Kessel Engineering Group, PLLC is rapidly growing as one Western North Carolina’s leaders in the industry.
As engineering professionals we have provided construction materials testing associated with soils testing and earthwork observations, foundation evaluations, concrete and masonry testing and observation, and pavement construction testing and observation. Our engineers have over 50 years of combined experience working in Western North Carolina. We have the capability to perform the following construction materials testing services:
Soils Testing and Earthwork Observations
Construction Consulting
- Recommendations regarding specifications for placement of engineered fill.
- Settlement monitoring of engineered fill or the underlying soils.
- Recommendations for soil stabilization in areas to support buildings, pavements, and engineered fill.
- Cut and fill slope stabilization recommendations.
Construction Testing
- Observe proofrolling of the exposed soils after the topsoil is removed to locate areas which may require additional excavation or rework, and monitor excavating operations to determine when specified materials have been exposed.
- Perform laboratory tests on representative fill materials to determine soil characteristics and verify the materials will be acceptable for use as fill – this includes investigating the proposed borrow source prior to earthwork operations beginning.
- Perform field density tests to measure percent compaction on engineered fill.
- Observe retaining structure construction to verify appropriate components are being implemented per the design drawings – types of structures include boulder walls, gravity walls (i.e. gabion walls), soil nail walls, modular block walls, and geogrid reinforced slopes.
- Evaluation of in-place fill material which may include proofrolling, density testing, hand auger borings with penetration testing, and test pits.
- Recommendations regarding specifications for placement of engineered fill.
Foundation Evaluation
Construction Consulting
- Review the foundation plans and specifications as they relate to the existing soil conditions.
- Provide foundation preparation recommendations for soils not meeting minimum design requirements.
- Provide cost effective engineering solutions for existing foundations undergoing excessive settlements.
Construction Testing
- Perform hand auger with dynamic cone penetrometer testing to verify existing soil conditions within foundation excavations.
- Verify foundation excavation dimensions are in accordance with the design drawings.
- Inspect rebar to verify the appropriate size and spacing based on the specifications noted on the drawings.
- Evaluating the soil support conditions around existing foundations that have undergone excessive settlement.
- Monitor pile installation.
Concrete and Masonry Testing and Observations
Construction Consulting
- Troubleshoot distresses observed in existing concrete and masonry construction components and provide recommendations for testing and repair.
- Provide recommendations for cold weather and hot weather concreting.
Construction Testing
- Obtain samples and perform tests on plastic concrete in the field including slump, air content, unit weight and temperature. Testing can be performed on both normal weight and lightweight concrete.
- Prepare 6” x 12” concrete test cylinder specimens for compressive strength testing of the hardened concrete.
- Obtain cores of various diameters from existing concrete structures or pavements and determine compressive strength and thickness of in-place concrete.
- Prepare shotcrete panels and obtain cores to determine compressive strength of shotcrete material.
- Perform inspection of on-site prepared mortar and construction of mortar joints and size, location, and placement of structural elements.
- Obtain samples and perform tests on plastic mortar and grout in the field including slump and temperature.
- Make 3 inch x 6 inch grout prism specimens or 2 inch x 2 inch mortar cube specimens for compressive strength testing.
Pavement Construction Testing and Observations
Construction Consulting
- Recommendations regarding specifications for placement of aggregate base course material.
- Recommendations for subgrade stabilization.
- Perform asphalt mix design verifications for both Superpave and Marshall mix designs.
- Perform evaluations of existing pavements to identify areas of distress and provide recommendations for testing and repair.
Construction Testing
- Observe proofrolling of the subgrade prior to placement of base course materials.
- Perform laboratory tests on representative samples of aggregate base course materials to verify materials are in accordance with the requirements in the project specifications.
- Perform field density tests on aggregate base course to measure the percent compaction and verify stone thicknesses meet the project requirements.
- Provide NCDOT Roadway Inspector certified individuals to aid the contractor in developing roller pattern during initial stages of asphalt paving, and to perform density tests on in-place asphalt pavement to measure percent compaction. Testing can be performed by coring of the asphalt and determining the specific gravity and thickness of each specimen, or by the nuclear gauge density method.
- Perform laboratory testing on asphalt samples to determine bulk specific gravity, asphalt content, and aggregate gradation.
