Sieve Analysis

L. S. Thakur 1
Terms and Definitions
Aggregate.
An inert filler material, such as crushed
stone, gravel, and sand which is mixed
with cement and water to make concrete.

Coarse Aggregate.
Generally aggregate larger than 1/2" in
diameter, referred to as stone or gravel.

L. S. Thakur 2
 Fine Aggregate
A natural silica or manufactured aggregate smaller than 1/4" in
diameter, normally referred to as sand.

Sieve Analysis
A process in which an aggregate is separated into its various sizes
by passing it through screens of various size openings for the
purpose of determining the distribution of the quantities separated.

Gradation of an Aggregate
The relative amounts of aggregate particles of consecutively larger
and smaller sizes.
L. S. Thakur 3
 Maximum Size of Aggregate
The smallest sieve opening through which the
entire amount of the aggregate is required to
pass.

Nominal Maximum Size of Aggregate

The smallest sieve opening through which the
entire amount of the aggregate is permitted to
pass.

L. S. Thakur 4
Standard Sieves
Coarse Aggregate
6", 3", 1 1/2", 3/4", 3/8", and
No.4

Fine Aggregate
Nos. 4, 8, 16, 30, 50, and 100

L. S. Thakur 5
Affect of Particle Size on
Aggregate Surface Area.

One 1- in cube of
aggregate. Surface area
= 6 x 1 x 1 = 6 sq in

27 1/3 - in cubes of aggregate.

Surface area = 6 x 1/3 x 1/3 x 27
=18 sq in.

L. S. Thakur 6
Sieve Analysis Procedure
 Take a representative sample.

 Reduce to proper size for testing.

L. S. Thakur 7
Sampling

L. S. Thakur 8
Sieve Analysis

L. S. Thakur 9
 Coarse Aggregate Gradation

Sieve Percent by Weight Passing Each Sieve

Std Size 1 ½” 1” ¾” ½” 3/8” No. 4 No. 8 No. 200

#57 100 95-100 - 25-60 - 0-10 0-5 0-0.6*

#67 - 100 90-100 - 20-55 0-10 0-5 0-0.6*

#78M - - 100 98-100 75-100 20-45 0-15 0-0.6*

L. S. Thakur 10
Coarse Aggregate Gradation
 When tested during production the
amount passing the No. 200 sieve
may be no greater than 0.6% by
weight.
 When tested at the job site prior to
use , the amount of material passing
the No. 200 sieve shall not be
greater than 1.5% by weight.
L. S. Thakur 11
Coarse Aggregate Gradation
 If a stockpile at the job site is found to
contain in excess of 1.5% passing the
No.200 sieve prior to use, the engineer
may approve its use provided the total %
by weight passing the the no 200 sieve in
the combined coarse and fine aggregate
does not exceed 2%, & no increase in
W/C ratio is required by the use of this
aggregate.

L. S. Thakur 12
 Table 1005-2
Aggregate Gradation of Fine Aggregate

Percentage of Total by Weight Passing

STD
½” 3/8” #4 #8 #16 #30 #50 #100 #200
Size

2S - 100 95-100 80-100 45-95 25-75 5-30 0-10 0-3

2MS - 100 95-100 80-100 45-95 25-75 5-35 0-20 0-8*

L. S. Thakur 13
Fine Aggregate Gradation
 When tested during production the
amount of material passing the
No.200 sieve shall not be greater
than 8%.
 When tested at the job site prior to
use, the amount of material passing
the No. 200 sieve shall not be
greater than 10%.
L. S. Thakur 14
200 Sieve Washing Procedure
 In a fine and coarse aggregate sieve
analysis, the representative sample
is washed over a No. 200 sieve.
 The portion retained in the No. 200
sieve is dried and weighed.
 The loss is then recorded in
accordance with AASHTO T11.

