101 Definitions and Terms

General

Common words and terms used in this manual are defined in this section.  Definitions for other words or terms that may call for clarification in this manual are found in the “Construction and Material Specifications.”

AASHTO - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

ACFA - Actual Cost of Force Account.

ASTM - American Society of Testing and Materials.

Blue Book - Rental Rate Blue Book for Construction Equipment.

C&MS - The Construction and Material Specifications of the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Calendar Day - Everyday shown on the calendar.

Change Order - A written order issued by the Department to the Contractor, covering changes to contract terms and conditions, plans and/or quantities, within or beyond the scope of the Contract and establishing the basis of payment and time adjustment for the work affected by the changes.

Completion Date - The date, as shown in the contract documents, on which the work contemplated, shall be completed.

Construction Monitor - The DCA appointed ODOT employee responsible for primary construction administration coordination with the LPA and its designated employees, engineers, and contractors on Local let projects.

Contract Limits - The amount a contract pay item may be increased or the cost of a new item of work that may be added to a project without competitive bidding or Controlling Board review.  ORC 5525.14 sets these limits as:

            Original Contract Price                       Contract Limits

            $500,000 or lower                               $25,000

            $500,001 to $2,000,000                      5% of Total Contract Price

            Over $2,000,000                                 $100,000

Contractor - The individual, firm, or corporation contracting with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the performance of prescribed work acting directly or through a duly authorized representative and qualified under provisions of the law.  Defined in C&MS 101.03.

Conversion - The adaptation of one unit of measure to another unit of measure.

CPM Schedule - The type of progress schedule outlined in Proposal Note 107 that delineates a critical path of work from the start of the project to the end of the project.

Critical Path - The critical path is defined as the longest path of activities in the project that determines the project completion date. The activities that make-up the critical path of activities are the “Critical Activities.”

DCA -District Construction Administrator.

DDD - District Deputy Director.

Density - The relation of weight to volume. The greater the weight to a given volume, the greater the density.

Department - The Ohio Department of Transportation.

Director - The Director of the Department of Transportation, the Executive head of the Department of Transportation, appointed by the Governor.

Documentation - Recording and filing evidence that the material or work is in conformance with specifications and in the amounts required.

ECFA - Estimated Cost of Force Account.

Elevation - The height as measured from a predetermined point denoted in the plans.

Engineer - The person representing the Department who is charged with the overall responsibility at the project site for seeing that construction is in conformance with plans and specifications and that all checks for job control and validation of pay items are documented and filed properly.

Engineer’s Punch List - Written list, by the Project Engineer or Project Supervisor (P.E./P.S.) of items not yet completed by the Contractor and corrective work.

Estimate - The District authorization of monetary payment compensating the Contractor for work in place or stored materials following Contractor certification to the Engineer that the work for which the progress payment is being made was performed in accordance with the contract.

EWCO - Extra Work Change Order.

Extra Work -             1. An increase in a bid item quantity for payment beyond Contract Limits.

                    2.  A new pay item.

FHWA The Federal Highway Administration, a section of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

File - The complete project file in the field office in which is placed all progress records and documentation of pay items.

Final Estimate - The District authorization of monetary payment compensating the Contractor to the final value of the contract following the final inspection and acceptance of the project in accordance with current policies. The Final Estimate is signed by the District Construction Administrator.

Final Inspection Date - The date the Final Inspector physically inspects the project. This date is entered into SiteManager KETRK (Keycode 155).

Final Inspection Punch List - Written list, by the Final Inspector, of deficiencies found during the Final Inspection.

Final Inspector - The Professional Engineer with construction experience appointed by the DDD to perform Final Inspections. See part I. of this procedure and C&MS Section 101.03. This term includes the Final Inspector’s Back-up.

Final Measurements - A legal term used in ORC 5525.14 which means an increase in an original bid  item that was required to accomplish the originally planned work within the original work limits, but resulted in a payment on the bid item that exceeded the Contract Limits.  Change orders for Final Measurements are not subject to Controlling Board approval, but must be reported quarterly to the Controlling Board.  Final Measurements are not limited to pay quantities determined during finalization, but may occur any time during the project.

Final Package - Information submitted by the District to Central Office Capital Accounting that includes the transmittal IOC, Final Estimate, Final Report, and Summation of Extra Work Items.

Final Payment - The payment that is released when all the requirements of C&MS Section 109.12 have been fulfilled and the FHWA final voucher is issued.

Final Report - The document submitted by the District to Central Office Capital Accounting documenting the modifications to the original contract amount and certified by the District Construction Administrator and District Deputy Director.

Force Account - Payment for work directed by the Engineer based on the actual cost of labor, equipment, materials furnished, overhead, and profit in accordance with C&MS Section 109.05.

Inspection - Examination by observation, measurement, or tests to determine that materials and work are in conformance with specifications.

Inspector’s Daily Report - A form used by an inspector to document the activities performed by a Contractor.  The Inspector Daily Report is Form CMS-1, CA-D-3A or CA-D-3B.

Interim Completion Date - The date, as shown in the Contract Documents, on which a portion of the work contemplated, shall be completed.

Laboratory (Laboratory with “L” capitalized) - The Office of Materials Management of the Department of Transportation, 1600 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223.  If reference is to the District laboratory, it is so designated.

Lane or Traffic Lane - A strip of pavement of specified width, usually 12 feet (3.6 m).

Lien - A Public Improvement Lien [ORC Section 1311.25]; the right to withhold payment from the Contractor as security for a debt to a material supplier, laborer, or subcontractor.

Local Public Agency (LPA) - Any other state agency, local political subdivision, board, commission, or other governmental entity identified under the Ohio Revised Code Section 5501.03, Paragraph C as being eligible for assuming the administrative responsibilities for Department improvement projects known as LPA or Local Let projects.

MOP - Construction Inspection Manual of Procedures.

NHS - National Highway System. The system of roadways so designated by the National Highway Systems Act of 1995. 

OAC - Ohio Administrative Code.

ORC - Ohio Revised Code.

