At the California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA) Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference & Equipment Expo held on March 23-24, 2023 in Ontario, Calif., a presentation titled, "How the Southern Regional Lab Supports Caltrans Paving" was delivered by Sarah Hartz, P.E., Office Chief D08 Southern Regional Lab, Caltrans. Learn about the Caltrans Southern Regional Lab and how this important facility helps Caltrans manage the Quality Assurance program for the Caltrans districts in Southern California.

1. Caltrans – District 8
Southern Regional Lab
Presented By
Sarah Hartz, P.E.
District 8 SRL Office Chief (A)

2. •Origin of the SRL
•Organizational Chart
•Current Laboratories
•Quality Assurance
•Partnerships
•District 8 Materials Updates
•Conclusion
Outline

3. • Built in February 2009
• Opened on May 23, 2011
Origin of SRL

4. Organizational Chart

5. • Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations
637 Subpart B
• CTM
• AASHTO
• ASTM
• A2LA
Quality Assurance

6. • HMA
• Binder & Emulsion
• Aggregates & Soils
• Concrete
• Specialty Testing
• Falling Weight Deflectometer
• Inertial Profiler
• Skid Testing
• Coring
• Material Plant Quality Program
• Calibration
• Field Testing
Current Laboratories

7. Current Laboratories – Hot Mix Asphalt
• Job Mix Formula (JMF)
• Production Start Up (PSU)
• Gyratory Compactor
• Hamburg Wheel
AASHTO T209: Theoretical Specific Gravity
(RICE)

8. Current Laboratories – Hot Mix Asphalt
AASHTO T308
Asphalt Binder
Content

9. Current Laboratories – Binder/Emulsion
Bending Beam Rheometer - Binder
Rotational
Viscometer -
Binder
Saybolt
Viscometer -
Emulsion
Dynamic Shear
Rheometer -
Binder Rolling Thin Film Ovens
Ductility
Machine

10. Current Laboratories – Aggregates & Soils
Aggregates Lab Soils Lab

11. • CT 301 Method for Determining the
Resistance “R” Value of Treated and
Untreated Bases, Subbases, and
Basement Soils by the Stabilometer
Current Laboratories – Aggregates & Soils
CURRENT SOIL/BASE TESTING
FUTURE SOIL/BASE TESTING
• AASHTO T 307 Standard Method
• Will eventually replace our use of R-
Value testing

12. • Job Mix Formula (JMF) and Production Startup
(PSU) Verification of Aggregate, RAP, and Crumb
Rubber Testing
Current Laboratories – Aggregates & Soils
CURRENT AGGREGATE TESTING
FOR HMA MIXES

13. • CT 521 and ASTM C39 –
Compressive Strength
• CT 540 and ASTM C 31 –
Making and Curing
Concrete Cylinders
Current Laboratories - Concrete

14. • Specialty Testing
• Falling Weight
Deflectometer (FWD)
• Inertial Profiler (IP)
• Skid Testing
• Coring
• Material Plant Quality
Program (MPQP)
• Calibration of Equipment
Current Laboratories – Specialty Testing

15. Current Laboratories – Field Testing

16. • Industry
• District 7, 8, 9, 11 & 12
• Pavement Program
• METS
• HQ Construction
• PMPC
• FHWA
• Counties & Cities
Partnerships

17. • CalFP to CalME
• CalFP – TI = 15
• CalME – TI >15
District 8 Materials Updates

18. • HMA is also for
Rigid Pavement
• PDR & FDR
Pavement
District 8 Materials Updates

19. • Origin of the SRL
• Organizational Chart
• Current Laboratories
• Quality Assurance
• Partnerships
• District 8 Materials Updates
Key Take Aways

20. Sarah Hartz, P.E.
District 8 Southern
Regional Lab
Office Chief (A)
Email: sarah.hartz@dot.ca.gov
Cell: (916) 719-0527
Contact Information