EVALUATION OF SAND QUALITY

AND ITS EFFECT ON MORTAR &

CONCRETE

H Laldintluanga
 Introduction
 This study is to Assess The Feasibility Of The
Commonly Used Sand For Construction
Works in Mizoram
 Mortar is prepared with Different Source Of
Sand
 M-20 Concrete(1:1.5:3,wc=0.5) is prepared with
Cement+ different source of Sand + Silchar C.A
 M-40 Concrete(1:1.3:2.2,wc=0.4) is prepared
with Cement+ Meghalaya sand+ Silchar C.A
 Mortar & Concrete
MORTAR
 Mortar for masonry work is a combination of Cement, sand
and water.
 Mortar is a workable paste used to bind building blocks
such as stones, bricks and concrete masonry unit together.
 Mortar is used to fill and seal the irregular gaps between
building blocks.
CEMENT CONCRETE
 Concrete is a composite material in which a binding
material mixed in water with well grouped fine and
coarse aggregates.
CONDITION OF SOME BUILDINGS IN MIZORAM

Weak bonding of Weak Bonding of

Mortar Weak bonding of Slab Column
 TYPES OF SAND

RIVER SAND
 
CRUSHED SAND

PIT SAND

SEA SAND
 RIVER SAND

This sand is widely used for all purposes. It is

obtained from the banks or beds of rivers and it
consists of fine rounded grains.
 
The presence of fine rounded grains is due to
mutual attrition under the action of water current.

The river sand is available in clean conditions.

RIVER SAND
 CRUSHED SAND

Due to shortage of natural sand, stones are

crushed into required size.
It is a substitute for River Sand, fine
aggregates which manufactured by crushing
It is also obtained as a by product when
rocks are crushed to get coarse aggregates.
CRUSHED SAND
SIZE VARIATIONS OF SAND & COARSE AS PER IS 1498
 SPECIFICATION S OF SAND AS PER IS 383
Type of Sand Fineness Modulus
Fine sand 2.2 – 2.6
Medium Sand 2.6 – 2.9
Coarse Sand 2.9 – 3.2

Note: (a) Fineness Modules above 3.20 and (b) Silt Content above 3%(River Sand)
15% (Crushed Sand) by weight should not be used for concrete works
Zone of Sand As Per IS: 383-1970
IS Sieve Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4
10 mm 100 100 100 100
4.75 mm 90 – 100 90 – 100 90 – 100 95 – 100
2.36 mm  60 – 95 75 – 100 85 – 100 95 – 100
1.18 mm 30 – 70 55 – 90 75 – 100 90 – 100
600 microns 15 – 34 35 – 59 60 – 79 80 – 100
300 microns 5 – 20 8 – 30 12 – 40 15 – 50
150 microns 0 – 10 0 – 10 0 – 10 0 – 15

It is recommended that fine aggregate conforming grading zone IV should not be used in
reinforced concrete unless test has been made to a certain the suitability of proposed mix
proportion as per IS 383-2016
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SAND
Specific Fineness Silt &
Sl No Source of the sample Sand Zone
Gravity Modulus Clay(%)
I River Sand      

1 Bagha 2.5 2.03 IV 3.55

2 Zatinga 2.7 2.64 IV 3.13
3 Langkaih 2.6 2.55 IV 4.14
4 Darlungkai 2.56 4.7 I 3.8
5 Sairang 2.56 4.14 I 3.83
6 Chhimtuipui 2.6 3.77 II 2.02
II Crushed Sand      
Maubuang Crushed
7 Sand
2.57 3.19 I 28.72

Sakawrtuichhun
8 Crushed Sand
2.67 3.69 I 29.13
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SAND &COARSE
AGGREGATE USED ON M-20 & M- 40 CONCRETE
Coarse Aggregate

Source of the sample AIV % LAAV % WA % Specific ACV %

Gravity
Sakawrtuichhun 22.8 37.20 2.87 2.51 23.03
Silchar 17.8 24.6 1.50 2.54 20.25

SAND (FINE AGGREGATE)

Source of the Specific Fineness Sand Silt & Clay

Sl No Zone Content (%)
sample Gravity Modulus
I River Sand      
1 Sairang 2.56 4.14 I 3.83
II Crushed Sand      
Meghalaya Crushed
1 Sand
2.62 3.22 II 0.2
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT WITH STRENGTH OF CONCRETE
USING SAIRANG SAND AND SAKAWRTUICHHUN AGREGGATE
Setting Time in
hours Compressive Compressive
Soun
Normal Strength of Strength of
Sl Name of the Specific Fineness dness
Consisten Mortar Concrete
No Cement Gravity Test (%) Initial Final in
cy (%) Setting Setting mm N/mm2 after N/mm2 after
Time Time 28 days 28 days

