CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

LAB TEST MANUAL

Practical No: 1 Date: 15/9/2021

Sieve analysis test

Aim: To determine the particle size distribution of the sand also whether it is suitable for
preparing concrete mixture

1.1 Apparatus & Materials:

Sieves of 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm, 1.18 mm, 600 µ, 300 µ, 150 µ and Pan, shovel, Fine brush,
Mechanical sieve shaker, Weigh Balance.

1.1 Reference codes:

IS 2386 (PART I) – Method of test of Aggregates for Concrete
IS: 383-2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregates.

1.2 Procedure:

STEP 1. Gather down the case of sand aggregates measuring as much as 200 grams.

STEP 2. Clean the sieves using a fine hair brush to ensure that the sieves are perfect and
furthermore dry them.

STEP 3. Stack the sieves on top of one another and add 200 grams of the sand accumulated as
displayed in fig.1.

STEP 4. Fix the sifters in the mechanical strainer shaker and let it shake for somewhere near 2
minutes as displayed in Fig.2. Dispense with the sieves from the mechanical strainer shaker
and hold the material in each sifter carefully.

STEP 5: Now put individually on the overloading machine and cautiously note every one of
the perceptions in perception table.

1.4 Observation table:

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IS Weight Weight Cumulative Cumulative

Sieve retained retained % weight % weight
size (gm) by passed
adding
up (gm)
4.75 7.21 7.21 3.62 96.38
mm
2.63 12.24 19.45 9.77 90.23
mm
1.18 39.62 59.07 29.67 70.33
mm
600 µ 41.58 100.65 50.56 49.44
300 µ 73.49 174.14 87.48 12.52
150 µ 20.25 194.39 97.65 2.35
75 µ 4.67 199.06 100 0
Pan 0 199.06 100 0
Total 199.06

1.5 Calculation:
Fineness modulus = ∑ of % cumulative weight retained up to 150 µ = 278.75= 2.7875%
100 100
1.6 Result:
% of sand passing through 600 µ is 50.56 %. So therefore, for zone 2 range is 35-59 %

1.7 Significance:
The fineness modulus of the fine aggregates shown denotes the size of the particles which are
present in the sand. The sieve analysis shows the consistency with the design or confirmation
outputs.

1.8 Conclusion:
The fineness modulus of aggregates passing through 4.75 mm sieve to 150 µ happens to be
2.78 %, test gives an idea about the fineness of aggregates and is an approx.. proportion of the
avg. size of the particles in aggregates.

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Practical No: 2 Date: 15/9/2021

Bulk density test

Aim: The aim of the test is to determine the bulk density of fine aggregates.

1.1 Apparatus required:

Cylindrical metal measure, Weigh Balance, Tamping rod.

1.2 Reference codes: IS 2386 (PART I) – Method of test of Aggregates for Concrete
IS: 383-2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregates.

1.3 Procedure:

Loose sand weight:

STEP 1. Take the estimating chamber and fill the sand with the fine totals as shown in the first
photo.

STEP 2. Now, level the highest point of the chamber by turning the bar over it and gauge it.

STEP 3. The net not really settled and the mass not set in stone and the mass thickness is
determined in Kg/l.

Compacted weight:

STEP 4. Empty the chamber and fill it again with sand in three layers and after each layer play
out the packing utilizing the bar for multiple times as shown down.

STEP 5: The top layer ought to be stuffed and again pack the sand for multiple times utilizing
the bar. Presently, level the surface by turning the bar up and over as shown in the last photo at
down.

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1.4 Observation table:

Particular Readings
Volume of metal cylinder 3.08479 L
Empty weight of metal cylinder 3.18 Kg
Weight of loose sand (W1) 8.162 Kg
Weight of compacted sand (W2) 8.40 Kg

1.5 Calculation:
Bulk density of loose sand = Weight of loose sand = 8.162 = 2.646 Kg/l
Volume of cylinder 3.08479

Bulk density of compacted sand = Weight of compacted sand= 8.402 = 2.724 Kg/l
Volume of cylinder 3.08479

Ratio of the bulk density of loose to compacted sand = 0.9714

1.6 Result:
Loose bulk density of sand = 2.646 Kg/l
Compacted bulk density of sand = 2.724 Kg/l
Ratio of the bulk density of loose to compacted sand = 0.9714

1.7 Significance:

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The bulk density of the total relies on the shape, size and pressing of the particles, the
evaluating and the dampness content too.

