Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922

DOI 10.1007/s10706-016-0064-0

ORIGINAL PAPER

Preparation of Uniform Sand Specimens Using Stationary

Pluviation and Vibratory Methods
Chennarapu Hariprasad . Mekala Rajashekhar . Balunaini Umashankar

Received: 18 April 2015 / Accepted: 6 August 2016 / Published online: 12 September 2016
Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Abstract Relative density is an important state uniformity in densities is also assessed, and the
parameter that influences the soil behavior. Prepara- coefficient of variation (COV) in the density is found
tion of sand specimens with uniform density is critical to be less than about 7 %. In addition to pluviation
during large-scale laboratory testing in geotechnical method, uniform sand beds are also prepared using
engineering. In this study, the details of a stationary air pneumatically-operated vibratory method. The target
pluviation device used to prepare uniform sand relative density of sand bed is achieved by adjusting
specimens in a large-size test chamber with dimen- the pressure of compressed air inside the vibrator, and
sions equal to 900 mm 9 900 mm 9 1000 mm (in the maximum relative density of IS Grade II and Grade
length, width, and depth) are provided. The proposed III sands from vibratory method is found to be higher
device is found to be simple to construct due to than that from pluviation method for the range of
presence of only two diffuser sieves with an ability to pressures chosen in the study.
produce uniform sand beds in a reasonably quick time.
Prior to construction of full-scale pluviation device, a Keywords Relative density  Pluviation  Height of
scaled-down model of the device with plan dimen- fall  Opening width  Pneumatic vibrator
sions equal to 300 mm 9 300 mm is fabricated to
perform calibration studies. The range of densities of
two gradations of Indian Standard sand (IS Grade II
and IS Grade III) obtained using this device for various 1 Introduction
heights of fall of sand particles and passing through
different opening sizes are provided. Relative density Relative density is an important parameter governing
in the range of 53–99 % and 74–99 % is achieved for the soil behavior (Been and Jefferies 1985; Bolton
IS Grade II and III sands, respectively. The spatial 1986; Li and Dafalias 2000). Reconstitution of soil
samples to a required density in the laboratory is
fundamental in investigating various geotechnical
C. Hariprasad (&)  M. Rajashekhar  B. Umashankar
problems, for example, to calibrate field instruments,
Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, Kandi,
Telangana 502285, India to investigate the behavior of model foundations and
e-mail: [email protected] retaining structures, to study the soil behavior due to
M. Rajashekhar dynamic or earthquake loading, to validate numerical
e-mail: [email protected] models, etc. (Bellotti et al. 1982; Miura and Toki
B. Umashankar 1982; Bellotti and Morabito 1986; Frost 1989; De
e-mail: [email protected] Gregorio 1990; Ochiai et al. 1992; Yasuda et al. 1992;

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1910 Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922

