Earthwork Construction Inspection Flashcards
7 cards from real CTQP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Earthwork Construction Inspection flashcards as text
During earthwork inspection, a subgrade that pumps or deflects excessively under roller passes most likely indicates which condition?
Answer: Subgrade has insufficient bearing capacity or is saturated
Pumping or excessive deflection under roller passes indicates the subgrade is saturated or lacks adequate bearing capacity, requiring remediation before paving.
Which FDOT specification governs the acceptable limits for cleanliness and gradation of embankment material placed in Florida?
Answer: FDOT Standard Specification Section 120
FDOT Standard Specification Section 120 covers excavation and embankment, including material quality requirements for earthwork operations.
When a fill area cannot drain naturally during compaction, the inspector should require the contractor to do what?
Answer: Install temporary drainage or pumping to remove standing water
Standing water must be removed via temporary drainage or pumping before compaction can proceed to avoid entrapping moisture in the fill.
An inspector observes that the contractor is placing fill on a slope steeper than 3:1 without benching. What is the primary concern?
Answer: The new fill may slide along the interface with the existing slope
Without benching into an existing slope, new fill can slide along the slick interface, creating a failure plane at the original ground surface.
Which test is most appropriate for determining in-place moisture-density of a granular fill material that contains large particles (>1.5 inch)?
Answer: Sand cone test with oversized particle correction applied
The sand cone method with correction for oversized particles is used when materials contain large particles that exceed the limits of the nuclear gauge.
In earthwork inspection, what does the term 'shrinkage factor' refer to?
Answer: Ratio of compacted fill volume to the bank (in-place) volume of the same material
Shrinkage factor compares compacted volume to bank volume; soils typically shrink when compacted because air voids are eliminated, requiring more bank measure to achieve a given fill volume.
When inspecting a retaining wall backfill, what maximum lift thickness is typically specified before compaction with hand-operated tamping equipment near the wall?
Answer: 6 inches loose
Near retaining walls and other structures, lift thickness is typically limited to 6 inches loose to prevent lateral pressure buildup and ensure adequate compaction with light equipment.