P.E./P.S. - Project Engineer or Project Supervisor performing the duties of the Engineer as defined in C&MS 101.03.

P.E./P.S. Daily Report - A form used by the Engineer or Project supervisor to document the activities performed by a Contractor.  The P.E./P.S. Daily Report is Form CMS-2, CA-D-4.

Pay Item - A specifically described unit of work for which a price is provided in the contract.

Physical Work Complete Date - Last day of work by the Contractor, including work to complete the Final Inspector’s Punch List.  If there were no Punch List items, then this date is the same as the Final Inspection Requested Date.  This date is entered into SiteManager KETRK (Keycode 160).

Plans - The plans, profiles, typical cross-sections, working drawings and supplemental drawings, approved by the Director, or exact reproductions thereof, which show the location, character, dimensions, and details of the work.

Progress Samples - Samples taken by Laboratory or project personnel not engauged in job control sampling. Samples are obtained at random from materials delivered for incorporation in the work to provide an independent spot check on the reliability of the results obtained in job control sampling and testing.

Project - The specific section of the highway together with all appurtenances and construction to be performed thereon under the contract.

Project Engineer - Also called the Engineer. The person representing the Department who is charged with the overall responsibility at the project site for seeing that construction is in conformance with plans and specifications and that all checks for job control and validation of pay items are documented and filed properly.

Project Limits - Project limits are points on the mainline centerline of construction where the proposed improvement, as described in the project description on the title sheet of the plans (excluding incidental construction), begins and ends.  Incidental construction includes all work required to complete a project in addition to the primary purpose for the improvement.

Proposal - The offer of a bidder, on the prescribed form properly signed and guaranteed, to perform the work and to finish the labor and materials at the prices quoted.

PWC - Physical Work Completed.

Requested Date - The date the work is completed to the satisfaction of the P.E./P.S. and is ready for Final Inspection. This date is entered into SiteManager KETRK (Keycode 150).

RFI - Request for Information.

RWCO - Regular Work Change Order.

SiteManager - The Department-wide computer system for administration of construction projects.

Specifications - The directions, provisions and requirements contained in the State of Ohio, Department of Transportation Construction and Material Specifications as supplemented by the supplemental specifications and special provisions.

Standard Drawings - The Standard Construction Drawings issued by the Bureaus of Location and Design, Bridges and Design Services.

State Final Acceptance Date - The date of the Final Estimate Letter to the Contractor. This date represents that the requirements of ORC 5525.16, CFR 23 part 635, and C&MS 109.12 have been met. This date is entered into SiteManager KETRK (Keycode 370).

TAS - Testing Administration System, a part of SiteManager which provides support to all sampling, testing, and approval or disapproval of materials used on a project, to the time at which the contract has been finalized.

Time Extensions - Change in the contract provision that stipulates the date by which the work must be complete.  (Previously known as Postponement of Contract Completion Dates).

Tolerance - The allowable limits of variation from a specified measurement.

Transition - The distance in which a change is made gradually from one pavement cross-section to another.

Verification - The steps necessary to determine that the work or materials described are in conformance with plans and specifications.

Workday - A calendar day that the Contractor normally works.

Flexible Pavement Terms

Aggregate - Mineral material, such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, or combinations hereof.

Asphalt Concrete - A mixture of aggregate and asphalt binder.  Types of asphalt concrete are 301, 302, 442, 446, and 448.

Batch Plant - A plant in which dry, hot aggregate and asphalt material are proportioned in fixed or batched quantities into a pugmill (mixer) for mixing.  Then the resulting asphalt concrete is either batched directly into a haul truck or stored in a storage bin for later use.

Asphalt Concrete Base - A type of asphalt concrete which is used as a base course in the construction of a pavement.  Two types of asphalt concrete base are 301 and 302.

Asphalt Binder- A thermoplastic binding material obtained as a residue in the distillation of petroleum, which may contain additives to enhance performance.

Bleeding - The rising of an excess of asphalt material to the surface of an asphalt concrete mixture.

Checking - Short transverse cracks, 1 to 4 inches (25 to 100 mm ) in length and 1 to 3 inches (25 to 75 mm) apart, which develop in the surface of the asphalt concrete mat during the compaction process.

Choke - Aggregate used for the purpose of filling the surface voids of a coarse aggregate mixture.

CMS - Cationic medium setting emulsion.  See the definition for emulsion.

Coarse Aggregate - Aggregate which is retained on the No. 4 (4.75 mm) sieve.

Compaction - A consolidation or compression of materials resulting in an increase in density of the materials.

Compression Rolls - The compaction load of a steel wheel roller, expressed in pounds per inch (kN/m), which is defined as the weight of the roller divided by the combined width of all the drums on the roller.  The compression rolls requirements for rollers are specified in 401.13.

Course - A layer or layers of a given material or mixture placed as a part of the pavement structure.

Cross-Section - In the field, elevations taken along a line at right angles to the centerline.  On a drawing, a profile of the existing ground at right angles to the centerline.  The drawing of an earthwork cross-section also shows the shape of the finished excavation or embankment at the same point.  A roadway cross-section shows the thickness and width of the pavement courses.

Cross-Slope - The transverse slope of the pavement, either crown or superelevation.  See section 401.19 for details on checking the cross-slope of a pavement.

Crown - The height of the center of the roadway surface above a straight line drawn between its edges.  See section 401.19 for details on checking the crown of a pavement.

Cut Back Asphalt - Asphalt binder which has been rendered fluid by fluxing it with a light volatile petroleum distillate.  Upon exposure to atmospheric conditions, the volatile distillate evaporates, leaving only the asphalt cement which reverts to its original semi-solid condition.  Cut back asphalts are classified as rapid curing (RC), medium curing (MC), or slow curing (SC).

Degradation - A reduction in aggregate particle size due to breakage and water.

Density - The ratio of the weight of a given material to its volume.

Drum Mix Plant - A continuous production plant in which cold aggregate is proportioned and dried in the first half of a drum and then mixed with bituminous material in the second half of the drum.  Then the resulting asphalt concrete is stored in a storage bin for later use.

