Job-Task Analysis (JTA) for ACI Aggregate Testing Technician—Level 1 Certification

HOW TO USE THIS JTA:

On the written examination, the Candidate must:
• Understand the following general concepts, which may not have specified values, procedures, or
measurements; and
• Know the following specific procedures or values; performance of these items may also be assessed
on the performance examination.
On the performance examination:
• Perform—or describe verbally, where allowed—the following tasks or steps, which are part of the
specified procedure; knowledge of these items may also be assessed on the written examination.

RESOURCES:
AASHTO R 90/ASTM D75 – Standard Method of Test for Sampling of Aggregates
AASHTO R 76/ASTM C702 – Standard Method of Test for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size
AASHTO T 11/ASTM C117 – Standard Method of Test for Materials Finer than 75-µm (No. 200) Sieve in
Mineral Aggregates by Washing
AASHTO T 27/ASTM C136 – Standard Method of Test for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
AASHTO T 85/ASTM C127 – Standard Method of Test for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse
Aggregate
AASHTO T 84/ASTM C128 – Standard Method of Test for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine
Aggregate
AASHTO T 255/ASTM C566 – Standard Method of Test for Total Evaporable Moisture Content of
Aggregate by Drying
AASHTO T 21/ASTM C40 – Standard Method of Test for Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for
Concrete

Standard Method of Test for Sampling of Aggregates – AASHTO R 90/ASTM D75

• Understand scope of practice
• Understand distinction between "maximum" and "nominal maximum" aggregate sizes
• Understand significance and use of this practice
• Know general sampling requirements
• Know general inspection requirements of sample
• Know sampling requirements for a flowing aggregate stream
• Know sampling requirements for a conveyor belt
• Know sampling requirements for stockpiles and transportation units
• Understand scope of sampling practice from stockpiles and transportation units
• Know procedure for sampling aggregate from stockpiles
• Know procedure for sampling aggregate from transportation units
• Understand number and masses of field samples
• Know how to determine mass of field samples
• Understanding shipping requirements of samples

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 Job-Task Analysis (JTA) for ACI Aggregate Testing Technician—Level 1 Certification
(Continued)
Standard Method of Test for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size –
AASHTO R 76/ASTM C702
• Understand scope of practice
• Understand significance and use of practice
• Reduction in size may not be recommended in some circumstances
• Know requirements for reducing fine aggregates
• Know reducing requirements for coarse aggregate
• Know equipment requirements for mechanical splitters
• Know and perform the procedure for introducing sample to splitter
• Know and perform procedure for quartering sample
• Understand alternative procedure for quartering sample
• Know and perform procedure for miniature stockpile samples

Standard Method of Test for Materials Finer than 75-µm (No. 200) Sieve in Mineral
Aggregates by Washing – AASHTO T 11/ASTM C117
• Understand scope of procedure
• Know washing requirements, if not specified
• Understand general summary of method
• Know significance and use of practice
• Know the procedure and parameters under which the efficiency of the washing operation
should be checked
• Know proper apparatus and materials
• Understand sampling procedure and requirements for combined samples
• Know the sample size requirements for different aggregate sizes
• Know and perform procedure for washing
• Know and perform calculation for amount of material passing 75-μm sieve by washing
• Know and demonstrate the reporting requirements for percentage of material passing 75-μm
sieve

Standard Method of Test for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates –
AASHTO T 27/ASTM C136
• Understand scope of test method
• Understand general summary of test method
• Understand general use of test method specific to aggregates
• Accurate determination of 75 µm cannot be achieved by this method alone
• Recognize appropriate apparatus and requirements
• Know sieving requirements for mechanical sieve shakers
• Know that size of field sample shall be at least four times required test sample
• Know requirements for reducing sample to suitable testing size
• Know how to determine size of test samples for fine and coarse aggregates
• Know material requirements for testing a combined sample
• Know the requirements for testing an oven dried sample
• Know the requirements for sieve selection and adequacy of sieving
• Know the requirements for limiting the amount of materials on a sieve
• Know the procedure for hand sieving and the requirements for sufficiency of hand sieving

