MEASURMENTS OF PARTICLE SIZE

SEIVING ANALYSIS
A sieve analysis (or gradation test) is a practice or procedure used (commonly used in civil
engineering) to assess the particle size distribution (also called gradation) of a 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, feldspars, coal, soil, 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.[1]

Procedure[edit]

Sieves used for gradation test.

A mechanical shaker used for sieve analysis.

A gradation test is performed on a sample of aggregate in a laboratory. A typical sieve analysis

involves a nested column of sieves with wire mesh cloth (screen). See the separate Mesh
(scale) page for details of sieve sizing.
A representative weighed sample is poured into the top sieve which has the largest screen openings.
Each lower sieve in the column has smaller openings than the one above. At the base is a round
pan, called the receiver.
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
weight of the sample of each sieve is then divided by the total weight to give a percentage retained
on each sieve. The size of the average particle on each sieve is then analysed to get a cut-off point
or specific size range, which is then captured on a screen.
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.
The results of this test are provided in graphical form to identify the type of gradation of the
aggregate. The complete procedure for this test is outlined in the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) C 136[2] and the American Association and State Highway and Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) T 27[3]
A suitable sieve size for the aggregate 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.[4]

Preparation[edit]
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. [4]

Results[edit]

Graphs of cumulative percent passing versus the logarithmic sieve size.

The results are presented in a graph of percent passing versus the sieve size. On the graph the
sieve size scale is logarithmic. To find the percent of aggregate passing through each sieve, first find
the percent retained in each sieve. To do so, the following equation is used,
%Retained = ×100%
where WSieve is the weight of aggregate in the sieve and WTotal is the total weight of the aggregate. The
next step is to find the cumulative percent of aggregate retained in each sieve. To do so, add up the
total amount of aggregate that is retained in each sieve and the amount in the previous sieves. The
cumulative percent passing of the aggregate is found by subtracting the percent retained from 100%.
%Cumulative Passing = 100% - %Cumulative Retained.
The values are then plotted on a graph with cumulative percent passing on the y axis and
logarithmic sieve size on the x axis.[4]
There are two versions of the %Passing equations. the .45 power formula is presented on .45 power
gradation chart, whereas the more simple %Passing is presented on a semi-log gradation chart.
version of the percent passing graph is shown on .45 power chart and by using the .45 passing
formula.
.45 power percent passing formula
% Passing = Pi = x100%
Where:
SieveLargest - Largest diameter sieve used in (mm).
Aggregatemax_size - Largest piece of aggregate in the sample in (mm).
Percent passing formula
%Passing = x100%
Where:
WBelow - The total mass of the aggregate within the sieves below the current sieve, not including the
current sieve's aggregate.
WTotal - The total mass of all of the aggregate in the sample.

Methods[edit]
There are different methods for carrying out sieve analyses, depending on the material to be
measured.

Throw-action[edit]
Here a throwing motion acts on the sample. The vertical throwing motion is overlaid with a slight
circular motion which results in distribution of the sample amount over the whole sieving surface.
The particles are accelerated in the vertical direction (are thrown upwards). In the air they carry out
free rotations and interact with the openings in the mesh of the sieve when they fall back. If the
particles are smaller than the openings, they pass through the sieve. If they are larger, they are
thrown upwards again. The rotating motion while suspended increases the probability that the
particles present a different orientation to the mesh when they fall back again, and thus might
eventually pass through the mesh.[5]
Modern sieve shakers work with an electro-magnetic drive which moves a spring-mass system and
transfers the resulting oscillation to the sieve stack. Amplitude and sieving time are set digitally and
are continuously observed by an integrated control-unit. Therefore, sieving results are reproducible
and precise (an important precondition for a significant analysis). Adjustment of parameters like
amplitude and sieving time serves to optimize the sieving for different types of material. This method
is the most common in the laboratory sector.[5]

Horizontal[edit]
In a horizontal sieve shaker the sieve stack moves in horizontal circles in a plane. Horizontal sieve
shakers are preferably used for needle-shaped, flat, long or fibrous samples, as their horizontal
orientation means that only a few disoriented particles enter the mesh and the sieve is not blocked
so quickly. The large sieving area enables the sieving of large amounts of sample, for example as
encountered in the particle-size analysis of construction materials and aggregates.

Tapping[edit]

Tapping sieving

A horizontal circular motion overlies a vertical motion which is created by a tapping impulse. These
motional processes are characteristic of hand sieving and produce a higher degree of sieving for
denser particles (e.g. abrasives) than throw-action sieve shakers.

Wet[edit]
Most sieve analyses are carried out dry. But there are some applications which can only be carried
out by wet sieving. This is the case when the sample which has to be analysed is e.g. a suspension
which must not be dried; or when the sample is a very fine powder which tends to agglomerate
(mostly < 45 µm) – in a dry sieving process this tendency would lead to a clogging of the sieve
meshes and this would make a further sieving process impossible. A wet sieving process is set up
like a dry process: the sieve stack is clamped onto the sieve shaker and the sample is placed on the
top sieve. Above the top sieve a water-spray nozzle is placed which supports the sieving process
additionally to the sieving motion. The rinsing is carried out until the liquid which is discharged
through the receiver is clear. Sample residues on the sieves have to be dried and weighed. When it
comes to wet sieving it is very important not to change the sample in its volume (no swelling,
dissolving or reaction with the liquid).

