Bulk volume determination using the sand pycnometry method with other granular materials

Abstract

It has always been difficult to determine precisely the bulk volume of irregularly shaped natural and artificial solid objects such as rocks, bricks, concrete and mortar, considering their porosity, permeability and potential interaction with water. The sand pycnometry method could fix these issues, but it can also lead to imprecision due to the irregular shape and the degree of compaction wide variability span of sand grains. For this reason, we tested granular materials other than sand, in particular steel and glass beads, in order to identify the most suitable procedure in conducting laboratory bulk volume determinations. The effect of packing on the fine granular materials was investigated using three different compaction conditions: no compaction, compacted by vibration alone, and compacted by vibration and simultaneous plugging. According to the results, the heaviest, uncompacted steel bead granular material was identified as the best solution among those studied.