STUDIES ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HOMOGENEOUS SAND MIXES

Abstract

Effects of water-clay ratio, particle size and bentonite content on the physical properties of homogeneous sand mixes have been investigated. Results of the investigation indicate that: (1) Water-clay ratio is an important parameter affecting the physical properties of homogeneous sand mixes. (ii) For a given particle size and bentonite content, (a) green compression strength, green shear strength and green hardness attain a maximum around a water-clay ratio of 0.4, (b) permeability attains a maximum value, bulk density a minimum around a water-clay ratio of 0.6.(iii) Riddled density, AFS flowability, GF flowability decrease rapidly where as the compactability increases rapidly' with the increase in water-clay ratio upto 0.6and then tend to attain a steady value on increasing the water-clay ratio further.(iv) For a given water-day ratio and bentonite content the properties vary with the increase in particle size upto a value around 400 microns and then become insensitive to particle size. (v) For a given water-clay ratio and particle size the physical properties vary with increase in bentonite content upto a value around 7% and then Sremain constant with furthtr increase in bentonite content. Attempts made to interrelatethe physical prt,perties indicate that: (1) A linear relationship exists between green compression and green shear strength, and (ii) compactability, GF flow ability and Riddle density are linearly inter-related.