University of the East – Caloocan

College of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

EXPERIMENT NO. 1
“Sieve Analysis of Coarse and Fine Aggregates”

Submitted by:
20151164271
Antonio, Jhon Russel C.
NME3105 – 3CE

Submitted to:
Engr. Winston Go
 UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
CALOOCAN

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TESTING

EXPERIMENT No. 1
Sieve Analysis of Aggregates

 Purpose
To determine the particle size distribution of fine and coarse aggregate by dry sieving.

 Significance and Use

This test is used to determine the grading of materials that are to be used as aggregates.
It ensures that particle size distribution complies with applicable requirements and
provides the data necessary to control the material of various aggregate products and
mixtures containing aggregates.

 Apparatus
 Balance or scales with a minimum accuracy of 0.5 g for coarse aggregate or 0.1 g
for fine aggregates
 Sieves
 Oven capable of maintaining a uniform temperature of 110 ± 5 degree Celsius
 Mechanical sieve shaker

 Test Procedure
1. Dry the aggregate test sample to a constant weight at a temperature of 110 ± 5
degree Celsius, and then cool to room temperature.
2. Select suitable sieve sizes to furnish the information required by the
specifications covering the material to be tested. Common sieves in millimeters
are 37.5, 25, 19, 12.5, 9.5, 4.75, 2.36, 1.18, 0.6, 0.3, 0.15, and 0.075mm
3. Nest the sieves in order of decreasing size opening, and place the aggregate
sample on the top sieve
4. Agitate the sieve by hand or by mechanical apparatus for a sufficient period. The
criterion for sieving time is that, after completion, not more than 1% of the
residue on any individual sieve will pass that sieve during 1 minute of continuous
hand sieving.
5. Determine the weight of each size increment
 6. The total weight of the material after sieving should be compared with the
original weight of the sample placed on the sieves. If the amount differs by more
than 0.3%, based on the original dry sample weight, the result should not be
used for acceptance purposes.

 Analysis and Results

1. Calculate percentages passing, total percentages retained, or percentages of
various sizes of fractions to the nearest 0.1%, on the basis of the total weight of
the initial dry sample.
2. Plot the grain size distribution on a semi-log graph paper
3. Compute for Coefficient of gradation and Uniformity Coefficient.
4. Determine if well graded or poorly graded.
 Report
1. Show computation
2. Observation
3. Recommendation
4. Conclusion

Data to be used:

1.)

Sieve Mass Cummulative

Size Retained Mass Retained, Percent Finer
Sieve #: (mm): (Grams): Mi (grams) (%):
4 4.75 0 0 100
10 2 40.2 40.2 91.93257074
20 0.85 84.6 124.8 74.95484648
40 0.6 50.2 175 64.88059402
60 0.425 40 215 56.85330122
80 0.25 106.4 321.4 35.50070239
100 0.106 108.8 430.2 13.66646598
200 0.075 59.4 489.6 1.745936183
pan -- 8.7 498.3 0
Mass
total= 498.3
 D60 = 0.494
120
D30 = 0.214

100 D10 = 0.096

80

60

40

20

0
10 1 0.1 0.01

Cu= 0.494/0.096 Cc= (0.214)2/(0.494)(0.096)

Cu= 5.146 Cc= 0.966

“Poorly Graded Soil”

 Observation

When you hear the term test sieve analysis results, it is referring to the distribution of particles
in a given sample. This can be interpreted by analyzing the retention of particles throughout a
sieve stack or the amount of material that passes through each sieve. Performing a sieve
analysis is important when analyzing materials because their particle size distribution can affect
a wide range of properties such as the strength of concrete, the solubility of a mixture, their
surface area properties and even their taste. A known mass of material is placed on top of a
group of nested sieves (arranged in order of decreasing size from top to bottom) and
mechanically shaken for a designated period of time. After shaking is complete, the operator
weighs the material retained on each of the sieves using one of two methods. Gradation, or
particle size distribution, is the dispersal of individual particle sizes across the entire sample.
Aggregate gradation is typically reported in graphical form by plotting each of the particle sizes
on a semi-logarithmic chart and drawing a best-fit curve between the points.

 RECOMMENDATION
Laboratories that test particle size may obtain differing results because they use
different procedures. For quality control, it is important to know the procedure used by
the testing laboratory and how it relates to your particle size goals. Therefore, an
experiment was conducted to: 1) determine which method of particle size analysis best
estimates the particle size, and 2) assess analytical variation within each method. The
sieve analysis, commonly known as the gradation test, is a basic essential test for all
aggregate technicians. The sieve analysis determines the gradation (the distribution of
aggregate particles, by size, within a given sample) in order to determine compliance
with design, production control requirements, and verification specifications. The
gradation data may be used to calculate relationships between various aggregate or
aggregate blends, to check compliance with such blends, and to predict trends during
production by plotting gradation curves graphically, to name just a few uses. Used in
conjunction with other tests, the sieve analysis is a very good quality control and quality
acceptance tool

 CONCLUSION
In this laboratory exercise “Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates”, I
conclude that to know if an Aggregates are good to be used in a construction of
structures and buildings is that we have to sieve an amount of gravel and sand from
coarse down into fine pieces wherein different sizes will be separated and we will see if
the sieved aggregates are well balanced wherein our graphs with percentage of each
sieve size will show which have more and less amount. Aggregates that are to be used in
constructions must consist the different sizes (fine and coarse) because it will help our
structure to be stronger and though.
I conclude that we’ve succeed and reached the objectives of this exercises, and
learned how to use and separate different sizes of aggregates through sieving and graph
them to see if percentages of each size are connected and good to be used in
constructing different structures. We may apply it in the field of engineering most
especially in construction of structures like buildings, roads and bridges.