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Preparation of reconstituted sand samples in the

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Article in International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering · January 2012

DOI: 10.3328/IJGE.2012.06.01.125-131

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 Technical Note 125

M. E. Raghunandan,1 A. Juneja,2* and B. C. Benson Hsiung3

Preparation of reconstituted sand samples

in the laboratory

Abstract: This paper compares the void ratio obtained in samples prepared by dry and moist tamping, and dry and wet
pluviation. These 4 methods are amongst the few other commonly adopted methods used in the preparation of reconstituted
sand samples in the laboratory e.g. slurry deposition and vibration. The samples were prepared in 100mm diameter and
200mm long split moulds. The effects of the number of soil layers and the drop height of the tamper, on particle packing, were
studied in the tamping method. Microscopic images of these samples showed that the packing was more compact between the
interface of two adjacent layers in tamped samples. In the pluviation method, the distance through which the sand particles
were rained and the mass-flow were the two investigated parameters. The mass-flow was varied with the use of 3 different fun-
nel openings. Frictional drag because of the air was ignored in the pluviation tests. The dry pluviation results seem to suggest
that up to the limiting mass-flow, the funnel opening has a greater influence on the void ratio than the height through which
the sand is rained. Furthermore, the tendency of the medium to dense air pluviated samples to dilate in drained triaxial test
was not evident in the wet pluviated samples. The dilation was otherwise observed to be the maximum in dry tamped samples.

Keywords: Mass-flow, pluviation, tamping, under-compaction.

Background
High-quality cohesive soil samples can be obtained with ease
by the careful use of the typical sampling techniques. The
difficulty lies when undisturbed samples of sandy soils are
to be obtained. Since the cost to obtain high quality undis-
turbed granular samples by ground freezing is prohibitive
(Yoshimi et al. 1994), many researchers rely on preparing
remolded and reconstituted representative samples of sandy
soils by dry or wet pluviation, slurry deposition, vibrations,
or moist-tamping in layers by under-compacting each layer
to its succeeding layer (Ladd 1974, Amini and Qi 2000). In
addition, recent studies have shown that the rate of soil depo-
*Corresponding Author
Former Graduate Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute
1
sition during sample preparation also affects the dry density
of the sample (Vaid et al. 1999, Ghionna and Porcino 2006).
The selection of the most suitable method of sample prepara-
tion becomes difficult because none of the above methods is
shown to be unique. This is especially true since they all can
affect the soil fabric and dry density during sample prepara-
tion, which results in variable mechanical response of the soil
during testing.
Garga and Zhang (1997) prepared samples of 200 mm
length using moist-tamping as well as wet pluviation method.
Vaid and Sivathayalan (2000) observed that samples prepared
using moist-tamping and dry-pluviation, both showed strain
softening when sheared in undrained condition. In contrast,
samples prepared using wet-pluviation showed strain hard-
ening. It is uncertain if this finding is applicable only to und-
rained loading. In drained conditions, the softening behavior

of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400 076, Maharashtra, India,

is manifested as volume decrease and the strain hardening
Email: raghunme_1984@yahoo.co.in behavior as volume increase or dilatancy. However, there are
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of
2 also other conflicting findings on the use of pluviation tech-
Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400 076, Maharashtra, India, nique. Some researchers (e.g. Cresswell et al. 1999) obtained
Email: ajuneja@iitb.ac.in sand samples of uniform and minimum particle degradation
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Kaohsiung
3 using dry pluviation. Whilst others (e.g. Garga and Sedano
University of Applied Sciences, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan, 2002, Yegian et al. 2007) obtained consistent results using
Email: benson@cc.kuas.edu.tw samples prepared by wet pluviation when sand was rained

International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering (2012) 6: (125-131) J. Ross Publishing, Inc. © 2012
DOI 10.3328/IJGE.2012.06.01.125-131
126 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

100

80

Percentage finer (%)

60

40

20

0
0.01 0.1 1 10
Grain size (mm)
(a) (b)