Emulsion (Asphalt) - A suspension of extremely small droplets of asphalt in water in the presence of an emulsifying agent, which usually is a type of soap.  Upon exposure to atmospheric conditions, the water evaporates, leaving only the asphalt cement which has been modified by the emulsifying agent.  Emulsions are classified as rapid setting (RS or CRS), medium setting (MS or CMS), or slow setting (SS or CSS).  The letter “C” in front of an emulsion type (CRS, CMS, or CSS) denotes a cationic (positively charged) emulsion.  If the emulsion type does not start with the letter “C” (RS, MS, or SS), the emulsion is anionic (negatively charged) or non-ionic (neutral charge).  If the emulsion type is followed by an “h” (SS-1h, CMS-2h, etc.), the emulsion was made from a harder base asphalt cement.

Fat Spots - See the definition of bleeding.

Fine Aggregate - Aggregate which passes the No. 4 (4.75 mm) sieve.

Flushing - The drawing of asphalt material to the surface of an asphalt mixture due to the action of traffic.

Gradation - The distribution of particle sizes in an aggregate or asphalt mixture.

Grade - The rate of change of the profile elevations.  See section 401.19 for details on checking the grade of a pavement.

JMF - See the definition of job mix formula.

Job Control - Inspection and testing conducted to determine compliance of the materials and work with the contract requirements.

Job Mix Formula - The mix composition of an asphalt concrete approved by the Laboratory.  The job mix formula (JMF) of a mix can be obtained from the “BCJMF” screen in the TAS portion of SiteManager.  The JMF number of the mix needs to be known to use the “BCJMF” screen.

Keying - The interlocking of aggregate particles by compaction.

Laboratory - The Office of Materials Management of the Department’s Central Office in Columbus, which is also known as the Central Test Lab.

Marshall Mix Design - Volumetric mix design procedure used to establish the optimum asphalt binder content for an asphalt concrete.  The procedures for designing a mix using the Marshall mix design are contained in 441.02 and the Asphalt Institute Manual Series No. 2.

Mineral Filler - Limestone dust, Portland cement, or other inert mineral matter.  The specifications for mineral filler are contained in 703.07.

NAPA - National Asphalt Pavement Association.

NCAT - National Center for Asphalt Technology.

Odometer - An instrument used for measuring traveled distance.

Oscillating Wheel - The vertical movement of pneumatic tire roller’s wheels over irregularities in the surface on which the roller is operated, providing a kneading action.

PG (Asphalt) Binder - An asphalt binder which has been graded by the PG Binder system.  An asphalt binder has to be modified with an additive to meet some of the PG Binder grades.  An example of a PG Binder Grade is PG 64-28.  An example of a modified PG Binder Grade is PG 70-22M (See Asphalt Binder).

Placement Rate - The placement of paving materials on the basis of a given weight and area covered.  Placement rate is described in detail in section 401.21.

Plant - The plant where aggregate and asphalt material are mixed together or the plant which produces the aggregate or the asphalt material.

Pneumatic Tire Roller - A roller with three to five rubber tires mounted on two tandem axles.  The wheels that the tires are mounted to oscillate, which means they are capable of moving up and down independently of each other.  The pneumatic roller compacts a pavement using the combined force of weight and the kneading action of the oscillating wheels.  The specifications for a pneumatic tire roller are contained in 401.13.

Prime Coat - An application of asphalt material made on the surface of a pavement layer for the purpose of binding the surface particles together.  The specifications for a prime coat are contained in 408.

Profile - A line on a drawing which shows elevation of points along a selected route.  A profile usually shows both ground elevations and grade-line elevations.  See Section 401.19 for details on checking the profile of a pavement.

RAP - The abbreviation for reclaimed asphalt pavement, which comes from reclaimed asphalt concrete pavement.  The specifications for the use of RAP is contained in 401.04 and 441.03.

Raveling - The loss of aggregate from the surface of an asphalt mixture due to a lack of adequate compaction, segregation of the mixture, moisture damage, high dust content, or a lack of PG binder for binding the aggregate particles together.

Screed - A rectangular trowel on an asphalt paver used to cut off the asphalt mixture at the desired thickness, to smooth the surface, and consolidate the material.

Screenings - This is No. 10 size gravel, stone, or air-cooled slag.  The specifications for screenings are contained in 703.10.

Segregation - The separation of the coarse and fine particle sizes in an aggregate or asphalt mixture.

Shoving - The plastic deformation or displacement in an asphalt mixture in the direction of traffic movement.

Steel Wheel Roller - A roller which compacts asphalt concrete with static steel drums.  Types of steel wheel rollers are the three-wheel roller, tandem roller, trench roller, and vibratory roller.

Strike Off - A blade used to cut off material at the desired elevation or thickness.

Superelevation - The difference in elevation between the inside and outside edges of a roadway on a horizontal curve.  See section 401.19 for details on checking the superelevation of a pavement.

Superpave - Mix design procedure, which establishes material properties of an asphalt concrete mix by using a gyratory compactor and material requirements.

Surface Texture - A term used to describe the appearance of the surface of a pavement course such as sandy, coarse, open, dense, uniform, etc.

Surface Treatment - See the definitions for chip seal, prime coat, or tack coat.

Tachometer - An instrument for measuring the speed of rotation.

Tack Coat - An application of asphalt material made on a pavement surface for the purpose of bonding the existing course to the overlying course.  The specifications for a tack coat are contained in 407.  Tack coats are described in Section 6.

Tandem Roller - A steel wheel roller with two drums mounted on tandem axles, which compacts a pavement using the force of the roller’s weight.  The specifications for a tandem roller are contained in 401.13.

Three-Wheel Roller - A steel wheel roller with three drums, two drums mounted on the rear axle and a smaller drum mounted on the front tandem axle, which compacts a pavement using the force of the roller’s weight.  The configuration of the drums on a three-wheel roller allows it to compact longitudinal joints without interfering with traffic in the adjacent lane.  The specifications for a three-wheel roller are contained in 401.13.