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 Job-Task Analysis (JTA) for ACI Aggregate Testing Technician—Level 1 Certification
(Continued)
• Understand procedures for hand sieving oversized aggregate
• Know the requirements for verifying the masses after the test
• Know the calculations, percent passing, etc., to nearest 0.1%
• Know the requirements for calculating fineness modulus
• Know and demonstrate the reporting requirements

Standard Method of Test for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Coarse Aggregate – AASHTO
T 85/ASTM C127
• Understand scope of practice
• Know definition of terms for specific gravity
• Understand general summary of test method
• Accuracy of balance required 0.05%
• Know requirements for sample container
• Know requirements for water tank
• Know requirements and procedure for sample preparation
• Know requirements for minimum sample size
• Understand requirements for individual size fractions
• Know the sequence of operations for the test procedure
• Know soaking requirements
• Know procedure for obtaining a SSD condition sample
• Know the procedure for determining submerged weight
• Know the procedure for obtaining the dry weight
• Know the calculations for relative density, Density OD, Density SSD and apparent density and
absorption
• Know and demonstrate reporting, with required precision, of specific gravity & type and
absorption

Standard Method of Test for Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate – AASHTO
T 84/ASTM C128
• Understand scope of test method
• Know definition of terms
• Understand significance and use of test method
• Know the difference between dry, moist, SSD and free water on aggregates
• Understand balance (scale) requirements
• Know types of pycnometer that can be used
• Know mold and tamper shape and size
• Know proper sample size and size of test specimen
• Know requirements for sample preparation before test
• Understand alternative procedure for sample preparation
• Perform spreading of sample and let air dry
• Know requirements for performing the cone test for surface moisture
• Know & perform the gravimetric procedure
• Understand the alternate method for obtaining equivalent dry weight of sample used in
gravimetric procedure
• Understand the volumetric procedure

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 Job-Task Analysis (JTA) for ACI Aggregate Testing Technician—Level 1 Certification
(Continued)
• Know & perform aggregate drying to constant mass
• Understand the alternate method for obtaining equivalent dry weight of sample used in
volumetric procedure
• Determine mass of pycnometer with water
• Know the calculation for bulk specific gravity (relative density)
• Know the calculation for bulk specific gravity (relative density), SSD
• Know the calculation for apparent specific gravity (apparent density)
• Know the calculation for absorption
• Know and demonstrate reporting, with required precision, of specific gravity (relative density)
and absorption

Standard Method of Test for Total Evaporable Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying –
AASHTO T 255/ASTM C566
• Understand scope of test method
• Understand significance and use of test method
• Know required accuracy of the balance
• Understand types of heat sources
• Know requirements for type and size of container
• Know sample size requirements
• Know & demonstrate requirements for securing sample to prevent moisture loss
• Determine initial mass to 0.1%
• Know requirements for drying sample
• Understand detrimental effects of rapidly heating the sample
• Know when sample is thoroughly dry
• Determine final mass to 0.1%
• Know the calculation for total evaporable moisture content
• Know surface moisture content

Standard Method of Test for Organic Impurities in Fine Aggregates for Concrete – AASHTO
T 21/ASTM C40
• Understand scope of test method
• Understand significance and use of test method
• Understand results of the test method
• Know requirements of glass bottles
• Understand requirements for glass color standard
• Know requirements for Reagent Sodium Hydroxide Solution
• Understand requirements and procedure for Standard Color Solution
• Know requirements for sample size and preparation
• Know requirements for introducing sample in the glass bottle
• Know requirements for introducing NaOH solution
• Know requirements for agitating the sample, and waiting period
• Understand method used for standard color solution procedure
• Know procedure for glass color standard
• Know proper procedure for interpreting results

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