VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Gnanasangama, Belagavi-590037

Project Phase Report

“To Study the Effect of Grain Size and Water Content on the
Permeability Property of Moulding Sand”
Submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Submitted by
SHARATH K M 4GK16ME048
NIRANJAN M J 4GK17ME024
RAMESHA H R 4GK17ME033
SUDARDHANA M D 4GK17ME044

Under the Guidance of

Dr. LOKESH T
HoD & Associate professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE
K.R. Pet, Mandya–571426
Year: 2020-21
 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE
K R.PET, MANDYA -571426

CERTIFICATE

Certified that the project work entitled “TO STUDY THE EFFECE OF GRAIN
SIZE AND WATER CONTENT ON THE PERMEABILITY OF MOUNLING
SAND” is a bonafide work carried out by

SHARATH K M 4GK16ME048
NIRANJAN M J 4GK17ME024
RAMESHA H R 4GK17ME033
SUDARSHANA M D 4GK17ME044

In partial fulfillment for the award of Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering,

Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi during the year 2020-2021. It is certified that all
corrections/suggestions indicated for Internal Assessment have been incorporated in the report. The
Project report has been approved as it satisfies the academic requirements in respect of project work
prescribed for the Bachelor of degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Signature of Guide Signature of HOD Signature of the

principal
(Dr. Lokesh T) (Dr. Lokesh T) (Dr. N S Sathisha)

Name of the Examiners Signature with Date

1.

2.
I
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives us immense pleasure to present our project on “To Study the Effect of Grain Size and Water
Content on the Permeability of Moulding Sand” We express our deep sense of gratitude to our guide
Dr. LOKESH Head of the Department, Mechanical Engineering, Government Engineering Collage,
K R Pet for his concerned guidance and encouragement given to us for completing the project
successfully.

We take immense pleasure thanking our Dr. LOKESH. T Head of Department of Mechanical
Engineering for his encouragement and innumerable suggestions throughout his Endeavour.

We indebted to Dr. LOKESH T, HOD of Mechanical Engineering for providing constant inputs and
giving feedbacks without which would not have been possible to complete this project seminar
successfully.

We would like sincerely thank to Dr. MALLIKARJUNA H M Associate Professor, and Project
Coordinator, Department of Mechanical Engineering, for providing the necessary resources and guidelines
to complete this seminar.

We express our respect and gratitude to our honorable Principal Dr. N S SATHISHA, Government
Engineering College, K R PETE for his motivation and moral support in our academic endeavors.

Last but not the least we also thank my Department faculty/staff members and well-wishers who are all
responsible for successful completion of our project.

II
 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE
K.R.Pet, Mandya - 571426

DECLARATION

We the students of Mechanical Engineering, Government Engineering College K R

“To Study the Effect of Grain
Pet, hereby declare that the project work entitled
Size and Water Content on the Permeability Property of Moulding Sand ”
is a bonafide work carried out by us and submitted to VTU for the fulfillment for award
the Degree Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering.

Further, the contents and definition of this project embodied in this report have not
been submitted to any other university for awarding any other degree or diploma.

Students: Signatures

1. Sharath K M

2. Niranjan M J

3. Ramesha H R

4. Sudarshana M D

Date:

Place:
III
 ABSTRACT

One of the major factors for production of quality casting is the control of properties of moulds and cores
to make them uniform and consistent quality. Permeable meter is used for the determination of the venting
ability of sand moulds and cores. This testing equipment is being imported to the country as at today. The
cost is high, and they are not readily available to foundry operators. Hence there is need to design and
develop a permeable meter using locally sourced materials and make it available at an affordable price,
thereby improving foundry technology in industries. Two different method could be used to measure
permeability of sand; determination of air flow rate and measurement of pressure difference between the
orifice and the top of sand specimen. The first method was adopted in the development of the Permeable
meter. On testing, the values of permeability measured using the equipment was comparable to the results
obtained from the standardized imported one. The cost of production was 30% of the cost of imported one,
not even now that exchange rate to international currency has skyrocketed. The work has incorporated
design and fabrication principles that resulted in a relatively cheap product that can be constructed locally
by an average Fabricator and Technician.

Molten metal’s always contain certain amount of dissolved gases, which are evolved when the metal starts
freezing .When molten metal comes in contact with moist sand, generates steam or water vapour. Gases
and water vapour are released in the mould cavity by the molten metal and sand. If they do not find
opportunity to escape completely through the mould, they will get entrapped and form gas holes or pores
in the casting. The sand must therefore be sufficiently porous to allow the gases and water vapour to
escape out. This property of sand is referred to as permeability. Permeability is one of the most important
properties affecting the characteristic of moulds which depends upon the grain size, grain shape, grain
distribution, binder content, moisture level and degree of compactness.

Keywords : Moulding Sand, Permeability Meter, water content, moisture content..

IV
 Table of Contents

Certificate I

II
Acknowledgement

III
Declaration

IV
Abstract

V
Table of contents

List of Figure

V
SL.No DESCRIPTION Page No

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Moulding Sand 2
1.3 Grain Size. 3
1.3.1 Grain Size Shape
1.4 Constituent of Moulding Sand 4
1.4.1 Silica Sand
1.4.2 Moisture
1.4.3 Additives
1.5 Advantages. 6
1.6 Disadvantages. 6
1.7 Applications 6
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE SURVEY 8
2.1 Introduction 8
2.2 Moisture Content 10
2.3 Sand Casting defects 11

CHAPTER 3 SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE 12

PROJECT

CHAPTER 4 METHODOLOGY 13
4.1 Operational Principle 15
4.2 Construction Process 16
4.3 Design Process 17
4.4 Design Calculation 18
4.4.1 Air Drum 18
4.4.2 Water Tank 21
4.4.3 Tank Base 21
4.4.4 Discharge Cup 22
CHAPTER 5 INSTALATION AND 24
MAINTAINANCE
5.1 Installation Procedure 24
5.2 Orifice Usage 25
5.3 Maintenance and Method of 25
Checking Calibration
CHAPTER 6 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP 27
6.1 Specification 27
6.2 Apparatus 28
6.3 Experimental Procedure 28
6.4 Recommended spares 29

CHAPTER 7 REFERENCES 31

List of Figures
SL No Particulars Page No
1 Type of sand grain size 4
2 Operational view of permeability meter 15
3 Permeability meter 16
4 Orthographic projectional view 17
5 Isometric view of permeability meter 18
6 Meter component 18
7 Air drum 20
8 Air drum cap 20
9 Water tank base 21
10 Water tank base Assembly 22
11 Discharge unit 23
12 Air valve arrangement 23
13 3D view of permeability meter 27