In the engineering classification of soil, grain-size analysis is considered as one among the

oldest of soil tests. It is also utilized in the specifications of soil for airfields, roads, earth dams,
and other soil embankment construction. The standard grain-size analysis test determines the
relative proportions of different grain sizes as they are distributed among certain size ranges.
Grain-size analysis of soils containing relatively large particles, mostly cohesionless soil, is
done using sieves. A sieve is an apparatus having openings of equal size and shape through
which grains smaller than the size of the opening will pass, while larger grains are retained. A
sieve can be used to separate soil grains in a sample into two groups: one containing grains
smaller than the size of the sieve opening and the other containing larger grains. When soil
is passed through a sieve, soil particles smaller than the opening size of the sieve will pass
through, while those larger than the opening size of the sieve will be retained.

Different standards are used in determining sieve analysis. They differ in the size opening of
the wire mesh. The table below shows a comparison of the openings using different
standards.

Sieve Size US Standard Tyler Standard British Standard

Designation
inches mm inches mm Inches mm

#4 0.1870 4.76 0.185 4.70

#8 0.0937 2.38 0.093 2.362 0.081 2.057

#10 0.0661 1.68 0.065 1.651 0.0661 1.676

#20 0.0331 0.84 0.0328 0.833 --------- --------

#40 0.0106 0.42 ------- ---------- --------- --------

#60 0.0098 0.25 0.0097 0.246 0.0099 0.251

#100 0.0059 0.149 0.0058 0.147 0.0060 0.152

#200 0.0029 0.074 0.0029 0.074 0.0030 0.076

#270 0.0021 0.053 0.0021 0.053

#400 0.0015 0.037 0.0015 0.038

In performing sieve analysis, sieves of different opening sizes are stacked, with the largest
opening size at the top and a pan at the bottom. Soil is poured in at the top, and soil particles
pass downward through the sieve until they are retained on a particular sieve. The stack of
sieves is mechanically agitated during this procedure. At the end of the procedure, the soil
particles retained on each sieve are weighed and the results presented graphically in the form
of a grain-size distribution curve. This is normally a semi-log plot with grain size (diameter)
along the abscissa on a logarithmic scale and percentage passing that grain size along the
ordinate on an arithmetic scale.
Several useful parameters can be determined from grain-size distribution curves. The
diameter of soil particles at which 50% passes (i.e., 50% of the soil by weight is finer than this
size) is known as the median size and is denoted by D50. The diameter at which 10% passes
is called the effective size and is denoted by D10. Two coefficients used in the Unified Soil
Classification System are the coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and the coefficient of curvature (Cc),
which are defined as follows:
𝐷60
𝐶𝑢 = (1)
𝐷10

(𝐷30 )2
𝐶𝑐 = (2)
𝐷60 𝐷10

where D60 and D30 are the soil particle diameters corresponding to 60 and 30%, respectively,
passing on the cumulative grain-size distribution curve.

Median size gives an average particle size for a given soil sample; other parameters offer
some indication of the particle size range. Effective size gives the maximum particle diameter
of the smallest 10% of soil particles. It is this size to which permeability and capillarity are
related. Cu and Cc have little or no meaning when more than 5% of the soil is finer than a No.
200 sieve opening (0.075 mm).

In the case of cohesive soils, distribution of grain size is not determined by sieve analysis
because the particles are too small. Particle sizes may be determined by the hydrometer
method which is a process for indirectly observing the settling velocities of the particles in a
soil-water mixture.

Sample Problems:

Problem 01:

The table below shows the laboratory results of the sieve analysis of a sample. Plot the
grain size curve of the soil. Determine the effective size, uniformity coefficient, and
coefficient of gradation.

Sieve Number Diameter (mm) Mass retained (grams)

4 4.76 5

8 2.38 45

10 2.00 65

20 0.84 92

40 0.42 152

60 0.25 115

80 0.180 212
 100 0.149 63

200 0.074 32

Pan 14

total 795

Solution:

Solve for the cumulative mass retained and percent finer.

