Sr. no. Table of Contents Page no.

1. Objective 3.

2. Apparatus 3.

3. Introduction 3.

4. Theory 4.

5. Procedure 4.

6. Calculations 5.

7. Results 5.

8. Discussion 6.

9. Conclusion 6.

10. Reference 6.

11. Appendix 7.
Objective:
This test is performed to determine the percentage of different grain sizescontained
within a soil. The mechanical or sieve analysis is performed todetermine the distribution
of the coarser, larger-sized particles.

Apparatus:

Balance, Set of sieves, Cleaning brush, Sieve shaker, Timing device.

Sets of sieves Sieve Shaker Measuring Balance

Introduction:

The grain size distribution is a representation of the approximate distribution of soil grain
sizes for a soil. The sieve analysis, also called mechanical method, measures the dry mass of soil
retained on each sieve in a stack of sieves, where the sieve opening sizes vary from the largest to
smallest going from the top to the bottom of the stack. All the soil particles retained on a
particular sieve will have an ‘intermediate size’ or ‘average diameter’ that is smaller than the
opening of the sieve above and larger than all the sieves below. Thus the individual particlesizes
of the soil are not measured but the range of sizes (i.e. smaller than the sieve above andlarger
than the sieve retaining the particle) is determined. The grain size distribution is obtained
by plotting the percent finer by dry mass, the percent of all the soil below a particular sieve,
versus the log of the particle diameter, taken as the opening size of the sieve. The grain size
distribution is used to classify soils and to determine the suitability of soils for various
engineering purposes.
Theory:

This method describes the procedure for determining the relationship between the particle size
distributions of different type’s of soils.
In order to perform the test, a sufficient sample of the aggregate must be obtained from the
source. To prepare the sample, the aggregate should be mixed thoroughly and be reduced to a
suitable size for testing. The total weight of the sample is also required.
A suitable sieve size for the aggregate should be selected and placed in order of decreasing size,
from top to bottom, in a mechanical sieve shaker. A pan should be placed underneath the nest of
sieves to collect the aggregate that passes through the smallest. The entire nest is then agitated,
and the material whose diameter is smaller than the mesh opening pass through the sieves. After
the aggregate reaches the pan, the amount of material retained in each sieve is then weighed.
The column is typically placed in a mechanical shaker. The shaker shakes the column, usually
for some fixed amount of time. After the shaking is complete the material on each sieve is
weighed.
The results of this test are used to describe the properties of the aggregate and to see if it is
appropriate for various civil engineering purposes such as selecting the appropriate aggregate for
concrete mixes and asphalt mixes as well as sizing of water production well screens.

Procedure:

A. Preparation (before test)

1) Measure approximately 1000 g. of a coarse-grained soil. The soil should have more than
95% passing the No. 4 sieve and less than 5% passing the No. 200 sieve. (According to
ASTM D 422 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils, larger samplesare
required for soils with larger proportions of the plus No. 4 size. Soils with a greater amount of
fines must be pulverized with a pestle and washed through sieves.)
2) Dry the soil in the oven.

B. Laboratory
1) Carefully brush the sieves to ensure that all loose material is removed. To prevent damage the
sieves, do not use the wire brush on the No. 100 or No. 200 sieve.
2) Obtain the oven dry mass of the sample.
3) Obtain the weight of the pan.
4) Combine the sieves into a stack with the pan on the bottom.
5) Pour the soil into the top sieve and place the lid on the top sieve.
6) Place the sieve on the mechanical shaker and run the shaker for 10 minutes.
7) Remove the sieves from the shaker and obtain the mass of soil retained on each sieve
bycarefully transferring the soil retained on each sieve to the pan.
Calculations:
Sieve Diameter Mass of Mass of Soil Percent Percent
Number (mm) Empty Sieve+Soil Retained Retained Passing
Sieve(g) Sieve(g) (g) (%) (%)
4 4.75 380.7 471.1 90.4 9.04 90.96
10 2.0 357.0 655.1 298.1 29.81 61.15
20 1.18 337.2 489.7 152.7 15.27 45.88
40 0.425 318.9 643.4 324.5 32.45 13.43
60 0.30 317.2 375.5 58.0 5.8 7.63
140 0.15 319.1 344.1 25.0 2.5 5.13
200 0.075 334.5 344.9 10.4 1.04 4.09
Pan --- 236.9 277.8 40.9 4.09 0
Total Mass(g) 998.9

From Grain Size Distribution Curve:

%Gravel= 18.87 D10= 0.15mm
% Sand = 75.7 D30 = 0.3mm
% Fines= 5.43 D60= 1.5 mm
 Percent Retained = (soil retained / total mass) * 100
 Percent Passing = 100% - Percent Retained
Cu = D60 /D10 = 1.5 / 0.15 = 10
Cc = D30^2 / (D60 * D10)= 0.3* 0.3/ (1.5 * 0.15) = 0.4

Results:

Hence the results for the sieve analysis of the soil we observed are as below:
%Gravel = 18.87
% Sand = 75.7
% Fines = 5.43
From Grain Size Distribution Curve:
D10 = 0.15mm
D30 = 0.3 mm
D60 = 1.5 mm
Cu = 10 and Cc = 0.4

Discussion:

During the process of shaking, the lid of the top sieve might not be tighten hence causes the loss
of the soil. Sensitive weighing scale is needed because the weight of soil may be very small.
When removal of remaining soil to be transferred to the pan to weigh, there might be some soil
still stuck in the sieves causing the amount of remaining soil to be less.
Particle size analysis is widely used in classification of soils. The data acquired from particle size
distribution curves is used in the design of filters for earth dams and to determine suitability of
soil for road construction, air field, and others. Also, information obtained from particle size
analysis is useful in describing the permeability, compaction, and other properties of soils. The
experiment performed focuses on generating the particle size distribution of the soil sample. The
generated particle size distribution graph is used in a lot of ways such as identifying the grading
of the soil and the percentage of coarse materials and the fines. As shown in the above section
we were able to calculate the coefficient of uniformity and curvature which were both used to
conclude whether the soil is uniformly graded.

Conclusion:

Soil may contain various types of grains. It is important to know the types of grains in soils as it
plays a big role in construction works. After thorough analysis it is concluded that the soil
sample is uniformly graded and probably works best as a construction material. Also, it is
inferred that because of the low number of fines, Atterberg limit which describes the fines will
not be a great concern in contrasts to the physical properties of the sandy particles that greatly
affects the strength of the soil sample.

References:
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?
q=cache:Tr_UCbXQH5kJ:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sieve_analysis+&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?
q=cache:osUjxbLQcREJ:www.polipd.edu.my/v3/sites/default/files/sieve_analysis_test.pdf+&cd
=8&hl=en&ct=clnk
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?
q=cache:Hus0y0yXQ0wJ:www.uic.edu/classes/cemm/cemmlab/Experiment%25206-Grain
%2520Size%2520Analysis.pdf+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk
Appendix: