Abstract
The study of particle packing in concretes and mortars is becoming more and more important in the technical field, since the properties of the composite materials are influenced by both the voids index and the solid concentration. This paper aimed to compare the packing density of fine aggregates, whose grading curves were obtained by the use of different particle packing models. The Brazilian standard sand, provided by IPT, was used for the experimental validation of the theoretical results obtained by the use of the models. The packing densities of the grading curves were calculated with the compressible packing model (CPM). The maximum packing density was sought by using particle packing models resulting in an optimal particle size distribution curve. Preliminary tests were made, which indicated a higher packing density of the coarser fraction of the sand, 1.2 mm. Therefore, in addition to the ideal grading curves, a study with random compositions was also made, with a progressive increase of 5% in the coarse sand fraction and a consequent decrease of the finer fractions. A grading curve representing the average of the lower and upper limits of the optimal zone recommended by the standard NBR 7211 was used as reference. The results showed that it is possible to increase the packing density using particle packing models and random compositions, with respect to the average grading curve from the Brazilian standard. An increase in the order of 2% and 5% was reached for the actual and the virtual packing densities, respectively. The experimental validation of the theoretical results showed that the CPM model undervalues the packing density in approximately 10%.
Keywords:
particle packing; packing models; particle size distribution; Brazilian standard sand from IPT
