Fine Mixtures Research Articles

Geomechanical and Hydraulic Behavior of Impermeable Layers for Earthworks

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanical and hydraulic behavior of fine sandy soil mixtures from the Coastal Plain of Rio Grande do Sul with bentonite, assessing their technical feasibility as an impermeable layer for earthwork projects. Theoretical Framework: El marco teórico explora la impermeabilización de vertederos sanitarios, destacando la eficacia de los liners para contener contaminantes y el uso de bentonita como aditivo para suelos granulares. Estudios previos señalan mejoras en la conductividad hidráulica y la plasticidad de mezclas de suelo-bentonita, especialmente en regiones con escasez de materiales arcillosos de alta calidad. Method: The method includes laboratory tests with natural soil and mixtures containing different bentonite contents. Physical, granulometric, plasticity, compaction, hydraulic conductivity, and mechanical resistance properties were evaluated. Results and Discussion: The natural soil proved unsuitable for use as an impermeable layer. The results show that the addition of bentonite significantly improved the soil's hydraulic conductivity, with 6% by dry weight achieving values suitable for impermeable layers. However, increasing bentonite content reduced the friction angle, indicating a decrease in mechanical strength. Research Implications: The research highlights the potential of soil-bentonite mixtures as a sustainable solution for impermeable layers in earthwork projects, particularly in regions with limited availability of clayey soils. The results provide technical support for the use of local materials, contributing to the feasibility of environmental engineering projects tailored to regional characteristics. Originality/Value: The research is original in exploring soil-bentonite mixtures as a sustainable solution for impermeable layers in coastal plains, a region with scarce suitable clayey soils. Its contribution lies in the technical evaluation of local materials, promoting innovative and environmentally adapted alternatives for engineering projects in challenging contexts.

Lysimachia mauritiana Lam. Extract Alleviates Airway Inflammation Induced by Particulate Matter Plus Diesel Exhaust Particles in Mice.

The respiratory-protective effects of Lysimachia mauritiana (LM) against airway inflammation were evaluated in a mouse model exposed to a fine dust mixture of diesel exhaust particles and particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 µm (PM10D). To induce airway inflammation, PM10D was intranasally injected into BALB/c mice three times a day for 12 days, and LM extracts were given orally once per day. The immune cell subtypes, histopathology, and expression of inflammatory mediators were analyzed from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs. LM alleviated the accumulation of neutrophils and the number of inflammatory cells in the lungs and the BALF of the PM10D-exposed mice. LM also reduced the release of inflammatory mediators (MIP-2, IL-17, IL-1α, CXCL1, TNF-α, MUC5AC, and TRP receptor channels) in the BALF and lungs. Lung histopathology was used to examine airway inflammation and the accumulation of collagen fibers and inflammatory cells after PM10D exposure and showed that LM administration improved this inflammation. Furthermore, LM extract inhibited the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway in the lungs and improved expectoration activity through an increase in phenol red release from the trachea. LM alleviated PM10D-exposed neutrophilic airway inflammation by suppressing MAPK/NF-κB activation. This study indicates that LM extract may be an effective therapeutic agent against inflammatory respiratory diseases.

Computational renormalization for thermal conductivity of porous asphalt concrete based on hybrid finite element-neural network method

Thermal conductivity of porous asphalt concrete (PAC) directly affects PAC pavement temperature field, which is closely related to the heat island effect in summer and pavement icing in winter. Due to the large and complex pores and the uneven surface in PAC, there is measurement uncertainty using traditional laboratory tests. In this study, a finite element-neural network (FE-NN) method was proposed to predict the thermal conductivity of PAC based on the three-dimensional (3-D) heterogeneous structure. Additionally, laboratory tests were conducted to measure the thermal conductivity of PAC, fine aggregate mixture (FAM), and basalt aggregate. The results served as input parameters for the FE-NN method and were used to verify its accuracy. Based on the validated method, various factors affecting the thermal conductivity of PAC were analyzed. The analysis results show that, compared to the transient plane source (TPS) method, the backcalculation method can achieve results similar to those obtained with the TPS method for basalt aggregate and FAM, but provides more stable measurements when applied to PAC. The accuracy of the FE-NN method is acceptable, with relative errors of 1.92∼4.34 % compared to the experimental results. Besides, 2-D structural models tend to underestimate the effective thermal conductivity of PAC, with values 83.2∼84.1 % lower than those calculated by 3-D models. When the representative volume element (RVE) sizes are larger than 256×256×256, the variances show little differences and are acceptable. Furthermore, typical aggregate thermal conductivity values were used as input, revealing a nonlinear increase in the effective thermal conductivity of PAC. When the void content increased from 18 % to 24 %, the effective thermal conductivity of PAC decreased by 19.83 %. The effective thermal conductivity of PAC changes more significantly with the thermal conductivity of the aggregate than that with the variation of porosity in an interval. The analysis findings provide insights for better evaluating the pavement temperature field and heat transfer to improve the PAC pavement material designs.