L. S. Thakur 15
Mass of Sample after
Drying, AASHTO T11 6.2
Nominal Max Size Min. Mass, grams

4.75mm (No 4) 300

9.5mm (3/8 in) 1000

19mm (3/4 in) 2500

37.5 mm (1 ½ in) 5000

L. S. Thakur 16
No.200 Sieve Calculation
 Percent passing No. 200 sieve =

Total dry wt – wt after washing x 100

Total dry wt

L. S. Thakur 17
Example 200 Sieve Problem
 Total dry wt 514.0 grams
 Wt after washing 504.9 grams

 Gram mat’l passing 200 9.1 grams

 9.1 grams x 100 = 1.8% passing

514.0 grams

L. S. Thakur 18
 Sieve Analysis Example

Total weight of the sample oven dry

(before washing) = 514.0 grams

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 504.9 grams

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 0 0 0 100 100
#4 15.4 15.4 3 97 95-100
#8 36.0 51.4 10 90 80-100
#16 102.8 154.2 30 70 45-95
#30 103.4 257.6 50 50 25-75
#50 159.3 416.9 81 19 5-30
#100 71.4 488.3 95 5 0-10
Pan 16.6 504.9
#200 Washing 1.8 0-3
method

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications? Yes

L. S. Thakur 19
Grain Size and Grain Size
Distribution
 2.1 Grain Size

USCS 4.75 0.075

BS 2.0 0.06 0.002

USCS: Unified Soil

Classification
BS: British Standard
Unit: mm (Holtz and Kovacs,
1981)
L. S. Thakur 21
Grain Size Distribution

•Sieve size

L. S. Thakur 22
 Grain Size Distribution (Cont.)

•Experiment
Coarse-grained Fine-grained soils:
soils:
Silt
Gravel Sand Clay
0.075 mm (USCS)
0.06 mm (BS) (Hong
Kong)

Sieve analysis Hydrometer

L. S. Thakur analysis 23
 Grain Size Distribution (Cont.)

Log scale
Effective size D10: 0.02 mm
D30:
D60: L. S. Thakur 24
 Grain Size Distribution (Cont.)

• Describe the shape •Criteria

 Example: well graded

D10  0.02 mm (effective size) Well  graded soil

D30  0.6 mm 1  C c  3 and C u  4
D 60  9 mm (for gravels )
Coefficien t of uniformity 1  C c  3 and C u  6
D 9 (for sands)
C u  60   450
D10 0.02
Coefficien t of curvature
•Question
(D 30 ) 2 (0.6) 2
Cc   2 What is the Cu for a
(D10 )(D 60 ) (0.02)(9)
soil with only one grain
size?
L. S. Thakur 25
 Answer
•Question
What is the Cu for a soil with only
one grain size?
Coefficien t of uniformity
Finer

D
Cu  60  1
D10

Grain size distribution

L. S. Thakur 26
Grain Size Distribution (Cont.)
• Engineering applications
 It will help us “feel” the soil texture (what the soil is)
and it will also be used for the soil classification
(next topic).
 It can be used to define the grading specification of
a drainage filter (clogging).
 It can be a criterion for selecting fill materials of
embankments and earth dams, road sub-base
materials, and concrete aggregates.
 It can be used to estimate the results of grouting
and chemical injection, and dynamic compaction.
 Effective Size, D10, can be correlated with the
hydraulic conductivity (describing the permeability of
Thesoils).
grain size distribution
(Hazen’s is more important
Equation).(Note: to coarse-
controlled by small
grained soils.
particles) L. S. Thakur 27
Sieve Analysis Problem 1

L. S. Thakur 28
 Sieve Analysis– No. 1
SA P-1
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of natural sand for use in concrete and determine
if it meets NCDOT requirements for Type 2S Sand. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Total weight of the sample oven dry (before washing) 520.3 grams
Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 514.9 grams
(520.3-514.9) / 520.3 x 100 = 1.0%

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 0 0 0 100 100
#4 0 0 0 100 95-100
#8 26.2 26.2 5 95 80-100
#16 113.6 139.8 27 73 45-95
#30 133.0 272.8 52 48 25-75
#50 162.1 434.9 84 16 5-30
#100 73.2 508.1 98 2 0-10
Pan 6.8 514.9
#200 Washing 1.0 0-3
method

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications? Yes

L. S. Thakur 29
Sieve Analysis Problem 2

L. S. Thakur 30
 Sieve Analysis– No. 2
SA P-2
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of natural sand for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for Type 2S Sand. Circle the sieve not passing, if
any.