Figure 1. Sand sample used in the study: (a) Scanning electron micrograph; and (b) Grain size distribution curve.

above the mould completely filled with water. Ghionna and pluviation methods are compared. Particle arrangement in
Porcino (2006) also observed that the stress-strain results tamping was deduced using images taken through reflective
of the samples prepared by wet pluviation was near to the light microscope at 4x zoom. In the second stage, perfor-
results otherwise obtained from high quality undisturbed mance of 100 mm diameter sand sample prepared using dry
frozen sand samples. Sitharam et al. (2004) reported that and wet pluviation methods is assessed using conventional
reliable data could be obtained from dynamic tests on dense drained triaxial compression shear tests. These results shall
sand if the samples are prepared by tapping the mould pre- be of particular interest to the design engineers since foun-
filled with loose sand. dations on granular deposits are traditionally constructed to
Presti et al. (1993) prepared small samples in 38 mm withstand the drained shear strength. All dimensions in the
diameter mould using both small as well as large dry-pluvia- figures are in mm, unless and otherwise stated.
tors. The pluviator was modified from conventional pluvia-
tor used in preparing model soil-beds which could shake in Experimental Program
the single horizontal axis. Presti et al. (1993) observed that
All tests were conducted on fine sand collected from Kutch
the soil particles otherwise concentrated along the circum-
in Gujarat. Figure 1(a) shows that the sand particles are pri-
ference of the mould when small pluviator was used during
marily sub-angular. Figure 1(b) shows the grain size distribu-
the sample preparation. The researchers could overcome
tion curve of the sand. Specific gravity of the sand was equal
this deficiency by the use of large pluviator which could
to 2.63 and the maximum and minimum void ratios were
uniformly rain the soil grains upon and beyond the mould’s
0.795 and 0.492, respectively. The samples were prepared in
boundary.
100mm diameter split mould of 200mm length. The mould
Literature study also reveals that dry pluviation using
had the facility to attach 80mm collar at the top and was
funnel has sometimes been used by keeping the funnel at a
clamped to a firm base during the sample preparation.
fixed height above the base of the 76- to 100 mm long moulds
Dry and moist tamped samples were prepared using
owing to the small setup (e.g. Mulilis et al. 1977, DeGregorio
tamping rod attached to 50mm diameter circular footing.
1990). Since height of fall is not fixed in these tests, it remains
The total weight of the tamping arrangement was about
to be seen whether the soil retains its uniformity especially
240g. Twenty four samples were prepared using this proce-
when samples of 200mm length are to be prepared. The
dure, one-half each for the dry tamping and moist tamping
objective of this paper is to address some of these issues.
method, respectively. Dry tamping was conducted on air dry
In this investigation, a comparison of dry and moist tamp-
sand while moist tamping was conducted on partially sub-
ing, and dry and wet pluviation is made under a variety of
merged sand. The samples were prepared in 3 to 5 equal lay-
simple testing conditions. The experimental program was
ers by free drop height of 10 to 50mm. The number of blows
divided into two stages. In the first stage, void ratio and par-
were varied to prepare homogeneous samples. Table 1 shows
ticle arrangement in sand samples prepared by tamping and
 Preparation of reconstituted sand samples in the laboratory 127

