive cylinder method ( ASTM D2937 )

6. Compaction Testing frequency

Location of tests Frequency of test

Under all foundations 1000 ft2 / 90 m2 of each lift
Under paving area 2000 ft2 / 180 m2 of each lift
 Road base & sub-base 2000 ft2 / 180 m2 of each lift
Backfill of trenches 50 linear ft / 15 m of each lift
General fill 5000 ft2 / 460 m2 of each lift

As a minimum, one-in-place moisture content & density shall be performed for each lift of fill

7. Sabkha

Saturated loose silty sand and possibly clay

8. Marl

Calcareous materials found in KSA, vary from clay to gravel (Also include cobble/boulder sized particles)

1. What is the difference between relative density &

2. What is the difference between compaction & consolidation?
Compaction = compression of soil with steady load or compaction for air voids
Consolidation = compression of soil with dynamic load or compaction for water voids

3.

SAES – Q001
1. Types of exposures

Exposure type Cement type Steel Description

I I Concrete members exposed to negligible sulfate
FBE (<0.01% in soil & <150 ppm in water)
i)TDS in water >1000ppm
ii) within 5km from shoreline
iii) water table is <1m from bottom of foundation
iv) Chemicals & sewage treatment plant
II V Sulfate >/= 0.1% weight of soil / 150 ppm in water
Chloride </= 0.5% weight of soil
III I + Silica fume3 In soil, water soluble sulfate = >0.1% wt. of soil
Water soluble chloride = >0.5 %
In water, sulfate = >1500ppm
Chloride= >10000ppm
IV I + Silica fume Uncoated Sulfur pits
V I Negligible sulfate & chloride contents (>0.1%)

a) Sulfate & chloride content <1500 & 500 ppm, Type I & FBE bars shall be used
b) For paving activities silica fume is exempted to use
c) In absence of geotechnical investigation, Type V exposure used
2. Concrete shall be structural or non-structural as follows

Cement content kg/m3 W/C Design Compressive

strength on 28 days
Non-Structural concrete 250 0.6 2000 psi (14 MPA)
Structural concrete 350 - 370 0.4 4000 psi (28 MPA)
Pre-cast concrete &
water retaining 370 0.6 5000 psi (35 MPA)
structures

3. Concrete Ingredients

a) Testing frequency for concrete aggregates (ASTM C33)

Coarse Fine
Test Required Aggregate Aggregate Test Frequencies
(%) (%)
Clay Lumps and Friable Particles 5.0 3.0 Monthly
Gradation and Materials Finer than No.
1.0 5.0 Weekly
200 Sieve
Row 1 & 2 combined 4.0 6.0 N/A
Water Absorption 2.5* N/A Monthly
Acid Soluble Chloride as Cl (ASTM C-
0.03 0.06 BI-Monthly
114)
Acid Soluble Sulfate as S03 (ASTM C-114
0.40 0.40 BI-Monthly
or BS-812: Part 118)
Magnesium Sulfate Soundness 25.0 25.0 BI-Monthly
Note:
(1)
Unwashed aggregate that meets the requirements of this table need not to be washed.
* This number is for the predominant size fraction of each single aggregate.

b) Acceptance criteria for mixing water

Type of Test
Maximum Minimum
Test Frequencies
TDS Weekly 500 ppm N/A
pH Value Weekly 8.0 6.0

c) Coarse aggregates/Sand shall be washed with water prior to concrete batching plant, less than 3000 ppm of
TDS
d) Specification for concrete aggregates (ASTM C33)

Grading of fine aggregates

Sieve (mm) % Passing

9.5 100
4.75 (# 4) 95 - 100
2.36 (# 8) 80 - 100
1.18 (# 16) 50 -85
600µm (# 30) 25 - 60
300µm (# 50) 5 - 30
 150µm (# 100) 0 - 10

Grading of Coarse aggregates

Siev Nominal 4.75m

37.5mm 25mm 19mm 12.5mm 9.5mm 2.36mm 1.18mm 300
e# Size(mm) m
5 25-12.5 100 90-100 20-55 0-10 0-5

