EXPERIMENT NO. FINENESS MODULUS OF FINE AGGREGATES Object- To determine fineness modulus of fine aggregates.

Theory- The aggregates most of which passes IS 4.75 mm sieve is classified as fine aggregate whereas aggregates most of which is retained on IS 4.75 mm sieve is known as coarse aggregate. Fine aggregates obtained from natural disintegration of rocks and deposited by streams are known as natural sands .Fine aggregates resulting from crushing of hard stone and natural gravel are known as crushed stone and crushed gravel sand respectively .Sieve analysis is carried out for the determination of particle si e distribution of fine! coarse and all"in"aggregates by sieving or screening. Sieves of si e #$mm! 4$mm! %$mm! &$mm! 4.75mm! %.'(mm! &.&#mm! ($$ micron! '$$ micron and &5$ micron conforming to IS 4($ specifications are used. The stan ar e!"n"t"on o! !"neness #o $%$s "s as !o%%o&s' "n* the tota% )ercenta*es o! a sa#)%e o! the "+" "n* the s$# by

(An e#)"r"ca% !actor obta"ne by a -.../

a**re*ate reta"ne on each o! a s)ec"!"e ser"es o! s"e+es, an

The !"neness #o $%$s can be re*ar e as a &e"*hte a+era*e s"0e o! s"e+e on &h"ch #ater"a% "s reta"ne an the s"e+es co$nte !ro# !"nest .

A))arat$s' )a* 1a%ance- The balance or scale shall be used such that it is readable and accurate to $.&+ of the weight of the test sample. )b* S"e+es- Sieves of the si e given in Table %.7 conforming to IS 4($.&,(% specification for Test sieves )-evised* shall be used.

)c* Sa#)%e- The weight of the sample available shall be not less than weight given in table %.&. The sample for sieving shall be prepared from the larger sample either by .uartering or by means of a sample divider.

Proce $re' The sample shall be brought to an air"dry condition before weighing and sieving. This may be achieved either by drying at room temperature or by heating at a temperature of &$$"&&$ degree /elsius. The air dry sample shall be weighed and sieved successfully on the appropriate sieves starting with the largest si e. /are shall be taken to ensure that the sieves are clean before use. 0ach sieve shall be shaken shall be shaken separately over a clean tray for a period of not less than % minutes. The shaking is done with a varied motion forwards and backwards! left and right! circular clockwise and anticlockwise and with fre.uent 1arring so that the material is kept moving over the sieve surface in fre.uently changing directions. Find the weight of aggregates retained on each sieve taken in order. If sieving is carried out with a net of sieves on a machine! not less than &$ minutes sieving will be re.uired for each test.

F"*$re'

Sieve for fine aggregates )4.75 mm to '$$ micron 2 pan*

)From top to bottom*

Obser+at"ons an 2a%c$%at"ons' TA1LE' S"e+e Ana%ys"s o! F"ne A**re*ates 3ate of testing44444444..Sample 5o4444444444444 6eight of fine aggregates taken for sieving7 44)kg*

IS Sieve si e

6eight -etained

+ 6eight -etained

+ 6eight 8assing

/umulative +weight retained.

4.75 mm %.'( mm &.&# mm ($$ micron '$$ micron

-esidue /heck

F 7 9 )44* Fineness modulus of fine aggregates 7 F:&$$

Preca$t"ons' 0ach sieve shall be shaken for a period of at least % min if hand sieving is used. Sieving should be in a circular clockwise and anticlockwise directions. If sieving is done in a shaker! at least &$ min sieving per test must be used. The sample to be sieved should be in a dry condition.

S"*n"!"cance an Use ' ; method of selecting mi<ture proportions for concrete based on the fineness modulus of the combined fine and coarse aggregate was proposed by ;brams in &,&#. This method is not widely used today but the concept of being able to describe particle"si e distributions by an inde< number remains useful for many purposes. =any agencies use fineness

modulus variation as a convenient means of keeping .uality history data on uniformity of particle"si e distribution of aggregate production! delivery! and use. Some agencies re.uire that aggregates be processed to remain within upper and lower limits of fineness modulus. Such re.uirements are more fre.uently applicable to fine aggregate than coarse aggregate.

L"#"ts o! F"neness Mo $%$s o! F"ne a**re*ates' For the fine aggregates commonly used the Fineness =odulus varies between % to '.5 If the test aggregate gives higher fineness modulus the mi< will be harsh and if on the other hand gives a lower fineness modulus it gives uneconomical mi< . 2o##ents' ;* 3raw a curve between + passing and the sieve si e for fine aggregate. Study and give comments on these curves.

>* 3iscuss the stability of the fine aggregate used by you in the laboratory for a construction site.

Re!erences' IS 4($.&,(% specification for Test sieves )-evised* IS '#'?&,7$