Fannin and Raju 1993; Chen et al. 1998; Salgado et al. 1

ma ¼ mg  Vqg  CD qAv2 ð1Þ
1998; Mayer et al. 2004; Cerato 2005; Wu and Hong 2
2009; Kim 2009; Della and Arab 2010; Kim et al.
where, q is the mass density of fluid, m is the mass of
2010; Joshi and Patra 2011; Oliveira et al. 2012;
sand particle, a is the acceleration of sand particle, g is
Raghunandan et al. 2012).
the acceleration due to gravity, V is the volume of sand
Sandy soils are reconstituted in the laboratory using
particle (assumed as spherical), A is the projected area
various methods—pluviation, vibration, or tamping.
of the particle, CD is the drag coefficient, and v is the
Pluviation of sand particles through air is the most
velocity of sand particle in the fluid medium.
preferred method as it produces reasonably homoge-
Rad and Tumay (1987) studied the effect of number
nous specimens and replicates the soil fabric similar to
of sieve openings with different patterns on the density
the process of natural deposition of sands (Oda et al.
obtained using pluviation method. They concluded
1978). Many studies are available in the literature on
that the distance between the diffuser sieves and the
pluviation of sand particles through air (Kolbuszewski
number of openings in the diffuser sieve have
1948a, b; Walker and Whitaker 1967; Tatsuoka et al.
negligible effect on the density achieved. The relative
1982; Rad and Tumay 1987; Passalacqua 1991; Lo
density of sand beds increased with the height of fall of
Presti et al. 1992, 1993; Fretti et al. 1995; Dave and
sand particles within 20–30 cm, while no significant
Dasaka 2012). These studies have examined the
effect on relative density of bed was observed for drop
influence of various factors on the density achieved
heights beyond this range. The smaller size of
through pluviation and concluded that the main factors
openings resulted in an increase in the relative density
affecting the density include (a) drop height of sand
of sand bed.
particles, (b) opening width of the sieves through
Baker and Konrad (1985) developed an innovative
which the sand particles are dropped, and (c) the rate
multi-sieve pluviator to prepare the reconstituted
of pouring of sand particles or the depositional
specimens. In this method, dry sand is rained to
intensity. Depending upon the process of pluvial
produce homogeneous specimens of various densities
deposition, Fretti et al. (1995) categorized pluviators
by controlling the rate of sand flowing through the
into two types-(a) stationary pluviator, in which one or
hopper, equipped with variable opening diameter.
more sieves are used to spread the sand flow through
Passalacqua (1991) devised a sand-spreader assembly
the nozzle of a hopper, and (b) travelling pluviator, in
(SSA) consisting of a hopper with an opening at its
which the deposition is done through an opening or a
lower end and sand was pluviated by traversing the
nozzle as it is traversed from one location to the
assembly. Medium-fine sand (uniformity coefficient,
another. The travelling pluviator has an advantage
Cu = 1.67, and average particle size, D50 = 0.25 mm)
over the stationary pluviator in that the traveling
and Ticino sand (Cu = 2.1 and D50 = 1.18 mm) were
pluviator can be used to prepare uniform specimens
used to study the effects of drop height, opening width,
without the need for any sieve that facilitates raining
and the translation velocity of the assembly.
of sand. However, it is not possible to obtain sand
Cresswell et al. (1999) studied the effects of
specimens with relative density greater than 70–90 %
depositional intensity and uniformity of sand rain on
using a travelling pluviator (Fretti et al. 1995).
the maximum density achieved by pluviation. They
Vaid and Negussey (1984) determined the impact
studied four types of sand with different gradations.
velocity of free-falling sand particles through air or
The density of coarser sands from the pluviation
water medium. The impact velocity was obtained
method was greater than that obtained using the
using Eq. 1. In addition, they conducted pluviation
vibratory hammer test performed as per BS 1377-1
studies on two types of sand (Leighton Buzzard sand
(1990). They proposed the concept of ‘‘energetic
and Ottawa sand), and reported that densification
layer’’, a zone up to 20 mm thick above deposited bed,
through air pluviation is effective for drop heights in
in which the bouncing grains have a ‘‘hammering’’
the range of 0–50 cm as the increase in impact velocity
effect on deposited layer leading to dense packing of
of a sand particle is found to be greatest within this
beds.
range, and the particle would reach a constant terminal
Dave and Dasaka (2012) used a ‘Portable traveling
velocity for larger drop heights.
pluviator’ with a set of ten diffuser sieves and studied