56 25-9.5 100 90-100 40-85 10-40 0-15 0-5

57 25-4.75 100 95-100 25-60 0-10 0-5

6 19-9.5 100 90-100 20-55 0-15 0-5

67 19-4.75 100 90-100 20-55 0-10 0-5

7 12.5-4.75 100 90-100 40-70 0-15 0-5

8 9.5-2.36 100 85-100 10-30 0-10 0-5

89 9.5-1.18 100 90-100 20-55 5-30 0-10 0-5

9a 4.75-1.18 100 85-100 10-40 0-10 0-5

Note:
Size number 9 aggregate is defined in Terminology C-125 as a fine aggregate. It is included as a coarse aggregates when it is combined with a size number 8
material to create a size 89, which is a acoarse aggregates as defined by Terminology C-125.

4. Standard specification for ready mixed concrete (ASTM C94)

a) Discharge of the concrete shall be completed within 90 minutes or 300 revolutions whichever comes first
b) The max. temp of concrete shall at no time to exceed 32°C /90°F
c) Strength tests such as slump, air content, density, temp shall be with a frequency not than 115m3 for each
class of concrete
d) If slump falls outside the specified limit, a check test shall be made on different sample, if fails it doesn’t
meet the requirements
e) Concrete batching plants shall be calibrated not less than 3 times in a year
f) Curing for concrete specimens 23°C+/-2°C
g) Dry mix = 63% / Wet mix = 80% of truck volume
h) Rough grading under slabs/footing =+ 0 - 38mm ; Fine grading = +0 -25mm
i) Slump Tolerance

Slump Tolerance
<50 mm ±15 mm
>50 - 100 mm ±25 mm
>100 mm ±45 mm
<75 mm 0 - -40 mm
>75 mm 0 - -65 mm

5. Standard specification for Portland Cement (ASTM C150)

a) Alkali content in Type I cement = 0.6% by weight

b) Expansion in Type V cement exposure to sulfuric acid = 0.04%
c) Silica fume = 7 – 10%
d) Soluble chloride ions = 0.25%
e) Soluble sulfate ions = 4%
f) Limits of aggregates while testing
 Tests Coarse Aggregates Fine Aggregates Testing frequency
Clay lumps & Friable particles 5% 3% Monthly
Gradation materials / # 200 1% 5% Weekly
1 & 2 Combined 4% 6%
LAA 40 % N/A Monthly
Water absorption 2.5 %
Acid soluble chloride 0.03 % 0.6 %
Acid soluble sulfate 0.4 % 0.4 % Bi-monthly
Soundness 25 % 25 %
g) ABCD

6. Points to be considered during placement of concrete

(i) Minimum Concrete cover

Concrete Structures Minimum cover (mm)

Concrete not exposed to weather or not in contact with ground,
Slabs, walls, joists 25
Beams, Columns 50
Concrete slab over 50 mm sub-slab / Side walks, Walkways 50
Formed concrete exposed to earth or weather
Buildings, walkway platforms, stairs, AC pads 50
Supporting equipments 74
Concrete permanently exposed to earth, sea/raw/sewage water 75

