DCC 2042Brickworks and

Concrete Laboratory.

TOPIC : SIEVE ANALYSIS TEST

OBJECTIVE : To determine a particular soil grain size distribution(GSD)

THEORY : The experiment is carried out to determine a good distribution of aggregate by using sieve and comparing the result obtained with BS 410. The plotted distribution curve can give a clear picture of the quality of different sizes of aggregates. A good distribution curve must be an ’Ideal Fuller Curve’ .

APPARATUS 1.Division box size 25.4mm (1’’) and 44.45mm (13/4 )

2. 1 pail of dry coarse aggregate.(granite)

3.1/2 pail of dry fine aggregate.(sand)

4.Sieve size : 0.212mm.025mm,06mm,1.18mm,2.34mm.

5.Sieve size : 75mm,37.5mm,20mm,10mm,2.36mm

• 6.Sieve pan and cover.

• 7.Mechanical sieve shaker

PROCEDURE :

1.Perform a visual classification on the soil provided.

2.Inspect your sieve stack. Check for any loose screens, holes in the screens or tears at the seams. Clean the sieve if necessary. Use a course wire brush for larger sieve sizes, but use a soft nylon brush with smaller sieve sizes

3. Collect ½ pail of fine aggregate with a division box, size 25.5mm and course aggregate with division box size 44.445mm.

4. Divide the sample of fine aggregate with a division box, size 25.4mm and course aggregate with division box size 44.45mm

5. Weigh accurately 500g of fine aggregate and 2000g of course aggregate.

6. Use a sieve with diameter 20.32mm to 2.4mm for fine aggregate and 30.48mm to 7.76mm for coarse aggregate.

7. Place your sieves in a stack of increasing sieve number- this corresponds to decreasing opening size. The largest sieve opening should be on top, and the pan at the bottom.

8. Pour the prepared aggregate sample into the top if the sieve and place the cover tightly on top.

9. Place the sieve stacked into the sieve shaker and secure the top clamp.

10. Set the timer attached to the shaker for 10 minutes. The shaker will now start.

11. When the sieve shaker has stopped, remove the sieve stack.

12. Carefully disassemble the sieve stack the sieves will tend to be stuck to one another quiet tightly. If you force them apart, you may end up scattering the aggregate inside all over the laboratory. Try to use a twisting motion to separate the sieves. If all else fails, use a wedge which should be located by the sieve rack.

13. Now, record the mass of each sieve (and the pan) with it’s contents. Since you’ve already obtained the sieve’s masses, you can now determine the amount of soil retained on each sieve.

ANALYSISPercentage retained : weight retained

( % ) (Rn) weight of sample

Weight passing through : weight of sample – weight retained

Percentage passing through: weight passing through

weight of sample x 100 %

Sample of aggregate : Sand

Weight of sample : 500g

Sieve no. Weight Retained (g)

PercentageRetained (%)

WeightPassingThrough(g)

Percentage Passing Through(%)

Cumulative % Retained

Cumulative % PassingThrough

2.36 8 1.6 491 98.4 1.6 98.4

1.18 102 20.44 397 79.56 22.04 77.96

0.60 166 33.27 333 66.73 55.31 44.69

0.25 144 28.86 355 71.14 84.17 15.83

0.212 37 7.41 462 92.6 91.58 8.42

pan 42 8.42 457 91.6 100 0

∑=499 g ∑=100 %

RESULTS :1. Analyse the result obtained, by drawing the distribution curve in the graph given. Determine the various zone of aggregate with the analysed result and compare it with Grading Standard MS 7.4. Discuss the differences.

Sample of aggregate : Granite

Weight of sample : 2000g

Sieve no. Weight Retained (g)

PercentageRetained (%)

WeightPassingThrough(g)

Percentage Passing Through(%)

Cumulative % Retained

Cumulative % PassingThrough

75.0 0 0 2000 100 0 100

37.5 0 0 2000 100 0 100

20.0 402 20.1 1598 80 20.1 79.99

10.0 1390 69.5 610 30.5 89.6 10.4

2.36 200 10.0 1800 90 99.6 0.4

pan 8 0.4 1992 99.6 100 0

∑=2000 g ∑=100 %