KNS 2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3 Faculty of Engineering Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

____________________________________________________________ TITLE: L2a Sieve Analysis

INTRODUCTION: The range of particle size encountered in soils is very wide; from around 200mm down to the colloidal size of some clays of less than 0.001 mm. although the natural soils are mixtures of various-sized particles, it is common to find a predominance occurring within a relatively narrow band of sizes. When the width of this size band is very narrow, the soil will be termed poorly graded, if it is wide then the soil is said to be well graded. A number of engineering properties e.g. permeability, frost susceptibility, compressibility, are related directly or indirectly to particle-size characteristics. The particle-size analysis of a soil is carried out by determining the weight percentages falling within bands of size represented by the divisions and subdivisions of British Standard range of particle size. One of them is sieve analysis, which is a practice or procedure are use to assess the particle size distribution of granular material. The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the material performs in use. A sieve analysis can be performed on any type of non-organic or organic granular materials including sands, crushed rock, clays, granite, coal, soils, a wide range of manufactured powders, grain and seeds, down to a minimum size depending on the exact method. Being such a simple technique of particle sizing, it is probably the most common.

THEORY: Particle size analysis and grading As stated before, the particle-size analysis of a soil is carried out by determining the weight percentages falling within bands of size represented by divisions and sub-divisions, which is called as British Standard range of particle sizes (Figure L2.1). In the case of a coarse soil, from which fine-grained particles have been removed or were absent, the usual process is a sieve analysis. A

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____________________________________________________________ representative sample of the soil is split systematically down to a convenient subsample size and

Figure L2.1 the oven-dried. This sample is then passed through a nest of standard test sieves arranged in descending order of mesh size. Following agitation of first the whole nest and then individual sieves, the weight of soil retained on each sieve is determined and the cumulative percentage of the sub-sample weight passing each sieve calculated. From this figures, the particle-size distribution for the soil is plotted as a semi logarithmic curve known as a grading curve (Figure L2.2)

Figure L2.2 2

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____________________________________________________________ Where the soil sample contains fine-grained particles, a wet sieving procedure is first carried out to remove these and to determine the combined clay/silt fraction percentage. A suitably sized sub-sample is first oven-dried and then sieved to separate the coarsest particles (>20 mm) the sub-sample is then immersed in water containing a dispersing agent and allowed to stand before being washed through a 63 m mesh sieve. The retained fraction is again ovendried and passed through a nest of sieves. After weighing the fractions retained on each sieve and calculating the cumulative percentages passing each sieve, the grading curve is drawn. A combined clay/silt fraction is determined from the weight difference and expressed as percentage of the total sub-sample weight. The coarsest fraction can also be sieved and the results used to complete the grading curve. Grading characteristics The grading curve is a graphical representation of the particle-size distribution and is therefore useful in itself as a means of describing the oil. For this reason it is always a good idea to include copies of grading curves in laboratory and other similar reports. It should also be remembered that the primary object is to provide a descriptive term for the type of soil. This can be easily done using the type of chart shown in Figure L2.3 by estimating the range of sizes included in the most representative fraction of the soil.

Figure L2.3 3

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____________________________________________________________ A described to be well-graded GRAVEL with sand (GW) with the percentage of GRAVEL at 79 % is predominantly represented and the percentage of SAND is more than 15 % B described to be silty SAND with gravel (SM) with the percentage of SAND is predominant at 60 % with gravel is more than 15 % and silt at 10 % C described as poorly-graded SAND (SP) as the percentage of SAND lies in the medium range is 75 % D described as poorly-graded SAND with silt (SP-SM) with the percentage of SAND lies in the fine range of 85 % and silt is at 15 % E described to be sandy SILT (ML) as SILT is predominant at 60 % with sand encountered at 30 % F described to be silty CLAY (CL-ML) as the clay percentage is dominant at 55 % and silt is at 45 %

A further quantitative analysis of grading curves may be carried out using certain geometric values known as grading characteristics. First of all, three points are located on the grading curve to five the following characteristic sizes (Figure L2.4):

Figure L2.4

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____________________________________________________________ d10 maximum size of the smallest 10% of the sample d30 maximum size of the smallest 30% of the sample d60 maximum size of the smallest 60% of the sample from these characteristic sizes, the following grading characteristics are defined :

Effective Size = d10 mm Coefficient of uniformity, Cu

Cu

D60 D10

Coefficient of Curvature / Gradation, Cc

Cc

D10 D60

D30 2

Both Cu and Cc will be unity (equal to 1) for a single-sized soil, while Cu < 3 indicating uniform grading and Cu > 3 for well-graded soil Most well graded soil will have grading curves that are mainly flat of slightly concave, giving values of Cc between o.5 and 2.0. One useful application is an approximation of the coefficient of permeability, which was suggested by Hazen.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this test is to determine the grain size distribution of soil by sieve analysis.