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Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922 1911

the height of fall and the depositional intensity on the II sand are found to be more uniform-sized compared
relative density of bed using pluviation. They achieved to that of IS Grade III. In addition, the shape of Grade
relative density in the range of 45–100 % and II sand particles are found to vary from sub-angular to
36–100 % for the two poorly-graded sand types by angular, while Grade III particles varied from sub-
changing both the height of fall and the opening width angular to sub-rounded.
of the sieves.
Many studies are available on preparation of sand
samples using a traveling-type pluviator (Lo Presti 3 Stationary Pluviation Method
et al. 1992, 1993; Fretti et al. 1995; Dave and Dasaka
2012). However, very limited studies are available on Prior to developing a full-scale stationary pluviator, a
the preparation of sand beds using a stationary-type scaled-down pluviation device (with plan dimensions
pluviator (Lee et al. 2011; Paik and Lee 1993), equal to 300 mm 9 300 mm) was first fabricated to
especially inside a large-size test chamber. In this perform calibration studies. Accordingly, the test
study, authors have provided a simple stationary-type results from calibration studies and the development
pluviator with plan dimensions equal to that of test of full-scale pluviator are given next.
chamber (900 mm 9 900 mm). The study provides
the range of densities that can be achieved for Indian
Standard sand of two gradations (Grade II and Grade 3.1 Calibration Studies
III) for different opening widths and heights of fall
from the proposed pluviation device. In addition, the Figure 3 shows the schematic of pluviation device
preparation of sand beds using a pneumatic-operated used for calibration studies. It consists of open, square
vibratory method was also proposed. These methods box of plan area equal to 300 mm 9 300 mm (shown
were found to produce repeatable test results and as ‘1’ in Fig. 3a) consisting of four sheets. The top two
uniform sand beds with the relative density of sand sheets (shown as ‘2’ and ‘3’ in Fig. 3a) were made up
beds in the range of 53–99 %, and 85–148 % for tested of hylam material of thickness equal to 5 mm, and
sands (IS Grade II and Grade III sands) from third and fourth sheets (shown as ‘4’ and ‘5’ in Fig. 3a)
pluviation and pneumatic vibratory methods, respec- were made up of commercially available thin-wire
tively. The maximum density obtained from pluvia- metallic meshes. Hylam sheets were found to be
tion method was taken as the reference value in the lightweight, and the locking and unlocking mecha-
calculation of the relative density. nism was much easier with this material. However, it
was tedious to drill closely-spaced holes in hylam
sheets for the bottom two sheets, and hence commer-
2 Materials Used cially available metallic meshes were used for sheets
‘4’ and ‘5’. The top two sheets were almost flush with
Two types of sands, known under the name of Indian one another, and were positioned in the grooves within
Standard (IS) Ennore sand and classified as Grades II the side walls (shown as ‘6’ in Fig. 3a). The third and
and III, were used in this experimental study. Table 1 fourth sheets (shown as ‘4’ and ‘5’ in Fig. 3a were
provides the physical properties for the two types of located at a distance equal to 50 mm and 105 mm,
sand. Grain-size distribution, specific gravity, the respectively, from the bottom of the second sheet (‘3’
maximum and the minimum densities for the two in Fig. 3a). Height of fall (Hf) of sand particles is
types of sand are obtained according to ASTM D422 taken as the distance from the bottom sheet (sheet ‘5’
(2007), ASTM D854 (2014), ASTM D4253 and in Fig. 3a) to the top of the sand bed. The height of fall
ASTM D4254, respectively. Figure 1 shows the can be adjusted by lowering or raising the entire
grain-size distribution curves for the two sand types. pluviation system using hook and chain system
They are classified as poorly-graded sand (SP) as per (Fig. 3a). Figure 3b(i–iii) shows the top view of the
the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). Fig- sheets ‘4’ and ‘5’ with openings widths equal to 2, 4,
ure 2 shows the morphology of sand particles obtained and 6 mm, respectively. A lever, shown as ‘7’ in
from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) at a Fig. 3a, is used to lock and unlock the sheets. It was
magnification of 100x. The sand particles of IS Grade connected to sheet ‘2’ and was so adjusted that the

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1912 Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922