استخلاص معامل الليونة الافتراضي للخرسانة المحتواة على مسحوق الزجاج الناعم

This work compares three theoretical models with experimental results to identify the most accurate model for estimating the effective modulus of elasticity (Eeff) of eco-concrete made with glass powder. The models are Ruess-Voigt, mixture law, and Ishai and Cohen. Validation is based on scientific studies of this eco-concrete. The study concludes that glass powder can replace 20% of cement, with the Ruess-Voigt model being the most accurate. If glass powder replaces up to 30% of fine aggregates, both the Ruess-Voigt and mixture rule models are closely accurate. Keywords: Homogenization, Effective Elasticity Modulus, Glass Powder. Ruess/Voigt Model. Mixture Law Model. Ishai and Cohen model.

Properties of biocoal briquettes from mesoporous coals and rice husk and their effects on environmental pollution

This work assessed some properties and effects of biocoal briquettes on environmental pollution compared with utilising coal alone. A mixture of coal fines and rice husks was prepared, with cassava starch gel as a binder, before compaction in a briquetting machine and drying with a solar dryer. Samples of the coal fines, rice husk, cassava flour and briquettes were analysed for their elemental and oxide concentrations via an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyser. The heat fuels were analysed for their thermal behaviour via thermogravimetric analyser (TGA), whereas the specific surface area, pore size and pore volume were determined using a Brunner–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyser. The conversion of the tested coals to biocoal briquettes resulted in a reduction in the level of arsenic in the briquettes. Additionally, the sulphur level decreased from 1.96 to 1.11% in the Okobo-Enjema briquettes and from 1.78 to 0.90% in the Onyeama briquettes. However, the levels of manganese increased from 0.04 to 0.22% in the Okobo-Enjema briquettes and from 0.04 to 0.21% in the Onyeama briquettes. Thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates revealed that derivative weight loss increased with increasing heating rate, from 4.4% at 10 °C/min to 5.5% at 20 °C/min. BET analysis revealed that the briquettes had larger pore diameters, volumes and specific surface areas than did the coal samples. The coal samples have greater propensity to pollute the environment as the amount of potentially hazardous elements in the samples is greater than in their biocoal briquettes.

The Separation of Free Bran by Using Electricity-Assisted Electrostatic Field System

In this study, it was to identify a method for separating the free bulgur bran from the fine bulgur during the production of bulgur. This was attempted by creating an electrostatic field using a PVC surface. It was observed that the issue of free bran, which adversely affects the packaged products visually, was effectively solved by this method. In contrast to conventional techniques, an alternative methodology was employed which utilizing a device comprising a folded PVC surface (folded curved channel). The configuration of the experimental apparatus was developed with dimensions of 4, 5 and 6 cm in width, 20, 40 and 60 cm in length, and angles of 30, 35 and 40 degrees, respectively. At the end of the PVC surface, plates were placed to create an electric field. In order to create the electric field, one of the plates was charged with a positive and the other with a negative charge. The distance between the plates was varied according to the width of the tunnel. The expected results were obtained in the layered PVC system. Consequently, a fine bulgur mixture consisting of 5 g of bran per 1000 g of bulgur was introduced into the experimental system at a flow rate of 0.89 g/s. This resulted in a notable reduction in the free bran content, which decreased from 5 g to approximately 2 g.

