CE-201

ENGINEERING MATERIALS
SANDS

Asst Prof Nur

CE Dept, MIST
e-mail: [email protected]
 Sand
❖ Definition.

❖ Sources of Sand.

❖ Classification of Sand according to size.

❖ Properties and functions of sand.

❖ Use of Sand.

❖ Test for Sand.

❖ Bulking of Sand.
 What is Sand?
Sand is an important building material. It abundantly
occurs in nature and is formed by the decomposition of
rocks due to various weathering effects.
Sand particles consist of small grains of silica (SiO2).

Sands are of various grades or sizes depending upon the

intensity of weathering.
The sand grains may be of sharp, angular or rounded.
It forms a major ingredient in concrete, lime mortar,
cement mortar, etc.
In concrete work it is usually termed as F.A. contains
30-45% vol. of total aggregate.
 Sand
❖ Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of
finely divided rock and mineral particles.

❖ The most common constituents of sand is Silika (SiO2), usually

in the form of quartz.

❖ Sand is used to provide bulk, strength, and other properties to

construction materials like asphalt and concrete
 Sources of Sand
❖ Sand is formed by the weathering of rocks.
❖ Mostly obtained from pits, shores, river beds and sea
beds.
❖ Based on the natural sources from which sand is
obtained, there are mainly three kinds of sand in use:
– Pit sand
– River sand
– Sea sand
 Pit Sand
Obtained by forming pits into the soils.

Excavated from a depth of about

1-2 m from the ground level.
It is light brown or yellowish colour.

Sharp, angular, porous & free from harmful salts.

Clay and other impurities should be
washed and screened before using it.
Fine pit sand when rubbed between finger should not leave
any strain on it.
Used for mortar or concrete work.
 River Sand
Obtained from river beds and banks.
Available in clean condition and
usually free from salts.
Fine, rounded and polished due rubbing
action of water currents (mutual attrition).
Having less frictional strength because of roundness.
Almost white in color.
Grains are smaller than pit sand hence more suitable for
plastering work.
Normally available in pure condition and can be used in all
kinds of CE works.
 Sea Sand
• Obtained from sea shores.
• Fine, rounded and polished
due to rubbing action of water.
• Light brown in color.
• As it is obtained from sea,
it contains salt, which attracts moisture from atmosphere.
• Such absorption causes dampness and disintegration of work.
• Worst of the three types of sand because of containing lots of
salts.
 Sea Sand
• Salts absorb moisture from
atmosphere and cause
permanent dampness
and efflorescence in the
structure.
• Sea sand does not have high compressive strength, high tensile
strength etc so it cannot be used in construction activities.
• Besides it contains shells and organic matter which decompose
in the body of mortar and concrete and reduce their life and
strength.
• Sea sand should as far as possible be discarded. It is generally
not used for Engineering purpose.
 Fineness Modulus
⦿ Fineness Modulus (FM) is an index which gives an idea
about the fineness or coarseness of aggregate

⦿ (FM)= (Σ Cumulative % retained on all the standard US

sieve)/100

⦿ US standard sieves are 1.5in, 3/4 in, 3/8 in, #4 (4.75mm),

#8 (2.36 mm), #16 (1.18mm), #30 (0.6mm), #50
(0.30mm), and #100 (0.15 mm)
Grading Limits
Types of Sand
Classification of Sand based on Size

Fine sand Coarse sand

Medium sand
 Classification of Sand based on Size
• Fine sand: FM= 2.20 ~2.60;
• All sand particles should pass through No. 16 (ASTM) sieve.
• Usually used in plastering works.

• Medium sand: FM= 2.60 ~2.90;

• All sand particles should pass through No. 8 (ASTM) sieve.
• Generally used for mortar in masonry works.

• Coarse sand: FM= 2. 90 ~3.20;

• All sand particles should pass through No. 4 (ASTM) sieve.
• Suitable for concrete works.
 Fineness Modulus Determination
Classify sand based on fineness.
A sample of 200 gm of sand was sieved through standard sieves
and the following results were obtained:

Sieve No Sieve Opening Weight retained in

(mm) gm
4 4.75 0
8 2.36 0
16 1.19 10
30 0.59 30
50 0.30 100
100 0.15 60
Solution:
 Combined Fineness Modulus
If two or more different variety of sand are mixed together the
combined FM of the mixed sample can be determined as follows:

m1F1 + m2F2 +……….+mnFn

• Fcom=
m1 + m2 +………..mn
Determine the ratio in which they were mixed.

