Testing > By Materials > Sand
Tinius Olsen
Sand
There are various methods for testing the quality of sand at a construction site for concrete manufacture. The quality of sand is just as important as any other material for concrete.
The aggregates, most of which pass through a 4.75mm IS sieve, are known as fine aggregates. Fine aggregates would include natural sand, crushed stone sand, crushed gravel sand stone dust or arable dust, fly ash and broken brick (burnt soil).
It should be hard, durable, chemically inert, hygienic and free from adhesive coatings, organic matter etc. and should not contain clay balls or pellets or any appreciable amount of harmful impurities. Iron pyrites, alkalis, salts, coal, mica, shale or similar laminated material in such form or in such quantity could cause corrosion of the metal or be prejudicial to the strength, durability or appearance of mortar, plaster or concrete exerts influence.
The sum of the percentages of all harmful materials should not exceed 5%. Fine aggregates should also be checked for organic impurities such as rotten vegetable hump and coal dust, etc.
