HOW TO DO POPPING AND PITTING TEST OF LIME? [IS:6932-Part 10]

Popping and Pitting Test of Lime Objective To determine popping and pitting of lime sample as per IS-6932-part-10 Theory This test is a measure to study the unsoundness of building limes. Popping, pitting and blowing are due to the presence of coarse unslaked or only partially slaked particles. On final slaking, these cause dislodgement of … Read more

TECHNICAL ISSUES RELATED TO HIGHER GRADE TMT BARS

TMT bars

Some Issues in the Usage of Fe- 500 or Higher Grade TMT Steel Bars in Residential Buildings Some contractors report a tendency among few design Engineers to specify Fe-500 or higher grade steel in residential buildings citing its high strength. Customers are advised that if they use Fe 500 or higher grade steel in building … Read more

HOW TO CHECK IMPURITIES IN SAND ON SITE?

Presence of impurities in sand

Impurities in Sand Clay, silt, salts, mica and organic matter are a source of impurities in sand. All sands are generally found to contain some percentage of silt and clay. Mica is easily discernible from its shining surface. A certain percentage of impurities are inevitable in sand; a maximum of 6 % of silt and … Read more

QUALITY REQUIREMENTS OF DRINKING WATER

Quality Requirements of Drinking Water

Quality Requirements of Drinking Water Parameter Requirements (Desirable Limits) Undesirable effect when outside permissible limit Permissible limit in the absence of alternate source ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC pH 6.5 – 8.5 Beyond this range the water will affect the mucous membrane and/or water supply system No relaxation Colour (Hazen units), maximum 6.5 – 8.5 Above 5, consumer … Read more

VISCOSITY TEST OF BITUMEN (IS 1206-PART-2)

Pic-5 Viscosity test of bitumen

ABSOLUTE VISCOSITY TEST OF BITUMEN Reference IS: 1206 (Part 2) – Method for Testing Tar and Bitumen Materials: Determination of Absolute Viscosity Test Equipment The following testing equipment is needed to measure absolute viscosity of viscosity graded paving bitumen (IS:73-2006) at 60 C in accordance with IS:1206 (Part 2) (similar to ASTM D 2171), which … Read more

BITUMEN EMULSION – WHAT, WHY & HOW?

Bitumen Emulsion - what, why & how

Definition – What is Bitumen Emulsion? Bitumen emulsion is a mixture of water & bitumen. Hey wait, we know that bitumen is a oil product and it cannot be mixed with water. That is why we add an emulsifier (a surface active agent) with water before adding bitumen. Addition of emulsifier with water facilitates breaking … Read more

HOW TO DETERMINE RELATIVE DENSITY OF SAND?

Realtive Density Test

Relative Density or Density Index Test of Sand Purpose: This lab is performed to determine the relative density of cohesionless, free-draining soils using a vibrating table. The relative density of a soil is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the difference between the maximum index void ratio and the field void ratio of a … Read more

HOW TO DETERMINE UNIT WEIGHT OR DENSITY OF SOIL?

Density Test of Soil Purpose: This lab is performed to determine the in-place density of undisturbed soil obtained by pushing or drilling a thin-walled cylinder. The bulk density is the ratio of mass of moist soil to the volume of the soil sample, and the dry density is the ratio of the mass of the … Read more

7 STEPS COMPRISING VISUAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL ON SITE

on site identification & classification of soil

How to Classify Soil Visually on site? Purpose: Visually classify the soils. Standard Reference: ASTM D 2488 – Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual – Manual Procedure) Significance: The first step in any geotechnical engineering project is to identify and describe the subsoil condition. For example, as soon as a ground is … Read more