Total weight of the sample oven dry (before washing) = 529.2 grams
Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 518.1 grams
(529.2 – 518.1) / 529.2 x 100 = 2.1%

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 0 0 0 100 100
#4 11.4 11.4 2 98 95-100
#8 20.2 31.6 6 94 80-100
#16 105.8 137.4 26 74 45-95
#30 85.9 223.3 42 58 25-75
#50 180.6 403.9 76 24 5-30
#100 88.1 492.0 93 7 0-10
Pan 26.1 518.1
#200 Washing 2.1 0-3
method

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications? Yes

L. S. Thakur 31
Sieve Analysis Problem 3

L. S. Thakur 32
 SA P-3
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of natural sand for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for Type 2MS Sand. This sample was taken at the
job site. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Total weight of the sample oven dry(before washing) = 547.9 grams

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 502.5 grams

(547.9-502.5) / 547.9 x 100 = 8.3

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 0 0 0 100 100
#4 6.7 6.7 1 99 95-100
#8 62.1 68.8 13 87 80-100
#16 114.6 183.4 33 67 45-95
#30 161.9 345.3 63 37 25-75
#50 97.2 442.5 81 19 5-35
#100 51.4 493.9 90 10 0-20
Pan 8.6 502.5
#200 Washing 8.3 0-10
method

Does this 2MS Sand meet NCDOT Specifications? Yes

L. S. Thakur 33
Sieve Analysis Problem 4

L. S. Thakur 34
 Sieve Analysis– No. 4
SA P-4
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of coarse aggregate for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for No. 67 stone. This sample was taken at a
Ready Mix Plant. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Using the washing method, it was determined the Percentage Passing the No.200 sieve is 0.9
percent.
Total weight of sample (oven dry) = 37.6 pounds

Sieve Size Lbs. Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
1 in 0 0 0 100 100
¾ in 3.8 3.8 10 90 90-100
3/8 in 23.6 27.4 73 27 20-55
#4 7.8 35.2 94 6 0-10
#8 1.8 37.0 98 2 0-5
Pan 0.6 37.6

#200 Washing 0.9 0-1.5

method

Does this 67 Stone meet NCDOT Specifications? Yes

L. S. Thakur 35
Sieve Analysis Problem 5

L. S. Thakur 36
 Sieve Analysis– No. 5
SA P-5
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of coarse aggregate for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for No. 57 stone. This sample was taken during
production. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Using the washing method, it was determined the Percentage Passing the No.200 sieve is 1.2
percent.

Total weight of sample (oven dry) = 35.2 pounds

Sieve Size Lbs. Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
1 ½ in 0 0 0 100 100
1 in 1.4 1.4 4 96 90-100
1/2 in 24.9 26.3 75 25 25-60
#4 6.2 32.5 92 8 0-10
#8 2.0 34.5 98 2 0-5
Pan 0.7 35.2

#200 Washing 1.2 0-0.6

method

Does this 57 Stone meet NCDOT Specifications?L. S.NoThakur 37

Fineness Modulus
 Fine Modulus – An index to the
coarseness or fineness of an
aggregate.

 Fineness Modulus (FM) – Defined

mathematically as the sum of the
cumulative percentages retained on
the standard sieves divided by 100.
L. S. Thakur 38
Fineness Modulus
 FM of fine aggregate should not be
less than 2.30 or more than 3.10,
nor vary by more than 0.20 from
batch to batch.
 Coarse Sand 2.80 - 3.10
 Medium 2.50 - 2.80
 Fine Sand 2.30 - 2.50

L. S. Thakur 39
The Standard Sieves
 6 in  #8
 3 in  #16
 1 ½ in  #30
 ¾ in  #50
 3/8 in  #100
 #4

Fine agg. range 3/8 - #100

Coarse agg. range 6 in - #8
L. S. Thakur 40
Table 5.3.6
 Table 5.3.6 gives the volume of dry
rodded coarse aggregate per unit
volume of concrete for different
fineness moduli of sand.
 If the size of coarse aggregate and
fineness modulus is known, the
volume of dry rodded coarse
aggregate can be obtained from the
table.
L. S. Thakur 41
Table 5.3.6
 The proportion of coarse and fine
aggregate in a concrete mix depend
upon the fineness modulus of the
fine aggregate and the size of the
coarse aggregate.
 The volume of coarse aggregate
increases or decreases to maintain a
constant surface area or a constant
water demand.
L. S. Thakur 42
Table 5.3.6
 The variable is the fineness or
coarseness (FM) of the sand.

