SAND EQUIVALENT TEST TXDOT DESIGNATION: TEX-203-F
Test Procedure for
SAND EQUIVALENT TEST
Texas
Department
TxDOT Designation: Tex-203-F of Transportation
Effective Date: August 1999
1. SCOPE
1.1 This method determines the relative proportion of detrimental fine dust or clay-like
particles in soils or fine aggregates.
1.2 The values given in parentheses (if provided) are not standard and may not be exact
mathematical conversions. Use each system of units separately. Combining values from
the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.
2. APPARATUS
2.1 Transparent plastic graduated cylinder, 31.8 mm (1.25 in.) inside diameter, 432 mm
(17 in.) height (approximately), graduated up to 381 mm (15 in.) in intervals of 2.5 mm
(0.1 in.), starting at the base.
2.2 Rubber stopper, to fit the mouth of the graduated cylinder.
2.3 Agitator tube, brass, stainless steel, or copper; 6.4 mm (0.25 in.) outside diameter;
508 mm (20 in.) long (approximately); one end closed to form a wedge-shaped tip; two
holes (drill size 60) drilled laterally through the flat side of the wedge.
2.4 Weighted foot assembly, consisting of a metal rod connected to a foot with a flat, smooth
surface at the lower end, with the upper end weighted to give the total assembly a weight
of 1000 ± 5 g.
2.4.1 The foot has a conical upper surface and three small screws to center it loosely in the
cylinder
2.4.2 A cap to fit the top of cylinder is bored to fit loosely around the rod and serves to center
the weighted foot assembly in the cylinder.
2.4.3 The weight of this cap is not part of the total weight of the assembly, as discussed above.
2.5 Weighted foot assembly, similar to the one described above, but with a sand reading
indicated on the rod 254 mm (10 in.) above the base of the foot, may also be used.
CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 1–6 EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1999
SAND EQUIVALENT TEST TXDOT DESIGNATION: TEX-203-F
2.6 Glass bottle, 3.8 L (1 gal.), equipped with a siphon assembly consisting of a two-hole
rubber stopper and pieces of glass or copper tubing, sits 914 ± 25 mm (3 ft. ± 1 in.) above
the work surface.
2.7 Tubing, 1.22 m (4 ft.) long, plastic or rubber, with pinch clamp to connect the open end of
the agitator tube with the siphon assembly.
2.8 Standard U.S. sieve, 4.75 mm (No. 4), meeting the requirements of Tex-907-K.
2.9 Measuring can, 85 ml (3 fl. oz.).
2.10 Wide mouth funnel.
2.11 Watch or clock, reading in minutes and seconds.
2.12 Glass cylinder, 100 cc, graduated in increments of 2 cc or less.
2.13 Drying oven, maintained at 110 ± 5°C (230 ± 9°F).
2.14 Motor-driven mechanical sand equivalent shaker.
2.15 Straight edge or spatula.
2.16 Splitter or quartering device.
3. MATERIALS
3.1 Stock solution, prepared as follows:
3.1.1 Dissolve 577 g of ACS grade calcium chloride dihydrate in 1.9 L (0.5 gal.) of distilled or
demineralized water.
3.1.2 Cool the solution.
3.1.3 Add 1640 ml (55 fl. oz.) of U.S.P. glycerin and 53 ml (1.76 fl. oz.) of 50%
1,5-Pentanedial (Glutaraldehyde) in water to the solution and mix well (see Section 7.5).
3.2 Working calcium chloride solution, prepared as follows:
3.2.1 Dilute 88 cc of the stock calcium chloride solution to 3.8 L (1 gal.) of distilled or
demineralized water. Use a good quality tap water if the purity does not affect the test
results.
3.2.2 Maintain working solution temperature of 22 ± 3°C (72 ± 5°F) during test. If this is not
possible, samples should be frequently tested under proper temperature control
conditions.
CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 2–6 EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1999
SAND EQUIVALENT TEST TXDOT DESIGNATION: TEX-203-F
4. PROCEDURES
4.1 Preparing Sample:
4.1.1 Select a representative sample of material.
4.1.2 Tests on damp samples will generally give lower sand equivalent values than tests on
oven-dried samples.
4.1.3 Considerable time can be saved by not drying samples. This is permissible, but if the test
values are near or below the specified minimum, the sample must be retested in the oven-
dry condition.
4.1.4 In field control testing of bituminous aggregates, it is permissible to omit 'dry to a
constant weight' when using samples from the hot bins cooled to room temperature for
the test sample.
4.1.5 Dry limestone asphalt aggregates to a constant weight at a minimum temperature of
37.8°C (100°F) (See Section 7.2). Do not use a microwave for drying limestone rock
asphalt aggregates.
4.1.6 Using the 4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve, separate the sample into two portions, breaking up
lumps that consist of particles obviously finer that the 4.75 mm (No. 4) sieve.
4.1.7 Secure the sand equivalent test sample from the portion passing the 4.75 mm (No. 4)
sieve by carefully reducing the amount of material to laboratory test size.
4.1.8 Split or quarter the material to obtain a minimum 500 g (18 oz.) sample.
4.1.9 To insure representative samples when working with a material that is predominantly
coarse (4.75 mm [No. 4] to 2.00 mm [No. 10]), separate the sample into 4.75 mm (No. 4)
to 2.00 mm (No. 10), and minus 2.00 mm (No. 10) sizes, then recombine in proper
proportions to produce a uniform sample. Any sample may be separated into various size
fractions and be proportionally recombined to produce test samples when difficulty
occurs in test repeatability.
4.1.10 Secure the test sample by passing the measuring can through a thoroughly mixed sample
of the prepared material in a pan.
4.1.11 Strike off the excess material using a straight edge or spatula.
4.1.12 Do not compact the sample prior to striking it off.
4.1.13 If running the test in pairs, the two values should agree with the tolerances provided
under Section 7.
4.2 Performing the Sand Equivalent Test:
4.2.1 Siphon 101.6 ± 2.5 mm (4 ± 0.1 in.) of the solution into the plastic cylinder. Check the
agitator tube to be certain that the solution flows freely.
CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 3–6 EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1999
SAND EQUIVALENT TEST TXDOT DESIGNATION: TEX-203-F
4.2.2 Transfer the sample from the measuring can into the plastic cylinder using the small
funnel.
4.2.3 Stopper the cylinder.
4.2.4 Tap the bottom of the cylinder on the heel of the hand several times to remove air
bubbles and promote thorough wetting of the sample.
4.2.5 Remove stopper.
4.2.6 Wash particles clinging to wall of cylinder into the mixture, using a minimum amount of
solution.
4.2.7 Allow the cylinder with contents to stand undisturbed, free of any vibration, for 10 ±
1 minutes.
4.2.8 Replace stopper in the end of cylinder.
4.2.9 Partially invert cylinder and shake to dislodge material from the bottom.
4.2.10 Place stoppered cylinder in the mechanical sand equivalent shaker, set timer.
4.2.11 Allow machine to shake the cylinder and contents for 45 ± 1 seconds.
4.2.12 Following the mixing operation, place the cylinder on the worktable.
4.2.13 Remove stopper.
4.2.14 Wash down the cylinder wall with the agitator tube.
4.2.15 Then force the agitator through the material to the bottom of the cylinder by gently
twisting and shoving while the solution flows from the tip of the tube.
4.2.16 Continue smoothly jabbing the agitator tube up and down with a gentle twisting motion
while slowly rotating the cylinder in a vertical position to flush the fine clay-like material
into suspension above the coarse sand particles.
4.2.17 Continue the operation until the cylinder is filled to the 381 mm (15 in.) mark.
4.2.18 Then slowly remove the agitator tube without shutting off the flow so the level of the
liquid is maintained at 381 mm (15 in.).