• R= F1 – F com
F com – F2
The following is the result of the sieve analysis of two samples of
sand (1250 gm. Each) from Savar and Manikganj. Calculate the
combined FM.
Solution:
Solution.
 Desirable Properties of Sand
• Sand should be clean and coarse.
• It should be of pure silica.
• Inert completely (i.e., should not have any chemical
activity)
• Grains sharp, strong and angular.
• Not contain hygroscopic salts which attract moisture.
• Should not contain clay & silt, It should be free from any
organic or vegetable matter.
• It should be clean and free from coatings of Clay and Silt.
 Functions of Sand
in Mortar/Concrete

✔ Offers requisite surface area for the film of binding material to

adhere and spread
✔ Increase the volume of mortar and consequently makes mortar
more economical
✔ A well-graded sand adds to the density of mortars and concrete
✔ Prevents excessive shrinkage of mortar
✔ Since inert material, it renders structure more resistant against
atmospheric agencies.
 Uses
• Fine sand is used for plastering works.
• Medium sand is used for masonry works.
• Coarse sand is used for concrete work.
• It is also used for manufacturing hollow and sheet glasses.
• Sand is also used to fill up gaps in between bricks in road
construction.
• Sand bags are widely used in retaining works.
 Tests for Sand
Test for silt and clay:

If present in sand could be ascertained by determining the

percentage loss in weight of a sample of sand after washing it
with the aid of clean water.

However, field test can be performed by rubbing a small

amount of sand between finger tips. If clay spots are left on
finger tips, it indicates the existence of clay in the considerable
amount.
 Tests for Sand

• Test for salt:

Can be tested by putting some amount in mouth. The test
will reflect the presence of any salt.
 Tests for Sand
Tests for organic matter:
Make 3% solution of NaOH & put some sand into the
solution. Close the bottle for 24 hrs and meanwhile shake
the solution vigorously.
The color of the liquid turns brown if any organic matter is
present in sand.
The darkness of color gives the estimation of the amount
of organic matter that exists in the sand.
 Substitute of Sand
If good sand is not available in the nearby of the site, the
substitutes may be uses.

Stone screenings: fine particles obtained by screening

crushed stones. The grains are sharp and strong, and hence
impart better strength to the concrete if used.

Shurki: obtained from finely powdered burnt clay(bricks).

Also obtained by grinding slightly under-burnt bricks. It
disintegrates under the action of air & humidity; not used for
external mortar.
 Bulking of Sand
Means increase in volume of sand due to the presence of
moisture. Fine aggregate (i.e., sand) increases in volume
when they posses some moisture.
It is due to the formation of a thin film of water around the
aggregate or sand particles and interlocking the air in
between the sand grains and the film of water.
The thickness of this film goes on increasing with more and
more moisture. Therefore, the increase in volume of sand
mass continues. This increase in volume varies 20~30%
(vol. basis) depending upon the fineness of sand. The finer
will undergo with greater increase in volume.
 Bulking of Sand
• After certain % of water (5~8% by weight of sand, also
depends on the fineness of sand), the volume of sand starts
decreasing with the further increase in water and eventually
the increased volume completely vanishes, and at this moment,
the volume occupied by sand becomes the volume of dry sand.
• The extent of bulking depends on the grading of sand. Finer
sands bulks considerably more and reaches maximum bulking
at a higher water content than does coarse sand.
• Extremely fine sand has been known to bulk as much as 40%
at a moisture content of 10%.
• Bulking of sand affects W/C ratio and also the proportioning
of aggregate.
Bulking of Sand
Query ?
Thank You
 Pink Sand Beach,
Pink Sands in The Bahamas
 Coral Pink Sand Beach is a beach
between palm trees and pink sand in
Harbour Island, Bahamas. Its color is due
to sedimentation of coral origin rosacea
 Red beach
Kaihalulu, Hawaii
Located on the island of Mauim in Hawaii, this
beach is not easily accessible, but the long
journey worthwhile. The red color of the sand
due to erosion of the hill of red sandstone that
lies at the foot of the beach.
 White Sand Beach
Australia (Hyams Beach)
 Included in the Guinness Book as the whitest
sand beach in the world. Located in New South
Gale, two hours from Sydney and is known as
Hyams Beach.
It is composed of 99% pure quartz
 Punaluu Beach
black colored sand in Hawaii
Punaluu is a beach between Pahala and Na
Alehu in Hawaii. The black sand comes from
basalt lava formed, a feature also found in
other beaches of Hawaii.
Papakolea Beach, Hawaii
Green sand beach
 Olivine, a common component of lava
from Hawaii, is in relative abundance on
the beach Papakolea, why especially on
the shore, the beach has a particular
shade of green.
Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California.
purple Arena
 The hills surrounding Pfeiffer Beach in Big
Sur, California, are rich in manganese garnet.
One result of this being dragged to the beach
is the combination of colors that can be seen
over the entire stretch of sand.
 The wave action, the forms and
turns of tiny crystals changes in
rainbow patterns create a wonderful
reflection, red, magenta and violet