Particle Shape Estimates of Uniform Sands: Visual and Automated Methods Comparison
Publication: J. Mater. Civ. Eng.
Volume 24, Issue 2
Abstract
The importance of particle shape, when considering the engineering behavior of sand, has been well-documented. Angular sands tend to have greater maximum and minimum void ratios, a larger friction angle, and a greater compressibility potential than their rounded counterparts under similar conditions. These differences in particle shape affect the behavior of the sands during in situ testing and in estimating soil behavior in a number of other capacities. This paper compares the results of roundness () and sphericity () estimates of ten individual particles and then later collectively on six sand specimens by several observers. An existing visual comparison method, manual methods, and automated methods are used to classify particle shape. Coefficient of variation (CV) values between 9 and 45% were obtained between the observers for visual estimates of single particles and of collective observations of sand specimens. These results are within CV values obtained when estimating other geotechnical parameters for soils and when considering in situ test variability. The visual estimates were comparable to the automated imaging system (AIMS) method for angularity measurements for the natural fine to medium sands but not for the very angular and crushed sands. Visual sphericity estimates for all sands also appeared to differ from the AIMS 2D form measurements. Research regarding automated quantification methods should continue because there would be a benefit in quickly and accurately measuring the particle shape of sand as in quality control applications for aggregates; however, there currently appears to be some limitations with the automated methods especially for fine to medium sands, sands with quartz or other translucent minerals, or very angular sands. In the meantime, qualitative particle shape estimates by using a simple visual procedure are able to provide usable first-order estimates of roundness (angularity) and sphericity sufficient for many practical geotechnical engineering applications.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Josh Gerrie, Brandon Skowronek, and Jeff Kowalski, all at Gosling Czubak Engineering Sciences in Traverse City, Michigan, for participating in this study. Alex Williams, former graduate student at Michigan Technological University, now with Parsons-Brinckerhoff in Los Angeles, provided his assistance during the acquisition of AIMS particle shape parameters. Karl Peterson, formerly at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, and now an assistant professor at the University of Toronto in the Civil Engineering Department, helped in obtaining ESEM images, and this contribution is much appreciated. Dr. James Dockal at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington, North Carolina, helped in obtaining the image used in Fig. 3.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
J. Mater. Civ. Eng.
Volume 24 • Issue 2 • February 2012
Pages: 194 - 206
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 18, 2010
Accepted: Jun 17, 2011
Published online: Jan 17, 2012
Published in print: Feb 1, 2012
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