Table 1 Physical Parameter Grade II Grade III

properties of IS Ennore
sand D10 (mm) 0.28 0.12
D30 (mm) 0.41 0.18
D50 (mm) 0.49 0.26
D60 (mm) 0.53 0.30
Coefficient of uniformity, Cu 1.89 2.50
Coefficient of curvature, Cc 1.13 0.99
Specific gravity, Gs 2.65 2.65
Minimum density, g/cc (as per ASTM D 4254) 1.53 1.51
Maximum density, g/cc (as per ASTM D 4253) 1.68 1.61
Chemical composition (% of silica) 99.3 99.3
(http://www.tamingranites.com)

Fig. 1 Grain-size distribution curves of IS Grade II and Grade

III sands

openings available in sheets ‘2’ and ‘3’ do not overlap

when sand was filled and was referred as closed
position (refer to Fig. 4a, b). During the raining
process, the lever was adjusted for the openings to
overlap and facilitate raining of soil particles (open
position).
Calibration studies were done using IS Grade-II and
Grade-III sands for various heights of fall and opening
widths of the bottom sheet. During pluviation of sand
particles, the velocity of sand particles increases up to
a point before reaching a terminal velocity. Terminal Fig. 2 SEM images for: a IS Grade II sand, and b IS Grade III
velocity is reached when the drag forces and gravita- sand
tional forces acting on the sand particle become equal.
For height of fall within the limit height, defined as the height of fall owing to the increase in the kinetic
height of fall required to reach the terminal velocity, energy of falling sand particles. Opening width (Ow) is
the density of pluviated sand beds increases with the width of openings in the bottom sheet ‘5’ as shown

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Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922 1913

(a)

2 mm 4 mm

0 0.5 1 1.5 0 0.5 1 1.5

(b)-i (b)-ii

6 mm

0 0.5 1 1.5
(b)-iii

Fig. 3 Pluviation system: a sectional view of pluviation device, and b Photographs of thin-wire metallic meshes with opening sizes
equal to (i) 2 mm, (ii) 4 mm, and (iii) 6 mm (all dimensions shown in the figure are in mm)

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1914 Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922

considered in the study, the maximum density

obtained through pluviation was found to be equal to
1.74 and 1.70 g/cc for IS Grade II and Grade III,
respectively. The relative densities achieved for
various configurations (different heights of fall and
opening widths) for two grades of sand used in the
(a)
study were calculated with respect to this maximum
dry density obtained from pluviation studies. The
= 10 mm maximum density obtained from pluviation was found
20 mm
c/c spacing 20 mm to be higher than that obtained from ASTM D4253
(2006) method (refer to Table 1). ASTM D4254
procedure was used to obtain the minimum density
20 mm for relative density calculations. The relative density
of two sand gradations pluviated from various heights
of fall and opening sizes is discussed next.

3.1.1 Uniformity Study

During calibration studies, rectangular and cylindrical

shaped molds of different sizes were used to measure
the relative density of sand beds. It was concluded that
(b) the shape and size of the mold will not affect the
relative density of sand. Cylindrical molds were
Fig. 4 Details of stationary pluviator: a schematic of cross chosen for further measurements and were placed at
section of sheets in closed and open positions, and b pluviator in
closed position
four different locations to check the spatial uniformity
in the relative density of sand bed inside the test
in Fig. 3a. As the opening width of bottom sheet chamber during the pluviation process. The height,
increases, the relative density of pluviated sand diameter, and wall thickness of the mold were equal to
decreases. The interference between the falling sand 30, 50, and 5 mm, respectively. Figure 5 shows the
particles through a given opening increases with locations of four molds used to obtain the pluviated
increase in the opening widths, leading to a reduction densities. After sand was pluviated inside the molds,
in the velocity of falling sand particles. Accordingly, the surface of the each mold was leveled using a
the kinetic energy of sand particles hitting the surface straight edge before taking them out to measure the
also reduces (Vaid and Negussey 1984; Rad and
Tumay 1987; Passalacqua 1991; Dave and Dasaka 100 100 100
2012). In the present pluviation system, the opening
width of the shutter system (‘2’ and ‘3’ shown in
Fig. 3a) is greater than the bottom sheets (‘4’ and ‘5’ 100
shown in Fig. 3a) which are used to diffuse the A B
particles uniformly through them. The effect of
opening width on relative density was studied by 100
using two configurations with Ow equal to 2 and 4 mm. D C
The corresponding opening widths of Sheet ‘4’ were
equal to 4 and 6 mm for Ow equal to 2 and 4 mm, 100
respectively.
The density of sand bed increases with the height of
fall before reaching the maximum value correspond- Fig. 5 Location of calibration molds used for density mea-
ing to the limiting height. For various heights of fall surements (all dimensions shown in the figure are in mm)