Vibratory Roller - A steel wheel roller with one (single drum) or two (double drum) drums, which compacts a pavement using the combined force of weight and the vibration of the drum or drums.  The specifications for a vibratory roller are contained in 401.13.

Viscosity - Resistance to flow in a liquid.  The higher the viscosity, the greater the resistance to flow.

Yield - The area of a surface covered by a given quantity of material measured in square yards (square meters).

Concrete Terms

Absorption - The soaking up of moisture (water) by aggregate.

Admixture - A substance other than cement, water, or aggregate added to a batch of fresh concrete to alter one of the normal properties of concrete.

Aggregate - Mineral material, such as sand, gravel crushed stone, slag, or the combinations thereof, with which cement or bituminous material is mixed to form a mortar or concrete. "Fine Aggregate" may be considered as the material that will pass a 1/4-inch screen and "coarse aggregate" as the material that is retained thereon.

Aggregate Base - The layer of specified, compacted material placed on the subgrade to serve as a base for pavement.

Agitation - Slow stirring or turning over of freshly mixed concrete to keep it in workable condition until placed into forms.

Air Entrained Cement - Cement into which the air entrainment admixture has been incorporated at the cement plant when the cement was ground.

Batch - The combination of amounts of cement, aggregate, water, and admixture which will be mixed at one time in a mixer.

Batching Operation - Proportioning and assembling the materials which will comprise one batch.

Batching Plant - The plant either on or off the work site where the materials are assembled by batches for the mixer. Water and admixtures usually are added as the batch is introduced into the mixer.

Batch Weights -The individual weights of the cement, aggregate, and water used in each batch of concrete. Aggregate is adjusted for moisture content and specific gravity.

Bleeding - Flow of water to the surface of freshly placed concrete.

Bulkhead - A partition made of timber, concrete, or steel plate between stockpiles to prevent their intermingling.

A temporary form placed at the completion of a portion of concrete structure or pavement, or whenever production is interrupted for an extended period of time.

Cement - A mixture of clay, limestone, and other selected materials heated to high temperature to form clinker. The clinker is then ground into powder. When mixed with water, it forms a paste to surround and bind the aggregate into a solid and durable mass.

Charging - Filling. Charging a mixer is placing the ingredients for concrete into it.

Compacted - Made denser. When a material is compacted, the particles are forced together more tightly so that a given weight of material takes up less space.

Concrete Control Inspector - The Inspector at the job site who is responsible for the necessary inspections and tests to ensure concrete meeting specifications.

Counters - Meters on mixers which show the number of revolutions. Transit mixers may have two counters - one for mixing speeds and one for agitation speeds.

Cure - The treatment given concrete to ensure sufficient water and heat necessary for chemical action so that concrete attains the strength and durability for which it was designed.

Entrained Air - Millions of microscopic voids introduced into concrete through an admixture to permit the cured concrete to undergo freezing and thawing without damage.

Entrapped Air - Large air bubbles which enter concrete through mixing or handling. Being undesirable, they can be removed by vibrating, spading, or rodding.

Falsework - The bracing supporting concrete structural forms which are removed after the concrete has cured sufficiently to support its own weight.

Finishing - Shaping the surface of cement that is not shaped by forms. Also, it includes filling visible voids in the concrete after the forms are removed.

Footer - The concrete pad which spreads the load of a structure over an area of supporting earthwork.

Forms, Report - Printed sheets of paper which contain blank spaces for filling in desired information.

Forms, Structural - Molds of rigid material for receiving plastic concrete which will cast it to a specified shape and dimension.

Gradation - The classification of different sizes of aggregate within a given size of aggregate as determined by sieve tests.

High-Early-Strength Concrete - Concrete made with special cement (Type III) that reaches design strength and hardness in considerably shorter time than concrete made with regular Portland cement.

Honeycombing - Large voids in the concrete which are due to inadequate spading or consolidating.

Intermingling - The unintentional dilution of one size of aggregate by aggregate of a different size as a result of improper storage or careless handling.

Job Control - Steps taken to keep quality and quantity of materials and work on a project within the specifications and plans.

Mixing - Combining the ingredients of a batch of concrete into a homogenous mass through raising and dropping action of a revolving drum.  Specifications cover the rate and number of revolutions which are acceptable for proper mixing.

Moisture Content - The percentage by weight of water contained in aggregate as compared to the same aggregate in a completely dry condition.

Mortar - A mixture of water, sand, and cement. Mixed with coarse aggregate, this mortar completely envelopes each particle of coarse aggregate to form concrete.

Paved - An area covered with a hard surface to support traffic or material storage.

Plant Bins - Bins at the hatching plant for temporary storage of aggregate and cement for use in proportioning concrete batches.

Proportioning Concrete - Determination of the amount of each ingredient used in a class of concrete with adjustments as determined by tests called for in the specifications.

Retarder - An admixture placed in concrete which slows the setting of the concrete.

Rodding - Consolidation of a concrete mix sample by the repeated insertion of the prescribed steel tamping rod.

Saturation - Condition of aggregate when it is completely soaked and will not absorb additional water.

Scaling - Peeling away of small amounts of surface concrete.

Segregation - The unintentional separation of the larger pieces of aggregate from the smaller pieces within one size of aggregate or within a mixture of sizes in fresh concrete.

Set or set-up - A stage reached by freshly placed concrete as it hardens and can no longer be worked or shaped.

Sieve Analysis - Determination of the gradation of an aggregate sample by passing through a series of screens with specified openings and weighing the separated particle sizes.

Slump - A measure of the consistency and workability of plastic concrete.

Spading - Repeatedly inserting a flat steel blade edgewise into fresh poured concrete for consolidation and to drive out entrapped air, particularly where the concrete meets the forms or imbedded objects.

Spading Blade - A small steel blade about the size of a nail file used in making Chace air determinations.

Spading Tool - A tool resembling a garden hoe with the blade straightened out in line with the handle which is used for consolidating concrete.

Spalling - The breaking away of hardened parts of concrete from the main body at surface points.

Specific Gravity - The ratio of weight of any volume of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water.

