Which statement is true about the quartering template size relative to the pile?

• A. Draindown at production temperatures should not exceed 3%.
• B. The type B mechanical splitter used for coarse aggregate should have at least eight chutes, which are set to be at least 50% wider than the largest aggregate particle being split.
• C. The quartering template used with the quartering procedure should be at least 3 times larger than the pile being quartered.
• D. When using the type A mechanical splitter, reintroduce one of the four containers back into the splitter.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the quartering step relies on spreading the sample over a large, even area so the portion you end up testing represents the whole pile. Using a quartering template that is at least three times larger than the pile provides enough surface area to create a uniform distribution and to form four roughly equal portions when you split and restack. If the template is too small, the distribution becomes biased by the pile’s shape and clumping, leading to a non-representative sample. The other statements reference different procedures (draindown limits at production temperatures and specifics of mechanical splitters) and don’t address how the quartering template should relate in size to the pile.