What exactly is "bulking of sand" in concrete? How do we test the presence of bulking of sand?

Question

Preferably the answers are relevant to civil engineering field. I'm a civil engineering student.

Answer 1

bulking of sand..... it is a phenomenon which makes every sand particle to increase its size, in other words, the sand particles when encountered with moisture, are surface coated with thin layer of water which increases the volume of the sand.
the volume increase would be not more than 4% with increase in the water content. after 4%increase in volume, the increase in water content collects all the water occupied in the pores of sand and due to specific weight of sand being high, the water floats over the sand, leaving the wetted sand below.

you can try this by doing an experiment. take a test tube, add a measured quantity, weight and volume of sand. say 20 gms or something. now add %of watercontent to the sand mix well and placeit in the same test tube now measure the increase in the volume and go on... doing this... a time after the increase has reached 4% there would be reduction of the volume but not to the actual volume as dry sand...

check with the values and quantities of water and sand to take with you text books, i have studied it almost 6 years ago. i completed structural engineering...so a little away from soil mechanics.

Answer 2

Bulking Of Sand