Specifications - The directions, provisions, and requirements contained in the State of Ohio Department of Transportation Construction and Material Specifications as supplemented by the supplemental specifications and special provisions.

Stabilize - To make or hold steady and prevent fluctuations.

Stockpile - A large amount of aggregate placed in a pile for storage until ready for use.

Strike Off - Using a straightedge to scrape off excess concrete which may protrude above the mold or forms.

Subgrade - The portion of a roadbed upon which the pavement structure and shoulders are constructed.

Testing Equipment - That equipment furnished to the project for conducting field tests.

Test Weights - Ten 50-pound (22.7 kg) steel weights that must be readily available for checking weighing devices at concrete plants.

Ticket - A form record of quality, quantity, and other pertinent information which may accompany a shipment of construction materials to the project.

Validation - The signature or initials of an authorized individual on any form or ticket denoting that the information is as stated.

Verification - The steps necessary to determine that the work or materials described are in conformance with plans and specifications.

Water-Cement Ratio (W/C) - The proportion of an amount of water to the specified amount of cement used to produce concrete. Such amount of water is the sum of the calculated amount of water contained in the aggregates, plus all the water added both at the plant and at the site, less the calculated amount of water absorbed by the aggregates.

Yield - A check on the mix design made by dividing the total batch weight by the determined unit weight, weight per cubic yard (weight per cubic foot). The actual volume thus obtained is compared to the design volume.

Rigid Pavement Terms

Admixture - A substance other than cement, water, or aggregate added to a batch of fresh concrete to alter one of the normal properties of concrete.

Aggregate - Mineral material, such as sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, or the combination thereof, with which cement is mixed to form a mortar or concrete. “Fine aggregate” may be considered as the material that will pass a 4.75 mm (No. 4) screen and “coarse aggregate” as the material that is retained thereon.

Batch - The combination of amounts of cement, aggregate, water, and admixture which will be mixed at one time in a mixer.

Batching Plant - The plant either on or off the work site where the materials are assembled by batches for the mixer.  Water and admixtures usually are added as the batch is introduced into the mixer.

Beam, Test - A beam of specified size molded on the job and later broken in a testing machine to determine the flexural strength of the concrete.

Bleeding - Flow of water to the surface of freshly placed concrete.

Cap - A short tube, closed at one end, placed on the oiled end of a dowel in an expansion joint to provide space for movement of the dowel in hardened concrete. A stop in the tube prevents it from being pushed all the way onto the dowel before the concrete hardens.

Cement - A mixture of clay, limestone, and other selected materials heated to high temperature and ground into powder.  When mixed with water, it forms a paste to surround and bind the aggregate into a solid and durable mass.

Contraction Joint - A joint which controls the location of a transverse crack and permits the slab to contract and expand with changes in temperature.

Construction Joint - A joint formed in concrete pavement at the end of the day’s production or any time production is interrupted for 30 minutes or longer.

Core - A cylinder of concrete cut from pavement with a hollow drill. Cores are 4 inches (200 mm) in diameter and are used to check the thickness and strength of the concrete.

Course - The depth of concrete pavement obtained in one pour.

Crown - The height of the center of the roadway surface above a straight line drawn between its edges.

Cure - The treatment given concrete to ensure sufficient water and heat necessary for chemical action so that concrete attains the strength and durability for which it was designed.

Curing Membrane - A compound sprayed over the exposed surface and edges of newly placed concrete to prevent the evaporation of water during curing.

Cylinder - A test sample of concrete molded into a cylinder 12 inches (600 mm) high and 6 inches (300 mm) in diameter, to be sent to the Laboratory for determination of strength and density.

Deformed Bar - A steel bar which has projections on its surface for increasing the bond between the concrete and the bar.

Density (Soil) - The density of soil is its weight-volume relationship, which usually is expressed in pounds of soil per cubic foot (kilograms of soil per cubic meter).

Dowel or Dowel Bar - A smooth steel bar extending across a concrete joint to transfer the applied load, prevent future misalignment of the slab, and permit movement at the joint.

Dowel Assembly - A cage or basket used to hold dowels in position during placement of concrete.

Edging - Rounding the edges of concrete pavement and hand-formed joints while the concrete still is workable, using an edging tool of specified radius.

Elevation or Grade - The height as measured from a predetermined point denoted in the plans.

Expansion Joint - A joint adjacent to a bridge or intersection to absorb expansion of concrete pavement and prevent expansive pressure on the bridge or intersecting pavement.

Fine Grading - Removing approximately 1 inch (25 mm) of the primary subbase and re-rolling to bring to exact grade upon which the concrete pavement is placed.

Finishing - Shaping the surface of concrete that is not shaped by forms.  Also, it includes filling visible voids in the concrete after the forms are removed.

Finishing Machine - A machine, which screeds, and a float for performing the final grade and smoothness of the concrete pavement to meet the requirements.

Float - A straight piece of wood or metal used to smooth the surface of plastic concrete. Small hand-held floats are called paddle floats.

Forms, Pavement - Metal plates secured together and to the subbase for shaping the sides of the pavement and controlling alignment, grade, and thickness.  Also, the forms serve as a track for paving equipment.

Grade (noun) - See Elevation.

Grade (verb) - To add or remove earth to obtain a desired level or slope.

Hand Finishing - Manually correcting irregularities left by the finishing machine, or performing those functions which cannot be accomplished by machine, such as edging or forming of joints.

Head - The roll of plastic concrete which forms ahead of a screed plate.

Honeycombing - Large voids in the concrete which are due to inadequate spading or consolidating.

Hook Bolt - A short steel bar with hooked ends joined by a threaded connection.  Used to fasten a concrete slab to another, which is constructed beside it later.

Inspection - Examination by observation, measurement, or tests to determine that materials and work are in conformance with specifications.

Joint Lock - The device at each end of a section of paving form for attaching the sections together.

Job Control - Steps taken to keep quality and quantity of materials and work on a project within the specifications and plans.

Joint Sealer - A compound for preventing entrance of water and solid particles into a joint. The sealer may either be preformed or liquid.