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 − 𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑

% 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑥 100%
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

Sieve Diameter Mass retained Cumulative Percent

Number (mm) (grams) Mass Passing/Finer
Retained

4 4.76 5 5 99.37

8 2.38 45 50 93.71

10 2.00 65 115 85.53

20 0.84 92 207 73.96

40 0.42 152 359 54.84

60 0.25 115 474 40.38

80 0.180 212 686 13.71

100 0.149 63 749 5.79

200 0.074 32 781 1.76

Pan 14 795

total 795

Plot the points in a semi-logarithmic paper with percent passing on the vertical axis and particle
size diameter in the horizontal axis. Connect the points and draw the curve. You may also use
excel in drawing the grain size distribution curve. Determine the values of D60, D30, and D10.
 Particle Size Distribution Curve
100
90
80
70
Percent Passing

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle Diameter, mm

From the graph:

𝐷60 = 0.533 𝐷30 = 0.233 𝐷10 = 0.165

Determine effective grain size: 𝐷10 = 0.165

Determine uniformity coefficient, 𝐶𝑢 :

𝐷60 0.533
𝐶𝑢 = = = 3.23
𝐷10 0.165

Determine coefficient of gradation, 𝐶𝑐 :

(𝐷30 )2 (0.233)2
𝐶𝑐 = = = 0.617
𝐷60 𝐷10 0.533(0.165)

Problem 2:

The table below shows the laboratory results of the sieve analysis of a sample. Plot the grain
size curve of the soil. Determine the effective size, uniformity coefficient, and coefficient of
gradation.

Particle size, mm 6 4.75 2.36 1.3 0.6 0.2 0.075

% Finer 100 90 84 70 35 15 8
Solution:

Plot the points in a semi-logarithmic paper with percent finer on the vertical axis and particle
size diameter in the horizontal axis. Connect the points and draw the curve. You may also use
excel in drawing the grain size distribution curve. Determine the values of D60, D30, and D10.

Particle Size Distribution Curve

100
90
80
70
Percent Passing

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle Diameter, mm

From the graph:

𝐷60 = 1.100 𝐷30 = 0.500 𝐷10 = 0.111

Determine effective grain size: 𝐷10 = 0.111

Determine uniformity coefficient, 𝐶𝑢 :

𝐷60 1.100
𝐶𝑢 = = = 9.91
𝐷10 0.111

Determine coefficient of gradation, 𝐶𝑐 :

(𝐷30 )2 (0.500)2
𝐶𝑐 = = = 2.05
𝐷60 𝐷10 1.100(0.111)
Problem 3:

The table below shows the laboratory results of the sieve analysis of a sample. Plot the grain
size curve of the soil. Determine the effective size, uniformity coefficient, and coefficient of
gradation.

Particle size diameter, Mass retained,

mm grams
0.25 18.96
0.149 33.18
0.074 45.03
0.052 54.51
0.02 42.66
0.01 11.85
0.004 4.74
0.001 4.74
pan 21.33
total 237

Solution:

Solve for the cumulative mass retained and percent finer.

𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 − 𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑

% 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝑥 100%
𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠

Particle Cumulative
size Mass mass Percent
diameter retained Retained Passing
0.25 18.96 18.96 92.00
0.149 33.18 52.14 78.00
0.074 45.03 97.17 59.00
0.052 54.51 151.68 36.00
0.02 42.66 194.34 18.00
0.01 11.85 206.19 13.00
0.004 4.74 210.93 11.00
0.001 4.74 215.67 9.00
pan 21.33 237 0.00
237

Plot the points in a semi-logarithmic paper with percent passing on the vertical axis and particle
size diameter in the horizontal axis. Connect the points and draw the curve. You may also use
excel in drawing the grain size distribution curve. Determine the values of D60, D30, and D10.
 Particle Size Distribution Curve
100
90
80
70
Percent Passing

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1
Particle Size Diameter, mm

From the graph:

𝐷60 = 0.078 𝐷30 = 0.041 𝐷10 = 0.003

Determine effective grain size: 𝐷10 = 0.003

Determine uniformity coefficient, 𝐶𝑢 :

𝐷60 0.078
𝐶𝑢 = = = 26
𝐷10 0.003

Determine coefficient of gradation, 𝐶𝑐 :

(𝐷30 )2 (0.041)2
𝐶𝑐 = = = 7.18
𝐷60 𝐷10 0.078(0.003)