Table 1. Samples prepared using tamping method The movement of the funnel was manually controlled using
No. of
Blows per layer
Drop height Energy/area a simple pulley mechanism fixed to a frame.
layers (mm) (kN/m2)
Six drained triaxial tests were conducted on 100 mm
3 25 10 1.1 diameter and 200 mm high samples. Table 2 summarizes the
3 25 20 2.3 test conditions. The samples were prepared in split mould
3 25 50 5.6 bolted over the triaxial pedestal. A rubber membrane was
5 25 10 1.9 first stretched inside the mould and held taut by applying
5 25 20 3.8 uninterrupted vacuum to the inner walls of the mould. The
5 25 50 9.4 samples were prepared by pluviation and tamping methods
Note: Samples using under-compaction method were prepared by to achieve relative density of about 36 to 66%. A partial vac-
reducing the number of blows per layer. These samples were pre- uum (< 20 kN/m2) was applied to its base before removing
pared by: (i) 3 layers – 8, 16 and 25 blows; and (ii) 5 layers – 5, 10, 15,
20 and 25 blows.
the split mould. The triaxial chamber was then mounted and
filled with water. De-aired water was then slowly percolated
from the bottom with the top valve open to atmosphere.
the layers and drop height of tamper used in different tests.
Saturation was achieved by increasing the cell pressure and
Many of the samples were prepared by Ladd’s (1974) under-
back pressure in steps. In this stage, the cell pressure was
compaction method by giving light blows to the lower layer
made to lead the back pressure by not more than 10 kN/m2.
compared to its successive upper layer. The input energy
Saturation was deemed to have been complete when the pore
in the under-compaction method was calculated from the
pressure coefficient, B (Skempton 1954) was greater than
potential energy of the tamper (Frost and Park 2003).
0.99. The time to saturation was reduced by initially treating
Dry and wet pluviated samples were prepared in the
the samples with carbon-dioxide gas. Change in height and
same mould as used in the tamping method. In both dry and
volume of the sample were carefully measured at the end of
wet pluviation, air dry sand was uniformly rained through a
saturation.
funnel placed above the mould. In wet pluviation, the mould
Upon completion of the saturation, the samples were
was filled with water to the brim. Pluviation was intermit-
consolidated isotropically to mean effective stress, p0΄ of 150
tently stopped to verify the density achieved. Three funnels
kN/m2. Change in volume of the samples during consolida-
with mass-flow equal to 4.5, 8.5 and 11.5 g/s were used in the
tion was measured using volume change apparatus. The sam-
study. The opening size of the funnels were 8, 9.4 and 10mm,
ples were then sheared under constant strain rate of about
respectively. These funnels are referred to in the text as F1,
0.15 mm/min. After completion of the shear, the samples
F2 and F3, respectively. 44 samples were prepared using dry
were removed for water content determination.
pluviation method and 24 samples were prepared using wet
pluviation method. One-half of the samples in both dry plu-
viation and wet pluviation were prepared by clamping the
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
funnel at a fixed height above the base of mould. These are
referred to in the text as fixed funnel (FF) tests. The other Effect of sample preparation
one-half of the samples were prepared by fixing the height
of fall of the sand particles. This was achieved by slowly pull- Figures 2(a)-(b) show the effect of tamping on the void ratio,
ing up the funnel as the sand was poured into the mould. e of the sample. e is the first order approximation for par-
These are referred to in the text as fixed height (FH) tests. ticle packing and is usually taken to estimate the mechanical
response of the soils. However, it should be noted that the

Table 2. Triaxial experimental program

Sample Void ratio, e Relative Cell Back
Test No. Preparation Upon sample Upon Density, Dd Pressure Pressure
method preparation consolidation (%) (kN/m2) (kN/m2)
DP1 Dry pluviation 0.695 0.685 36 400 250
DP2 Dry pluviation 0.680 0.671 41 400 250
DP3 Dry pluviation 0.634 0.625 56 470 320
WP Wet pluviation 0.681 0.670 41 400 250
DT Dry tamping 0.603 0.596 66 365 215
MT Moist tamping 0.605 0.594 66 365 215
128 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering

0.8
emax (a)
0.75 Normal compaction (3 layers)
Normal compaction (5 layers)
0.7 Under compaction (3 layers)
Void ratio, e

Under compaction (5 layers)

0.65

0.6

0.55

emin
0.5
10 20 30 40 50
Drop height of tamper (mm)

0.80 (a) (b)

emax (b) Figure 3. Layering observed in the tamping method: (a) Image taken at
0.75 Normal compaction (3 layers) 80mm, sample prepared by dry tamping; and (b) Image taken at 70mm,
sample prepared by moist tamping.
Normal compaction (5 layers)
0.70 Under compaction (3 layers) It was perhaps also surprising to note that the use of under-
Void ratio, e