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Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922 1915

Fig. 6 Pluviated sand in calibration molds: a before leveling, and b after leveling

density (Fig. 6a, b). The standard procedure outlined deviation of measured density, DR is the mean value of
in ASTM D4254 (2006) was followed while leveling relative density, and N is the number of locations
the surface of the molds, and great care was taken to where DR was measured (N = 4 in this study).
minimize the disturbance due to adjustment of soil Figures 7 and 8 show the comparison of relative
particles during the leveling process. This procedure densities of Grades II and III for various heights of fall
was found to produce repeatable test results. and two opening widths from measurements on the
Table 2 shows the relative densities, DR, of IS four molds inside the test chamber. Locations A
Grade II and Grade III sands for various heights of fall through D were used to measure the spatial variability
corresponding to two opening widths. The mean value in the relative density of sand bed for a corresponding
(DR ) and coefficient of variation (COV) of density of height. The results show that the variation of densities
sand beds are also given in the Tables. DR, DR , r, and was minimal as the maximum value of COV in the
COV are determined using Eqs. 2–5. relative density was found to be less than about 7 %.
Hence, the pluviation method was found to produce
cd;max ðcd  cd;min Þ
DR ¼  100 ð2Þ uniform sand beds.
cd ðcd;max  cd;min Þ
PN 3.1.2 Effect of Height of Fall on DR
i¼1 DRi
DR ¼ ð3Þ
N
The effect of height of fall, Hf, on the relative density
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi was studied by varying Hf = 5–50 cm. Figure 9 shows
PN 2
i¼1 ðDRi  DR Þ the plot of the relative density versus the height of fall
r¼ ð4Þ
N1 for Ow = 2 and 4 mm. The density reported in the study
r for a given height of fall and opening width corresponds
COV ¼ ð5Þ to the average density obtained from the four molds. As
DR
height of fall, Hf, increases from 5 to 50 cm, the relative
where, cd,max is the maximum density of sand, cd,min is density of IS Grade II sand increased by 52 and 55 %
the minimum density of sand, cd is the density of sand corresponding to opening widths of 2 and 4 mm,
achieved, DR is the relative density of sand, r is the standard respectively. While the relative density of IS Grade III

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1916 Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922

Table 2 Relative density of IS Grade II sand and Grade III sand for various heights of fall corresponding to Ow = 2 and 4 mm
Hf Molds Grade II Grade III
(cm)
Ow = 2 mm Ow = 4 mm Ow = 2 mm Ow = 4 mm
DR DR COV DR DR COV DR DR COV DR DR COV
(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)