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____________________________________________________________ APPARATUS: APPARATUS

1. Set of sieve

2. Mechanical sieve shaker

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____________________________________________________________ PROCEDURE: 1. 806g air-dried coarse-grained soil sample was taken and was recorded on data sheet. The sieve was set in order from pan to lid. Size of Sieve 14 mm 10 mm 6.3 mm 5 mm 3.35 mm 2 mm 1.18 mm 600 m 425 m 300 m 212 m 150 m 63 m Pan

2. The sieve was cleaned first by using the brush to remove the particle from the screen. After the sieve was cleaned and stacked on order, the sample was poured onto the upper sieve and closed the sieve using the lid. 3. The stack of the sieve was placed at mechanical sieve shaker and was shaken for 10 minute. After that, the stack of sieve was removed one by one from the shaker and each sieve was weighed to the nearest 0.1g and was recorded inside the tabulation data sheet. 4. The mass retained on each sieve was obtained by subtracting the sieve mass from the sieve mass + retained soil. This mass was recorded inside the tabulation data sheet. 5. Various equations were used in order to complete this calculation for this experiment. Some of them were: 7

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____________________________________________________________ a. % Retained = 100

b. C = Mass Retained / Total Mass Sample c. Corrected Mass = Mass Retained + C d. % Passing = 100 - % Retained 6. The graph of percentage finer against particle size was plotted.

KNS 2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3 Faculty of Engineering Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

____________________________________________________________ RESULT Preparation Dried Sample + Tray (g) Tray (g) Dried Sample (g) 910 104 806

BS Test Sieve 14 mm 10 mm 6.3 mm 5mm 3.35 mm 2.36mm 1.18 mm 600 m 425 m 300 m 212 m 150 m 63 m mass passing 63 m Total Notes: % Retained =

Mass Retained (g) 15.0 35.0 54.0 27.0 50.0 25.0 52.0 104.0 100.0 115.0 73.0 61.0 82.0

Corrected Mass (g) 15.02 35.04 54.07 27.03 50.06 25.03 52.06 104.13 100.12 115.14 73.09 61.08 82.10

% Retained 1.86 4.34 6.70 3.35 6.20 3.10 6.45 12.90 12.41 14.27 9.06 7.57 10.18

% Passing 98.14 93.80 87.10 83.75 77.55 74.45 68.00 55.10 42.69 28.42 19.36 11.79 1.61

Max Load (g) 1500 1000 750 500 400 250 100 75 75 50 50 40 25

13.0 806.0

13.02 806.99

1.61 100.00

0.00

100

C = Mass Retained / Total Mass Sample Corrected Mass = Mass Retained + C % Passing = 100 - % Retained

KNS 2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3 Faculty of Engineering Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

____________________________________________________________ CALCULATIONS: 1) Obtain the mass retained on each sieve by subtracting the sieve mass from the sieve mass + retained soil. Record these values on your data sheet under column headed Mass Retained.

For 14 mm sieve: 449.0 g 434.0 g = 15.0 g For 300 m sieve: 431.0 g 316.0 g = 115.0 g For 10 mm sieve: 458.0 g 423.0 g = 35.0g For 212 m sieve: 376.0 g 303.0 g =73.0 g For 6.3 mm sieve: 458.0 g 404.0 g = 54.0 g For 150 m sieve: 401.0 g 340.0 g = 61.0 g For 5 mm sieve: 426.0 g 399.0 g = 27.0g For 63 m sieve: 368.0 g 286.0 g = 82.0 g For 3.35 mm sieve: 490.0 g 440.0 g = 50.0 g For mass passing 63 m sieve: For 2.36 mm sieve: 449.0 g 424.0 g = 25.0 g 260.0 g 247.0 g = 13.0 g

For 1.18 mm sieve: 482.0 g 430.0 g = 52.0 g

For 600 m sieve: 497.0 g 393.0 g = 104.0 g

For 425 m sieve: 550.0 g 450.0 g = 100.0 g

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____________________________________________________________ 2) Now sum this column of masses (including that in the pan) and compare with the mass obtained. Total mass retained = (15.0 + 35.0 + 54.0 + 27.0 + 50.0 + 25.0 + 52.0 + 104.0 + 100.0 + 115.0 + 73.0 + 61.0 + 82.0 + 13.0) g = 806.0g The mass obtained is the same with the mass retained, which is 806.0g.