L. S. Thakur 43
 ACI Table 5.3.6. – Volume of Coarse Aggregate
Per Unit of Volume of Concrete

Nominal Maximum size Volume of dry- rodded coarse agg. Per Unit
of aggregate, Volume of concrete for different FM of sand
(inches)

2.30 2.40 2.50 2.60 2.70 2.80 2.90 3.00

3/8 0.51 0.50 0.49 0.48 0.47 0.46 0.45 0.44

1/2 0.60 0.59 0.58 0.57 0.56 0.55 0.54 0.53

3/4 0.67 0.66 0.65 0.64 0.63 0.62 0.61 0.60

1 0.72 0.71 0.70 0.69 0.68 0.67 0.66 0.65

1 1/2 0.76 0.75 0.74 0.73 0.72 0.71 0.70 0.69

2 0.79 0.78 0.77 0.76 0.75 0.74 0.73 0.72

3 0.83 0.82 0.81 0.80 0.79 0.78 0.77 0.76

* Volumes are based on aggregates in dry- rodded condition

as described in ASTM C 29 for Unit Weight on Aggregate.

L. S. Thakur 44
 FinenessFineness
Modulus - Example
Modulus - Example

Complete the following sieve analysis of a sample of natural sand for use in concrete and determine the fineness modulus of this
material.

Total weight of the sample oven dry (before washing) = 514.8 grams

Oven dry wt. (after washing No.200) = 504.0 grams

Sieve Size Grams Ret Cum Cum %

Grams Retained
Retained
3/8 in 0 0 0
#4 15.1 15.1 3
#8 35.3 50.4 10
#16 69.5 119.9 23
#30 169.2 289.1 56
#50 145.1 434.2 84
#100 56.7 490.9 95
Pan 13.1 504.0

FM = 3+10+23+56+84+95 = 2.71
100

L. S. Thakur 45
Fineness Modulus Problem
No.1

L. S. Thakur 46
 Fineness Modulus – No.1

Complete the following sieve analysis of a sample of natural sand for use in concrete and determine the fineness modulus of this material.

Total weight of the sample oven dry

(before washing) = 573.0 grams (573.0-558.4)/573 x 100 = 2.5%

Oven dry wt. (after washing No.200) = 558.4 grams

Sieve Size Grams Ret Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 in 0 0 0 100 100
#4 0 0 0 100 95-100
#8 24.9 24.9 4 96 80-100
#16 149.0 173.9 30 70 45-90
#30 114.6 288.5 50 50 25-75
#50 143.3 431.8 75 25 5-30
#100 93.6 525.4 92 8 0-10
Pan 33.0 558.4

#200 ( washing method) 2.5 0-3

FM = 0+0+4+30+50+75+92 = 2.51
100

Is this a coarse, median or fine sand? Medium

FM P-1
L. S. Thakur 47
Fineness Modulus Problem
No.2

L. S. Thakur 48
Complete the following sieve analysis of a sample of natural sand for use in concrete and determine the fineness modulus of
this material.

Total weight of the sample oven dry

(before washing) = 520.5 grams (520.5-500.3)/520.5 x 100 = 3.9

Oven dry wt. (after washing No.200) = 500.3 grams

Sieve Grams Ret Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Size Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 in 0 0 0 100 100
#4 36.3 36.3 7 93 95-100
#8 41.5 77.8 15 85 80-100
#16 197.0 274.8 53 47 45-90
#30 46.7 321.5 62 38 25-75
#50 67.4 388.9 75 25 5-30
#100 93.3 482.2 93 7 0-10
Pan 18.1 500.3

#200 ( washing method) 3.9 0-3

FM = 0+7+15+53+62+75+93 = 3.05
100

Is this a coarse, median or fine sand? Coarse

FM P-2
L. S. Thakur 49
Fineness Modulus Problem
No. 3

L. S. Thakur 50
 FM P-3
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of fine aggregate for use in concrete and determine if it meets NCDOT
requirements for 2MS Sand. This sample was taken at the R/M plant. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Total weight of the sample oven dry (before washing) = 532.4 grams (532.4-509.7)/ 532.4 x 100 = 4.3%