(ii) The top of concrete shall be 150mm minimum above the finished grade
(iii) To avoid segregation concrete shall be dropped freely more than 1 m
(iv) Use of PVC schedule 80 pipe spacer is allowed and should be notched at bottom
(v) A plasticized vapor barrier 0.15 mm thickness or 50mm lean concrete, shall be placed beneath foundations,
slab on grade
(vi) All concrete surfaces exposed to earth shall be coated with coal tar or bitumen coating APCS-3/10
(vii) The maximum amount of repaired damage shall not exceed 1 % of the total surface area in 0.3m of the bar
(viii) Repaired areas shall have mini. coating thickness of 175µm (7 mils)
(ix) All the embedded items should be hot dip galvanized
(x) Construction/control/contraction joints of each panel shall not be more than 55m² / mini. shall be 6m in
paving
(xi) Expansion joints shall be used in paving adjacent to all cast-in-place concrete structures
(xii) Embedded items made of aluminum shall not be used in structural concrete unless coated to prevent
aluminum-concrete reaction
(xiii)
(xiv) Concrete pouring not to exceed to 450mm thickness
(xv) TDS in curing water = < 1000ppm
(xvi) Pedestals are supported on concrete paving of 150 mm thickness
(xvii) Minimum width for ring wall = 300mm
(xviii) Anchor Bolts
a) Minimum diameter of anchor bolt shall be 20 mm
b) Minimum clear distance from anchor bolts to edge of concrete shall be 100mm
c) Tolerance in
Elevation = ±13mm
In column = ± 6 mm
In row = ±3 mm
2mm/1m, but not > 25mm
d) Anchor bolt projection
i) Single nuts
 Thickness of grout + thickness of base plate (Height of anchor bolt chair above top of grout) + 1.5 ᶲanchor
ii) Double nuts
Thickness of grout + thickness of base plate (Height of anchor bolt chair above top of grout) + 2.5 ᶲanchor
iii) 3 nuts or 2nuts+½ᶲ

7. Foundation & Supporting Structures for Heavy Machinery

a) Heavy machinery foundation shall be independent to adjacent structures & paving slab adjacent to the
foundation shall have mini. 12mm isolation joints.
b) Spacing between heavy foundation = 2 times of width
c)

1. What is the minimum diameter for anchor bolts? 20mm

2. What is the minimum spacing for the anchor bolt from the edge of the concrete? 100mm
3. What is the reason for concrete not to be dropped freely by more than 1m? To avoid segregation
4. What is the reasons for using admixtures in concrete ( Retarder = silica fume ) in concrete?
To increase the workability of concrete
To reduce the initial setting time
5. What is the use of adding plasticizer in concrete? To increase workability & early strength
6. What is curing?
A suitable material like burlap, water proof paper placed on freshly placed concrete
7. What is the use of dowel bar?
A coated round steel bar that extends to the adjoining concrete construction, as an expansion or
contraction joint so as to transfer shear loads
8.

SAES – Q006
Asphalt Concrete paving
1. Stock pile:

a) Material shall be stockpiled as specified by the owner.

b) Stockpiles shall be placed, graded, and shaped for proper drainage.
 c) Storage or stockpiling of material shall not be permitted on a completed sub-grade.
d) Sampling should be every 5000m3

2. Sub grade / Sub base Preparation:

a) Clearing, grubbing, stripping, removal waste loose materials

b) Sub base layer shall be carried 300 – 900 mm beyond the paved road way or specified in dwg.
c) Existing sub grade materials of CBR = ≤ 5 , CBR of 15 sub base materials shall be placed to 200mm
d) After using standard compaction methods including drainage still CBR < 5, a proven soil improvement technique
have to be used, can increase CBR or reduce thickness of sub base
e) Soil improvement technique include geo textiles, geo grids, soil replacement, chemical treatment & be re-evaluated
based on the selection
f) Layer thickness shall not exceed 150mm after compaction

Base Sub-base

Max. Laboratory density by

ASTM D1557 / AASHTO 100% 95%
T180
In-place density by
ASTM D1556 / ASTM D2922

g) Optimum moisture content within 1.5%

h) Tolerance:

Sub grade +6 mm for 3 m straight edge

any deviation greater than ½ inch (12 mm) in cross section or ½ inch (12 mm) in length as
measured with a 16-foot (5-m) straightedge shall be corrected by loosening, adding, or
Base course
removing material and then reshaping and re compacting by sprinkling and rolling

The base course shall be maintained in a smooth, true-to-grade, compacted condition until it is covered by other
construction

i) Sub-grade shall be compacted to not less than 95% of the maximum dry density per (ASTM D1557, or AASHTO
T180) while within 1.5% of the optimum moisture content or to 85% of relative density determined by ASTM D4253
and ASTM D4254.

