What impact does humidity have on the segregation of stockpiles?

Humidity has a significant impact on the segregation of stockpiles, specifically leading to increased segregation. When humidity levels are high, moisture can cause the fine particles within the stockpile to clump together, which may separate the finer materials from the coarser materials more effectively. This separation occurs because the water acts as a binding agent for the smaller particles, causing them to stick together and not distribute uniformly within the larger aggregate.

Conversely, in dry conditions, the materials tend to mix more thoroughly, as there is less moisture promoting clumping. Therefore, during periods of high humidity, the likelihood of segregation increases as the physical behavior of the materials changes, resulting in a mixture that can become uneven. Understanding the relationship between humidity and segregation is crucial for managing stockpile quality and ensuring a uniform aggregate mix is achieved for construction applications.