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 509.7 grams

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Grams Cum % Percent NCDOT

Retained Retained Passing Specs

3/8 0 0 0 100 100

#4 7.5 7.5 1 99 95-100
#8 12.7 20.2 4 96 80-100
#16 159.7 179.9 34 66 45-95
#30 74.6 254.5 48 52 25-75
#50 188.7 443.2 83 17 5-35
#100 53.4 496.6 93 7 0-20
Pan 13.1 509.7
#200 Washing 4.3 0-10
method

Does this 2MS Sand meet NCDOT Specifications? Yes Is this a coarse, medium, or fine sand? Medium

What is the F.M. 2.63

L. S. Thakur 51
Fineness Modulus Problem
No.4

L. S. Thakur 52
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of fine aggregate for use in concrete and determine if it meets NCDOT
requirements for 2S Sand. This sample was taken during production. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Total weight of the sample oven dry

(before washing) = 524.3 grams (524.3-514.5) / 524.3 x 100 = 1.9%

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 514.5 grams

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Grams Cum % Percent NCDOT Specs
Retained Retained Passing

3/8 0 0 0 100 100

#4 36.9 36.9 7 93 95-100
#8 20.8 57.7 11 89 80-100
#16 127.4 185.1 35 65 45-95
#30 180.1 365.2 70 30 25-75
#50 81.6 446.8 85 15 5-30
#100 51.6 498.4 95 5 0-10
Pan 16.1 514.5
#200 Washing 1.9 0-3
method

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications? No Is this a coarse, medium or fine sand? Coarse

What is the F.M. 3.03

L. S. Thakur
FM P-453
TERMS I SHOULD KNOW?
 Fineness Modulus
 Nominal Maximum Size
 Sieve Analysis
 Water Reducing Agent
 Workability

L. S. Thakur 54
 Homework 1

What is the fineness modulus of the following material?

Sieve Cum % Retained Cum % Passing

1 ½ in 0 100
1 in 95
¾ in 15 85
½ in 80
3/8 in 25 75
#4 40 60
#8 50 50
#16 60 40
#30 70 30
#50 85 15
#70 10
#100 95 5
#200 0

FM = 0 + 15 + 25 + 40 +50 + 60 + 70 + 85 + 95 = 4.40
100

L. S. Thakur 55
 Homework 2

The fineness modulus of a material which all passes the ¾ in. sieve and is all retained on
the 3/8 in. sieve is :

Sieve Grams Ret. Cum. Grams Ret. Cum. % Ret.

3/4 0 0 0
3/8 150 150 100
#4 0 150 100
#8 0 150 100
#16 0 150 100
#30 0 150 100
#50 0 150 100
#100 0 150 100

FM = 0 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 = 7.0

100

L. S. Thakur 56
Quiz

L. S. Thakur 57
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of fine aggregate for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for 2S Sand. This sample was taken at the
R/M plant. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Total weight of the sample oven dry

(before washing) = 504.1 grams

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 501.6 grams

2.5 / 504.1 x 100 = 0.5 % Passing

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 0 100
#4 0 95-100
#8 5.0 80-100
#16 60.5 45-95
#30 176.5 25-75
#50 171.4 8-30
#100 75.5 .5-10
Pan 12.7
#200 Washing 0-3
method

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications?

What is the F.M. Quiz

Is this a coarse, medium or fine sand?

L. S. Thakur 58
Quiz Answer

L. S. Thakur 59
Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of fine aggregate for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for 2S Sand. This sample was taken at the
R/M Plant. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.

Total weight of the sample oven dry

(before washing) = 504.1 grams

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve) = 501.6 grams

2.5 / 504.1 x 100 = 0.5 % Passing

Sieve Size Grams Ret. Cum Cum % Percent NCDOT

Grams Retained Passing Specs
Retained
3/8 0 0 0 100 100
#4 0 0 0 100 95-100
#8 5.0 5.0 1 99 80-100
#16 60.5 65.5 13 87 45-95
#30 176.5 242.0 48 52 25-75
#50 171.4 413.4 82 18 8-30
#100 75.5 488.9 97 3 .5-10
Pan 12.7 501.6

#200 Washing 0.5 0-3

method

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications? Yes

What is the F.M. 2.41

Quiz ans.
Is this a coarse, medium or fine sand? Fine

L. S. Thakur 60