Materials risk analysis.

682948753Final report.PDFResearch PaperWA-RD 745.1Materials testsRisk analysisWashingtonWashington (State). Dept. of Transportation. Office of Research and Library ServicesBaker, Thomas E.Molohon, Robert JamesMcIntyre, Ruth WhiteWashington (State). Dept. of TransportationNTL-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATION-HIGHWAY/ROAD TRANSPORTATIONNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyUS Transportation CollectionState highway authorities routinely examine the quality of the materials used to build highway construction projects. Somematerials are tested, some are accepted through a manufacturer\ue2\u20ac\u2122s certification of quality or compliance, some are physicallyinspected during fabrication and yet other materials are accepted through visual inspection. Unanswered is why somematerials are more closely examined through physical testing and other materials receive much less scrutiny.This paper describes a materials risk analysis process and the conclusions from that risk analysis conducted at theWashington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Typical construction materials are examined for two criticalrisks: the risk of having a material fail to meet specification and the consequences of that material failing to meetspecification. Subject matter experts (materials, construction, structures, maintenance, traffic, etc.) within the WSDOT ratedthese risks through a Delphi process. Results of the risk analysis classify materials into four appropriate categories for eithermore or less intensive examination by the state highway authority: highest risk materials undergo physical acceptancetesting or are inspected during fabrication under a manufacturer\ue2\u20ac\u2122s quality system plan; moderate risk materials are acceptedthrough the manufacturer\ue2\u20ac\u2122s certification of compliance (often combined with a quality systems plan or visual inspection);lower risk materials are accepted with a manufacturer\ue2\u20ac\u2122s certification or with a catalog cut; and the lowest risk materials areaccepted through visual inspection in the field. Future materials risk analyses may be performed on periodic intervals (fiveto ten years suggested) to re-examine the risks and rankings by subject matter experts