INTEGRAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - SHAHJAHANPUR 1

CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY & BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

MAINTENANCE LAB (DCE – 356)

(EXPERIMENT NO: 05)

OBJECT: To find out the bulking of given sample of sand.

APPARATUS USED: Measuring cylinder

PROCEDURE:
(i) Take about 300gms of fine sand and added desired %of water (i.e 2,4,6,810
by weight)
(ii) Fill the sand in measuring cylinder and recorded its volume. Let it be x
(iii) Water is filled in measuring cylinder and it is vigorously mixed by making it
upside it down. Allowed the sand to settled and record its volume again. Let it
be y
(iv) The bulking of sand can be computed using the formula as given in
calculation.
(v) Repeat the process for various %moisture contents (water) and draw the
graph between moisture contents and increase in volume.
 INTEGRAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - SHAHJAHANPUR 2
CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY & BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
MAINTENANCE LAB (DCE – 356)
OBSERVATION TABLE:

S.No Moisture Volume of Sand Volume of Sub Bulking of Sand

Contents (X ml) merged Sand(Y ml) = (X/Y-1)x 100

CALCULATION: (X/Y-1) x 100

RESULT: The maximum bulking of fine sand ---------------% of moistuer content.

VIVA QUESTIONS:
Question 1: What is the meaning of bulking of sand?

Answer: When water is added to sand, a thin film of water is formed around the sand
particles. The film exerts surface tension on particles, making them move apart.
This leads to an increase in volume which is called bulking of sand.

Question 2: Bulking is the phenomenon applicable to both fine and coarse aggregates.

Answer: Bulking is possible only in fine aggregates. In coarse aggregate, size of particle is
large, void space is less and so water absorption is not possible up to the extent of
fine aggregates.
 INTEGRAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - SHAHJAHANPUR 3
CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY & BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
MAINTENANCE LAB (DCE – 356)
Question 3: Sand does not show any bulking when:

Answer: Completely saturated sand has no void space left to absorb any more water and
undergo bulking.

Question 4: How much fine sand bulks in comparison to coarse sand?

Answer: Fine sand bulks more as compared to coarse sand, i.e. percentage of bulking in
indirectly proportional to the size of particle.

Question 5: If the moisture content of 5 to 10% by weight, then the bulking of sand is
increased

Answer: With the moisture content of 5 to 10% by weight, the bulking of sand is increased
by 50%

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Signature of Lecturer / Lab instructor Date