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.
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