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METHOD
STATEMENT
2/9.3
1/7.1

British Standard Methods

BS1377: 1990, Part 2, Method 9 Determination of particle size distribution (9.3- Dry sieving method)
BS812: 1975, Part 1, Method 7 Determination of particle size and shape (7.1- Sieve analysis)

1.0
1.1
1.2

Method Statement 2/9.3 and 1/7.1

One definitive procedure of sieving is outlined.
Dry sieving is suitable only for:
a) coarse-grained cohesionless soils (insignificant fines).
b) Samples of aggregates and filler.

2.0
2.1

Laboratory Apparatus
General

2.2
2.2.1

2.2.2
2.2.3
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5

4.6
4.7
4.8

2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.1.5
2.1.6
2.1.7

A drying oven for maintaining a temperature of 105C to 110C to constant mass.

An electronic balance of capacity 8000 g, readable to 0.1 g.
Mortar and rubble pestle.
A riffle box (multiple slot sample divider) if necessary.
A scoop, and other small tools.
A corrosion-resistant tray for samples to be placed in oven.
Worksheet.

Test sieve set

A set of test sieves:
a) For soil- diameter 200mm test sieves of apertures: 14mm, 10mm, 6.3mm, 5mm, 3.35mm, 2mm,
1.18mm, 600m, 425m, 300m, 212m, 150m and 63m (sizes may be changed to requirements).
b) For aggregate- diameter 300mm test sieves of apertures: 38mm, 20mm, 14mm, 10mm, 5mm, 2mm,
600m, 300m and 75m (sizes may be changed to requirements).
Sieve brushes and a wire brush.
A mechanical sieve shaker (optional).
Practical Aspects
For sieving, the minimum dry mass required in sample preparation refer to:
a) BS1377: 1990, Part 2, Method 9.2.3, Table 3 and Figure 10.
b) BS812: 1975, Part 1, Method 7.1.4, Table 5.
Checking of working sieves with calibrated reference sieves by comparative sieving procedure so that
mass retained on any working sieve do not differ >5% from mass of corresponding reference sieve.
Selection of sieves to adequately cover the range of aperture sizes for each particular aggregate or to
requirements.

Dry Sieving Method

Check the selected sieve set and nested size sequence order over a receiving pan at the bottom.
Prepare oven or air dried sample by quartering or riffling.
Check overloading requirement for maximum retention mass on each sieve specification.
The weighed test sample is placed in the topmost sieve and is shaken for long enough for all the
particles smaller than each aperture size to pass through.
Agitation of test sample through the sieve set can be done by the use of either:
a) Mechanical shaker for a minimum period of 10 minutes, or
b) Hand sieving with a varied motion (backwards and forwards, left to right, circular, clockwise, anticlockwise and with frequent jarring) applied to each sieve for about 2 minutes.
The soil or aggregate retained on each sieve is transferred in turn to a pan (tared to zero) on a suitable
balance for weighing to 0.1 g accuracy. Any particles lodged in the apertures of the sieve should be
removed by a sieve brush and added to the pan.
The masses retained are recorded against the sieve aperture size on the worksheet.
Any mass passing 63m or 75m sieve is also recorded.

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