SAROJ MOHAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

(DIP. DIV.)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB I

NAME OF EXPERIMENT: DETERMINATION OF SILT

CONTENT IN SAND BY VOLUME

NAME OF STUDENT:

YEAR: SEMESTER:

REGISTRATION NO.:

ROLL: NO.

DATE OF EXPERIMENT:

PAGE NO. ……...

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: Determination of Silt Content in Sand by Volume

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of silt in the sand which is not more than the specified limit.

RELATED B.I.S. CODE:

1. IS:2386(Part II)-1963,” Estimation of deleterious materials and organic impurities”

THEORY:
It is based on the fact large heavy particle will settle rapidly in water while small light particle will settle
most slowly. This test is only fit for normal sand and crushed normal sand. According to BIS 882:1965,
the clay and silt content should not be more than: -
• 15% of the total weight for crushed sand
• 3% of the total weight for sand
• 1% of the total weight for aggregate

APPARATUS:

MATERIALS:

1. Fine aggregate (sand)

2. Fine Salt (2.5 gram equivalent to a pinch of salt)

PROCEDURE:
1. To prepare saline solution, take 2.5-gram fine salt and dissolve it into 250 ml of water (use plastic
cylinder) @ ½ teaspoon fine salt into ¼ litre of water.
2. Add 50 ml of saline solution in to the 250 ml measuring cylinder (glass).
3. Then add sand into the same cylinder till the water level in the cylinder reached to the 100 ml reading
level.
4. Then add saline solution into the same cylinder until the total volume in the measuring cylinder reach
the 150ml level.
5. Hotel the measuring cylinder and cover the measuring cylinder. Shake it for a white.
6. Place the cylinder on a table or a flat surface.
7. Allow it to stand over the same place in a stable way for a period of 3 hours.
8. As the density of clay and silt is smaller than sand, clay and silt will settle above the sand.
9. Measure the silt and the clay layers.

PAGE NO. ……...

RESULT:
Volume of silt = …………………………………

Total volume of sample = …………………………………

Volume of silt
Content % of silt = X 100% = ……………………………….
Total volume of sample

DISCUSSION:

PAGE NO. ……...

 SAROJ MOHAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(DIP. DIV.)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB I

NAME OF EXPERIMENT: DETERMINATION OF MAXIMUM

% OF BULKING OF SAND OF A
GIVEN SAMPLE

NAME OF STUDENT:

YEAR: SEMESTER:

REGISTRATION NO.:

ROLL: NO.

DATE OF EXPERIMENT:
PAGE NO. ……...
NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: Determination of Maximum % Of Bulking of Sand of A Given
Sample

OBJECTIVE: To determine the bulking of fine aggregate (sand) is the amount of increase in the volume
of dry sand with the addition of a known percentage of weight of water to it.

RELATED B.I.S. CODE:

1. IS:2386(Part III)-1963

THEORY:

The increase in the volume of a given mass of fine aggregate cause by the presence of water is known as
‘bulking’. The films of water around the aggregate particles push them apart causing the rise in the
volume. The extent of bulking depends upon the percentage of moisture present in it and its fineness.
Bulking increases gradually with moisture content up to a certain limit and then goes on decreasing with
further addition of water to the fine aggregate due to the merging of water films, till it come to the
original volume is fully saturated condition. At this stage, the bulking is practically zero. The bulking of
ordinary sand usually varies between 15% and 30%. The bulking of ‘fine sand’ is more that of ‘coarse
sand’. The extremely fine sand, that bulking may be the order of 40% at a moisture content of 10% but
such a sand is unsuitable for concrete.

V2 −V1
As per IS: 2386(PART III)-1963, bulking factor = X 100 %
V2
Where, V1=Volume of sand taken for testing in the measuring cylinder
V2=Volume of some sand in the measuring cylinder with saturated with water

The above expression is based on the fact that V2 is same as the volume of sand in oven dry condition.

APPARATUS:

1. Measuring cylinder
2. Electronic balance
3. Pan for mixing
4. Rammer

PROCEDURE:
1. Take sample of fine aggregate of known weight (say, 300 gm). Measure its volume my pouring it into
a dry, clean measuring cylinder.
2. Take out the sample from the cylinder and keep it in a dry pan. Add water (1% of the original weight
of sand taken) to it and mix them thoroughly.
3. Measure the volume of mixture by pouring it into the measuring cylinder and rammed properly by a
glass rod to drive out air bubbles, if any
4. Take out the mixture from the cylinder and keep it in the pan. Increase the volume of the mixture by
adding another 1% of the original weight of the sand taken and mix them again thoroughly.
5. Repeat step 3 & 4 until the volume of sample gets reduced to the original volume after attaining the
maximum.

PAGE NO. ……...