Seabed Geoacoustic Analysis Using Scientific Single Beam Echosounder

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research Geoacoustic quantification. Sediment identification. Sediment classification. Geoacoustic characteristic. Sediment type spatial distribution in Lancang Island. AbstractHydroacoustic technology was able to quantify the seabed substrate and can be estimated accurately and near real time on the acoustic characters of each substrate. The purpose of the research was to identify the geoacoustic characteristics and spatial mapping of the seabed substrate in Lancang Island. Acoustic data was acquired using a Simrad EK-15 Single Beam Echosounder instrument operating at 200 kHz. Sediment samples were taken using an Ekman grab, which will be used to validate the acoustic data. The results of this study indicated that the acoustic backscatter values of the seabed substrate based on the surface backscattering strength value and sediment particle size at fourteen sampling stations are -28.03 decibels to -20.02 decibels divided into 9 sediment type groups, namely medium and very coarse sand mixture; medium sand; medium, fine and coarse sand mixture; medium and fine sand mixture; fine and medium sand mixture; medium and very fine sand mixture; very fine and medium sand mixture; fine and very fine sand mixture; and fine sand. The accuracy level of k-Nearest Neighbour and Random Forest computational used has very good accuracy of 98.21 % and 96.43 % and Naevi Bayes has a lower accuracy of 58.93 %. The identified geoacoustic characteristics included the mean grain size, sound speed, density, acoustic impedance, and reflection coefficient. Faster, more effective, and efficient computational processes with high accuracy make k-Nearest Neighbour and Random Forest models the best alternative to be used as geoacoustic computational models of seafloor substrates.

Pengaruh Penggunaan Lapis Tipis Beton Aspal pada Lajur Tanjakan Preservasi Jalan

Asphalt, also known as bitumen, is a mixture of binders used as road preservation. On the BTS road preservation project package. Central Aceh/Nagan Raya – Lhok Seumot – Jeuram (MYC) uses a thin layer of Asphalt Concrete as a treatment for road damage. Asphalt concrete thin layer is a hot asphalt mixture that can be used as a surface layer on road pavement which functions as a road preservation layer. The problem raised and also a research is how the feasibility of a thin layer of asphalt concrete on an incline. The method used in this study is based on testing Job Mix Asphalt, Traffic Counting, and direct observation of asphalt work in the field as well as supporting data in the form of information from consultants or contractors. Asphalt concrete thin layers cannot be used on incline lanes because the asphalt road contains a very fine aggregate mixture. Comparison of thin layers of asphalt concrete with AC – BC using the Traffic Counting method explains that vehicles passing on roads using thin layers of asphalt concrete on the dominant incline lane are more vehicles unable to climb compared to vehicles passing on roads using asphalt AC – BC. The use of a thin layer of asphalt concrete cannot be used for incline lanes, but a thin layer of asphalt concrete is highly recommended for the use of asphalt roads in urban areas.

What kind of corrosion products are “black spots”? —Effects of reduced sulfur compounds on corrosion of bronze artefacts

While deterioration due to the generation of “black spots” is reported, consensus on the specific corrosion products comprising black spots and underlying deterioration mechanisms is lacking. This study investigated the deterioration of copper objects by analysing the black spots that appeared on them and proposes environmental conditions to suppress the appearance of black spots. Bronze artefacts excavated from a marine archaeological site, on which black spots were generated, were closely observed, and investigated. First, X-ray fluorescence and micro-X-ray diffraction analyses were performed on a bronze artefact, from which the black spots were removed, to determine the composition of the artefact. Second, to investigate the composition of the black spots, fine structure analysis of the black spots on the fine fragments of the bronze artefacts was conducted using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron diffraction (ED) analysis. The results indicate that the black spots were partially composed of metallic copper and a fine particle mixture of Cu2S and CuSO4. These results imply that the transformation of copper sulfide to metallic copper may have played an important role in the initiation and propagation of black spots. In this study, ED analysis was performed on the microscopic area of the black spots; no amorphous phases were detected, and all observed phases were identified as crystalline materials. To determine the sources of gas-phase sulfur compounds that cause black spots, H2S and carbonyl sulfide (COS) emissions from a spherical clay artefact (a cannon ball with gunpowder excavated from an underwater archaeological site) which was exhibited in the same showcase with the bronze artefacts were analysed via gas chromatography. The concentrations of H2S and COS were 0.462 and 8.636 ppb, respectively; these are significantly higher than those in the lower troposphere. These results indicate that deterioration by black spots occurred because of H2S and COS, which were emitted from the spherical clay artefact excavated from an underwater archaeological site in the exhibition case. In addition, it was confirmed that the inclusion of deoxygenating and dehumidifying agents (RP-AN) in the plastic bag in which the spherical clay artefact was inserted resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of H2S and COS.

