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Sieve Analysis
Sieve Analysis
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
THEORY :
The method covers the quantitative determination of the particle size distribution in a soil from the
coarse sand size to the clay size.
OBJECTIVE :
The objective of the test is to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by sieve analysis.
RESULTS / ANALYSIS :
1. The mass retained on each sieve is obtained by subtracting the sieve mass from the sieve mass +
retained soil. These values are recorded on the data sheet under column headed "Mass Retained.
2. Now this column of masses (including that in the pan) is summed and the mass obtained are
compared.
3. The percent retained on each sieve is computed by dividing the weight retained on each sieve by the
original sample mass. This is valid, since any material passing the No.200 sieve will pass any sieve
above it in the stack.
4. The percent passing (or percent finer) is computed by starting with 100 percent and subtracting the
percent retained on each sieve as a cumulative procedure.
5. Each individual should make a semi logarithmic plot of particle size versus percent finer, using the
graph on the data sheet. If less than 12 percent passes the No. 200 sieve, compute CU and Cc and
show on the graph.
Preparation
CALCULATION :
( 500.15500.09 )
=
12
= 0.005 g
Notes :
Thus, the graph of particle size (mm) versus percent finer is plotted as shown below.
120
100
Percent finer (%)
80
60
40
20
Coefficient of Uniformity Cu
This is the indicator of the spread of the range of the grain sizes and is defined as
D60
Cu
D10
Cu = 0.70 mm
0.15 mm
Cu = 4.67
Coefficient of Curvature Cc
This is the measure of the shape of curve between D60 and D10 grain sizes, defined as
Cc
D30 2
D10 D60
Cc = (0.29 mm)2
(0.70 mm x 0.15 mm)
Cc = 0.80
KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
DISCUSSION :
Sieve analysis is one type of mechanical analysis which determines the size range of particles
present in a soil, expressed as a percentage of the total dry weight or mass. Sieve analysis consists of
shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves that have progressively smaller openings. The results of
sieve analysis are generally expressed as the percentage of total weight of soil that passed through
different sieve.
From the results, the total mass sample after sieving is smaller than the total mass before
sieving where 0.06 g of soil is missing. This is probably because the small particles of soil is missing
during the sieves are being vibrated. Therefore, the total mass is corrected by adding the mass retained
with the corrected mass of soil.
CONCLUSION :
The objective to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by sieve analysis is achieved. The soil
tested is sandier as 13.96% of soil is retained in the 300m sieve.
KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
HYDROMETER ANALYSIS
THEORY :
The method covers the quantitative determination of the particle size distribution in a soil from the
coarse sand size to the clay size.
OBJECTIVE :
The objective of the test is to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by hydrometer method.
RESULTS / ANALYSIS :
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Date Time Elapsed Temp. Reading Rh+ Cm = Effective Particle Rh- Percentage
of Time (ToC) Rh Rh Depth Diameter R finer than
reading (min) HR D (mm) o=Rd D
(mm) K(%)
KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
where,
is the dynamic viscosity of water at the test temperature (m.Pa.s) shown in Table 2
HR is the effective depth at which the density of the suspension is measured (mm);
s is the particle density (Mg/m3);
t is the elapsed time (min);
0.005531 is a constant.
Record the value of D, calculated from each set of readings, as shown in column 8 in Table 1.
KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
where;
R'o is the hydrometer reading at the upper rim of the meniscus in the dispersant solution. The value of
Rd is entered as shown in column 9 of Table 1.
5. The percentage by mass, K is calculated, of particles smaller than corresponding equivalent particle
diameter, D (mm), from the equation;
Where,
m is the mass of the dry soil used (g)
The value K is entered corresponding to each value of D as shown in column 10 of Table 1.
KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
Hydrometer No. 1
Calibration of Hydrometer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Date Time of Elapsed Temp. Reading Rh + Effective Particle Rh- Percentage
reading Time (TC) Rh Cm = Depth Diameter Ro = finer than
(min) Rh HR D (mm) Rd D
(mm) K (%)
CALCULATION :
Formula used:
H t
Particle size, D 0.005531
s 1t
100 s
Percentage finer, K Rd
m s 1
KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
250
200
Effective depth,HR
150
100
50
0
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Reading, Rh
From the graph above, the equation of the line is HR = 193.7 3.85 Rh.
Thus, the graph of percentage finer (%) versus particle diameter (mm) is plotted as shown below.
50
40
30
Percentage finer (%)
20
10
0
0.0015 0.0074 0.0105 0.0142 0.0199 0.0223 0.0259 0.0351 0
-10
-20
Particle diameter (mm)
KNS 2591 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 3
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
DISCUSSION :
Hydrometer analysis is one of the mechanical analysis to determine the size range of particles
present in a soil. Hydrometer analysis is based on the principle of sedimentation of soil grains in water.
When a soil specimen is dispersed in water, the particles settle at different velocities, depending on
their shape, size and weight.
Hydrometer analysis takes longer time due to the waiting for the sediments of smaller soils particles.
Some errors such as defects on equipment and parallax error (personal error during taking reading)
may occur during experiment and these will affect the result of the experiment
After the soil sample gone through the procedures of this Hydrometer Analysis, data is taken for
plotting the grain size distribution graph. From the graph, we can see that this soil sample is considered
as poorly graded.
CONCLUSION :
The objective to determine the grain-size distribution of soil by hydrometer method is achieved. The
sample of soil in this laboratory test is poorly graded.