3. Specification for Prime coat & Tack coat

Types Temperature Application rate Temperature

During Application

Prime Coat
 (Curing time MC-70 50°C - 80°C
not less than 0.65 – 1.75 litres/Sq.m
24 hours) MC-250 65°C - 105°C
16°C or above

RC-250 55°C - 100°C

Tack Coat Max. 0.25 litres/Sq.m
RC-800 80°C - 125°C

Asphalt product specification

A-970 Paving asphalt – Penetration grade

A-971 Cut-back asphalt RC-250
A-972 Cut-back asphalt RC-800
A-973 Cut-back asphalt MC-70
A-974 Cut-back asphalt MC-250

Prime coat shall be applied on both sides of the road of more than 300 mm

4. Placement of Asphalt mixture

Weather 4°C or above

Asphalt temperature 139°C - 163°C
Min. thickness of compacted asphalt binder course 80 mm per layer
Min. thickness of compacted asphalt wearing course 50 mm per layer
Compaction requirements (ASTM D1559) 96% of Marshall Density
Compaction completed before temp drops to 90°C

% Passing
Sub-base material classes Base material classes
A B A B
CBR value at
min. 95%
compaction as 25 min 25 min
per
ASTM D1557

CBR value at
min. 100 min. 50 min.
100%
compaction as
per ASTM
D1557

5. Specification for crushed stone Bases & Sub-bases for Flexible pavement:
 % Passing
Sub-base Material classes Base materials classes
A B A B
Sieve size Well-graded Uniform Mixture of Uniform
gravel with w/silt mixture of gravel aggregate mixture of
and sand and or stone uniformly crushed rock
fragments w/sand graded or
silt and clay from coarse crushed
to gravel
fine
21/2 inch 100 100 100
2 inch 90 - 100 70 - 100 90 - 100
11/2 inch 55 -95 60 - 90 100
1 inch 50 - 80 42 - 77 60 - 100
3/4 inch 35 - 70 55 - 85
½ inch 25 - 60
3/8 inch 40 - 70
No.4 35 - 70 30 - 60 15 - 40 35 - 60
No.10 20 - 50 10 - 26 25 - 50
No.40 10 - 30 5 – 15 15 - 30
No.200 0 - 15 5 – 15 2-9 8 - 15

Sieve Size Percent Passing

3/8 inch (mm) <30 (use ASTM D1557)

3/8 inch ( mm) >30 (use AASHTO T180)

Physical Sub-base Material Base Material Classes

Requirements Classes
A B A B
Liquid Limit
ASTM D4318 25max. 25max.
Plasticity Index 6max. 6max.
Loss by
abrasion % ASTM 50max. 50max. 40max. 40max.
C 131
Thin and
elongated pieces,
by wt. (larger than 5%max. 5% max.
25mm, thickness
lesser than 1/5
length) ASTM
D4791
Friable
particles ASTM 0.25%max. 0.25%max.
C142
Soundness test
ASTM C88
Coarse agg. 25 25 25
25
Fine agg. 25 25 25 25

6. Hot mix asphalt concrete paving:

a) Bituminous paving mixture shall conforming to penetration grade 60 - 70

 b) Mineral aggregate shall conform to

Percentage passing
Sieve Size Asphalt Base course Asphalt Wearing course
Class A Class B Class A Class B Class C
11/2 inch 100 100
1 inch 75 - 90 100
¾ inch 65 - 80 80 - 100 100 100
½ inch 55 - 70 68 - 88 76 - 92 80 - 100 100
3/8 inch 45 - 60 60 - 80 64 - 79 80 - 100
# 4 31- 46 45 - 65 41 - 56 50 - 70 55 - 75
# 10 18 - 33 30 - 50 23 - 37 32 - 47 32 - 47
# 40 5 -18 15 -32 7 - 20 16 - 26 16 - 26
# 80 3 -13 5 -13 10 - 18 10 -18
# 200 2-9 3 - 10 3-8 4 - 10 4 - 10

c) Mineral Filler

Sieve size % passing by weight

# 30 100
# 50 95 - 100
# 200 70 - 100

When the combined grading of the CA & FA is deficient in material passing the # 200 sieve, mineral filler shall
conforming to AASHTO M17 shall be added as approved by client

d) Physical requirement:
Requirements

Sand Equivalent ASTM D2419 50 min.