1 Black Tiger 4.31 33 5.22 145 485 2 35.85 12.44

2 Dalmia 4.69 31 8.46 120 475 1 46.50 12.87
3 Star Cement 4.40 35 6.49 147 470 2 42.70 12.60
4 Topcem 4.37 32 4.20 159 540 1 43.20 12.93
5 Best 4.38 27 19.44 135 420 1 33.50 12.82
6 Max 4.70 30 14.33 150 540 3 37.70 11.36
Valley
7 Strong 4.50 31 5.86 92 430 0.5 34.7 12.56
8 Taj 4.33 31 10.82 156 520 2 30.05 11.63
Mortar Cube
 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF SAND
Particle Size Distribution
Coarse Fine aggregate % Silt &
SL. Source of the sample Aggregate
No % Coarse Medium Clay %
Fine
I RIVER SAND
1 Bagha 0.46 0.26 12.80 83.93 3.55
2 Zatinga Balu 0.90 0.57 62.29 33.86 3.13
3 Langkaih 2.80 1.80 53.20 38.06 4.14
4 Darlungkai 22.00 16.60 50.80 7.60 3.8
5 Sairang No 1 12.39 7.85 48.62 28.03 3.10
6 Sairang Civil 18.30 12.43 47.06 18.82 3.83
II Crushed Sand
Maubuang Crushed
7 Sand 2.57 24.59 30.31 13.81 28.72
Sakawrtuichhun
8 Crushed Sand 0.44 15.14 56.07 17.93 29.13
 EFFECT OF SAND ON MORTAR
Compressive
Source of the Silt & Dial Gauge Density
Sl No Sand Zone Strength of
samples Clay % reading (KN) (kg/m3)
Mortar N/mm2

I Sand          
1 Bagha 3.55 Zone IV 55.1 15.6 2215.74
2 Zatinga 3.13 Zone IV 137.7 28.1 2227.41
3 Langkaih 4.14 Zone IV 99.47 20.3 2157.43
4 Darlungkai 3.8 Zone I 135.1 27.6 2332.36
Maubuang Crushed
sand
28.72 Zone I 88.3 18 2233.24
5
6 Sairang 3.83 Zone I 91 18.6 2169.1
7 Chhimtuipui 2.02 Zone II 59.3 12.1 2139.94
Sakawrtuichhun
8 Crushed sand
29.13 Zone I 55 11.22 2157.43

9 Standard Sand 0 Zone II 168 34.22 2380

Additional Water Required on Mortar Mix
Water quantity required is calculated based on
Normal Consistency (P value)
Quantity of Water = (P/4+3)% x Weight of mix
P value works very fine if the sand is cohesion less.
If the sand is not fully cohesion less, the water
required on the mortar mix changes depend on the
quantity of cohesive material present.
It has been found that locally available sand are not
fully cohesion less and needed a new water content.
New Water Content is calculated from Proctor Test.
 Additional Water Required on Mortar Mix
Water content
Normal New Water
Sl required(ml) = Sand OMC on
Name of the items Consistency Zone Sand in % Content in
No (P/4+3)% x Weight ml
(%)
of mix
I River Sand Star Cement (1) (2) (3)  (4)
1 Bagha 92 IV 17.8 142
2 Zatinga 92 IV 14.6 117
3 Langkaih 92 IV 17.1 137
4 Darlungkai 92 I 14.0 112
5 Sairang 92 I 15.3 122
6 Chhimtuipui 34 92 II 16.0 128
II Crushed Sand        

7 Maubuang Stonedust 92 I 17.8 142

Sakawrtuichhun
8 92 I 17.8 142
Stonedust
9 Standard Sand 92 II 11.5 92
 Effect of Additional Water on Mortar
With Additional Water Without Additional Water

Sl No Name of the items Compressive Compressive

Density
Silt & Clay % Strength of Density (kg/m )
3
Strength of
(kg/m3)
Mortar N/mm2 Mortar N/mm2

I RIVER SAND
1 Bagha 3.55 15.6 2215.74 11.61 1895.04
2 Zatinga 3.13 28.10 2227.41 9.45 1903.79
3 Langkaih 4.14 20.30 2157.43 16.37 2027.70
4 Darlungkai 3.8 27.60 2332.36 11.98 1997.08
5 Chhimtuipui 2.02 12.10 2139.94 8.10 1924.20
6 Sairang 3.83 18.60 2169.10 6.47 1959.18
II CRUSHED SAND

