Short Notes: Sand | Short Notes for Civil Engineering - Civil Engineering (CE) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
CHAPTER -4 
SAND 
 
Sand is an important building material used in the preparation of mortar, 
concrete, etc. 
4.1  Sources of Sand: Sand particles consist of small grains of silica 
(Si02). It is formed by the decomposition of sand stones due to 
various effects of weather. The following are the natural sources 
of sand. 
a. Pit Sand: This sand is found as deposits in soil and it is obtained 
by forming pits to a depth of about 1m to 2m from ground level. 
Pit sand consists of sharp angular grains, which are free from 
salts for making mortar, clean pit sand free from organic and clay 
should only be used. 
b. Rive Sand: This sand is obtained from beds of rivers. River sand 
consists of fine rounded grains. Colour of river sand is almost 
white. As the river sand is usually available in clean condition, it 
is widely used for all purposes. 
c. Sea Sand: This sand is obtained from sea shores. Sea sand 
consists of rounded grains in light brown colour. Sea sand 
consists of salts which attract the moisture from the atmosphere 
and causes dampness, efflorescence and disintegration of work. 
Due to all such reasons, sea sand is not recommendable for 
Page 2


 
CHAPTER -4 
SAND 
 
Sand is an important building material used in the preparation of mortar, 
concrete, etc. 
4.1  Sources of Sand: Sand particles consist of small grains of silica 
(Si02). It is formed by the decomposition of sand stones due to 
various effects of weather. The following are the natural sources 
of sand. 
a. Pit Sand: This sand is found as deposits in soil and it is obtained 
by forming pits to a depth of about 1m to 2m from ground level. 
Pit sand consists of sharp angular grains, which are free from 
salts for making mortar, clean pit sand free from organic and clay 
should only be used. 
b. Rive Sand: This sand is obtained from beds of rivers. River sand 
consists of fine rounded grains. Colour of river sand is almost 
white. As the river sand is usually available in clean condition, it 
is widely used for all purposes. 
c. Sea Sand: This sand is obtained from sea shores. Sea sand 
consists of rounded grains in light brown colour. Sea sand 
consists of salts which attract the moisture from the atmosphere 
and causes dampness, efflorescence and disintegration of work. 
Due to all such reasons, sea sand is not recommendable for 
Sand                                                                                           
  
engineering works. However be used as a local material after 
being thoroughly washed to remove the salts. 
 
4.2  Characteristics of sand: 
1. It should be chemically inert 
2. It should be clean and coarse. It should be free from 
organic matter. 
3. It should contain sharp, angular and durable grains. 
4. It should not contain salts, which attract the moisture from 
atmosphere. 
5. It should be well graded (i.e.) should contain particles of 
various sizes in suitable proportions. 
 
4.3.  Grading of Sand: 
According to the site of grains, sand is classified as fine, 
coarse and gravelly 
Sand passing through a screen with clear opening of 
1.5875mm is known as fine sand. It is generally used for masonry 
works. 
Sand passing through a screen with clear openings of 
7.62mm is known as gravely sand. It is generally used for 
plastering. 
Page 3


 
CHAPTER -4 
SAND 
 
Sand is an important building material used in the preparation of mortar, 
concrete, etc. 
4.1  Sources of Sand: Sand particles consist of small grains of silica 
(Si02). It is formed by the decomposition of sand stones due to 
various effects of weather. The following are the natural sources 
of sand. 
a. Pit Sand: This sand is found as deposits in soil and it is obtained 
by forming pits to a depth of about 1m to 2m from ground level. 
Pit sand consists of sharp angular grains, which are free from 
salts for making mortar, clean pit sand free from organic and clay 
should only be used. 
b. Rive Sand: This sand is obtained from beds of rivers. River sand 
consists of fine rounded grains. Colour of river sand is almost 
white. As the river sand is usually available in clean condition, it 
is widely used for all purposes. 
c. Sea Sand: This sand is obtained from sea shores. Sea sand 
consists of rounded grains in light brown colour. Sea sand 
consists of salts which attract the moisture from the atmosphere 
and causes dampness, efflorescence and disintegration of work. 
Due to all such reasons, sea sand is not recommendable for 
Sand                                                                                           
  
engineering works. However be used as a local material after 
being thoroughly washed to remove the salts. 
 