5 A 66.4 65.3 5.2 54.7 53.0 3.3 81.5 78.0 5.3 73.0 74.0 2.5
B 69.6 54.0 80.5 76.4
C 62.0 51.2 72.2 72.2
D 63.2 51.5 78.0 74.0
10 A 81.4 82.0 3.4 62.5 63.3 2.6 94.0 94.6 1.8 77.2 76.0 7.2
B 84.1 61.7 97.0 68.0
C 84.0 65.5 93.0 80.5
D 78.1 63.2 94.3 78.0
20 A 94.0 96 1.5 81.4 78.0 4.2 100.0 98.0 2.7 94.0 93.6 0.7
B 97.0 76.2 97.0 93.0
C 96.0 80.3 99.5 93.0
D 97.0 74.5 94.3 94.3
30 A 99.2 97.0 2.0 74.0 78.2 5.5 98.0 99.0 1.0 98.0 94.5 2.5
B 95.0 84.1 100.0 93.0
C 98.1 76.6 100.0 93.0
D 96.0 78.1 98.6 94.3
50 A 99.2 99.3 1.0 85.1 82.0 4.5 100.0 98.0 3.4 98.0 93.5 3.5
B 98.0 76.8 100.0 93.0
C 100.0 84.0 93.0 93.0
D 100.0 81.7 98.3 90.2

Fig. 7 Histogram showing relative density values at four Fig. 8 Histogram showing relative density values at four
locations for IS Grade II sand corresponding to opening widths locations for IS Grade III sand corresponding to opening widths
equal to 2 and 4 mm equal to 2 and 4 mm

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Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922 1917

3.1.3 Effect of Opening Width on DR

The relative density of sand bed obtained from

pluviating through two opening widths (Ow = 2 and
4 mm) was compared to study the effect of opening
width (Fig. 9). The increase in opening width leads to a
decrease in the relative density. For example, relative
density decreased by 19 and 5 % when Ow increased
from 2 to 4 mm at a height of fall equal to 30 cm for IS
Grade II and Grade III sands, respectively.
The effects of height of fall and opening width on
the relative density reported in this study are in good
agreement with the findings reported in the literature
(Vaid and Negussey1984; Rad and Tumay 1987;
Passalacqua 1991; Lo Presti et al. 1993; Dave and
Fig. 9 Relative density versus height of fall corresponding to Dasaka 2012).
opening widths of 2 and 4 mm for IS Grade II and Grade III
sands
3.2 Development of Full-Scale Pluviator
sand increased by 27 and 28 % for the same increase in
height of fall and corresponding to opening widths of 2 Based on the calibration studies, the pluviation method
and 4 mm, respectively (Fig. 9). Also, the relative was found to produce uniform and repeatable density of
density of Grade II sand particles was found to be lower sand beds. Hence, a similar configuration was adopted to
than Grade III sand. The size, gradation, and shape of develop a full-scale pluviator with plan dimensions
particles influence the density of sand beds. The lower equal to 890 mm 9 890 mm in order to prepare sand
size of sand particles leads to lower kinetic energy of beds in a test chamber with size equal to
particles impacting the sand bed due to reduction in 900 mm 9 900 mm in plan and 1000 mm in depth.
both the impact velocity and mass of sand particles Figure 10a, b show the photographs of pluviation device
(Vaid and Negussey 1984). The average size of particle and the deposition of sand particles inside the test
of Grade II (D50 = 0.49 mm) is higher than that of chamber. Pluviation setup can move up to the bottom of
Grade III (D50 = 0.26 mm) indicating high density of the test chamber and height of fall of sand particles can
sand beds of Grade II sand due to large size of particles. be adjusted with the help of chain system to facilitate
However, Grade II sand is poorly-graded compared to preparation of sand beds with different relative densi-
Grade III sand (coefficient of uniformity, Cu, of Grade II ties. In order to compare the relative density of prepared
and Grade III sands are equal to 1.9 and 2.5), and in sand bed from the full-scale pluviation device with that
addition the sand particles of Grade II sand are found to obtained from the calibration studies, sand bed with IS
be more angular than that of Grade III sand. Kol- Grade II was prepared in the test chamber by maintain-
buszewski and Frederick (1963), and Dickin (1973) ing the height of fall and opening width as 150 mm and
reported that the density of sand bed decreases with 2 mm. The relative density of the sand bed was found to
decrease in uniformity coefficient and increase in be in the range 84–88 % using the full-scale pluviator,
angularity of sand particles. Hence, gradation and which are only slightly lower (about 3 %) than that
shape of sand particles have negative effect on achiev- obtained from the calibration studies (refer to Table 2).
ing dense sand beds in the case of Grade II sand. Hence, the results from the full-scale pluviator compare
For the heights of fall considered in the study, well with the calibration studies.
relative densities in the range of 65–99 % and
53–82 % were achieved for Ow = 2 and 4 mm,
respectively, for IS Grade II sand. While for IS Grade 4 Pneumatic-Operated Vibrator Method
III sand, relative densities in the range of 78–99 % and
74–94 % were achieved for Ow = 2 and 4 mm, A pneumatically-operated, impact-type piston vibra-
respectively. tor is used for the compaction of sand beds. During its