 RESULT:
WT. OF
VOL.OF DRY VOL. OF SAND BULKING FACTOR
OBS. % WATER WATER 𝐕𝟐 − 𝐕𝟏
SAND TAKEN ADDING WATER
NO. ADDED (gm) ADDED = 𝐗 𝟏𝟎𝟎
(V1) (ml) (V2) (ml) 𝐕𝟐
(gm)

10

PLOTTING OF GRAPH:

DISCUSSION:

PAGE NO. ……...

 SAROJ MOHAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(DIP. DIV.)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB I

NAME OF EXPERIMENT: DETERMINATION OF GRADING

ZONE OF A GIVEN SAMPLE OF
FINE AGGREGATE

NAME OF STUDENT:

YEAR: SEMESTER:

REGISTRATION NO.:

ROLL: NO.

DATE OF EXPERIMENT:
PAGE NO. ……...
NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: Determination of Grading Zone of a Given Sample of Fine
Aggregate

OBJECTIVE: To determine the Grading zone of fine aggregate and to plot the particle size distribution
curve for the sample of fine aggregate supplied.

RELATED B.I.S. CODE:

1. IS:2386(Part I)-1963

THEORY:

Sieve Analysis has in general been used for decide to monitor material quality based on particle size. For
coarse material, size that range to 100 mesh.

However, for material that is finer than 100 mesh, dry sieving can be less accurate. In Sieve analysis it is
assumed that, all particle will be round, i.e. spherical or nearly so and will pass through the square
opening, when the particle diameter is less than the size of square opening in the screen. For elongated
& flat particle, a sieve analysis will not yield reliable mass based result, as the particle size reported will
assume that the particles are spherical, where in fact an elongated particle might pass through the screen
end on, but would be prevented from doing so if it is presented itself side on.

The particle size distribution curve is obtained by plotting the percentage weight of the sample passing
through the above mentioned sieve size in semi-log graph. The particle size distribution curve is obtained
(also known as grading curve) indicates weather the grading of a given sample conforms to that specified
or is too coarse or too fine or deficient in a particle size.

APPARATUS:

1. IS sieves of the following sizes conforming to IS: 460-1962:

10 mm,4.75 mm, 2.36 mm, 1.18 mm, 600μ, 300μ, 150μ, 75μ.
2. Electronic balance accuracy upto 1 gm.
3. Mechanical sieve shaker.

PROCEDURE:
1. Place the sieves one over the other in order of size (10mm,4.75mm, 2.36 mm, 1.18 mm, 600μ, 300μ,
150μ, 75μ) With the lid on the top and the pan at the bottom most level.
2. Take the sample of fine aggregate in air-drying condition and measure the weight of it.
3. Pour the sample into the set of sieves. Shaking shall be done either manually or using a mechanical
sieve shaker for 10 minutes.
4. The material retained on each sieve after shaking represents the fraction of aggregate coarser then
the sieve below and finer than the sieves above. Measure the weight of the sample retained in each
sieve.
5. Calculate the percentage of the weight of the sample retained and percentage of weight of the
sample passing in each sieve.
6. Calculate the cumulative percentage retained

PAGE NO. ……...

 RESULT:
Sample of coarse aggregate taken = ………………………

WEIGHT
% OF WEIGHT
RETAINED IN CUMULATIVE %
SIEVE SIZE RETAINED IN % FINER
EACH SIEVE RETAINED
EACH SIEVE
(gm)
4.75mm

2.36mm

1.18mm

600µ

300µ

150µ

75µ

pan

PLOTTING THE GRAPH:

TABLE CONFORMING TO GRADING ZONE (AS PER IS 383-1970):

IS SIEVE PERCENTAGE PASSING FOR

DESIGNATION GRADING ZONE I GRADING ZONE II GRADING ZONE III GRADING ZONE IV
10 mm 100 100 100 100
4.75 mm 90-100 90-100 90-100 95-100
2.36 mm 60-95 75-100 85-100 95-100
1.18 mm 30-70 55-90 75-100 90-100
600 µ 15-34 35-59 60-79 80-100
300 µ 5-20 8-30 12-40 15-50
150 µ 0-10 0-10 0-10 0-15

Grading Zone I: Coarse

Grading Zone II: Normal
Grading Zone III: Fine
Grading Zone IV: Very Fine

DISCUSSION:

PAGE NO. ……...

 SAROJ MOHAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(DIP. DIV.)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB I

NAME OF EXPERIMENT: DETERMINATION OF MOISTURE

CONTENT OF A GIVEN SAMPLE
OF FINE AGGREGATE

NAME OF STUDENT:

YEAR: SEMESTER:

REGISTRATION NO.:

ROLL: NO.

DATE OF EXPERIMENT:
PAGE NO. ……...
NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: Determination of Moisture Content of a Given Sample of Fine
Aggregate

OBJECTIVE: To determine the moisture content of a given sample of fine aggregate(sand).

