Function of Materials Testing and Research Branch

Manages all testing, quality assurance, research and development, soil engineering and pavement design, and special engineering studies; provides technical and consultative services relating to materials, foundations, pavements and environment quality (air, noise, water, and auto exhaust); tests, accepts, certifies all test equipment and materials incorporated into all transportation facilities and related developments; conducts soil engineering studies based on field borings, laboratory tests and engineering analyses for the evaluation and design of pavements, structure foundations and soil stability; manages applied engineering research and development programs; conducts technical services inspections and testing functions in all aspects of transportation systems, construction, maintenance and related fields; participates in activities of national organizations engaged in research and development.

Provides clerical, janitorial, and ground maintenance support services.

Manages physical and chemical tests on materials or components used in all State transportation systems; directs and coordinates major testing at the central laboratory, district and project laboratories and all field testing; provides consultive services, data analyses and evaluation; provides technical assistance in support of functions relating to physical and chemical testing; directs special problem studies relating to basic materials used in construction of transportation systems.

Manages engineering research and development projects or studies in transportation systems, performance, safety, design, materials, construction, maintenance, structural mechanics and related disciplines; manages environmental quality programs (air, noise, water and vehicle exhaust emission) to provide data and analyses for environmental reports dealing with transportation systems, vehicles and related facilities, monitoring of their impact and assess abatement measures; manages special studies or facilities relating to testing and inspection of systems of components used in various programs, transportation modes; administers contracts and technical progress of research; provides assistance to the research committee and maintains liaison with other branches in matters relating to research and environmental quality.

Service and Development Unit

Plans, programs and conducts research on engineering related matters; evaluates engineering research reports; analyzes data, determines validity and applicability, tests, evaluates, and demonstrates to users for implementation; maintains liaison with other agencies concerning research matters.

Assists in administration of research contracts, performs highly technical specialized work in support of branch operations, and provides consultive and technical services to other branches in matters related to research activities.

Conducts programs which involve predicting, monitoring and controlling noise, air pollution, water quality, pavement skid testing, smoothness profilographs, and vehicle emission; in general, works to minimize the adverse impact of transportation systems, facilities and networks.

Provides technical report of noise, air and water quality; monitors construction activities and develops abatement procedures or improvement; provides calibration and maintenance services.

Physical Testing Unit

Conducts physical tests on varied materials such as soil, aggregates, steel, cement and concrete products, asphalt and asphaltic concrete products, structural materials and other material or components used in construction; provides technical on-site testing and inspection services; provides certified project tests reports, analyses and consultative services; maintains physical testing facilities and equipment at the central laboratory, district laboratories, project laboratories and field sites.

Chemical Testing Unit

Conducts chemical tests on materials such as cement, paint, soils, construction materials and on samples related to environmental quality monitoring (air and water); maintains physical facilities and equipment necessary to conduct these tests at the central laboratory, district laboratories, project laboratories and field sites; provides certified test reports, analyses and consultive services for all projects relating to chemical tests; provides materials certification services, materials record audit and consultive services to project managers and project engineers for federal-aid projects on every island.

Manages a program of sub-surface exploration, laboratory testing and reporting preparation for the determination of pavement structural designs cut and fill slopes, stabilization techniques and allowable foundation pressures and types of foundations for structures; directs field drilling and pile and soil instrumentation operations to gather soil design data for transportation systems; prepares specifications pertinent to the materials and construction methods used in embankments and pavements; conducts research relating to soil engineering and pavements; conducts an independent audit of the quality of construction materials and completed work; manages the ISTEA Pavement Management System.

Field Exploration Unit

Conducts sub-surface investigation work for transportation systems; supervises drilling work performed under informal contract or by the department's own forces; participates in consultant contract work by furnishing soil data; conducts record sampling and testing for making an independent spot check on the reliability of the results obtained in job control samples and tests; conducts pavement evaluation surveys, field resistivity tests for metal culverts, pile load tests, and pile and soil instrumentation work; manages the ISTEA Pavement Management System.

Laboratory and Office Engineering Unit

Conducts laboratory tests on soil and rock samples; establishes slopes and compaction factors and determines allowable bearing pressures for structures; participates in consultant contract work by furnishing all soils engineering information; prepares reports on soil engineering studies for transportation systems under design and pavement type justifications.

Manages a program of quality assurance of construction materials, such as portland cement concrete, asphaltic concrete, steel and related materials; establishes quality standards and controls for construction materials and their usage; directs research on the quality of materials such as portland cement concrete, asphalt and steel.

Bituminous and Structural Materials Unit

Manages the quality assurance program in bituminous materials, asphaltic concrete, steel and related products by inspecting, testing and evaluating the effectiveness of the materials and the methods used. Implements research findings into operating practice. Conducts studies on asphalt and steel products and construction methods to establish standards and procedures.

Concrete and Concrete Products Unit

Manages the quality assurance program in cement, portland cement concrete and concrete products by inspecting, testing and evaluating the effectiveness of the materials methods used. Implements research findings into operating practice. Conducts studies on cement, concrete, concrete products and precast piles and on construction methods to establish standards and procedures.