Air Circular Jet[edit]

Air jet sieving machines are ideally suited for very fine powders which tend to agglomerate and
cannot be separated by vibrational sieving. The reason for the effectiveness of this sieving method is
based on two components: A rotating slotted nozzle inside the sieving chamber and a powerful
industrial vacuum cleaner which is connected to the chamber. The vacuum cleaner generates a
vacuum inside the sieving chamber and sucks in fresh air through the slotted nozzle. When passing
the narrow slit of the nozzle the air stream is accelerated and blown against the sieve mesh,
dispersing the particles. Above the mesh, the air jet is distributed over the complete sieve surface
and is sucked in with low speed through the sieve mesh. Thus the finer particles are transported
through the mesh openings into the vacuum cleaner.

Types of gradation[edit]
A Dense gradation
A dense gradation refers to a sample that is approximately of equal amounts of various sizes
of aggregate. By having a dense gradation, most of the air voids between the material are
filled with particles. A dense gradation will result in an even curve on the gradation graph. [6]
Narrow gradation
Also known as uniform gradation, a narrow gradation is a sample that has aggregate of
approximately the same size. The curve on the gradation graph is very steep, and occupies
a small range of the aggregate.[4]
Gap gradation
A gap gradation refers to a sample with very little aggregate in the medium size range. This
results in only coarse and fine aggregate. The curve is horizontal in the medium size range
on the gradation graph.[4]
Open gradation
An open gradation refers an aggregate sample with very little fine aggregate particles. This
results in many air voids, because there are no fine particles to fill them. On the gradation
graph, it appears as a curve that is horizontal in the small size range.[4]
Rich gradation
A rich gradation refers to a sample of aggregate with a high proportion of particles of small
sizes.[6]

Types of sieves[edit]
Woven wire mesh sieves
Woven wire mesh sieves are according to technical requirements of ISO 3310-
1.[7] These sieves usually have nominal aperture ranging from 20 micrometers to
3.55 millimeters, with diameters ranging from 100 to 450 millimeters.
Perforated plate sieves
Perforated plate sieves conform to ISO 3310-2 and can have round or square
nominal apertures ranging from 1 millimeter to 125 millimeters.[8] The diameters
of the sieves range from 200 to 450 millimeters.
American standard sieves
American standard sieves also known as ASTM sieves conform to ASTM E11
standard.[9] The nominal aperture of these sieves range from 20 micrometers to
200 millimeters, however these sieves have only 8 inches (203 mm) and 12
inches (305 mm) diameter sizes.

Limitations of sieve analysis[edit]

Sieve analysis has, in general, been used for decades to monitor material
quality based on particle size. For coarse material, sizes that range down to
#100 mesh (150μm), a sieve analysis and particle size distribution is accurate
and consistent.
However, for material that is finer than 100 mesh, dry sieving can be
significantly less accurate. This is because the mechanical energy required to
make particles pass through an opening and the surface attraction effects
between the particles themselves and between particles and the screen
increase as the particle size decreases. Wet sieve analysis can be utilized
where the material analyzed is not affected by the liquid - except to disperse it.
Suspending the particles in a suitable liquid transports fine material through the
sieve much more efficiently than shaking the dry material.
Sieve analysis assumes that all particle will be round (spherical) or nearly so
and will pass through the square openings when the particle diameter is less
than the size of the square opening in the screen. For elongated and flat
particles a sieve analysis will not yield reliable mass-based results, as the
particle size reported will assume that the particles are spherical, where in fact
an elongated particle might pass through the screen end-on, but would be
prevented from doing so if it presented itself side-on.

Properties[edit]
Gradation affects many properties of an aggregate. It affects bulk density,
physical stability and permeability. With careful selection of the gradation, it is
possible to achieve high bulk density, high physical stability, and low
permeability. This is important because in pavement design, a workable, stable
mix with resistance to water is important. With an open gradation, the bulk
density is relatively low, due to the lack of fine particles, the physical stability is
moderate, and the permeability is quite high. With a rich gradation, the bulk
density will also be low, the physical stability is low, and the permeability is also
low. The gradation can be affected to achieve the desired properties for the
particular engineering application.[6]

Engineering applications[edit]
Gradation is usually specified for each engineering application it is used for. For
example, foundations might only call for coarse aggregates, and therefore an
open gradation is needed.

"Sieving" with digital image processing[edit]

Digital image processing to determine particle-size distribution (PSD) has now
become the quickest and easiest method for analyzing rock masses. The
algorithms used to analyze digital images and produce PSD has been
researched and developed at the University of Arizona since 1997, and now in
software offered by multiple companies around the world.

The method for digital image processing is the

following[edit]
Image acquisition: Using a standard digital camera, a user takes a picture of the
rocks for analysis. Loading image into the program: Typically user friendly,
either through File or drag and drop Processing image with software’s
proprietary algorithm: The software analyzes individual pixel’s gradient and
compares to each of the neighboring pixels to determine boundaries between
the rocks. Editing: User edits the boundaries to better accuracy Results: PSD is
produced by the program. The results page is typically customizable for
reporting units and graph style.

Real time data reporting of image processing[edit]

Also available is real time data reporting from any desired location within the
comminution circuit. Continuous conveyor belt fragmentation measurements in
the comminution plant can provide an instantaneous tool for process control.
When planning the integration of fragmentation measurement instrumentation,
position your camera monitoring station in a location where you can effect a
process control change based upon the particle size information you receive.
For example, the primary crusher product is a good location to measure, since
you are able to control the size that the crusher is producing with slight
adjustments to the crusher ensuring that the downstream comminution circuit is
receiving a consistent product to help reduce variability in the process. In
addition to the continuous particle size analysis, the database of belt material
size can be used for simulations and for further process analysis to help
increase process efficiency and throughput.

See also