Separation of bran from bulgur through tribocharging with Teflon

In this study, the use of an electrostatic field on a Teflon surface to separate free bran from bulgur during processing was investigated. The results suggest that this method could be an effective solution to the problem of free bran, which can negatively impact the appearance and quality of bulgur in bulgur processing and packaged products. Unlike traditional methods, a novel technology was used with the device having flat and folded Teflon surfaces (flat and folded inclined channels). The device was designed with the widths of 4, 5 and 6 cm, the lengths of 20, 40 and 60 cm and the angles of 30, 35 and 40°. The flat Teflon system produced the best results overall. In addition, the design parameters of 4 and 5 cm width, 20 and 40 cm length, and 35 and 40° inclination were suitable for separating bran from bulgur using an electrostatic system. As a result, a fine bulgur mixture containing 5 g of bran per 1000 g of bulgur was passed through the system at a flow rate of 0.89 g/s, resulting in a reduction of bran in bulgur from 5 to around 2 g (around 60% reduction).

Pengaruh Penggunaan Lapis Tipis Beton Aspal pada Lajur Tanjakan Preservasi Jalan

Asphalt, also known as bitumen, is a mixture of binders used as road preservation. On the BTS road preservation project package. Central Aceh/Nagan Raya – Lhok Seumot – Jeuram (MYC) uses a thin layer of Asphalt Concrete as a treatment for road damage. Asphalt concrete thin layer is a hot asphalt mixture that can be used as a surface layer on road pavement which functions as a road preservation layer. The problem raised and also a research is how the feasibility of a thin layer of asphalt concrete on an incline. The method used in this study is based on testing Job Mix Asphalt, Traffic Counting, and direct observation of asphalt work in the field as well as supporting data in the form of information from consultants or contractors. Asphalt concrete thin layers cannot be used on incline lanes because the asphalt road contains a very fine aggregate mixture. Comparison of thin layers of asphalt concrete with AC – BC using the Traffic Counting method explains that vehicles passing on roads using thin layers of asphalt concrete on the dominant incline lane are more vehicles unable to climb compared to vehicles passing on roads using asphalt AC – BC. The use of a thin layer of asphalt concrete cannot be used for incline lanes, but a thin layer of asphalt concrete is highly recommended for the use of asphalt roads in urban areas.

Response of sand added with various biopolymer contents under repetitive loading and freeze–thaw cycles

Biopolymers have recently been used as ecofriendly materials for soil improvement in terms of stabilization, compressibility, and engineering parameters. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of biopolymer content in sand mixtures during freeze–thaw repetitive loading cycles. The biopolymers were mixed at weight ratios of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, and 10 % (BPC 0.0—BPC 10), and the relative density and degree of saturation were fixed at 60 % and 20 %, respectively. The measurement system was located in an ice chamber for freeze–thaw, and 100 cycles of repetitive loads were applied. The test results showed that the deformation decreased from BPC 0.0, to BPC 1.0 owing to the cementation effect produced by the biopolymer chain and coating. However, the deformation increased from BPC 1.0 to BPC 5.0 because high-viscosity solutions might separate the sand particles, causing a density reduction and generating more deformation by compaction. The relative permittivity varied with respect to BPC and freeze–thaw repetitive loading stages that were affected by unfrozen water content, volume contraction, and water consumption during dehydration. The shear wave velocity gradually increased from BPC 2.0 to BPC 10 because the effect of fines in coarse–fine mixtures, rather than the cementation effect. Therefore, the module containing the sensors used in this study can be used to understand the role of biopolymers as reinforcing materials in railway subgrades.