4.2.19 Regulate the flow of the solution and adjust the level of solution to 381 mm (15 in.) when
the agitator tube is entirely withdrawn.
4.2.20 Allow the cylinder and contents to stand undisturbed for 20 minutes ± 15 seconds. Start
the timing immediately after the removal of the agitator tube.
4.2.21 After the 20-minute sedimentation period, read the level of the top of the clay suspension
and record as the clay reading.
CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 4–6 EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1999
SAND EQUIVALENT TEST TXDOT DESIGNATION: TEX-203-F
[Link] In some cases, a clearly readable line of demarcation occurs, but the liquid immediately
above the line is still clouded at the end of 20 minutes.
[Link] The demarcation line appears to be in the sediment column itself.
4.2.22 When this occurs, read and record the level of this line after the required 20-minute
period.
4.2.23 If there is no clear line of demarcation or clay meniscus at the end of the 20-minute
sedimentation period, allow the material to stand undisturbed until a clay reading can be
obtained.
4.2.24 Then read and record the level of the clay meniscus and the total sedimentation time.
4.2.25 If the total sedimentation time exceeds 30 minutes, rerun the test using three more
samples of the same material.
4.2.26 Record for calculations the value obtained from the shortest sedimentation time.
4.2.27 Gently lower the weighted foot assembly in the cylinder until it comes to rest on top of
the sand.
4.2.28 Keep one of the centering screws in contact with the cylinder wall near the graduation
marks, so that it can be seen.
4.2.29 When the weighted foot has come to rest, read the middle of the centering screw and,
record as the sand reading.
4.2.30 Should either reading in Sections 4.2.21 or 4.2.29 fall between two divisions on the
graduated cylinder, raise the reading to the higher reading. (Example: 8.68 = 8.7 in.,
6.21 = 6.3 in.)
4.2.31 When using the weighted foot assembly with the sand reading indicator, gently lower the
assembly into the cylinder until it comes to rest on the sand.
4.2.32 Very gently tilt the assembly until the indicator touches the graduation marks on the
cylinder.
4.2.33 Tilt assembly back to vertical before taking reading.
4.2.34 Read the level indicated by the top edge of the indicator and subtract 254 mm (10 in.).
4.2.35 Record this reading as the sand reading.
CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 5–6 EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1999
SAND EQUIVALENT TEST TXDOT DESIGNATION: TEX-203-F
5. CALCULATIONS
5.1 Calculate the sand equivalent value to the nearest 0.1 using the following formula:
Sand EquivalentValue = 100 * ( Sand Re ading / Clay Re ading )
6. REPORTING TEST RESULTS
6.1 Report sand equivalent test result as a whole number.
EXAMPLE:
SE = 100 * (3.2 / 6.9) = 46.4
6.2 Report the value as 47. If the calculated SE value exceeds 100, report the value as 100.
7. NOTES
7.1 Repeated results should check within ±4.
7.2 Accomplish drying to a "constant weight" by drying for a specific period of time that has
proven experimentally adequate in the past, or by drying to the point that, by experienced
observation, indicates that the material is sufficiently dry for testing.
7.3 Should floating lightweight aggregate preclude accurate test results, samples should be
taken from the cold bins to minimize the effect of these materials on the sand equivalent
value.
7.4 If the hot bin samples contain mineral filler or lime additive, samples should be taken
from the cold bins to minimize the effect of these materials on the sand equivalent value.
7.5 1, 5-pentanedial is also known as glutaraldehyde, glutaric dialdehyde, and trade name
UCARCIDE. It may be obtained as "Glutaraldehyde Solution 50%" from the following
sources:
Table 1—Material Sources
Name Address
Aldrich Chemical Co. P.O. Box 2060; Milwaukee, WI 53201
Fisher Scientific ♦ P.O. Box 869022; Plano, TX 75086
♦ P.O. Box 1307; Houston, TX 77251
CONSTRUCTION DIVISION 6–6 EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1999