Laitance - An accumulation of fine particles on the surface of freshly placed concrete occurring when there is an upward movement of water through the concrete due to the presence of too much mixing water or excessive vibration.

Lane or Traffic Lane - A strip of pavement of specified width, usually 12 feet (3.6 meters).

Longitudinal Joint - A joint which extends lengthwise on the roadway, parallel to the centerline.

Mesh - A fabric of steel wires welded together at their intersections for placement in concrete pavement as distributed reinforcement.

Mesh Installer - A machine for imbedding wire mesh into freshly placed concrete pavement.

Mortar - A mixture of water, sand, and cement.  Mixed with coarse aggregate, this mortar completely envelopes each particle of coarse aggregate to form concrete. Also, mortar is used to fill honeycombing which becomes apparent upon removal of forms.

Oscillating - To swing back and forth, operating between fixed limits, such as the movement of a screed on a finishing machine.

Pin Template or Template - A device used to check the surface of the subbase.

Raveling - Slightly disturbing the surface of concrete pavement adjacent to sawing of a joint.

Random Cracks - Cracks which appear in concrete pavement due to contraction in the early stages of curing and follow no set pattern.

Rigid Pavement Inspector - An authorized representative of the Engineer to make detailed inspections and documentation of contract performance as it pertains directly to concrete paving operations.

Sawing - Using a circular saw to cut a groove in the surface of the pavement to control the location of transverse cracks.

Scaling - Peeling away of small amounts of the concrete surface.

Screed - A long metal plate moved across the surface of freshly placed concrete with a sawing motion to consolidate the concrete and rough finish it approximately to grade.

Segregation - The unintentional separation of the larger pieces of aggregate from the smaller pieces within one size of aggregate or within a mixture of sizes of fresh concrete.

Shim - A thin piece of stone, wood, or other material used to raise the object resting on it to the desired elevation. (Not permitted in adjusting forms to grade).

Slab - A continuous portion of concrete paving bounded by joints and/or the edge of the pavement.

Slip Form Paving - Concrete paving by use of a machine carrying its own forms between which low slump concrete is compacted sufficiently to retain its shape after the machine has progressed onward.

Slump - Measured in millimeters (inches) on a vertical axis. The amount that a sample of fresh poured concrete, which has filled a standard inverted cone, will sink down after the cone has been removed.  A measure of the consistency and workability of concrete.

Spading - Repeatedly inserting a flat steel blade edgewise into fresh poured concrete for consolidation and to drive out entrapped air, particularly where the concrete meets the forms or imbedded objects.

Spalling - The breaking away of hardened parts of concrete from the main body at surface points.

Spreader - A machine which distributes fresh concrete generally over the area between the forms.

Station Marker - A numeral impressed into the surface of newly finished concrete pavement and located at specified longitudinal intervals near the edge of the roadway for purposes of future location references.

Straightedging - Placing a 10 foot (3.0 meter) straightedge on the finished pavement surface to determine if the surface is within tolerance.

Strike Off - Using a straightedge to scrape off excess concrete which may protrude above the mold or forms.

Subbase - The layer of specified, compacted material placed on the prepared subgrade to serve as a base for pavement.

Subgrade - The portion of a roadbed upon which the pavement structure and shoulders are constructed after it is prepared.

Surge - The rise in the surface of plastic concrete following the release of compaction after the screed has passed over it.

Texturing - Slight roughening of the finished surface of concrete pavement to provide greater safety through increased traction to the tires of vehicles which will pass over it.

Thin-Bonded Patching - Repairing concrete pavement only to the depth of unsound concrete rather than the full-depth of the pavement.

Tie Bar - A deformed dowel or hook-bolt placed across longitudinal joints of concrete pavement near middle-depth to tie the slabs together and hold the joint closed.

Tying - Wiring together overlapped mesh that is hand-tied by use of rings similar to hog rings.

Tolerance - The permitted variation from a specified condition.

Traction Speed - The rate of forward movement parallel to the centerline by the paving equipment.

Transverse - A theoretical line running perpendicular to the longitudinal or centerline of a roadway.

Validation - The signature or initials of an authorized individual on any form or ticket denoting that the information is as stated.

Vibrator - A device for pulsating fresh concrete so that entrapped air is released, and the concrete settles uniformly about reinforcement and to the forms.

Wearing Plate - A small plate which drags over the top of the pavement forms or adjacent paving to control the height of the screed plate.

Windrow - An accumulation of material as a result of rolling up or sliding off to the side. Applies here to loose material just inside of the forms left by the subgrader in the fine grading operation.

Yield - A check on the mix design made by dividing the total batch weight by the determined weight per unit volume. The actual volume thus obtained is compared to the design volume.

Earthwork

Aggregate Correction Method - A method of compaction testing that modifies the one point proctor method. It accounts for the material retained on the 3/4-inch sieve.

Atterberg Limits - The moisture content of a soil at certain stages of soil behavior.

Balanced Project - A project where the amount of embankment is required approximately equal to the amount of excavation.

Benching - The excavation of the existing embankment steps into a slope where new embankment is being placed on the slope.  The benching connects the new embankment and the existing soil in the slope.

Blasting - The use of explosives to fracture rock or shale.

Borrow - Material obtained from approved sources that are required for the construction of the embankment.

CA-EW-12, Daily Earthwork Inspection Sheet – This form details the earthwork construction operations on the project. It details general project information, locations of the operations, construction equipment, soil types, lift thicknesses, and other information.

CA-EW-5, Nuclear Gauge Compaction Form – This form details the record keeping for compaction tests.  The one point proctor and test section methods A and B use this form.

CA-EW-6, Nuclear Gauge Compaction with an Aggregate Correction – This form details the record keeping for a compaction test. The aggregate correction method of compaction testing uses this form.

Canvas Shroud - A canvas curtain used to control dust during the spreading operation.

Cement - A burned and pulverized chemical that that reacts with silty and granular soils.

Centrifugal Force - The roller force or load on a base course or material that adds the weight and the vibration energies.