THE VARIATIONS OF CLINKER SUPERPARAMAGNETIC VALUE FROM PT. SEMEN PADANG BY USING A BARTINGTON MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY METER SENSOR TYPE B

Clinker is an important material in the cement making process. Before clinker is formed, the raw material is burned in a Rotary Kiln at a temperature of up to 1450°C, then cooled in a Greet Cooler to a temperature of 100°C and produces clinker. This research is to determine variations in the superparamagnetic value of clinker based on the magnetic susceptibility value. The method is the rock magnetism method using theMS2B. Clinker samples are takenhourly every day from the Semen Padang Factory. The 휒푙푓value obtained varies between 3.2×10-8m3/kg to 22.6×10-8m3/kg. The superparamagnetic values obtained also varied, ranging from 0.0%-7.4%. Based on the 휒푓푑%obtained, there were 136 clinker samples containing less than 10% superparamagnetic grains, and 32 samples includedthe 휒푓푑%medium had a percentage of 2%-10% where the samples contained superparamagnetic grains. Between 10% and 75% is a mixture of fine and coarse superparamagnetic grains.

Influence of Sand Content on Secondary Consolidation Characteristics of Sand–Fine Mixtures

Influence of Sand Content on Secondary Consolidation Characteristics of Sand–Fine Mixtures

Acid-Free Processing of Phosphorite Ore Fines into Composite Fertilizers Using the Mechanochemical Activation Method

The relevance of involving substandard raw materials for the production of composite phosphorus-containing fertilizer production is significant due to the problem of providing food products for the growing population of the Earth. The main raw materials for phosphorus and composite phosphorus-containing fertilizer production are natural phosphate ores—phosphorites. However, in the process of mining and crushing, ~55–60% phosphorite ore fines are formed—a fraction of less than 10 mm, which is unsuitable for traditional processing into composite phosphorus-containing fertilizers. This article presents the results of physicochemical studies of the substandard fine fraction of phosphorite ore and the results of the studies of the possibility of their direct processing into phosphorus and composition of phosphorus-containing fertilizers using methods of mechanical and mechanochemical activation in the “Activator 4” planetary mill. The findings of the studies performed confirm the rather high efficiency of phosphorite ore fines’ mechanical activation and phosphorite-containing mixtures’ mechanochemical activation, which make it possible to significantly increase the content of assimilable phosphorus pentoxide P2O5 in composite phosphorus-containing fertilizers. The proposed innovative technology has fundamental differences from existing technologies, since the mechanochemical activation of a mixture of phosphorite ore fines and functional components will allow for direct acid-free and waste-free processing into phosphorus and composite phosphorus-containing mineral fertilizers.

Comparative responses of Lohmann Select Leghorn-lite and Shaver Heritage White Leghorn hens when fed diets containing fine and coarse oat hulls

A standard commercial mash (control), or a mixture of control and fine (FOH) or coarse oat hulls (COH) at a ratio of 80:20 w/ w were fed to 57-week old Lohmann Select Leghorn-lite (LSL) and 44-week old Shavers Heritage White Leghorns (SHW) for 28 days. There was no ( P > 0.05) strain and diet interaction or diet effects on egg production indices (EP) and feed intake (FI). However, LSL hens had similar ( P > 0.05) FI but higher ( P > 0.05) EP than SHW. There was no strain and diet interaction observed on apparent retention of gross energy (ARGE) and gizzard weight ( P > 0.05). However, the control hens had higher ARGE, and lighter gizzards compared to oat hull-fed hens ( P < 0.01). In addition, COH hens had higher ARGE and heavier gizzards compared to FOH hens. The SHW hens exhibited greater jejunal crypt depth ( P = 0.011) compared to LSL hens. An interaction ( P = 0.041) between strain and diets on ceca digesta short chain fatty acids (SCFA) was such that oat hulls reduced SCFA in LSL but not in SHW hens. In conclusion, despite differences in age, relative to predecessors the modern hen is adaptable to ingestion of structural material rich insoluble fiber without negative impact on egg production and feed intake.

Heat transfer with interfacial barrier in a fine scale mixture of two highly different conductive materials

The paper deals with the asymptotic behavior of the heat transfer in a bounded domain formed by two $\eps$-periodically interwoven components, of highly different conductivities. Both components might be connected. At the interface, the heat flux is continuous and the temperature subjects to a first-order jump condition. The homogeneous Dirichlet condition is imposed on the exterior boundary. We determine the macroscopic law when the order of magnitude of the jump transmission coefficient is $\eps^r, -1 r \leq 1$, using the two-scale convergence technique of the homogenization theory.