Under compaction (5 layers) compaction method did not significantly affect the e of the
0.65
samples prepared in 3 layers. It can however be perceived
that the samples prepared in 5 layers using the under-com-
0.60 paction method were more uniform.
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) show the photographs of the joints
0.55 between two adjacent layers at 80 mm and 70 mm depth in
dry and moist tamped samples, respectively. These samples
emin were prepared in a 200 mm-long semi-circular mould which
0.50
had a front perspex window. Digital images were taken
10 20 30 40 50 through the window when the mould was placed under
Drop height of tamper (mm) reflective-light microscope at 4x zoom. Wavy lines in the
figures show the approximate boundary between the joints
Figure 2. Results of tamping method: (a) Dry tamping; and (b) Moist of the two adjacent layers. As can be seen, the use of tamping
tamping method is shown to affect the local bonding between the two
adjacent layers. These joints are the zones of high packing
density and stiffness. As the result, the joints are potential
notion of loose and dense soil is, in fact, relative and the plastic-points due to the occurrence of stress concentration
mechanical response is also dependent upon the confining around them when the sample is sheared to failure.
stress. For instance, Vaid et al. (1999) showed that the behav- Figures 4(a)-(b) show the variation of e against the drop
ior of dense sand under high confining pressure is similar to height, H of the sand particles in the pluviation method. In
that of normally consolidated clays. Figures 2(a)-(b) show the FF tests, the sand particles were rained from 280- to 600
that the increase in drop height of tamper from 20- to 50 mm mm height measured above the base of the mould. It is inter-
did not significantly affect the e for any particular method of esting to note that 600 mm is the maximum clearance usually
compaction. The figures also show that the e decreased by available in a standard triaxial load frame. In the FH tests, the
14% when the number of layers were increased from 3 to 5. funnels were gradually pulled to maintain the drop height of
 Preparation of reconstituted sand samples in the laboratory 129

0.80
emax Miura and Toki (1982)
(a)
0 Cresswell et al. (1999)
0.75 11.5
Present study

Relative density, Dd (%)

0.70 20
8.5
Void ratio, e

0.65 40

0.60 60 7.7

0.55 4.5
80
emin
0.50 0.95 0.3
100
200 300 400 500 600 700 200 300 400 500 600 700
Drop height, H (mm) Drop height, H (mm)

Figure 5. Variation of relative density with drop height.

0.80
emax (b)
0.75 seem to suggest that the behavior of the sand will be similar
if funnels F2 and F3 are used for sample preparation unless
0.70 H is significantly larger than 500 mm. This will be verified in
the next section.
Void ratio, e