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1918 Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922

Fig. 10 Photographs
showing: a pluviation Locking pins
device, and b pluviation of
sand within test chamber Chain system

Sheet B
Sheet C
Sheet D
Sheet E

(a)

Supporting Plate

Chains

Pluviation device

Test chamber

(b)

operation, compressed air was alternately directed was about 18 kg. The regulator system connected to
from one end of piston to the other through internal the pressure line was used to set the desired pressure
ports. This enables the piston to impart a high-impact within the unit and thus vary the impact force acting on
vertical vibratory force and efficiently transfer the the sand bed through the vibrator. A sand layer with
energy to the sample (this type of compactor is often uncompacted lift thickness equal to 180 mm (equiv-
used to facilitate the flow of dry, granular materials alent to about 100 kg of sand) was placed inside the
through bins by impact). The pneumatic vibrator test chamber of dimensions equal to
manufactured by NAVCO (Model: BH-2 IGO) was 600 mm 9 600 mm 9 600 mm in length, width,
used in the present study. The vibrator was connected and depth, respectively. The surface was leveled using
to a pressure source through a pressure line, and a steel a straight edge, and the sand bed was compacted by
plate of dimensions equal to 300 mm 9 traversing the vibrator uniformly at a rate of one pass
300 mm 9 10 mm (in length, width and thickness) for every 15 s. After compacting the layer under the
was bolted to the bottom of the vibrator (refer to given pressure for a specified time, the compacted
Fig. 11). The weight of vibrator with the steel plate surface of the sand bed was leveled and the volume of

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Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922 1919

Compaction of beds was done for different time

intervals under two different pressures- 100 and
200 kPa. The average value of relative densities
obtained from the trial tests was used for further
discussion in the study. Figure 12 show the relative
density versus compaction time for IS Grade II and
Grade III sands corresponding to various pressures
within the pneumatic vibrator. In this method, the
maximum density equal to 1.84 and 1.81 g/cc was
achieved for IS Grade II and Grade III sands,
respectively.
For IS Grade II sand, the relative density increased
by 50 % and 35 % with increase in time of compaction
from 15 to 90 s corresponding to pressures equal to
100 and 200 kPa, respectively. While the correspond-
ing increase for IS Grade III sand was equal to 25 %
and 16 % for the same conditions. The effect of
Fig. 11 Pneumatic vibrator
compaction time on density of sand bed was signif-
icant only up to 90 s for various pressures within the
compacted sand bed was obtained by measuring the pneumatic vibrator (Fig. 12). The relative density of
average height of the compacted bed. The density of IS Grade II sand was found to be lower than that of IS
the compacted layer of the sand bed was then obtained. Grade III sand due to the reason that IS Grade II sand is
This procedure was repeated for three layers, and the more uniformly graded (Cu = 1.9) compared to Grade
average density of the entire bed was obtained by III sand (Cu = 2.5) leading to more voids in Grade II
averaging the density for the three layers. sand at the end of vibratory compaction (Cho et al.
Vibratory methods (ASTM D7382 2008 or 2006; Guimaraes 2002). Breakage of sand particles
BS1377-1975) for determination of the maximum due to pneumatic vibration was assessed by conduct-
density may induce some amount of crushing of ing the grain-size distribution of sand particles before
particles leading to alteration in the original gradation and after vibratory compaction procedure. Figure 13
(Cresswell et al. 1999). Depending on the pneumatic shows the comparison of grain-size distribution curves
pressure in the vibrator and time of compaction, the for both sands considered in the study. For IS Grade II
density of sand bed obtained from pneumatic vibrator
was found to be higher than that from ASTM D4253
and pluviation methods. The relative density of sand
beds from this method was calculated with reference
to the maximum and the minimum densities obtained
from pluviation and ASTM D4254 methods.
Many trial tests were conducted on IS Grade II and
Grade III sands to assess the repeatability in the
relative densities of the beds from this method. The
COV in relative density for IS Grade II sand was found
to range from 1.1 to 3.6 % and from 1.5 to 3.6 % for
pneumatic pressures equal to 100 and 200 kPa,
respectively. While the COV for IS Grade III sand
was found in the range of 0.8 to 2.3 % and 0.5 to 4 %
corresponding to 100 and 200 kPa. Based on the COV
values in the relative density, it can be concluded that
the vibratory method can be used to produce uniform Fig. 12 Relative density versus compaction time for IS Grade
sand beds. II and IS Grade III sands