Maubuang
7 28.72 18.00 2233.24 11.13 2020.41
Crushed Sand
Sakawrtuichhun
8 29.13 11.22 2157.43 6.13 1772.59
Crushed Sand
 CONCRETE
Cement Concrete is prepared to know the
effect of type of sand and dust .
Concrete Mix proportion and materials used
are given in Introduction page No.2
Effect of Reduction of Silt & Clay on Concrete
Average
SL. Dial Gauge Compressive Density Silt & Clay
Source of the sample strength %
No reading strength (N/mm2) (N/mm2) (kg/m3)
(KN)
410.8 18.26 2281.48
1 LANGKAIH 455 20.22 19.12 2364.44 4.137

425 18.89 2328.89

575 25.56 2346.67
2 LANGKAIH (WASH) 680 30.22 27.78 2358.52 0.6

620 27.56 2352.59

475 21.11 2340.74
3 SAIRANG 490 21.78 21.63 2346.67 3.83

495 22.00 2429.63

625 27.78 2405.93
4 SAIRANG (WASH) 615 27.33 27.48 2411.85 1.54

615 27.33 2444.44

 Concrete Compressive strength of Crushed Sand
(M-20)

Compressive Average
SL. Source of the Size of the Dial Gauge Density
strength strength
No sample sample (cm) reading (KN) (kg/m3)
(N/mm2) (N/mm2)

15x15x15 565 25.11 2328.89

Sakawrtuichhun
1 15x15x15 515 22.89 23.85 2340.74
Crushed Sand

15x15x15 530 23.56 2340.74

15x15x15 450 20.00 2281.48

Maubuang
2 15x15x15 450 20.00 20.07 2388.15
Crushed Sand
15x15x15 455 20.22 2340.74
Concrete Compressive Strength of River Sand (M-20)
Sl. Average strength Density
Source of the sample
No (N/mm2) (kg/m3)
1 BAGHA 24.30
2300
2 LANGKAIH 19.12
2325
3 LANGKAIH (Wash) 27.78
2353
4 DARLUNGKAI 21.19
2292
5 SAIRANG CIVIL 23.48
2347
6 ZATINGA 27.85
2360
7 SAIRANG NO 1 21.63
2372
8 SAIRANG (Wash) 27.48
2420
 Effect of Dust (2%)on Concrete (M-40)
Name of Size of the Dial Compressive Average Density
SL. No Name of the sample Sample sample (cm) Gauge strength strength (kg/m3)
reading (N/mm ) (N/mm2)
2

(KN)
S1
15x15x15 787.5 35.00 2343.70
S2
15x15x15 697.5 31.00 2347.26
Concrete Cube with
1 dust coated S3 33.70
Aggregate 15x15x15 855 38.00 2330.07
S4
15x15x15 731.3 32.50 2311.11
S5
15x15x15 720 32.00 2340.74
S1 15x15x15 999 44.40 2417.78
S2 15x15x15 999 44.40 2400.00
Concrete Cube
2 without dust S3 15x15x15 1046.25 46.50 45.66 2370.37
coated Aggregate
S4 15x15x15 1035.0 46.00 2429.63
S5 15x15x15 1057.5 47.00 2340.74
 Statistical Model using Regression Analysis
Compressive Strength of Concrete :
= 50.5+(1.6*SG)-(0.28*FM)-(8.38*SC)
(R2 =0.99)

Compressive Strength of Mortar:

= -135+(58.03*SG)+(1.96*FM)+(0.48*SC)
(R2 =0.76)
Where
SG = Specific Gravity
SC = Silt and Clay
FM = Fineness Modulus

 
 CONCLUSIONS
The presence of silt and clay in sand is not the
only factor which affects the mortar/concrete
strength. Other factors maybe workability,
particle shapes, organic impurities and texture.
The crushed sand required more water and
having lesser density than the river sand.
Dust coated aggregate has weakened aggregate
to have strong binding with cement .
Compressive strength is less when the silt &
Clay content is high.

 
 CONCLUSIONS
A mixture composition of sand approx. 15-25%
of Coarse Sand, 30-40% of Medium sand, 20-30
% of Fine Sand has given higher strength of
mortar and concrete.
Sand which has cohesiveness and having
binding property need additional water. Based
on particle size distribution as well as different
silt and clay content.
At every one (1%) percent reduction in silt and
clay, there are an increase of 2.45 N/mm2 and
2.55 N/mm2 for Langkaih and Sairang
respectively.

 
THANK YOU