1.8 Conclusion:
From the outcome it very well may be reasoned that the proportion of the mass bulk density of
free to compacted sand lies between the predetermined reach which is between 0.87 to 0.96.
The method helps to find the ratio of bulk density of loose to compacted sand which comes
near 0.97.

Practical No: 3 Date: 15/9/2021

Bulking of sand

Aim: The aim of the test is to determine the bulk density of fine aggregates.

1.1 Apparatus required:

Cylindrical metal measure, Weigh Balance, Tamping rod.

1.2 Reference codes: IS 2386 (PART I) – Method of test of Aggregates for Concrete
IS: 383-2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregates.

1.3 Procedure:

Free sand weight:

STEP 1. Take the measuring cylinder and fill the sand.

STEP 2. Now, level the highest point of the cylinder by sand and roll over the tamping rod on it
to level down the sand.

STEP 3. The net weight and bulk density both are observed, so now calculate the bulk density.

Compacted sand weight:

STEP 4. Take the sand which is tested and make it a bit moist by adding water and mix it, do
not make the sand too wet by adding too much water.

STEP 5. Take the measuring cylinder, fill it with sand up to 200 ml and then add water up to
250 ml.

STEP 6. Allow the water to totally enter the sand so that it can be a homogeneous
combination.

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STEP 7. Allow the blend to make due with some time and after the combination is
settled furthermore, take the readings.

1.4 Observation:
Initial reading = 200 ml
Final reading (After adding water) = 160 ml

1.5 Calculations:
Percentage of bulking = Initial level – 1 x 100 = 200 -1 x 100 = 25%
Final level 160

1.6 Result:
The bulking of sand percentage comes out to be 25%.

1.7 Significance:
Bulking of sand test is to find the actual and exact volume, with also the certain level of
moisture level present.

1.8 Conclusion:
This test helps to find the volume with the percentage of moisture level present. As the volume
of water increase with the presence of sand, the sand surface experiences tension and so that
volume increases. The bulking of sand percentage found by the test is 25%.

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Practical No: 4 Date: 13/9/2021

Specific gravity test

Aim: The aim of the test is to determine specific gravity of sand.

1.1 Apparatus and Materials:

A Compression testing machine, Compression plate.

1.2 Reference IS Code: IS 2386 (PART I) – Method of test of Aggregates for Concrete
IS: 383-2016 – Specifications for coarse and fine aggregates.

1.3 Procedure:

STEP 1. Measure the empty pycnometer.

STEP 2. Take test of sand weighing up to 500 grams and fill it in the pycnometer.

STEP 3. Now pour water in the pycnometer loaded up with sand at room temperature.

STEP 4. Ensure that the pycnometer is loaded up with water till top and there is no entangled
air. Weigh it again.

STEP 5. Transfer the sand to another vessel so that there is no aggregates left in pycnometer.

STEP 6. Now clean the pycnometer and fill the pycnometer to the top with water and gauge it
once more.

STEP 7. Make sure that the pycnometer is totally dry from outside and has no entangled air.

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1.4 Observation table:

Particulars Readings
Weight of pycnometer- (W1) 668 g
W1+ sand (W2) 1168 g
W1+W2+ weight of water 1974 g
W4= W1+W2+W3 1654 g
S.G.= W2-W1 2.778
(W2-W1) - (W3-W4)

1.5 Calculations:
(W2-W1) = (1168 - 668) =2.778
[(W2 – W1) – (W3 – W4)] [(1168-668) – (1974 – 1654)

1.6 Result:
Specific gravity of fine aggregates is 2.778

1.7 Significance:
The test is to determine the specific gravity of sand or fine aggregates.

1.8 Conclusion:
The test helps to find the specific gravity of fine aggregates. The higher the value of specific
gravity higher the strength and vice versa. The specific gravity of sand is between 2.65 to 2.67.
Sand particles composed of quartz have S.G. from 2.65 to 2.67. Range of S.G. for inorganic
clay is 2.70 to 2.80.

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