Sand Equivalent

The test is divided into 2 parts:

(i) First Subsample

(ii) Second subsample

First Subsample
2 portion of normal sample ,each about mass = 220 to 230 g is used

For the first sample:

The sample is heated/dried to a constant mass (where all water has been lost)

Using the table below, the % of water content(also known as the moisture content), W is calculated :

Mass/g
A) Container Oven
B) Contatiner Oven + sample before heating
C) Sample used ( B-A)
D) Contatiner Oven + sample after heating
E) Mass of Sample after heating (final constant mass, D-A)

% water content, W is given by =
* 100 (with respect to the dried/heated mass)

For the second sample:

The sample is washed and sieved on a size fraction 0.063mm

The wet retained particles on the 0.063mm is heated/dried to a constant mass

Using the table below, the % of fines content, f is calculated :

Mass/g
A) Container Y
B) Container Y + sample
C) Sample used (B-A)
D) Container Oven
E) Contatiner Oven + retained sample on 0.063mm sieve
after heating
F) Retained sample on 0.063mm sieve after
heating(dried particles, E-D)

Note: do not throw away the dried particles yet . Wait for MT to be prepared first

% of fines content, f is given by = 100 - (100+)

 Second Subsample

Finding MT (mass to be tested)

If % of fines content, f is less than or equal to 10 % , then:

120(100+)
MT = 100
,

Where the mass is made up of the normal sample (moist sample)

If % of fines content, f is greater than 10 % , then :

MT = M3 + M4

Where the mass is made up of a mixture of the normal sample (moist sample) M3 and the dry
corrective fine aggregates M4

Finding the values of mass of M3 & M4 to be used

1200
M3 =
(1 + 100 )

1200
M4 = 120 -

Preparing wahsing solution :

For every 1 litre of water ,25 mL of the concentrated solution is used

Eg , using 500mL of water ,that is 0.5 L :

0.5
An amount of ( 1
25 ) mL is used for the dilution

Carrying out the test

Pour the washing solution to the lower mark of the cylinder

Carefully, pour MT in the cylinder ,using a funnel
Tap the bottom of cylinder , hard using the palm of your hard atleast 10 times
Leave cylinder for 10 minutes, without any shaking
After the waiting period, close/seal the cylinder with a rubber bang
Shake the cylinder for 30 second using a shaking machine
Wash the rubber bang ,using the washing solution in such a way that all contents goes back
to the cylinder
Wash the walls of the cylinder too
Fill the cylinder with the washing solution to the upper mark. While doing so, use a stick to
agitate the contents at the bottom of the cylinder (by twisting and piker)
After the upper mark is reaches, leave cylinder to rest for 20 minutes
Measurements

This is the clay reading, h1 = 66mm (the mark above is considered) , note this is just an exemple and
not a correct value

After recording of h1 , insert plunger carefully into the cylinder

This is the x reading , x= 132 (mark above),note this is just an exemple and not a correct value

The sand reading, h2 is given by : x 254 mm

Conclusion

The value of the sand equivalent is calculated using the following formulae

h2
S.E = 1 * 100
Repeat experiment for a second time

The average value of S.E is calculated using the following formulae:

(Adding of both S.E)/ 2