Research on the influence of parameters on the fracture performance of the large stone asphalt mixture based on the semi-circular bending test

Pavement failure is a main type of road damage. To investigate the fracture performance of asphalt mixtures with large aggregates, this study utilized the semi-circular bending test to compare the specimens of LSAM-30 (the large stone asphalt mixture) and AC-13 (the fine aggregate asphalt mixture). The research focuses on examining the effects of specimen thickness, notch length, loading rate, and test temperature on the fracture performance. In the assessment of the experimental outcomes, this study employs fracture energy, J-integral, BCI, and CRI as parameters for comparison. The findings demonstrate that under the same conditions, the large stone asphalt mixture exhibits higher peak load, greater fracture energy, higher BCI and CRI values, as well as better J-integral fracture toughness in comparison to the fine aggregate asphalt mixture. At 20°C, the crack path in the large stone asphalt mixture (LSAM) circumvented the large aggregates and thus presented to be bent and long, while the crack in the fine aggregate asphalt mixture was shorter and straighter. The longer and more curved crack path in the LSAM consumed greater energy, resulting in better fracture resistance. At 0°C, the cracks in both asphalt mixtures were linear, but the large aggregate mixture required a stronger load to damage the larger aggregates. Therefore, the LSAM demonstrates a slightly better fracture resistance at low temperatures. In conclusion, the higher peak load, fracture energy, BCI, and CRI of the LSAM indicate a superior fracture performance. The longer and more curved crack path implies greater energy consumption during the fracture. As a result, the LSAM exhibits better fracture performance and resistance to pavement failure compared with the fine aggregate asphalt mixture.

Numerical modeling of the fracturing mechanisms of unconsolidated sand reservoirs under water injection

Produced Water Re-Injection is a standard practice in oil and gas operations. When performed at sufficiently high pressures, it can trigger the fracturing of the reservoir, which should be controlled to stimulate the formation without compromising its safety. While the mechanisms of the hydraulic fracturing of brittle rocks are well-understood, this understanding is more challenging in the case of unconsolidated sand reservoirs. Recent experimental studies indicate that pseudofractures in such formations primarily result from shear banding and flow channelization. There is a need for further interpretation of the experimental findings through numerical models that account for the proper physical phenomena. For that, a coupled finite element model of water percolation, particle transport and strain localization is developed to replicate the experiments of radial injection of water in mixtures of sand and fines by Nguyen et al., 2022: An experimental setup with radial injection cell for investigation of fracturing in unconsolidated sand reservoirs under fluid injection. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 213:11036. To simulate shear banding, the model accounts for strain-softening behavior and introduces material imperfections in a few weak elements. Particle mobilization starts once a critical fluid velocity is reached and permeability is assumed to be a function of particle concentration. The numerical models can replicate the geometry of the observed radial pseudofractures, as well as the measured fracturing pressures. They also qualitatively capture the effects of the initial stress state on the fracturing pressure, the fracture length and on the permeability increases during the fracturing regime as observed in the laboratory tests. Notably, the numerical results gave hints on the role of the coupling between strain localization and particle transport on the formation of the pseudofractures. These findings are used to propose an updated conceptual model for the hydraulic fracturing of sand packs.

On the Impact of Plastic Fines on the Compaction Characteristics of Sand

Binary mixtures of plastic fines and a non-cohesive host material are used in geotechnical barriers to obtain high shear strength and low permeability. To achieve such properties, the sand grains must form the force chain and the clay must fill the voids of the host material. However, clays are known to affect the grain to grain contacts by forming cohesive membranes. Since engineered barriers are usually compacted at water contents below saturation (Proctor conditions), it is still unclear whether such membranes will form. The aim of the current research is to shed light on the compaction characteristics of such mixtures. Proctor datasets were analysed in terms of skeleton and fines void ratio and optimal water content. Oedometric compression behaviour and limiting void ratios were studied to outline the characteristics of mixtures in a saturated or dry state, respectively. The results show that depending on the mixing ratio, compaction properties can be divided into three different ranges, where either the properties of one of the input materials dominate the behaviour or a transitional range exists that is characterised by a strong mutual influence of both materials. Furthermore, even a small amount of the highly plastic clay was found to influence the properties of the host sand.