Question

Compare AASHTO with the ASTM and come with a conclusion which one is more restricted? And do you think it is a valid restriction? And is the restriction valid for our infrastructure durability ?

Answer 1

AASHTO(American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials):

It Completely Deals with

a)Design

b)Construction

c)Table of Maximum Moments

d)Shear and Reactions

e)Standard Loadings

f) Truck Main and equivalent loadings

g)Formulas for Steel Columns

h) Position and direction of neutral axis and formulas for stress.

AASHO Total include the construction procedure starting from foundation to till the end of the design and it mainly deal with the bridge construction procedure, State Highway Construction Procedure from base of foundations( foundation with respective Pile, hard rock & normal soil) step wise procedure.

DESIGN:

• Design Code Includes general features of design (bridge with respective location, culvert with respective location, Roadway, railing drainage), Type of load considerations & distribution of loads, substructure and retaining walls, Concrete design, load factor design, Prestressed concrete,structural steel design, bearings , floor system, rolled beams, plate girders,trusses,ribbed arches

CONSTRUCTION:

• Construction Procedure includes excavation and fill, sheet piles, bearing piles, Concrete Masonry, finishing concrete Surfaces, reinforcement , ashlar masonry, Mortar rubble masonry, Dry rubble masonry ,Brick Masonry, Steel structure fabrication , Erection and total the structure requirement.

ASTM(American Society for Testing and Materials):

• It Mainly Deals with the Material testing and pricing and availability of the materials
• Deals with the Iron and steel Products
• Deals With Nonferrous Metal Products
• Deals with Metals Test Methods and Analytical Procedures
• Deals With Construction Materials (Cement; Lime; Gypsum,Road and Paving Materials; Vehicle–Pavement Systems ,Concrete and Aggregates,Roofing and Waterproofing,Chemical–Resistant Nonmetallic Materials; Vitrified Clay Pipe; Concrete Pipe; Fiber-Reinforced Cement Products; Mortars and Grouts; Masonry; Precast Concrete,Thermal Insulation; Building and Environmental Acoustics,Building Seals and Sealants; Fire Standards; Dimension Stone)
• Deals With  Petroleum Products, Lubricants, and Fossil Fuels
• Deals With Paints, Related Coatings, and Aromatics
• Deals with Textiles
• Deals With Plastics
• Deals With Rubber
• Deals With Electrical Insulation and Electronics
• Deals with Water and Environmental Technology
• Deals with Nuclear, Solar, and Geothermal Energy
• Deals with Medical Devices and Medical Services
• Deals with General Methods and Instrumentation
• Deals with General Products, Chemical Specialties, and End Use Products
• More than 12,000 ASTM gauges work universally. Characterized and set by us, they enhance the lives of millions consistently

AASHTO Deals with design and construction procedure where as the ASTM Deals with the Materials & Testing. and what type of material is required for construction and for particular location. Both are valid restriction for Infrastructure Durability.

• AASHTO SHOULD BE MORE RESTRICTED. Because it deals with design and construction procedure. From the Design we get what type of steel and what type diameter it require for construction.Grade of concrete is also decided from the design it self. So while construction the AASHTO restrictions must follow.