EXPERIMENT NO: -

Date:

TITLE: Sieve analysis of coarse aggregates.

AIM: To find fineness modulus of the course aggregates by sieve analysis.

APPARATUS: Sieve of various sizes 20 mm, 10 mm, 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm, sieve brush ,
trays, balance of 5 gm sensitivity, weights etc.

THEORY: The sieve analysis of coarse aggregates may be done by standard sizes of sieve
20 mm, 10 mm, 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm. Sieve analysis consists of shaking the aggregate sample
through a set of sieve. The percentage of aggregate retained on each sieve and therefore
percentage finer than any other particle sizes are found and grain size distribution curve for
the aggregates are drawn on the graph. It helps in predicting if the aggregate mix is well
graded or poorly graded.

Fineness Modulus: The fineness modulus is the numerical index of fineness giving some
idea about mean size of particles present in the entire mix of aggregates. The fineness
modulus can be regarded as weighted average size of sieve on which material is retained.

PROCEDURE: Sieve of different sizes are taken and cleaned. About 5 kg of the given
sample is taken. It was sieved through the sieves of 20 mm, 10 mm, 4.75 mm, 2.36 mm.
Weigh the weight of aggregates retained on each sieve.

FORMULA: Fineness modulus of coarse aggregate = total cumulative % weight retained/

100

OBSERVATION AND CALCULATIONS

Weight of sample of aggregate =

Sieve size in Weight retained % Weight Cumulative % weight % Weight

mm in grams retained retained passing
40
20
10
4.75
 2.36
1.18
600 microns
300 microns
150 microns
Total

CALCULATION:

Fineness Modulus =

GRAPH: Draw the particle size distribution/ gradation curve on semi log graph paper taking
sieve size on X-axis and % passing on Y- axis.

RESULT: Fineness modulus of the course aggregates was found to be=

CONCLUSION:

PRECAUTIONS

1. No aggregates should be pushed through the sieve opening.

2. No aggregate should be lost during sieving.
3. The aggregate should be dry.