4.2  Characteristics of sand: 
1. It should be chemically inert 
2. It should be clean and coarse. It should be free from 
organic matter. 
3. It should contain sharp, angular and durable grains. 
4. It should not contain salts, which attract the moisture from 
atmosphere. 
5. It should be well graded (i.e.) should contain particles of 
various sizes in suitable proportions. 
 
4.3.  Grading of Sand: 
According to the site of grains, sand is classified as fine, 
coarse and gravelly 
Sand passing through a screen with clear opening of 
1.5875mm is known as fine sand. It is generally used for masonry 
works. 
Sand passing through a screen with clear openings of 
7.62mm is known as gravely sand. It is generally used for 
plastering. 
 
Sand passing through a screen with clear opening of 
3.175mm is known as coarse sand. It is generally used for 
masonary work.. 
4.4  Bulking of Sand: 
 The presence of moisture in sand increases the volume of 
sand. This is due to fact that moisture causes film of water around 
the sand particles which result in the increase of volume of sand. 
For a moisture content of 5 to 8 percent, the increase in volume 
may be about 5 to 8 percent, depending upon the grading of sand. 
The finer the material, the more will be the increase in volume 
for a given moisture content. This phenomenon is known as 
bulking of sand. 
 When moisture content is increased by adding more 
water, sand particles pack near each other and the amount of 
bulking of sand is decreased. Thus the dry sand and the sand 
completely flooded with water have practically the same volume. 
 For finding the bulking of sand, a test is carried out with 
following procedure as in the fig 4.1. 
Page 4


 
CHAPTER -4 
SAND 
 
Sand is an important building material used in the preparation of mortar, 
concrete, etc. 
4.1  Sources of Sand: Sand particles consist of small grains of silica 
(Si02). It is formed by the decomposition of sand stones due to 
various effects of weather. The following are the natural sources 
of sand. 
a. Pit Sand: This sand is found as deposits in soil and it is obtained 
by forming pits to a depth of about 1m to 2m from ground level. 
Pit sand consists of sharp angular grains, which are free from 
salts for making mortar, clean pit sand free from organic and clay 
should only be used. 
b. Rive Sand: This sand is obtained from beds of rivers. River sand 
consists of fine rounded grains. Colour of river sand is almost 
white. As the river sand is usually available in clean condition, it 
is widely used for all purposes. 
c. Sea Sand: This sand is obtained from sea shores. Sea sand 
consists of rounded grains in light brown colour. Sea sand 
consists of salts which attract the moisture from the atmosphere 
and causes dampness, efflorescence and disintegration of work. 
Due to all such reasons, sea sand is not recommendable for 
Sand                                                                                           
  
engineering works. However be used as a local material after 
being thoroughly washed to remove the salts. 
 
4.2  Characteristics of sand: 
1. It should be chemically inert 
2. It should be clean and coarse. It should be free from 
organic matter. 
3. It should contain sharp, angular and durable grains. 
4. It should not contain salts, which attract the moisture from 
atmosphere. 
5. It should be well graded (i.e.) should contain particles of 
various sizes in suitable proportions. 
 
4.3.  Grading of Sand: 
According to the site of grains, sand is classified as fine, 
coarse and gravelly 
Sand passing through a screen with clear opening of 
1.5875mm is known as fine sand. It is generally used for masonry 
works. 
Sand passing through a screen with clear openings of 
7.62mm is known as gravely sand. It is generally used for 
plastering. 
 
Sand passing through a screen with clear opening of 
3.175mm is known as coarse sand. It is generally used for 
masonary work.. 
4.4  Bulking of Sand: 
 The presence of moisture in sand increases the volume of 
sand. This is due to fact that moisture causes film of water around 
the sand particles which result in the increase of volume of sand. 
For a moisture content of 5 to 8 percent, the increase in volume 
may be about 5 to 8 percent, depending upon the grading of sand. 
The finer the material, the more will be the increase in volume 
for a given moisture content. This phenomenon is known as 
bulking of sand. 
 When moisture content is increased by adding more 
water, sand particles pack near each other and the amount of 
bulking of sand is decreased. Thus the dry sand and the sand 
completely flooded with water have practically the same volume. 
 For finding the bulking of sand, a test is carried out with 
following procedure as in the fig 4.1. 
Sand                                                                                    
  