Checking - The cracking of a base course or stabilized subgrade due to over rolling.

Clearing - Cutting down trees and brush.

Compaction - Increasing the density of soil by mechanical means, involving the expulsion of excess air.

Compaction Equipment - Equipment used to compact materials.

Consolidation - The removal of water from a soil over time to increase its strength.

Construction Underdrains - Sacrificial underdrains placed to drain the subgrade.

Contractor Designed Chemically Stabilized Subgrade - Tests performed by the Contractor to determine the optimum percentage of chemical (cement, lime, or lime kiln dust) that will stabilize the soil.

Curing - The act of ensuring that the lime or cement stabilized soil is wet for at least five days.

Deflections or Rutting - The vertical movement of the subgrade during proof rolling.

Density - The proportion of soil mass or weight to the volume of the soil. It is commonly expressed in pounds per cubic foot.

Depth Checks - The measuring of the thickness of the base course or embankment material.

Disking - The act of using a disk to break up a material so that it may dry.

Dozer - A machine that pushes and levels material.

Drainage - Constructing the embankment to drain the water away as fast as possible.

Drainage Blanket - A system of coarse aggregate, fabric and pipe that is designed to drain large areas of the slope.

Dry Density – The density of a soil that uses only the weight of the soil. The density of the soil when the soil is completely dry.

Drying - The act of lowering the moisture content of a material by disking, plowing, or other means.

Earth Moving Equipment - Equipment used to move earthen materials.

Earthwork Volumes - The calculation of a three dimensional earthwork quantities.

Electronic Grade Control - Controls on construction equipment that controls the grade.

Embankment - A structure consisting of suitable materials and constructed in lifts to a predetermined elevation and cross-section.

End Area - The cross-sectional area on the plans that represents a two dimensional plane.

End Dumping - The direct loading of the base or embankment material from the truck to the subgrade or foundation.

Excavation - The removal of materials to predetermined elevations and cross-sections.

Excavator - A machine that removes material with a bucket.

Fine Grading - The act for trimming the surface to meet the specification tolerances.

Finished Surface - The top of the base or subgrade materials that has been fine graded or trimmed.

Footed Rollers - Rollers that knit the materials together. Primarily used for clayey materials.

Foundation - The location at the base of an embankment.

Gradation - The level of coarseness or fineness of a soil, referring to soil sizes.

Grader - A machine used to level surfaces.

Grading - The act of leveling the embankment surface to drain.

Granular Material Types - Granular Materials in Item 203 that have specific gradations to perform certain engineering functions.

Grubbing - Clearing by digging up roots and stumps.

Hydrated Lime - A finer form of lime.

Ingots - Heavy concrete weights in the proof roller.

Iron Slags - Air-Cooled Blast Furnace slag (ACBF) and Granulated slag (GS).

Lift Thickness - The thickness of the material when placed on a horizontal surface.

Lime - A by-product of limestone that reacts with clayey soils.

Liquid Limit - Moisture content at which a soil passes from a plastic to a liquid state.

Maintenance - The act of constructing an embankment that minimizes construction problems. For example, grading and draining to keep water off the embankment.

Moderately Soft Foundation - A foundation that is constructible with moderate changes to embankment construction techniques.

Moisture Content - The amount of water in a given soil expressed as a percent of the material’s dry weight.

Moisture Density Curve - A plot of the moisture content verses the weight of a soil. This plot determines their relationship.

Natural Granular Materials - Broken or crushed rock, gravel, sand, durable siltstone, and durable sandstone placed in 8-inch (200 mm) loose lifts.

Natural Soils - All natural earth materials, organic, or inorganic resulting from natural processes, such as weathering, decay, and chemical action.

Nuclear Gauge - A device that uses nuclear radiation to determine the soils’ density and moisture content.

Ohio Typical Density Curves - Curves that were developed in the 1930’s and 40’s that represent all the types of soils in the state. They are used with the one-point proctor method to pick the correct curve during compaction testing.

One Point Proctor Method - a method that determines the compaction of a soil. It requires making a proctor and using the Ohio Typical Density Curves to pick the correct curve.

Optimum Moisture - The water content at which the maximum dry density can be achieved by compacting an embankment material.

Partial Excavation Method - The act of removing only a portion of the soft material.

Pavement - The location above the subgrade that traffic runs on that is made of concrete or asphalt.

Plastic Limit - The moisture content at which the material breaks apart at a 1/8-inch diameter. Indicates how much clay is in the material. The moisture content at which a soil changes from a semi-solid to a plastic state.

Plasticity Index - The higher the PI, the more clay in the material. The numerical difference between the liquid limit and plastic limit.

Power Driven Mixer - A big roto-tiller used to mix the soil and the lime.

Prime Coat - An asphalt emulsion used to keep the lime soil moist for the cure period.

Proctor Hammer - A device that is used to compact a soil in a proctor mold. It weighs 5.5 pounds, compacts the soil 25 times for each soil lift in the proctor. The soil is placed in the proctor mold in three lifts.

Proctor Test – a procedure that uses a standard, compactive effort to determine or pick a soil moisture density curve.

Proof Rolling - The use of heavy rollers to test the subgrade stability.

Quick Lime - A coarser and more concentrated form of lime.

Random Material - Mixtures of suitable materials that can be placed in 8-inch (200 mm) loose lifts.

Rectangular Foot - A footed roller with rectangular feet.

Recycled Materials - Fly ash, bottom ash, foundry sand, recycled glass, tire shreds, RPCC, or RACP

Recycled Portland Cement Concrete (RPCC) - Recycled Portland cement concrete blended with natural soil or granular material.

Reclaimed Asphalt Concrete Pavement (RACP) - Recycled asphalt pavement blended with natural soil or granular material.

Rock - Sandstone, limestone, dolomite, glacial boulders, brick, and RPCC too large to be placed in an 8-inch (200 mm) loose lift.

Rock or Shale Subgrade Excavation - The 24 inches that is excavated below the pavement for drainage and uniform support.

Roller Pass - One pass over a given location.

Sand Blanket - The sand that is placed to drain the underlying soft material.

