The Physical and Mechanical Properties of Single Pumice Sand Particle

Abstract

Pumice sand is a volcanic material widely distributed in volcanic areas such as Japan, Indonesia, and countries traversed by volcanic mountains. Geotechnical problems regarding pumice sand often occur in these areas, such as landslides because of the pumice crushable structure. Based on previous research, some failure phenomena are caused by the existing pumice layer, and not so many studies describe the behavior of pumice single particle located at Kyushu Island, Japan. This study conducted a series of tests to clarify pumice material's microscopic and mechanical properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) tests were carried out on pumice materials to determine the microscopic and chemical compounds in the pumice material. Then, single-particle crushability tests were carried out as representative of the mechanical behavior of pumice sand particles. The approach using linear regression fitting is carried out using conventional frequentist and Bayesian hierarchical approaches to obtain the strength behavior of the pumice sand. An overview of pumice microscopy conditions and minerals can be helpful when ground improvement and soil stabilization are discussed for this pumice material and the effect of particle shape on pumice strength is observed. According to this study, oxygen, silica, and alumina dominate pumice sand chemical components. The aspect ratio and the roundness coefficient of pumice sand do not significantly impact particle stress. Particle size reduces and increases particle stress in single-particle crushability tests. Single-particle crushability reduces pumice particle pore area and increases the number of pores.