3) Compute the percent retained on each sieve by dividing the weight retained on each sieve by the original sample mass. This is valid, since any material passing the No. 200 sieve will pass any sieve above it in the stack.

For 14 mm sieve: % Retained = (15.02/806.99) x 100% = 1.86 % For 10 mm sieve: % Retained = (35.04/806.99) x 100% = 4.34% For 6.3 mm sieve: % Retained = (54.07/806.99) x 100% = 6.70 % For 5mm sieve: % Retained = (27.03/806.99) x 100% = 3.35 % For 3.35 mm sieve: % Retained = (50.06/806.99) x 100% = 6.20 % For 2.36 mm sieve: % Retained = (25.03/806.99) x 100% = 3.10 %

For 1.18 mm sieve: % Retained = (52.06/806.99) x 100% = 6.45 % For 600 m sieve: % Retained = (104.13/806.99) x 100% = 12.90% For 425 m sieve: % Retained = (100.12/806.99) x 100% = 12.41 % For 300 m sieve: % Retained = (115.14/806.99) x 100% = 14.27 % For 212 m sieve: % Retained = (73.09/806.99) x 100% = 9.06 % For 150 m sieve: % Retained = (61.08/806.99) x 100% = 7.57 %

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____________________________________________________________ For 63 m sieve: % Retained = (82.10/806.99) x 100% = 10.18% For mass passing 63 m sieve: % Retained = (13.02/806.99) x 100% = 1.61 %

4) Compute the percent passing (or percent finer) by starting with 100 percent and subtracting the percent retained on each sieve as a cumulative procedure.

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____________________________________________________________ For 14 mm sieve: % Passing = 100.00 1.86 = 98.14% For 425 m sieve: % Passing = 55.10 12.41 For 10 mm sieve: % Passing = 98.14 4.34 = 93.80% For 300 m sieve: % Passing For 6.3 mm sieve: % Passing = 93.80 6.70 = 87.10% 14.27 = 28.42% = 42.69 = 42.69%

For 5 mm sieve: % Passing = 87.10 3.35 = 83.75%

For 212 m sieve: % Passing = 28.42 9.06 = 19.36%

For 3.35 mm sieve: % Passing = 83.75 6.20 = 77.55% For 150 m sieve: % Passing = 19.36 7.57 = 11.79% For 2.36 mm sieve: % Passing = 77.55 3.10 = 74.45% For 63 m sieve: % Passing For 1.18 mm sieve: % Passing = 74.45 6.45 = 68.00% 10.18 = 1.61% = 11.79

For 600 m sieve: % Passing 12.90 = 55.10% 13 = 68.00

For mass passing 63 m sieve: % Passing = 1.61 1.61 = 0.00%

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____________________________________________________________ 5) Each individual should make a semi logarithmic plot of particle size versus percent finer, using the graph on the data sheet. If less than 12 percent passes The No.200 sieve, compute CU and Cc and show on the graph. A graph of percentage finer against particle size
120

100

Percentage finer, %

80

60

40

20

0 0.01 0.1 1 10 100

Particle size, mm

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____________________________________________________________

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____________________________________________________________ Coefficient of Uniformity Cu This is the indicator of the spread of the range of the grain sizes and is defined as

Cu

D60 D10

Cu = 5.92 Coefficient of Curvature Cc This is the measure of the shape of curve between D60 and D10 grain sizes, defined as

Cc

D10 D60

D30 2

Cc Cc = 0.96

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KNS 2591 Civil Engineering Laboratory 3 Faculty of Engineering Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

____________________________________________________________ DISCUSSION: 1. The grain-size distribution of coarse-grained soils, gravelly and/or sandy, is usually determined by sieve analysis. Oven-dried soil with the lumps thoroughly broken down is passed through a number of sieves. The weight of the dry soil retained on each sieve is determined, and based on these weights the cumulative percent passing a given sieve is determined. This is generally referred to as percent finer. 2. The grain-size distribution can be used to determine some of the basic soil parameters such as the effective size, the uniformity coefficient, and the coefficient of gradation. 3. Thus, in this experiment, mass retained on each sieve is given below.