Plasticity Index ASTM D4318 6 max. (Base course)
3 max. (Wearing course)
Loss by abrasion % ASTM C131 40% max.
Loss by Mgso4 for CA/FA ASTM C88 25% max.
Thin elongated particles, by weight(larger than 25mm & 5% max.
thickness lesser

e) Sampling for Asphalt concrete:

Samples for Extraction, Grading, Marshall Properties, Cores for density & thickness on daily basis

Un-compacted Asphalt Compacted Asphalt

Extraction/Grading
0 – 4000Marshall
m² properties
1 in 600 m²
0 – 500 tons 1 in 200 tons 1 in 250 tons
4000 – 20000 m² 1 in 900 m²
0 – 500 tons 1 in 250 tons 1 in 300 tons
0 – 500 tons 1 in 300 tons >20000 m²
1 in 400 tons 1 in 1200 m²

f) All laboratory scales and balances, including drying ovens, shall be calibrated and certified two times a year by a
Saudi Aramco approved agency. (6 months once)

g) Material tests & frequencies:

 Material tests Frequency
Gradation of FA/CA 1 day / 1 lot
Penetration of Asphalt binder 1 week / 1 lot
Specific gravity of aggregates 1 week
Resistance to Abrasion (LA)
Soundness, Sand Equivalent, Plasticity Index 1 Month
Flat or elongated particles by weight

h) Tolerance for:

Surface 3 mm perpendicular to the centre line of roadbase

4mm parallel

Thickness 10mm or 15% of design thickness whichever is less

i)

7. Specification for foamed asphalt stabilized bases:

Materials with PI Pretreatment

Other materials 1% of cement

>16 3% of hydrated lime
16 >10 < 1.5% of hydrated lime
Where required use 5% of fines (passing in 0.0075 mm sieve

Cement shall be OPC (Type I) or Sulfate Resistant cement (Type V) conforming to ASTM C150

1. What is the use of applying prime coat & tack coat at the time of placing asphalt concrete? To provide bonding
between the soil & asphalt layer respectively
2. What is base course?
A layer of selected material of specified thickness constructed on the sub-grade/sub-base of a pavement to
serve for distributing loads, providing drainage, or to minimize frost action
3. What is curing?
A
4.

SAES – Q010
Cement based, Non-shrink grout for structural & equipment grouting
1. Minimum compressive strength = 2000psi (13.8MPa)
2. Pre-packaged cement based grout } = 3500psi (24MPa) @ 7 days /
Compressive strength } = 5000psi (35MPa) @ 28 days
3. Mini. thickness of grout = 25 mm
4. Std. temp for mix = 23°C ± 3°C
5. 2 sets of 3 cube
6. TDS in Mixing water = 500ppm
7. TDS in washing water = 3000ppm
 Mixing of grout shall be as per manufacturer recommendations

SAES – Q011
Epoxy grout for machinery support
1. Minimum compressive strength = 14000psi (96MPa) @ 7 days
2. Width of chamfer strips = 25mm
3. Placement shall be within 50 minutes
4. Thickness of grout >100mm, use of rebar shall be followed as per manufacturer recommendation
5. Grout of 50mm radius shall be provided around the base plates

Mixing of grout shall be as per manufacturer recommendations

SAES – H003
Protective coatings for industrial concrete structures
1. Coating materials for concrete structures
a) Above ground = APCS 1B/1E
b) Buried = APCS 3/10/113A
DFT requirements shall be 2 or more coats & maximum of 300 micrometers / coat
2. Prior to start coating, remove protrusions, check strength/soundness of concrete & surface preparation including
repair
3. Curing for new concrete shall be mini. 28 days prior to start coating & shorter curing time shall be allowed if passing
in concrete moisture field test ( ASTM D4138 )
4. Cracks < 10mm wide & bug holes < 10 mm in ᶲ shall be filled with epoxy grout
5. Concrete joints shall be masked off prior coating
6. Moisture content for new concrete should be < 4% before coating application
7. Atmospheric temperature shall be > 3°C
8. Relative Humidity = 85%

ZAHEER AHMED

QC INSPECTOR CIVIL