Saturated Embankment - Embankment that is full of water to the point of being unstable.

Scale – A weight measuring device used during compaction testing.

Scalping - Removal of remaining roots, sod, grass, agriculture crop, sawdust, and other vegetation so that the soil is completely exposed; however, topsoil should not be removed.

Scraper Plate - A device that is used to establish a location for the nuclear gauge.

Segregation - The separation of fine and coarse material in a base course.

Self-Propelled Spreading Machine - A piece of equipment that receives the base course from the truck and spreads it evenly on the subgrade.

Settlement - The compression of a soil into a more stable condition.

Severely Soft Foundation - Low lying areas with high or standing water that are not constructible with soil or standard construction techniques.

Shale - Laminated material with a finely stratified structure formed by the natural consolidation of a clay or silt. The material is sometimes cemented together.

Shale Compaction Testing – Compaction testing that uses a Bucket test to determine what compaction test to perform on a particular shale.

Sheepsfoot - An old footed roller that has 10 percent coverage per pass.

Side Drainage - Any ditches that drain the embankment away from the embankment construction.

Side Slopes - The embankment slopes that are perpendicular to the roadway (usually 2:1 slopes).

Slag Materials - Residual material from making iron or steel that must meet the requirements in 703.16.

Slide Repair - An area to be excavated for replacement.

Soil Classification - AASHTO classification of a soil determined from the gradation and characteristic of the different materials.

Spreading - Moving material in preparation for compaction.

Spring Drains - A system of coarse aggregate, fabric, and pipe that is designed to drain small areas of the slope.

Standard Count- a procedure performed on a nuclear gauge to ensure that the readings are accurate.

Steel Slags - Open Hearth (OH) slag, Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) slag, Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) slag, or Granulated slag.

Steel Wheeled Roller - Uses a drum with 100 percent coverage with one pass. Can be used with or without vibration. Used for granular and silty materials.

Stock Pile - A pile of material that has or will be approved by the Test Lab.

Straightedge - A piece of lumber with a level on it to check the grade.

Subgrade – The portion of the roadbed upon which the pavement structure and shoulders are constructed.

Subgrade Compaction - The compaction of the top 12 inches of the subgrade.

Suitable Material - Natural soil, natural granular material, granular material types, slag material, brick, shale, rock, random material, or other materials that are appropriate for use in embankment construction.

Tamping Foot - A footed roller that has 40 percent coverage with one pass and is highly productive. Can be used for soil, rock, or shale.

Test Rolling - The use of a proof roller to test the stability of the subgrade prior to undercutting or stabilizing the subgrade. Used when spot locations are detailed in the plans.

Test Section Method - A compaction method that uses the relative density between two nuclear gauge readings to determine the materials potential maximum density.

Test Section Method A - A compaction method that uses the relative density between two nuclear gauge readings to determine the materials potential maximum density. It is used when the material has a definitive moisture density curve.

Test Section Method B - A compaction method that uses the relative density between two nuclear gauge readings to determine the materials potential maximum density. It is used when the material does ‘not’ have a definitive moisture density curve. A field test section moisture density curve is developed with this method.

Test Section Method C - A compaction method that uses the relative density between two nuclear gauge readings to determine the material’s potential maximum density. It is used when the material is highly variable. It uses form CA-EW-7.

Total Excavation Method - Removing all of the soft material.

Waste - Excess material removed from the project limits.

Watering - The act of adding moisture to a material for proper compaction.

Weak Plane - An area in the embankment where the soil is weak and could slide apart.

Wet Density - the density of the soil that includes the weight of water and soil. It is also expressed as the total weight of the soil.

Zero Air Void Curve - A theoretical line that is used to ensure that the nuclear gauge readings are not dramatically incorrect. It plots the moisture density curve without the voids.

Landscape

Amendments - Mixed with the soil removed from the plant hole. To improve the soil texture or pH, add organic material. Sphagnum peat moss, shredded pine bark, yard waste compost, and sand are all accepted amendments.

Backfill - This soil and amendment mixture is placed back into the hole after the plant has been set (see C&MS 661.11).

Balled and Burlapped - This is one kind of method for digging field-grown plants with the ball of earth still intact in which they are growing. Can be supported by a wire basket and/or burlap and laced with bailing twine. Often denoted as B&B in plan notes. See appendix for correct plant/B&B sizes.

Bare Root - Plants shipped by this method are done so without the soil from which they were grown. This type of plant can be seedlings, perennials, roses, fruit trees, etc. Roots should be white and unbroken.

Caliper - This is measured as the width of a single stem plant. See Page 6 for instructions on how to measure.

Competing Leaders - Found at the top most branch. This condition is where the main stem (leader) has been cut or broken and has continued to grow into two main stems. One stem should be removed to eliminate the potential for future problems.

Conifer - Cone-bearing plants, mostly evergreen, but not always true.

Crown - The upper part of a tree, also called the canopy.

Deciduous - Term used to describe plants which lose their leaves at the end of a growing season. This typically occurs in the fall.

Fertilizer - A natural or synthetic material added to or spread on soil to increase its fertility. The three numbers indicate its percentage of ingredients. In order, these numbers are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Foliage - This is the leaf structure of a plant, such as needles or deciduous leaves (can be composted).

Herbicide - A natural or synthetic product typically used to eradicate weeds. Product should be applied by a licensed applicator and as directed by the manufacturer’s label.

Mulch - Placed on top of the plants rootball. Mulch keeps the ground cool, retains moisture, prevents heaving, and breaks down providing nutrients to the root system (see C&MS 661. 13).

Multi-stem - Having two or more main stems; defined as clump or shrub form.

Root Crown - This is the union between the roots and the stem. Care should be taken not to bury this union with soil when planting.

Single Stem - Also called the central leader or trunk, tapers gradually from root crown to top.

Shrubs - Usually multi-stemmed with numerous side branches, can be evergreen or deciduous.

Tree Wrap - Placed around a deciduous tree trunk to protect it from frost cracking, sunscald, or insect damage (see C&MS 661.15).