NIKKO J.

PABILLORE BSCE-4A

GROUP NO. 3 SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

ACTIVITY # 3

Sieve Analysis

Einstein M. Opiso, PhD

INSTRUCTOR
 INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The sieve analysis or particle characterization is for the determination of the particle
size distribution of the coarse and fine aggregates. The size distribution is often of critical
importance to the way the material performs in use. In engineering perspectives, it is important
to classify the particle size distribution of soil, since particle size influences how fast or slow
water or other fluids moves through soil. Particle size is responsible for important physical and
chemical properties such as solubility, flowability and surface reaction. The advantages of the
sieve analysis include easy handling, low investment costs, precise and reproducible results
in a comparably short time and the possibility to separate the particle size fractions.

To guarantee a high degree of reproducibility and reliability, sieve shakers and

accessories have to fulfill the requirements of national and international standards. This means
that test sieves, sieve shakers and all other measurement instruments (e.g. scales) which are
used for the characterization of particle distributions have to be calibrated and subjected to
test agent monitoring as part of the quality management system. Only then is it possible to
achieve sieving results which allow a reliable characterization of a product. (Retsch, 2017)

Objectives

This activity was conducted to determine the particle size distribution in a given sample
of soil obtained from the area located on Central Mindanao University by sieving.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS

I. ACQUISITION OF THE MATERIALS

The materials used in the activity were seven sieves with different numbers
(4, 8, 40, 80, 100, 140 and 200), weighing scale, large basin, rubber mallet, oven,
zip-lock cellophane, brush, tray and foil.

II. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

A. Obtaining the Soil Sample

The soil sample was obtained in the proposed Home Economics Integrated
Laboratory in Central Mindanao University. One of the three bags of soil sample in
activity 1 was used. It was locked in the zip lock cellophane to avoid air from entering
and escaping

B. Sample Preparation

The soil sample was prepared for oven-drying. The tray was covered with foil
for the even distribution of heat from the oven (Figure 1). The oven was set into 100
C. The soil sample was carefully poured into the tray and immediately put it on the
oven. It took 24 hours to obtain a well dried soil sample. The dried soil sample was put
in a large basin to be pulverized, rubber mallet was used. The sample was weighed
for the data-gathering.

Figure 1a and 1b Tray covered with foil with soil sample

 Figure 2 Oven Figure 3 Pulverizing the soil sample

Figure 4 Weighing of Crushed Soil Sample

C. Sieving Process
 A stack of sieves was prepared (Figure 6). The order of the sieve number must be
ascending (4, 8, 40, 80, 100, 140 and 200). The smaller the sieve number, the larger
opening it has. Each sieve was weighed (Figure 5). The soil was immediately poured into
the stack of sieves. The stack of sieves was shook on about 10 minutes (Figure 7). The
sieve with the retained soil was weighed (Figure 8). All data were recorded for the
calculations.

Figure 5 Weighing of Sieve Figure 6 Slack of Sieve

Figure 7 Shaking Figure 8 Weighing retained soil

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

All data were recorded accordingly. Refer to tables 1 and 2.

Sieve No. Opening (mm) MS (g) MS+S (g)

4 4.75 491.4 500.2

8 2.36 486.4 539.8
40 0.425 371.6 702.4
80 0.180 419.0 507.4
100 0.150 433.6 442.4
140 0.106 319.8. 330.2
200 0.075 334.4 352.2
PAN 0 365.8 389.4

Table 1

Sieve No. MSR (g) Cumulative % of MSR on % Finer

Mass (g) each Sieve
4 8.8 8.8 1.624 98.376
8 53.4 62.2 9.852 88.524
40 330.8 393 61.033 27.491
80 88.4 481.4 16.309 11.181
100 8.8 490.2 1.624 9.557
140 10.4 500.6 1.919 7.638
200 17.8 518.4 3.284 4.354
PAN 23.6 542 4.354 0

Table 2

MS- Mass of Sieve

MS+S- Mass of Sieve with Soil

MSR- Mass Of Soil Retained

 Table 1 shows the sieve numbers and their openings (including the pan), the
mass of each sieve (MS) in grams and the mass of sieve with soil (MS+S) in grams.
On Table 2, the mass of soil retained (MSR) in each sieve was determined. It was
obtained by subtracting the mass of sieve (MS) to the mass of sieve with soil (MS+S).
The Cumulative mass was obtained by adding the mass of soil retained (MSR) and
the current cumulative mass. The first sieve garnered 8.8 grams of soil retained added
to current cumulative mass which is zero, resulted to obtain 8.8 g of cumulative mass.
The 8.8 grams was then considered as the current cumulative mass and added to the
next mass of soil retained. It yielded the new cumulative mass. The percent of mass
of soil retained on each sieve was obtained from this formula:

Mass of Soi Retained

% = 100%
Total original mass of soil (550 g)

The percent finer was obtained using the formula:

Total mass Cumulative mass

% = 100%
Total mass
 Particle-Size Distribution Curve
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.01 0.1 1 10

Graph 1. Logarithm Scale of Particle Grain Size Distribution

The Grain Size/ Particle Size Distribution (Graph 1) with their different particle
sizes denoted as D10, D30 and D60. The average particle size is denoted as D30. When
10 percent of the particles are finer and 90 percent of the particles are coarser, it is
considered as D10. Meanwhile, the particle size D60 will be identified when 60 percent
of the particles are finer and 40 percent of the particles are coarser. The three particle
sizes are considered to compute the measures of gradation. Considering the curve the
D10 was plotted in 0.15 mm., 0.425 mm. for the D60, and 1.05 mm. for the D60. The data
that were collected will be used in the computation of Coefficient of Uniformity (CU) and
Coefficient of Curvature (CC). The following formulas were used:

D 1.05
Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu) = D60 = 0.15 = 7
10

(D )2
30 (0.425)2
Coefficient of Curvature (Cc) = 10(D = = 1.147
60 ) 0.15(1.05)

For a well-graded soil, the value of Cu must be in between 1 < Cu < 6 and the
value of Cc must 1< Cc < 3. With the results, it was determined that the soil sample
was well graded soil.
 SOIL PARTICLE COMPOSITION

GRAVEL 1.624 %

SAND 94.022 %

SILT 4.354 %

Table 3

As shown in table 3, the soil sample consists of 1.624% Gravel, 94.022% of Sand
and 4.254% of Silt.

IV. CONCLUSIONS
The sieve analysis gives reproducible results in a comparably short time. The
soil sample, with 7 Coefficient of Uniformity and 1.147 of Coefficient of Curvature was
determined to be well graded soil. It was also determined that the soil sample consists
of 1.624% of Gravel, 94.022% of Sand and 4.354% of Silt.

V. REFERENCES
Seim, Jenny (2017). Retrieved from Fecco International.

www.fecco/what-is-the-importanc-of-sieve-analysis/

Retsch (2017). Retrieved from Retsch Gmbh.

www.retsch.com/sieveanalysis/

Sieve Analysis of Aggregates Retrieved from Civil Engineering Portal:

www.engineeringcivil.com/sieve-analysis.html

Sieve Analysis Test Retrieved from

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