Soil & Aggregate

The term aggregate refers to rock fragments, smaller than 6 inches, which are part of the composition of materials for the manufacturing of public work structures, civil engineering work and other building work.

Aggregates are used for :

  • The construction and maintenance of roads (about 55%);
  • The manufacture of concrete (about 25%);
  • As various fillers (about 15%);
  • As an abrasive against ice, mortar sand, ballast for railway tracks, jet sand, rubble for rock fill, filter in sewage treatment plants, etc. (about 5%).

The strength and durability of constructions are often very closely linked to the characteristics of a given aggregate used.

For example, some cement components may react with certain types of aggregates used in the concrete and may cause swelling and premature bursting of a concrete work. In all of these cases, the role of the material engineer is to ensure that the aggregates used in the concrete mixtures are suitable for its’ intended use and the type of exposure the structure is subjected to. Generally, material engineers contribute to the durability of structures hence ensuring the proper use of granular soils and materials used for construction.

Whether sampling at source or on-site, aggregates are subjected to laboratory tests and the results must comply with various standards in the industry. Certificates of compliance are prepared and submitted to suppliers for purposes of recommendation of its use in the work for which it is intended.

Established standards set the parameters for laboratory and on-site tests in order to demonstrate compliance of soils and granular materials for an intended use.

The engineer works closely with qualified technicians who perform tests then use the results to establish a technical opinion. Throughout the testing process, monitoring is performed by the engineer. The tests are performed in Groupe ABS laboratories. These laboratories are certified according to the ISO standard and are registered with the “Association des consultants et laboratoires experts (ACLE)”. They are comprised of state of the art equipment calibrated according to precise standards.

The area of quality control of aggregates and soil materials is the largest in the field of a material engineer. Individuals, private developers, quarry operators, public institutions… Any form of construction requiring concrete or concrete ground foundations may require the expertise of a material and soil engineer.

Quality control is a branch of activity where rigor is one of the most important criteria. Continuously maintaining rigor here proves to be a challenge for all companies in this sector of activity. Only a great passion for this business and its benefits to society will allow us to meet this challenge daily.

Nearly 100 million tonnes of aggregates are produced each year in Quebec which is more than 10 tons per capita.