CIVIL Engineering Materials

CEN 213

SAND AND SURKI

SAND
Sand is an engineering material in
concrete work. It is usually termed
as fine aggregate. Sand is a form
of silica (quartz) and may be of
argillaceous siliceous or
calcareous according to its
composition
 A form of silica of small grains.
 Formed by the decomposition of sandstone due to
various weathering effects.
 Mostly obtained from pits, shores, river beds and
sea beds.
More or less 75 % volume of
concrete is aggregate. So good
quality of aggregates should be used.
Sand should be free from dust (clay +
silt)

Sand should be well graded

If we have different sizes of particles, we will have
less amount of voids. So, we need less amount of
cement and get strength in concrete
Washing of sand is necessary to remove dust
Dust: which passes through the # 100 sieve. (Dust =
Clay + Silt)
Classification of Sand
Sources of Sand
Pit sand
River sand
Sea sand
Pit Sand
Obtained by forming pits into the soil
Sharp, angular, porous and 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 mortars.
 River Sand
 Found at river beds and banks.
 Almost white in color.
 Fine, rounded and polished due
to rubbing action of water currents.
 Having less frictional strength because of roundness.
 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.
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.
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.
Availability of sand in Bangladesh
It is abundantly available all over Bangladesh.
Very good variety of river sand is available in the
district of Dhaka, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Savar,
Kaliakair, Durgapur, Sunamganj.
Both sea sand and river sand of good quality are
found in coastal districts like Khulna, Noakhali and
Chittagong.
A good variety of coarse sand is abundantly found
in Cox’s Bazar.
Grading of Aggregate

Fig. Showing aggregates of different particle sizes

Grading of Aggregate
•Grading is the particle-size distribution of an aggregate as
determined by a sieve analysis using wire mesh sieves with
square opening.
•Suitable gradation is required to ensure strength, workability
and economy of concrete
•Principle of Gradation: Smaller size particles fill up the voids
left in large size particles
•Sieve analysis is the method to determine grading of
aggregates
•For same size particles: void is more
•For different size particles: void is less
ASTM Standard Sieve
 Classification of Aggregate
According to size
Coarse aggregate: aggregate retained on 4.75mm
(#4) sieve

Fine aggregate: aggregates passing through

4.75mm (#4) sieve and retained on 0.075 mm sieve

Silt and clay: aggregate passing through 0.075

mm sieve
 Fineness Modulus
Fineness Modulus (FM) is an index which gives an idea
about the fineness or coarseness of aggregate

Σ Cumulative % retained on all the standard US sieve

 FM=
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)
Classification of Sand based on
Fineness Modulus

Fine sand: FM=2.20 ~2.60;

Medium sand: FM=2.60 ~2.90;

Coarse sand: FM=2. 90 ~3.20;

 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
(FM)= (Σ Cumulative % retained on all the standard US
sieve)/100

sieve Size Materials % M.R Cumulative %finer

(mm) retained %M.R.
in
(gm)
1.5in 0
¾ in 0
3/8 in 0
#4 4.75 0
#8 2.36 0
#16 1.18 10
#30 0.60 30
#50 0.30 100
#100 0.15 60
sieve Size Materials % M.R Cumulative %finer
(mm) retained %M.R.
in
(gm)
1.5in 0 0
¾ in 0 0
3/8 in 0 0
#4 4.75 0 0
#8 2.36 0 0
#16 1.18 10 5
#30 0.60 30 15
#50 0.30 100 50
#100 0.15 60 30
sieve Size Materials % M.R Cumulative %finer
(mm) retained %M.R.
in
(gm)
1.5in 0 0 0
¾ in 0 0 0
3/8 in 0 0 0
#4 4.75 0 0 0
#8 2.36 0 0 0
#16 1.18 10 5 5
#30 0.60 30 15 20
#50 0.30 100 50 70
#100 0.15 60 30 100
Σ 195
sieve Size Materials % M.R Cumulative %finer
(mm) retained %M.R.
in
(gm)
1.5in 0 0 0 100
¾ in 0 0 0 100
3/8 in 0 0 0 100
#4 4.75 0 0 0 100
#8 2.36 0 0 0 100
#16 1.18 10 5 5 95
#30 0.60 30 15 20 80
#50 0.30 100 50 70 30
#100 0.15 60 30 100 0
Σ 195

FM=195/100
=1.95 (fine sand)
sieve Size Materials % M.R Cumulative %finer
(mm) retained %M.R.
in
(gm)
1.5in 0
¾ in 14
3/8 in 46
#4 4.75 55
#8 2.36 65
#16 1.18 10
#30 0.60 30
#50 0.30 50
#100 0.15 60
Σ

FM=
= (type of sand)
Gradation Curve
 Grading Curve
 The results of a sieve analysis can be grasped much more easily if
represented graphically and for this reason, grading charts are very
extensively used. By using a chart, it is possible to see at a glance
whether the grading of a given sample conforms to that specified, or
is too coarse or too fine, or deficient in a particular size.
 o Gap grading caused uneconomical mix
o Uniformly grading causes lot of voids
o More finely grading causes less workability, low strength concrete
o More coarsely grading caused segregation
o Uniformly grading caused segregation
Combine Grading
 Mixed grading of CA and FA. FA fills up the voids left in CA
Problem
 For a bridge construction project, the recommended FM for sand is 2.6.
From a market, two sand samples (sand-1 and sand-2) were collected and
were sent to a nearby Concrete Laboratory for sieve analysis. The sieve
analysis data are given below:
Calculation
Desirable Properties of Sand
• Inert completely (i.e., should not have any
chemical activity)
• Grains sharp, strong and angular
• Not contain hygroscopic salt
• Should not contain clay & silt, which are the
harmful ingredients
• No organic matter
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.
 Tests of Sand
Test for silt and clay:

 The presence of silt and clay in sand is

determined by the percentage loss in weight of
a sample after washing the same with 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.
Tests for organic matter
Uses
Fine sand is used for plastering works
Medium sand is used for masonry works
Coarse sand is used for concrete work.
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. 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.
 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%, 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.

Bulking of sand affects W/C ratio and also the

proportioning of aggregate.
Bulking of Sand
Vm
b= Vs
x 100
b= bulking in percentage (%)
Vs = Volume of dry or fully saturated sand
Vm= Moist sand
Bulking of sand = (200-160)/160
= 40/160
= 1/4 (or) 25%
Moisture Conditions
Properties of Good Aggregate
Should not contain deleterious material
Should be strong and dense
Should be hard and tough
Should be durable
Shape should be angular
Surface should be rough
Should have smaller porosity and absorption
Should be clean and pure
Should be well graded
Surki
Surki is made by grinding freshly
burnt and well burnt bricks.
It should be perfectly clean, free from
foreign matter and sufficiently fine to
pass through No. 8 sieve (US).
Surki is largely used in making lime
mortar, lime plaster and lime
concrete.