CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Sem/Session SEM 2 2017/18

Name of Experiment DRY SIEVING

Date of Experiment

Group

Lecturer’s Name

Due Date of Submission

Marks for Lab Report (100%) Lecturer’s Comment

Title (5%)

Objective (5%)

Theory (10%)

Apparatus / Equipment (5%)

Procedures (10%)

Data (20%)

Analysis / Discussion (30%) Stamp and Sign

Comments / Conclusion (20%)

Reference (5%) Date Received:

 OBJECTIVE

1. To determine the particle size distribution curve of the representative sample using sieve
analysis.
 THEORY

The purpose of this laboratory experiment is to be able to determine the particle size
distribution curve of the representative sample using sieve analysis. Sieve analysis determines
the grain size distribution of soil sample by passing the sample through a stack of sieves of
decreasing mesh opening sizes and by measuring the weight retained on each sieve. In this
analysis, it can be determined either the grain size distribution is well graded or not.

Figure 1 : Typical Grading Curves

Some typical grading curves are shown in the Figure 2G2-1:

A: poorly-graded

B: well-graded

C: gap-graded
 Figure 2 : Grading Characterictics

A grading curve is use to determines the geometric properties of the soil. This properties often
called grading characteristics.

Grading characteristics:

1. Effective size, D10

2. Uniformity coefficient, CU = D60 / D10
3. Coefficient of gradation, CC = (D30)2 / (D60 * D10)

Where:

1. D10 = maximum size of the smallest 10% of the sample

2. D30 = maximum size of the smallest 30% of the sample
3. D60 = maximum size of the smallest 60% of the sample

CU > 5 = well graded soil

CU < 3 = uniform soil

0.5 < CC < 2.0 = well graded soil

CC < 0.1 = gap graded soil

 APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT

1. Dry sample weight 200 g

2. Mechanical shaker set
3. Sieves with opening size of 4.75 mm, 2.24 mm, 1.18 mm, 0.600 mm, 0.300 mm, 0.150
mm, 0.075 mm and appropriate receiver tray
4. Lid
5. Balance (with accuracy of 0.0001 g)

Figure 3 : Mechanical Sieve Shaker Set

 PROCEDURES

1. A dry sample was weighted to 0.1% of its total mass of about 200g.
2. Each sieves were weighted in order to determine their mass before experiment
3. The sample was placed on the sieves.
4. The sieve set was shaken by using the mechanical shaker for about 10 minutes.
5. The amount of retained material on each sieve were weighted to 0.1% of its total mass.
 DATA ANALYSIS

Total mass of dry soil : 200 g

BS test sieve size Mass of sieve Mass after sieving

(mm) (g) (g)
4.75 1079.0 1144.0
2.24 987.5 1015.0
1.18 929.5 980.5
0.600 942.3 948.5
0.300 805.7 850.5
0.150 833.5 837.5
0.075 795.0 796.0
Passing 0.075 778.5 779.0
Table 1 : Mass of sieve and Mass after sample was placed

BS test sieve size Mass retained Mass passing Cumulative

(mm) (g) (g) percentage of mass
passing (%)
4.75 65.0 135 67.5
2.24 27.5 107.5 53.75
1.18 51.0 56.5 28.25
0.600 6.2 50.3 25.15
0.300 44.8 5.5 2.75
0.150 4.0 1.5 0.75
0.075 1.0 0.5 0.25
Passing 0.075 0.5 0 0
Table 2 : Mass retained, mass passing and the cumulative percentage of mass passing

Total mass after sieving : 200 g

Losses : 0 g
CALCULATION

For 4.75 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = Mass after sieving – Mass of sieve

= 1144.0 - 1079.0

= 65.0 g

Mass passing = 200 – 65.0

= 135 g

Percentage of mass passing = (135/200) x 100%

= 67.5 %

For 2.24 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = 1015.0 - 987.5

= 27.5 g

Mass passing = 135 – 27.5

= 107.5 g

Percentage of mass passing = (107.5/200) x 100%

= 53.75 %

For 1.18 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = 980.5 - 929.5

= 51.0 g

Mass passing = 107.5 – 51.0

= 56.5 g

Percentage of mass passing = (56.5/200) x 100%

= 28.25 %
For 0.600 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = 948.5- 942.3

= 6.2 g

Mass passing = 56.5 – 6.2

= 50.3 g

Percentage of mass passing = (50.3/200) x 100%

= 25.15 %

For 0.300 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = 850.5 - 805.7

= 44.8 g

Mass passing = 50.3 – 44.8

= 5.5 g

Percentage of mass passing = (5.5/200) x 100%

= 2.75 %

For 0.150 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = 837.5 - 833.5

= 4.0 g

Mass passing = 5.5– 4.0

= 1.5 g

Percentage of mass passing = (1.5/200) x 100%

= 0.75 %
For 0.075 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = 796.0 - 795.0

= 1.0 g

Mass passing = 1.5 – 1.0

= 0.5 g

Percentage of mass passing = (0.5/200) x 100%

= 0.25 %

For passing 0.075 mm sieve size:

Mass retained = 779.0- 778.5

= 0.5 g

Mass passing = 0.5 – 0.5

=0g

Percentage of mass passing = (0/200) x 100%

=0%
 DISCUSSION

Sieve analysis is a method used to determine the grain-size distribution of soils. This
method of mechanical sieves is a device used for separating wanted elements from unwanted
material in a soil. Besides, this method also suitable for characterising the particle size
distribution of a sample, typically using a woven screen such as mesh or net or metal. Note
that, there are different sizes of sieve pan in a full set.

This sieve analysis of aggregate is vital for determine particle size distribution of the
coarse and fine aggregates. By grading this sample, we can learn to identify almost every
important property including stiffness, stability, durability, permeability, workability, fatigue
resistance, frictional resistance and moisture content.

In this experiment, sample of oven dried soil was taken that weighs about 200 g. A
stack of sieves was prepared according to their sizes. The lowest part of sieve having the
smallest opening size and increasing until it reaches the largest opening sizes. After the
sieving ended, there are no losses along the test carried.

From Table 1, it can be shown that as the sieve size decreases, the mass passing are
also decreases. Thus, we can make summation is also decreases. By plotting the graph of
cumulative percentage of mass passing (%) against sieve size (mm) to find the grading curve
in Graph 1. Besides, there are three points located on the grading curve:

POINTS D10 D30 D60

VALUE 0.18 0.34 0.68

From these points, the values can use to calculate the grading characteristics.

Effective size : 0.18

Uniform coefficient : Cu = D60 / D10

= 3.78

Coefficient of gradient : Cc = [D30]2 / [D60 x D10]

= 0.94

Hence, it is concluded that the sample of soil is well-graded soil.

 REFERENCES

1. DAS, B.M. (2010). “Plasticity and Structure of Soil,” Principles of Geotechnical

Engineering, 7th Edition, Cengage Learning

2. D.J. Greenland, M.H.B. Hayes,Soils and Soil Chemistry,D.J. Greenland, M.H.B. Hayes
(Eds.), The Chemistry of Soil Constituents, Wiley and Sons, London (1978), pp. 11-28

3. Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards Vol. 45, No. 4, October 1950
Research Paper 2143,Methods of Sieve Analysis With Particular Reference to Bone
Char1,By Frank G. Carpenter2 and Victor R. Deitz

4. http://www.uta.edu/ce/geotech/lab/Main/sieve/index.htm

5. http://www.basiccivilengineering.com/2017/06/sieve-analysis-test.html