Sieve Size 14 mm 10 mm 6.3 mm 5 mm 3.35 mm 2.36 mm 1.18 mm 600 m 425 m 300 m 212 m 150 m 63 m Passing 63 m

Mass Retained 15.0 g 35.0 g 54.0 g 27.0 g 50.0 g 25.0 g 52.0 g 104.0 g 100.0 g 115.0 g 73.0 g 61.0 g 82.0 g 13.0 g

And, the total mass retained is 806.0 g.

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____________________________________________________________ 4. Furthermore, percent retained on each sieve in this experiment is computed below. Sieve Size 14 mm 10 mm 6.3 mm 5 mm 3.35 mm 2.36 mm 1.18 mm 600 m 425 m 300 m 212 m 150 m 63 m Passing 63 m 5. Percent Retained 1.86 % 4.34 % 6.70 % 3.35 % 6.20 % 3.10 % 6.45 % 12.90 % 12.41% 14.27 % 9.06 % 7.57 % 10.18 % 1.61 %

Meanwhile, percent passing or percent finer in this experiment is calculated as shown.

Sieve Size 14 mm 10 mm 6.3 mm 5 mm 3.35 mm 2.36 mm 1.18 mm 600 m 425 m 300 m 212 m 18

Percent Finer 98.14 % 93.80 % 87.10 % 83.75 % 77.55 % 74.45 % 68.00 % 55.10 % 42.69 % 28.42 % 19.36 %

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____________________________________________________________ 11.79 % 150 m 63 m Passing 63 m 6. 1.61 % 0%

Grading curve is drawn by using Passing Finer (Percent Finer) as its yaxis while Particle Size as its x-axis.

7.

In this curve, we can get its effective size, diameter through which 10 % of the total soil mass is passing and is referred to as uniformity coefficient, is defined as . The

where

is the diameter through which 60% of the total soil mass is in this experiment is 5.92. In addition, is defined as

passing. Hence, the value of the coefficient of gradation

where

is the diameter through which 30% of the total soil mass is is 0.96.

passing, which is, the value of 8.

A soil is called a well-graded soil if the distribution of the grain sizes extends over a rather large range. In that case, the value of the uniformity coefficient is large. Generally, a soil is referred to as well graded if is larger than .

9.

When most of the grains in a soil mass are of approximately the same size, the soil is called as poorly graded. A soil might have a combination of two or more well-graded soil fractions, and this type of soil is referred to as a gap-graded soil.

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____________________________________________________________ CONCLUSION: In the conclusion, the soil is classified as gap-graded fine SAND soil. This is due to the amount of sand is exceed 50 % (78.4%), while gravel and silt/clay both at 18% and 3.6% respectively. For this curve, we obtained effective size of 0.13 mm. The value of uniformity coefficient and coefficient of curvature are 5.92 and 0.96 respectively. There are few precaution need to be taken in order to get an accurate result. There are: Make sure that the sieve mesh is clean without any foreign soil/ items stuck between them. While shaking the sieve, make sure that the sieve was tighten properly so that it can be sieved appropriately. While taking reading on weight balance, make sure that theres no zero error occurred

RECOMMENDATION: The experiment should be done carefully. The errors that we get from this experiment are caused by instrumental and human errors.. However, instrumental errors can be eliminated or minimized by carefully manipulation of apparatus. This can be done by: 1. Make sure that the sieve mesh is clean without any foreign soil/ items stuck between them 2. While shaking the sieve, make sure that the sieve was tighten properly so that it can be sieved appropriately. 3. While taking reading on weight balance, make sure that theres no zero error occurred Human errors can be minimized by doing the experiment carefully and with intention to get the most accurate results possible.

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____________________________________________________________ REFERENCE:

Das, B. M., (1983). Advanced Soil Mechanics. Singapore : McGraw-Hill International Editions. Roy Whitlow (2004), Basic Soil Mechanics (4th Ed.): Pearson Education Prentice Hall

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