Providing training to VTI graduates on Construction Material Testing
ADB through its grant supported Bhutan Development Bank Ltd and other development partners in Bhutan for capacity development and strengthening of Human Resource capital during 2012 to 2014. As a part of an effort BDBL supported both government and private business entities to conduct short term training and skill development. Towards this end, APECS consultancy/ APECS Test House imparted training on construction material testing, Geotech studies including QC/QA on field tests successfully to VTI graduates and engineers.
Following were the major scope of the assignment:
• Familiarization of test apparatus and testing equipment
• Testing of construction material such as stone aggregates, sand, cement, building blocks, road pavement material.
• Basics of Concrete and bituminous mix design
• Core cutting and thickness measurement
• Soil testing including CBR, proctor compaction test
• Field test such as DCPT, field density of subgrade, GSB and WMM
• Determination field moisture by moisture meter Checking of zinc coating of GI materials and checking gauges of CGI sheet, GI wires, rebar’s etc.
Structural assessment of IPD Building
Intellectual Property Division of the Ministry of Economic Affairs is housed in an old building. The building is more than 40 years old. Owing of several major and minor earthquakes in the past the building as developed some cracks. There is also leakages in parts of the building. Therefore, the IPD decided to conduct structural integrity of the building by conducting NDT and carrying out structural assessment. The results was to be used to come up with rehabilitation /retrofitting of the building. The work was awarded to APECS who successfully carried NDT tests, structural assessment and provided with recommendation for intervention.
Following were the major scope of the assignment:
• Physical assessment of the entire building including water supply, plumbing and sanitation system.
• Conducted non-destructive tests using digital Schmidt hammer, Pulse velocity equipment, rebar locator and crack detector.
• Carried out pit digging and assessment of soil bearing capacity.
• Carried out structural analysis using existing rebar and the soil bearing capacity of the soil.
• Designed of retro-fitting components and provided recommendation for implementation.