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1920 Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922

sand, negligible particle breakage was observed at low pressures (Coop et al. 2004; Lade et al. 1996;
pressure (equal to 100 kPa) and breakage was evident Sadrekarimi and Olson 2010).
at higher pressures (200 kPa). While for IS Grade III Pneumatic vibrator method for preparation of sand
sand, the grain-size distribution curves were identical particles is found to be quicker than that of pluviation
before and after compaction indicating negligible method and is suitable under low pneumatic pressures
breakage of particles at all the pressures considered in in the vibrator where the breakage of soil particles will
the study. Crushing of sand particles in pneumatic be minimal. In addition, this method can be adopted
vibratory method depends on shape, size, and miner- for any size of the test chamber.
alogy of sand particles. Based on the SEM studies, IS
Grade II sand have uniform size of particles with
predominantly sub-angular to angular shape. While IS
5 Conclusions
Grade III sand have sub angular to sub rounded
particles (Fig. 2a, b). Hence, higher particle breakage
In this study, the procedure to prepare sand beds to a
is expected for Grade II compared to Grade III sands
target relative density using two methods—pluviation
during vibratory compaction, especially for higher
and pneumatic vibration—was discussed. Based on
the experimental test results, the following conclu-
sions were made on the pluviation and vibratory
methods of preparation of sand beds in the laboratory:
(a) A stationary air pluviation device was designed
and fabricated to prepare uniform sand beds in a
large-size test chamber. This pluviator consists
of only two diffuser sieves, and hence was
found to be simple in terms of its fabrication and
operation. The COV in density of sand beds
prepared using the proposed device was found
to be less than about 7 % from the test program
of this study.
(b) The relative density of sand increases with
increase in the height of fall and decrease in the
opening size through which the sand particles
were pluviated. For the range of parameters
considered in the study, DR in the range of
53–99 % and 74–99 % was achieved for IS
Grade II and Grade III sands using the proposed
pluviation system.
(c) The relative density of sand beds using a
pneumatic vibratory method was found to range
from 85 to 130 % and 115 to 148 % for IS
Grade II and Grade III sands. The increase in
time of vibratory compaction led to an increase
in the relative density. However, the increase in
DR for compaction period of more than 90 s was
found to be insignificant.
(d) The proposed vibratory method can be used to
prepare uniform IS Grade II and Grade III sand
beds with minimum particles breakage for
Fig. 13 Grain-size distribution curves before and after vibra- pressures up to 100 kPa. For pressures higher
tion: a IS Grade II sand, and b IS Grade III sand than 100 kPa, particle breakage was evident for

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Geotech Geol Eng (2016) 34:1909–1922 1921

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