Table of Contents

Introduction 3

Apparatus 4

Procedure 5

Calculations 6

Tabulated Results 8

Errors 9

Conclusion/Comments 10

References 11

Data Sheet A - 1

2

Introduction

A sieve analysis is a practice or procedure used to assess the particle size distribution of a granular material.

The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the material performs in use. A sieve analysis can be performed on any type of non-organic or organic granular materials including sands, crushed rock, clays, granite, feldspars, coal, soil, a wide range of manufactured powders, grain and seeds, down to a minimum size depending on the exact method. Being such a simple technique of particle sizing, it is probably the most common [4].

Sieves are stacked according to size, the smallest being on the bottom. Numbered sieves designate the number of openings per lineal inch. Dimensioned sieves indicate the actual size of the opening [3].

The soil sample is assumed to be sand well-graded sand, but can only be classified as sand

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Apparatus

Soil Sample Precision Pro L186 scale

o 0.01o Model # P21026o Serial #28123038

Mechanical Shakero Model #4x – 2.9o Serial #26638

Container

4

Procedure

1. Use the No. 4, 8, 16, 30, 40, 200 sieves and Pan.2. Find the mass of each sieve using the Explorer Pro and record on data sheet.3. Place soil sample in container.4. Find mass of soil sample and record on data sheet.5. Add soil sample to sieves.6. Put sieves on a mechanical shaker and shake for 5 minutes.7. Find mass of each sieve with retained soil and recorded on data sheet.*8. Find the Mass of Soil Retained and record on data sheet.*9. Find the Total Mass of Soil Sample after sieving and record on data sheet.*10. Find the Percentage Loss and record on data sheet.*11. Find the Percentage Retained on Each Sieve and record on data sheet.*12. Find the Cumulative Percent Retained and record on data sheet.*13. Find the Percent Finer and record on data sheet.*14. Graph results.

*Equations are given on Calculations page (6)

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Calculations

Cu = D60/D10

Cu = 0.229/0.0882

Cu = 2.60

Cc = (D30)2/ (D60 * D10)

Cc = (0.139)2/ (0.229 * 0.0882)

Cc = 0.96

Mass of Soil Retained = (Mass of Each Sieve + Retained Soil) – (Mass of Each Sieve)

No. 4: 515.54 – 512.14 = 3.4

No. 8: 494.57 – 487.9 = 6.67

No. 16: 456.8 – 426.98 = 29.82

No 30: 408.96 – 403.65 = 5.31

No.40: 417.6 – 406.67 = 11.23

No. 200: 1026.66 – 339.4 = 687.26

Pan: 376.78 – 372.33 = 4.45

Total Mass of Soil Sample after sieving = All Mass of Soil Retained

748.14 = 3.4 + 6.67 + 29.82 + 5.31 + 11.23 + 687.26 + 4.45

Percentage Retained on Each Sieve = (Mass of Soil Retained) / (Total Mass of Soil Sample after

sieving)*100

No. 4: (3.4 / 748.14) = 0.45

No. 8: (6.67 / 748.14) = 0.89

No. 16: (29.82 / 748.14) = 3.99

No 30: (5.31 / 748.14) = 0.71

No.40: (11.23 / 748.14) = 1.50

No. 200: (687.26 / 748.14) = 91.86

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Pan: (4.45 / 748.14) = 0.59

Cumulative Percent Retained

No. 4: 0.45

No. 8: 0.45 + 0.89 = 1.35

No. 16: 1.35 + 3.99 = 5.33

No 30: 5.33 + 0.71 = 6.04

No.40: 6.04 + 1.50 = 7.54

No. 200: 7.54 + 91.86 = 99.41

Pan: 99.41 + 0.59 = 100.00

Percent Finer = 100 – (Cumulative Percent Retained)

No. 4: 100 – 0.45 = 99.45

No. 8: 100 – 0.45 = 98.65

No. 16: 100 – 0.45 = 94.67

No 30: 100 – 0.45 = 93.96

No.40: 100 – 0.45 = 92.46

No. 200: 100 – 0.45 = 0.59

Pan: 100 – 0.45 = 0.00

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Tabulated Results

Data for Sieve Anaylsis of Fine Aggregates

Total Mass of soil Sample before sieving (g) =

764.1

Sieve No.

Sieve Size (mm)

Mass of

EachSieve

(g)

Mass of Each

Sieve + Retained Soil

(g)

Mass of SoilRetained (g)

Precentage

Retained On

Each Sieve

Cumulative

percentRetained

% finer100-

(cumulative %

Retained)

No. 4 4.76 512.14 515.54 3.4 0.45 0.45 99.55

No. 8 2.38 487.9 494.57 6.67 0.89 1.35 98.65

No. 16 1.18 426.98 456.8 29.82 3.99 5.33 94.67

No. 30 0.6 403.65 408.96 5.31 0.71 6.04 93.96

No. 40 0.42 406.37 417.6 11.23 1.50 7.54 92.46

No. 200 0.074 339.4 1026.66 687.26 91.86 99.41 0.59

Pan   372.33 376.78 4.45 0.59 100.00 0.00

Total Mass of Soil Sample after sieving (g) =

748.14

% Loss =

2.08873

0.111088.00

90.00

92.00

94.00

96.00

98.00

100.00

102.00

Sieve Anaylsis of Fine Aggregates

Sieve Size (mm)

% Finer

8

Errors

When removing the No. 30 sieve, some of the soil sample fell on the ground We didn’t use dried oven sample

9

Conclusion/Comments

When looking at the graph, it is believed that the soil is uniform soil. This means that the majority of the particles are around the same size and diameter. After using the Unified Soil Classification System, the soil sample is sand [2]. Since there are sieves between the number No. 40 and No. 200 sieves, no further classification can be made. This is due to the fact that Cu and Cc cannot be found.

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References

1. ASTM International. Standard Test Methods for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils: D 422 – 63.2. ASTM International. Unified Soil Classification System: D 2487.3. McCarthy, David F. (2007). Essentials of Soil mechanics and Foundations. New Jersey and

Ohio. Pearson Prentice Hall4. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. (2009, February 18). Citing Electronic Sources. Retrieved March 1,

2009, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sieve_analysis.

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