Determination of fineness of

sand by sieve analysis

Course Title
Assignment #
Submitted To
Submitted By

Date of
Submission

Manufacturing and Casting

Lab
1
Mr. Bilal Ghafoor
Group#1
Irfan Sheikh (120301012)
Shazeen Akhtar
(120301032)
Izam Sikander(120301004)
Ali Adil(120301006)
Shoaib Jamro (120301001)
October 29 , 2014

Assessors
Remarks:

Abstract
A sieve analysis is a practice or procedure used to assess the particle
size distribution of a granular material.
The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the
material performs in use. In this experiment the sample of sand was
passed from a series of different sieves each with a different sieve
opening and then the amount in each sieve measured. This allowed us
to analyze the sand more critically noting the variation in its particle
size.

1.Introduction
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 and 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.
Sieve analyses are performed on aggregates used in roadway bases
and in Portland cement and asphalt cement concretes. Sieve analyses
reveal the size makeup of aggregate particles from the largest to the
smallest. How an aggregate is graded has a major impact on the
strength of the base or on the properties and performance of a
material.
For example, gradation influences shrinkage and shrinkage cracking, ,
finish ability, permeability, and other characteristics.
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.
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.

2.Observations and Calculations

The following readings were noted down and the relevant calculations
made to finally find out the amount of sand with the relevant particle
size.
Mass of sand taken = 150.1 grams
Time: 4min, 60 sec
Sieve no
50
100
140
200
270
325

Amount (g)
33.8
100.5
5.0
3.3
1.5
5.0

Product
1690
10050
700
660
405
1620

Percentage
22.52
66.96
3.33
2.20
1.00
4.00

Total mass after experiment = 149.1 grams

3.Results and Discussion.

As can be clearly seen from the results, most particles have a particle
size of around 0.0059 in (the value at sieve no 100). Moreover, the
total mass after the experiment is less than the initial one. The
following might be some reasons:
Sticking of the sand particles on the sieves
Inefficiency of the mechanical sieve shaker

4.Conclusion
No relation can be found between the mesh size and the amount of
sand as it depends entirely upon the sample of sand and its original
fineness. However for this particular sample more than half of the
sand had a particle size of around 0.0059 in.

5. References
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/publications/manuals/fulltext/M46-01/T27-T11.pdf

L.K Aditiya, Casting and Manufacturing Technology,1995,Volume

1,38