ABDULLAH GÜL UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

CE 363 SOIL MECHANICS LAB REPORT

“SIEVE ANALYSIS”
Submitted by:

110310075 – YILMAZ UÇAR

Submission Date: 16.10.2019

Submitted to: Assoc. Prof. Müge AKIN & Res. Assist. Hakan YALÇIN
CONTENTS

1. Objectives ........................................................................................................................ 1

2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1

3. Tools ................................................................................................................................ 1

3.1. Materials .............................................................................................................. 2

3.2. Apparatus ............................................................................................................. 3

4. Procedure ......................................................................................................................... 4

5. Results & Calculation...................................................................................................... 4

6. Conclusion....................................................................................................................... 5

7. References ....................................................................................................................... 5
 1. OBJECTIVES

The aim of the test is to determine grain size distribution of soil by using sieve shaker.
Standard reference is ASTM D 6913-04 – Standard Test Methods for Particle-Size
Distribution (Gradation) of Soils Using Sieve Analysis

2. INTRODUCTION

The sieve analysis test helps us to understand basic information about samples. Soils
consist of particles with various shapes and sizes. This test method is used to separate
particles into size ranges and to determine quantitatively the mass of particles in each
range. These data are combined to determine the particle-size distribution (gradation). This
test method uses a square opening sieve criterion in determining the gradation of soil
between the 3-in. (75-mm) and No. 200 (75-μm) sieves.

Every soil has different behavior under different loadings. Knowing the gradition of
soil, engineers predict its behavior such as fine content, clay and silt percentages and gravel
percentage. Instant example of this is that gravels cannot be compressed as much as sandy
soils. Engineers calculate these compactions or consolidations to have better structural
analysis.

Sieve analysis can also be used in places where the mixing ratio is high when we do not
have enough information about the soil. Due to structure foundations have strong
relationship between soils, we have to know these parameters.

3. TOOLS

There are several different equipment’s for this experiment such sieve shaker apparatus,
funnel spoon, calculator. Also, we have a specimen which soil. In addition, at this test, tray,
scales and small cup are used to get and carry specimens.

1. Materials

Soil in which the dimensions are different than that.

2. Apparatus

1
  Sieve Shaker Device was used to distributing sand in different sieve

Figure 3.2.2 Sieve Shaker Device

4. PROCEDURE
 Get 1-kilogram sample from soil
 Drop the soil sample down from the top of the sieve shaker and switch on the
shaker.
 Wait 30 seconds and switch off the device
 Separate the each sieves and measure the weight of soil samples in sieves with scale
 Records weights
 Use Excel and data obtained from experiment to find grain size distribution

5. RESULTS & CALCULATION

In this experiment we used a sieve shaker and we got the mass of each size. With using
that data and Microsoft excel we got gradation curve. Gradation curve shows the sizes
distribution of aggregates. With this curve we can make design calculations for engineering
applications

2
 Cummul
Cummul
Sieve Mass ative
ative Cummulative
Size Retained Mass
Retained Passing (%)
(mm) (g) Retained
(%)
(g)
76.2 mm 0 0 0 100
38.1 mm 0 0 0 100
19.1 mm 25 25 2,51004 97,48995984
9.52 mm 85 110 11,04418 88,95582329
4.76 mm 116,6 226,6 22,751 77,24899598
2.38 mm 267,6 494,2 49,61847 50,3815261
2 mm 63,4 557,6 55,98394 44,01606426
1.19 mm 172,6 730,2 73,31325 26,68674699
0.85 mm 61,8 792 79,51807 20,48192771
0.59 mm 50,6 842,6 84,59839 15,40160643
0.425 mm 57,6 900,2 90,38153 9,618473896
0.297 mm 30 930,2 93,39357 6,606425703
0.212 mm 28 958,2 96,20482 3,795180723
0.15 mm 15,8 974 97,79116 2,208835341
0.075 mm 16 990 99,39759 0,602409639
Final 6
Sum 996
Table 1.1 The raw data obtained from experiment

Particle Size Distribution

60 50.5
44.1
40 26.8
20.6
15.5
20
2.3 3.9 6.7 9.7
0.6
0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Grain Sizes(mm)

Graph 1.1 Particle size distribution

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D10 is the passing value at %10 is so that this value is nearly 0.675 mm
D30 is the passing value at %30 is so that this value is nearly 2.25 mm
D60 is the passing value at %960 is so that this value is nearly 5 mm

CU=Coefficient of uniformity
𝐷60 5
𝐶𝑈 = = = 7.407
𝐷10 0.675

CC =Coefficient of curvature

(𝐷30 )2 (2.25)2
𝐶𝐶 = = = 1.5
𝐷10 ∗ 𝐷60 0.675 ∗ 5

6. CONCLUSION

After all procedure step and calculation, Coefficient of curvature and CU=Coefficient of
uniformity has been founded. With these two value, soil feature can be determined and
easily comparable with other soil. Due to Cc is 1.5, we can say that our sample is well
graded soil also CU is bigger than 6 , this value supports well graded soil idea. With
distribution of grain size of soils. They are important in determining the properties such as
water permeability, strength of soil, compressibility of soil.

7. REFERENCES

[1] Surendra Roy, Sanjeev Kumar Bhalla, “Role of Geotechnical Properties of Soil on Civil
Engineering Structures”, PSIT College of Engineering, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India,
(2017)