Determination of bulking of fine aggregate (sand):

1. Take 100 gm. of given sand sample and fill it in measuring cylinder about one third of its weight. Take this volume of sand V1 ml.

2. Now add 2% water by weight in sand initially. Shake the cylinder vigoursly using palm at top and bottom to cylinder. Note down the increased volume of sand V2 ml.

3. Calculate % bulking of sand as b1 = ((V2- V1)/ V1] x 100

4. Repeat above steps by adding water at suitable intervals (say 2%) i.e. 4%, 6%, 8% etc. and observe increased volumes V3, V4, V5 etc. Also calculate corresponding % bulking as b2, b3, b4% using above formula.

5. Finally draw the bulking curve as % water versus % bulking as shown in fig below. Note down the maximum % of bulking and corresponding optimum % of water from it.