 
Fig 4.1.  Bulking of Sand 
I. A container is taken and it is filled two third with the sample of 
sand to be tested. 
II. The height is measured, say 20cm. 
III. Sand is taken out of container 
IV. The container is filled with water 
V. Sand is then slowly dropped in the container and it is thoroughly 
stirred by means of a rod.  
VI. The height of sand is measured say 16cm, then bulking of sand = 
20 – 16            4 
=     --------------  =   ------     or   25% 
16  16 
 
*   *   *
Page 5


 
CHAPTER -4 
SAND 
 
Sand is an important building material used in the preparation of mortar, 
concrete, etc. 
4.1  Sources of Sand: Sand particles consist of small grains of silica 
(Si02). It is formed by the decomposition of sand stones due to 
various effects of weather. The following are the natural sources 
of sand. 
a. Pit Sand: This sand is found as deposits in soil and it is obtained 
by forming pits to a depth of about 1m to 2m from ground level. 
Pit sand consists of sharp angular grains, which are free from 
salts for making mortar, clean pit sand free from organic and clay 
should only be used. 
b. Rive Sand: This sand is obtained from beds of rivers. River sand 
consists of fine rounded grains. Colour of river sand is almost 
white. As the river sand is usually available in clean condition, it 
is widely used for all purposes. 
c. Sea Sand: This sand is obtained from sea shores. Sea sand 
consists of rounded grains in light brown colour. Sea sand 
consists of salts which attract the moisture from the atmosphere 
and causes dampness, efflorescence and disintegration of work. 
Due to all such reasons, sea sand is not recommendable for 
Sand                                                                                           
  
engineering works. However be used as a local material after 
being thoroughly washed to remove the salts. 
 
4.2  Characteristics of sand: 
1. It should be chemically inert 
2. It should be clean and coarse. It should be free from 
organic matter. 
3. It should contain sharp, angular and durable grains. 
4. It should not contain salts, which attract the moisture from 
atmosphere. 
5. It should be well graded (i.e.) should contain particles of 
various sizes in suitable proportions. 
 
4.3.  Grading of Sand: 
According to the site of grains, sand is classified as fine, 
coarse and gravelly 
Sand passing through a screen with clear opening of 
1.5875mm is known as fine sand. It is generally used for masonry 
works. 
Sand passing through a screen with clear openings of 
7.62mm is known as gravely sand. It is generally used for 
plastering. 
 
Sand passing through a screen with clear opening of 
3.175mm is known as coarse sand. It is generally used for 
masonary work.. 
4.4  Bulking of Sand: 
 The presence of moisture in sand increases the volume of 
sand. This is due to fact that moisture causes film of water around 
the sand particles which result in the increase of volume of sand. 
For a moisture content of 5 to 8 percent, the increase in volume 
may be about 5 to 8 percent, depending upon the grading of sand. 
The finer the material, the more will be the increase in volume 
for a given moisture content. This phenomenon is known as 
bulking of sand. 
 When moisture content is increased by adding more 
water, sand particles pack near each other and the amount of 
bulking of sand is decreased. Thus the dry sand and the sand 
completely flooded with water have practically the same volume. 
 For finding the bulking of sand, a test is carried out with 
following procedure as in the fig 4.1. 
Sand                                                                                    
  
 
Fig 4.1.  Bulking of Sand 
I. A container is taken and it is filled two third with the sample of 
sand to be tested. 
II. The height is measured, say 20cm. 
III. Sand is taken out of container 
IV. The container is filled with water 
V. Sand is then slowly dropped in the container and it is thoroughly 
stirred by means of a rod.  
VI. The height of sand is measured say 16cm, then bulking of sand = 
20 – 16            4 
=     --------------  =   ------     or   25% 
16  16 
 
*   *   *
 
SYNOPYSIS 
 
1. The sand is important building material used in the preparation of 
mortar, concrete etc 
2. The sources of sand are 
a. Pit sand 
b. Rever sand 
c. Sea sand 
3. The sand should be 
a. Chemically inert 
b. Clean and coarse 
c. Sharp, angular and durable 
d. Not contain salts 
e. Well graded 
4. According to the size of grains, sand is classified as fin, coarse 
and gravelly. 
5. The presence of moisture in sand increases the volume of sand 
known as bulking of sand.