CTLGroup has been subcontracted by Wood PLC to perform testing of concrete constituent materials assisting in the construction of the only new nuclear expansion project in the United States; near Waynesboro, GA. Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4 involves the construction of first new nuclear units built in the United States in 30 years. These new units are being built in accordance with Westinghouse Electric Company’s new industry design standard, the AP1000 pressurized water reactor. The AP1000 PWR is the safest and most efficient nuclear power plant available in the worldwide commercial market. Construction is on-going and is scheduled to be completed in 2022. The estimated price for the project is $27 billion. Wood PLC provided onsite coordination of laboratory sampling and concrete mix testing, as well as testing during development of mix designs. Testing for the Vogtle 3 & 4 concrete constituents has been on-going since 2012.
CTLGroup’s laboratory staff performed analyses to qualify water, admixtures, fly ash and cement materials as concrete was being placed. ASTM test methods or ASTM material specifications employed included: C150, C114, C618, C186, C289, C494, C233, C1603, C1218, C1293, D512, and D516. The number of tests performed was determined according to concrete placement schedule and amount of each constituent being used. Initial concrete mix design testing also consisted of alkali silica reactivity (ASR) durability testing per ASTM C1293.
The Vogtle constituent testing project was overseen by CTLGroup’s NQA-1 quality assurance program. CTLGroup’s program establishes procedures for instrument/equipment calibration, the use of written test procedures, documentation of employee training records for every prescribed test and a review process for data and report generation.
