FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

PULAU PINANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE

CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

COURSE CODE

ECS256

LEVEL OF OPENNESS

CATEGORY

TRADITIONAL

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%)

100%

PERIOD OF ACTIVITY

1 WEEK

TITLE

BULKING OF FINE AGGREGATES

1.1 Introduction
The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities will not be able to provide
the avenue for students to enhance independent learning activities and inculcate
creativity and innovation. Level 0 is fully prescriptive where problem, ways & means and
answers are provided to the students. However it is still necessary especially to first and
second year students.
In this laboratory activity students will be exposed to ascertain the bulking phenomena
of given sample of fine aggregate (sand).

1.2 Objectives
The objective of the test is:
To determine the necessary adjustment in the ratio 1:2:4 (by volume) for the bulking of
fine aggregate and draw curve between water content and bulking of sand.
1.0 PREAMBLE
1.3 Learning Outcomes
At the end of the laboratory activity, students would be able to:
1. Organize and conduct bulking of fine aggregate laboratory experiment.
2. Classify the standard of bulking fine aggregate (sand) percentage.
3. Analyse data correctly and present in typical format.
4. Work in a group to produce technical report.
1.4 Theoretical Background
In concrete design, the quantity of fine aggregate used in the batch should be related to
the known volume of cement. The difficulty with measurement of fine aggregate by
volume is the tendency of sand to vary in bulk according to moisture contents. The
extent of this variation is given by this test. If sand is measured by volume and no
allowance is made for bulking, the mix will be richer than that specified because for
given weight, moist sand occupies a considerably large volume than the same weight of
dry sand, as the particles are less closely packed when the sand is moist.

FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG

NOV. 2014

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

Increase in volume of sand due to presence of moisture is known as bulking of sand.

Bulking is due to the formation of thin film of water around the sand grains and the
interlocking of air in between the sand grains and the film of water. When more water is
added sand particles get submerged and volume again becomes equal to dry volume of
sand. To compensate the bulking effect extra sand is added in the concrete so that the
ratio of coarse to fine aggregate will not change from the specified value. Maximum
increase in volume may be 20 % to 40 % when moisture content is 5 % to 10 % by
weight. Fine sands show greater percentage of bulking than coarse sands with equal
percentage of moisture.
If as is usual, the sand is measured by close volume, it is necessary in such a case to
increase the measured volume of the sand, in order that the amount of sand put into
concrete. If will be necessary to increase the volume of sand by the percentage bulking.
The correction to be made is only a rough method at the best, but a correction of the
right order can easily be determined and should be applied in order to keep the
concrete uniform.

2.0 PROBLEM
STATEMENT

The group is required to carry out bulking of fine aggregate test following the
procedures outline and subsequently analyse the data and present it in a proper
technical format.
3.1 Apparatus
Balance, cylindrical container, graduated cylinder, beaker, metal tray, steel ruler and
oven.
3.2 Procedure:
Part 1: To determine bulking of fine aggregate (Field Method)

3.0 WAYS &

MEANS

1. Put sufficient quantity of the oven dry sand loose into container until it is about
two-third full. Level off the top of sand and weight the container. Calculate the
mass of sand by deducting the mass of container.
2. Push a steel ruler vertically down through the sand at the middle to the bottom
and measure the height of sand. Let it be h ml.
3. Empty the sand out into a clean metal tray without any loss.
4. Add five percent of water by mass of sand. Mix the sand and water thoroughly
by hand.
5. Put the wet sand loosely into the container without tamping it.
6. Smooth and level the top surface of the moist sand and measure its depth at the
middle with a steel ruler. Let it be h ml.
7. Repeat the steps 4 to 6 of the above procedure with 10, 15, 20, and 25 percent
of water by mass.
Go on increasing the percentage by one till bulking is maximum and starts falling down
and ultimately bulking is zero, i.e., saturated sand occupies the same volume as dry
sand.

FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG

NOV. 2014

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

Figure 3.1: Concept of bulking of sand (field method)

Part 2: To determine bulking of fine aggregate (Field Test)
1. Fill the container to about two-third full with given sand loosely.
2. Level off the top of sand and measure the height by pushing a steel ruler
vertically down through the sand at the middle of the bottom, Let it be h
ml.
3. Take the sand out into a clean metal tray without any loss.
4. Fill the container with water to half full.
5. Pour the sand back into the container and stir it with a steel rod 6 mm in
diameter so that volume may reduce to a minimum.
6. Smooth and level the top surface of the inundated sand and measure its
depth at the middle with the steel ruler. Let it be h ml.
7. Calculate percentage of bulking of sand due to moisture as follows.
Percentage bulking =

100

Figure 3.2: Field method for determining bulking of sand (field test)
Precautions:
1. There should not be any wastage of sample.
2. Water should be measured accurately.
3. Container should be cleaned and dried.

3.3 Data Acquisition

The group is required to perform the data acquisition process and tabulate the results in
a proper format

FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG

NOV. 2014

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

4.1 Results
The group is required to perform the data acquisition process and complete the
information required and Tables below.
Part 1: To determine bulking of fine aggregate (Field Method)
Observation and Calculation (Table 1)
Material details

Reading

Mass of container with oven dry

sand, g
Mass of empty container, g
Mass of fine aggregates (sand), g
Height of dry sand h, ml
Observation and Calculation (Table 2)
Mass of
sand, g

Mass of
added
water, ml

Total
water per
cent, %

Bulking =

Height of
sand h, ml

100
%

5
10
4.0 RESULTS
15
20
25
Part 2: To determine bulking of fine aggregate (field test)
Observation and Calculation (Table 3)
Sample No.
Description
I
II

No.
1.

Volume of Loose Sand (h), ml

2.

Volume of Saturated Sand (h),

ml

3.

4.

FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG

III

Percentage of Bulking
[

] x 100%

Average Value, %

NOV. 2014

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
PULAU PINANG

LABORATORY MANUAL

4.2 Analysis
From the information obtained and data in Tables above:
1. Draw a graph between percentage moisture content on X-axis and percentage
bulking on Y-axis. The points on the graph should be added as a smooth curve.
2. Then from the graph, determine maximum percentage of bulking and the
corresponding moisture content.
4.3 Discussion
It is seen that bulking increase with increasing water content up to a certain point where
it is maximum and then it begins to decrease until when the sand in inundated with
bulking being practically nil as shown in figure 3.2. With ordinary sands, the bulking
usually varies between 15 and 30 per cent. If, therefore, in volume batching no
allowance is made for bulking , the mix will be richer than specified, e.g., when the sand
has bulked bay say 15 per cent the mix 1 : 2 : 4 by volume batching will correspond to 1 :
1.74 : 4.

An increase in bulking from of 15 to 30 per cent will result into an increase in concrete
strength by as much as 13 per cent. If no allowance is made for bulking, concrete
strength may vary as much as 25 per cent. The bulking of a given sample can be
calculated as follows in the field and necessary adjustments can be made for.
In the absence of such a test, it is common to assume that normal dampness present in
sand results in 25 per cent bulking.

Figure 4.1: Effect of content on bulking of sand

4.4 Conclusion
The maximum bulking of the given sand is_

FKA, UiTM, PASIR GUDANG

_at

% of moisture content.

NOV. 2014