0.65 As can be seen from Figure 4(a), with the increase in

FH - F1 H, the e value reduced by only 5% using F1 in FH tests. The
FF - F1 average e in FH tests was 0.54 using F1. It further lends confi-
0.60 FH - F2 dence to the belief that the mass-flow and not the drop height
FF - F2 affects the packing density. Particle interference during free-
0.55 fall was the least in F1 because of the minimum mass-flow.
FH - F3 Consequently, the particles packed in a more stable and
emin FF - F3 dense condition. This is consistent with Vaid and Negussey’s
0.50 (1988) solution that the high mass-flow traps the air in the
mold to cushion the impact. Furthermore, Figure 4(a) shows
200 300 400 500 600 700
that the benefit of using funnel of lower mass-flow dimin-
Drop height, H (mm)
ished in FF tests because of the restriction of the available free
height during the sample preparation.
Figure 4. Samples prepared using pluviation method: (a) Dry pluvia- Figure 4(b) shows the e of the samples prepared using
tion; and (b) Wet pluviation.
wet pluviation. The figure shows that neither the drop height
nor the funnels significantly affected the e. It was expected
the sand particles. Figure 4(a) shows that the e obtained using that the sand in all the tests reached its terminal velocity dur-
funnel F3 was similar to that in FF and FH tests. This also ing the preparation. The average e in wet pluviation was 0.70.
appears to be true when funnel F2 was used in FF and FH Figure 5 shows the variation of relative density, Dd with H in
tests. The average e values in FF and FH tests were 0.68 and dry pluviation tests. The figure also shows the data of Miura
0.75 using F2 and F3, respectively. The figure also shows that and Toki (1982) and Cresswell et al. (1999). As can be seen,
in FF and FH tests, use of either F2 or F3 does not signifi- all previous data is for mass flow less than 7.7 g/s. However,
cantly affect the e till H was equal to 500 mm. These findings as the present study shows, the trend of the relation between
130 International Journal of Geotechnical Engineering
Figure 6. Samples prepared by pluviation method: (a) Deviator stress
versus axial strain; and (b) Volumetric strain versus axial strain.
Dd and H observed by Miura and Toki (1982) and Cresswell
et al. (1999) is also the same till the mass flow of 11.5 g/s.
Effect of sample preparation on shear
strength
Figures 6(a)-(b) and 7(a)-(b) show the plot of deviator
stress, q and volumetric strain, εv of samples prepared by
pluviation and tamping method, respectively. In the figures,
the samples prepared by dry pluviation, wet pluviation, dry
tamping and wet tamping are referred to as DP, WP, DT
and WT, respectively. All the samples were tested drained
at mean effective stress of 150 kN/m2. As can be seen, the
samples reached peak deviator stress at 3 to 6% axial strain,
εa. Because of the limitation of the equipment, not all the
samples could be tested beyond 14 to 16% of εa. Otherwise,
if the results in Figures 6(a) and 7(a) were to be extended, q
appears to converge to a unique value of about 325 kN/m2
which is the critical strength at failure. This is not surprising
Figure 7. Samples prepared by tamping method: (a) Deviator stress
versus axial strain; and (b) Volumetric strain versus axial strain.
since the behavior of the failure zone that is, the zone which
has reached critical state is essentially the same irrespective of
how the sample has been prepared (e.g. Jardine et al. 2004).
The effective angle of friction, ϕ΄ was calculated from the
above and is equal to 31° (Schofield and Wroth 1968).
Figure 6(b) shows that DP1 to DP3 dilated after the
initial compression. These samples were prepared at Dd of
36 to 56% which probably also dictated the magnitude of εv.
The figure shows that the WP sample did not dilate although
Table 2 shows that the Dd of DP2 and WP were the same. It is
perhaps also not surprising that the maximum deviator stress
was equal in both DP2 and WP.
Figure 7(a) shows that the peak deviator stress in DT
was equal to peak deviator stress in MT. Both the samples
were prepared at Dd equal to 66%. However, εv in DT and
MT samples was not the same. In particular, MT samples
appear to be less dilative. Further study is needed to elucidate
and explain this phenomenon but one possible reason is the
relatively high locked-in stress during the preparation of
 Preparation of reconstituted sand samples in the laboratory 131
dry samples and vice-versa for the preparation of the moist
samples because of the presence of water.
Conclusions
The discussion above presented data relating to measured
void ratio when sand samples were prepared using dry and
moist tamping, and dry and wet pluviation. The following
conclusions can be drawn from the present study:
(1) Neither increasing the number of tamped layers
from 3 to 5 nor increasing the drop height from 20- to 50mm
significantly improved the void ratio.
(2) The results also seem to suggest that the void ratio
is influenced more by the mass-flow and less by the distance
through which the sand particles fall during dry pluviation.
(3) The sample prepared by wet pluviation does not
dilate compared to the air pluviated sample although both
were compacted at the same density. Likewise, the moist
tamped sample appear to dilate less than the dry tamped
sample.
Acknowledgement
This work was possible because a grant from the Indo-
Taiwan S&T program of CII/ GITA, India and NSC, Taiwan.
The first author gratefully acknowledges the support of IIT
Bombay in providing research scholarship to pursue his PhD
program at the institute.
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