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Geotechnical Services / Materials Testing Services

Materials Testing Services

Before you build, you need to have confidence in the site and the quality of the materials. PRI Engineering’s comprehensive materials testing and inspection services help our clients manage risk to meet project specifications, construction standards, timelines, and available budget.

Our certified technicians and engineers draw upon decades of on-site and technical experience in local areas to support the success of your project. PRI Engineering evaluates and determines the quality of the materials in the field or in our CCIL-certified laboratory through sampling and testing your soil, aggregate, rocks, asphalt, and concrete. You gain deeper insight into the composition and performance of your materials in accordance with published standards or site-specific requirements.

On-site material collection of soil, aggregate, and concrete for quality control/assurance purposes
On-site compaction testing
Laboratory material testing
Independent third-party inspection

Contact

Roxy Jilesen
Operations Manager
T: (705) 702-3921
E: roxy.jilesen@priengineering.com

Resources

CASE STUDIES

Field Material Collection

Using PRI Engineering for in-the-field sampling and testing on-site or in our certified laboratory provides contextual information to optimize the testing program and minimize costs. We also store your samples according to your needs and track every sample’s chain of custody.

Soil Sampling

Drilling and disturbed sampling
Coring and core sampling
Test pitting and block sampling
Shelby tube sampling
Osterberg tube sampling
Continuous thin-wall tube sampling

Rocks Field Sampling

Core sampling (HQ, NQ, and PQ)
Work with qualified technicians

Asphalt Field Sampling

Sampling for subsequent laboratory testing

Concrete Sampling

Fresh Concrete Sampling

Air testing of concrete
Slump testing of fresh concrete
Temperature testing of fresh concrete
Casting cylindrical specimens for laboratory testing

Hardened Concrete Sampling

Core sampling of existing structures
Quality assessment of existing concrete in-situ testing and visual review

Geotechnical Field Testing and Analysis

PRI Engineering applies the best practices in geotechnical field testing to design a program specific to your site and construction. Our local experience partnered with over 100 years of combined engineering experience allows us to identify the design and testing constraints to optimize your on-site testing program.

Soils Field Testing

In-situ compaction testing using nuclear densometer methods
Dynamic probe testing to determine relative density of non-cohesive materials and consistency of cohesive materials

Rock Field Testing

Review of bedrock materials per the ISRM classification system to determine engineering properties
Tests include: point load test, deformability testing, in-situ stress test, water content tests, density tests, porosity tests, and water pressure test for permeability

Concrete Field Testing

Air testing of concrete
Slump testing of fresh concrete
Temperature testing of fresh concrete
Casting cylindrical specimens for laboratory testing

Asphalt Field Testing

Nuclear field density determination
Asphalt coring and core sampling

Geotechnical Laboratory Testing

PRI Engineering’s comprehensive geotechnical laboratory testing evaluates the performance and composition of your materials to meet quality standards. Our CCIL-certified laboratory tests soils, concrete, and aggregate for particle size, moisture content, particle shape, and more. This geotechnical laboratory testing helps you determine the condition of your construction site and building materials so that you can build a safe and lasting structure based on PRI Engineering’s recommendations.

Soils Laboratory Testing

Natural Moisture Content of Soils
Particle Size Analysis utilizing Sieve and Hydrometer methods
Atterberg Limits Test for determining liquid limit and plasticity testing
Determination of the standard or modified Proctor maximum dry density (SPMDD or MPMDD)

Concrete Laboratory Testing

Compression testing

Soil and Asphalt Compaction Testing

Geotechnical compaction testing, including soil and asphalt compaction testing, helps ensure you build your roads, parking lots, and other construction projects on a solid foundation. PRI Engineering uses advanced equipment, such as nuclear densometers, to determine your material’s compaction on-site. We return core samples to our state-of-the-art laboratory for more comprehensive geotechnical compaction testing.

Soils Compaction Testing

In-situ compaction testing using nuclear densometer methods
Dynamic probe testing to determine relative density of non-cohesive materials and consistency of cohesive materials

Asphalt Compaction Testing

In-situ compaction testing using nuclear densometer methods
Asphalt core sampling for subsequent lab testing

Materials Testing Articles

December 30, 2022 in Articles, Canada, Case Studies, Laboratory Testing, Material Testing

Skating on Flat Ice: Why Concrete Testing is Important for Ice Rinks (and Hockey)

Concrete Testing for Ice-Rinks: Overview When watching hockey games or skating on indoor ice, we are not typically thinking about the quality of concrete beneath the surface of the ice.…

March 25, 2021 in Articles, Civil Geotechnical, Construction Inspection, Geotechnical Engineering, Material Testing, Technology

How to Streamline Your Reporting for On-Site Geotechnical Testing and Sampling

We retooled our reporting in the field using technology we already frequently use to make it faster and more reliable. In industries such as engineering, where tradition rules and change…

February 24, 2021 in Canada, Construction Inspection, Laboratory Testing, Material Testing, Technology

Engineers Return Geotechnical Laboratory to Small Town Ontario

Professional service providers leave city to support local community. Since 2020, Ontario is experiencing a reverse "brain drain," with professionals leaving the big city to live and work in small…

February 23, 2021 in Canada, Geotechnical Engineering, Laboratory Testing, Material Testing, Press Releases

PRI Engineering Fully Certifies Geotechnical Services Laboratory in the Kawartha Lakes

Canadian Council of Independent Laboratories (CCIL) has fully certified PRI’s laboratory for concrete, aggregate, and soil testing. PRI Engineering announced today the full certification of its advanced laboratory for materials…

Common Questions

Many companies have questions about material testing and its benefits. We answer some common material testing questions below, and if you have any more questions, contact us. We are happy to help you learn how material testing can help your next project.

What is material testing in engineering?

Material testing for civil engineering involves testing materials such as soil, concrete, and aggregate for public works projects such as roadways and other construction projects. This material testing helps civil engineers gain a better understanding of site materials and building materials. They can then make decisions based on this information, such as adjusting building materials to suit the project’s needs or adjusting the project to complement site properties. Without this material testing, civil engineers would be missing critical information they need to make their recommendations.

What is material testing in construction?

Companies request material testing before, during, and after construction. Testing materials such as soil, concrete, and aggregate helps ensure construction companies are aware of the properties of their raw materials. They can then adjust the materials, or their plans, accordingly. It also helps ensure construction companies build with appropriate materials, such as concrete with the desired strength, and it helps ensure the finished product is safe. When companies request material testing for construction, they become more aware of what they are building on and building with.

How long is a geotechnical report valid?

Often, a geotechnical report can remain valid for decades, assuming a trustworthy and reputable materials testing company, such as PRI Engineering, prepares the report. The geotechnical report may become invalid if the site experiences any significant changes, such as natural disturbances, the addition of fill, or major construction. The geotechnical report’s recommendations may also become invalid when code, building standards, or the project scope change. Of course, when in doubt, the safest choice is to prepare a new geotechnical report.

Request a Free Consultation

Request a free consultation about foundation construction inspections from PRI’s experienced engineers. Fill out the short form below and we’ll get back to you within one to two business days.