RELATED B.I.S. CODE:

1. IS:2386(Part III)-1963

THEORY:

The surface moisture expressed as a percentage of the weight of the saturated surface dry aggregate is
termed as moisture content. Since the absorption represents the water contained in the aggregate in
the saturated surface dry condition and the moisture content is the water in excess of that, the total
water content of a moist aggregate is equal to the absorption and moisture content.

The determination of moisture content of an aggregate is necessary in order to determine the net water-
cement ratio for a batch of concrete. A high moisture content will increase the effective water-cement
ratio to an appreciable extent and may make the concrete weak unless a suitable allowance is made.

Free moisture in both coarse aggregate and fine aggregate affects the quality of concrete in more than
one way. In case of weigh batching, determination of free moisture content of the aggregate is necessary
and then correction of water-cement ratio is to be done. But when volume batching is adopted, the
determination of moisture content of the fine aggregate does not become necessary. Here, the drying
method is adopted for the determination of the moisture content of the sample of fine aggregate
(sand)given.

APPARATUS:

1. Balance
2. Oven
3. A tray of area not less than 325 cm²
4. A container large enough to take the sample

PROCEDURE:
1. Measure the weight of empty container. Take the sample of fine aggregate in the container and
measure its weight. The weight of the sample is then calculated.
2. Place the container in the oven at a temperature of 105°C to 110°C. Care is necessary to avoid over
drying of it. The sample of fine aggregate should be brought to a just free flowing condition and must
not be heated further. This stage can be determined by fell or by forming the fine aggregate into a
pile on the tray by means of a conical mould; on remould of the mould, the material should slump
freely. If the sample (sand) has an acquired a brownish tinge, it indicates that excessive drying has
taken place.
3. Measure the weight of the container having the sample after drying is over. Loss of weight of the
sample is calculated and weight of dried sample is determined.
4. Calculate the moisture content.

PAGE NO. ……...

RESULT:
 Weight of empty container(w) =

 Weight of container + Wet sand (w₁) =

 Weight of container + Dry sand (w₂) =

w1 − w2
 Moisture Content = X 100 % =
w1 − w

DISCUSSION:

PAGE NO. ……...

 SAROJ MOHAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(DIP. DIV.)

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

SUBJECT: CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB I

NAME OF EXPERIMENT: DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC

GRAVITY OF FINE AGGREGATE

NAME OF STUDENT:

YEAR: SEMESTER:

REGISTRATION NO.:

ROLL: NO.

DATE OF EXPERIMENT:

PAGE NO. ……...

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT: Determination of Specific Gravity of Fine Aggregate

OBJECTIVE: To determine the specific gravity of fine aggregate.

RELATED B.I.S. CODE:

1. IS:2386(part III)-1963

THEORY:
Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of aggregate to the weight of on equal volume
of water. Water at a temperature of 23°C has a specific gravity of 1. Specific gravity is important for
several reasons. Some deleterious particles are lighter than the ‘good’ aggregates. Tracking specific
gravity can sometimes indicate a change of material or possible contamination. Differences in specific
gravity may be used to separate the deleterious particles from the aggregate wing a heavy media liquid.

APPARATUS:

1. Balance
2. Oven
3. Pycnometer
4. A means of supplying a current of warm air, such as a hair drier
5. A tray of area not less than 325 cm²
6. An airtight container large enough to take the sample
7. Filter papers and funnel
8. Glass rod and wash bottle

PROCEDURE:
1. Take a sample of 500 gm fine aggregate and it shall be weighed. Note down the weight as A.
2. The aggregate shall then be placed in the pycnometer which shall be filled with distilled water. Any
trapped air shall be eliminated by rotating the pycnometer on its side, the hole in the apex of the
cone being covered with a finger. The pycnometer shall be topped up with distilled water to remove
any forth from the surface and so that the surface of the water in the hole in flat. The pycnometer
shall be dried on the outside and weighed. Say it B.
3. The contents of the pycnometer shall be emptied into the tray, core being taken to ensure that all
the aggregate is transferred. The pycnometer shall be refilled with distilled water to the same level
as before, dried on the outside and weighed. Record the weight as C. The difference in the

PAGE NO. ……...

 temperature of the water in the pycnometer during the first and second weighing shall not exceed
2°C.
4. The water shall then be carefully drained from the sample through a filter paper and any material
retained returned to the sample. The sample shall be place in the oven in the ray at temperature of
100 to 110°C for 24±½ hours, during which period in shall be stirred occasionally to facilitate trying.
It shall be cooled in the air tight container and weighed. Note the weight as D.

D
Specific Gravity=
A−B−C

D
Apparent specific Gravity =
D−(B−C)

RESULT:
 Weight of saturated surface dry sample, A =

 Weight of Pycnometer filled with distilled water + sample B =

 Weight of Pycnometer filled with distilled water C=

 Weight of oven dried sample D=

D
 Specific Gravity = =
A−B−C

D
 Apparent specific Gravity = =
D−(B−C)

DISCUSSION:

PAGE NO. ……...