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Lab 1 - Seive Analysis

This document summarizes a sieve analysis test performed on a soil sample to determine its particle size distribution and classify the soil. The test followed ASTM standards and involved sieving 500g of dried soil through a series of sieves, weighing the material retained on each sieve, and calculating the particle size distribution. Based on the results, the soil was classified as A3 - Fine Sand according to AASHTO and SP - Poorly Graded Sand according to the Unified Soil Classification System. Conclusions stated that sieve analysis was used to characterize the soil specimen.

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51 views

Lab 1 - Seive Analysis

This document summarizes a sieve analysis test performed on a soil sample to determine its particle size distribution and classify the soil. The test followed ASTM standards and involved sieving 500g of dried soil through a series of sieves, weighing the material retained on each sieve, and calculating the particle size distribution. Based on the results, the soil was classified as A3 - Fine Sand according to AASHTO and SP - Poorly Graded Sand according to the Unified Soil Classification System. Conclusions stated that sieve analysis was used to characterize the soil specimen.

Uploaded by

am
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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University of Benghazi

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department

Soil Mechanics Lab (CE331)


Test 1 – Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation)

of Soils Using Sieve Analysis

Standard | ASTM D6913 - 04


Date of test | 2/7/2012
Teacher | Ghassan Gehani

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1 : ‫• ﺍﳌﺠ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـ ـﻤﻮﻋ ـﺔ‬
17935 : ‫• ﺍﻟﺮﻗﻢ ﺍﻟﺪﺭﺍ��ﻱ‬
Sieve Anylisis test

1) Abstract :
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.

2) Introduction :
This test is performed to determine the percentage of different
grain sizes contained within a soil.
A representative specimen must be obtained from the sample by
one of three procedures (moist, air dried or oven-dried).
The material to be sieved will be placed on the sieves and
mechanically shaken, the mass of particles retained on each sieve
will be determined
The results will produce a tabulation of sieve sizes versus
percent passing that can be graphically presented as a gradation
curve (a plot of the percent passing versus the log of the particle
size in mm.).
The distribution of different grain sizes affects the engineering
properties of soil.
Grain size analysis provides the grain size distribution, and it is
required in classifying the soil.

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3) Apparatus :
1) Standard Sieve Set (Figure 1) :
This set consists of 6 sieves with a pan and with the following
specification:
Milad Hawiwo | 17935

Table 1 | Standard Sieve Set

Alternative Standard (mm)

No. 4 4.75

No. 10 2.00

No. 20 0. 850

No. 40 0.425

No. 100 0. 150


Figure 1 | Set of Sieves
No. 200 0.075

Pan

2) Mechanical Sieve Shaker (Figure 2) :


A device that holds a stack of sieves while
imparting sufficient motion to the sieves.
The “Standard Shaking Period” must be from
10 to 2 minutes and the shaker shall have a
timing device or a timing device shall be used
Milad Hawiwo | 17935
in conjunction with the shaker.
Figure 2 | Sieve Shaker
3) Balance (Figure 3) :
Milad Hawiwo | 17935
For single sieve-set sieving, one
balance will be used.

4) Specimen Container.
5) Sieve Brushes:
Brushes to assist in the removal of the
material retained on the sieves. Figure 3 | Balance

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4) Procedure:
1) Weigh 500g of a dry soil sample.
2) Make sure that all the sieves are clean, and assemble them in
the ascending order of sieve numbers (#4 sieve at top and
#200 sieve at bottom). Place the pan below #200 sieve.
Carefully pour the soil sample into the top sieve and place the
cap over it.
3) Place the sieve stack in the mechanical shaker and shake for 10
minutes.
4) Remove the stack from the shaker and weigh and record the
weight of each sieve with its retained soil.

5) Readings :

Data Value

Soil sample mass 500 g

Table 2 | Particle-Size Distribution over sieves


Sieve No. Opening (mm) Retained (g) Retained (%) Passing (g) Passing (%)

4 4.75 0.2 0.04 499.8 99.96

10 2 2.2 0.44 497.6 99.52

20 0.8 28.1 5.62 469.5 93.9

40 0.425 209.8 41.96 259.7 51.94

100 0.15 249.7 49.94 10 2

2000 0.075 6.1 1.22 3.9 0.78

Pan ∞ 1.7 0.34

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6) Analysis :

Sieve Numbers 200 100 40 20 10 4


100
90
80
Percent Finer (%)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle Size (mm)
Milad Hawiwo | 17935

Graph 1 | Sieve Results

1) Classification by AASHTO Classification system :


According to the data obtained from (table 1) and using
table (3.7B) for ASSHTO classification; this soil sample is
classified to be (A3 – Fine Sand) with G.I=0.

2) Classification by Unified Soil Classification System :


50% of the soil has retained on sieve 200 which means
that this sample is classified as Coarse-Grained soil.
And from (Graph 1) we get:
𝐷10 = 0.21 𝑚𝑚
𝐷30 = 0.30 𝑚𝑚
𝐷60 = 0.49 𝑚𝑚

𝐷60
𝐶𝑢 = = 2.333
𝐷10
(𝐷30 )2
𝐶𝑐 = = 0.874
𝐷10 𝐷60

Using (Table 1.8) for Unified Soil Classification; we get that this
soil sample is classified as (SP – Poorly Graded Sand) .

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7) Conclusion :
A Specimen has been tested using Sieve Analysis to get the
Particle-Size Distribution and to classify the specimen using
(AASHTO and Unified) Classification systems.
The specimen is classified (A3 – Fine Sand) with G.I=0 in the
AASHTO system and (SP – Poorly Graded Sand) in the Unified
System.

8) Attachment :
- ASTM CD6913 – 04 – Standard Test Methods for Particle-Size
Distribution (Gradation) of Soils Using Sieve Analysis.

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