Methodology/ Procedure

The sieve analysis (or sieve grading) of aggregates procedure is as follows, first and
foremost, our experiment is to be done in accordance to SANS 201: 2008. Sand is to be
filtered through several different sieves with each sieve having a smaller aperture. Sieves
used for coarse aggregates are: 6.7, 9.5, 13.2, 16.0, 19.0 and 26.5 mm, while sieves used for
fine aggregates are: 4750, 2360, 1180, 600, 300, 150 and 75 µm.

1. Before starting we should weigh each sample of soil with its mass being recorded.
2. Brush and clean all sieves before use. This is done to ensure that we leave no excess
sand is left behind before the experiment begins, which could hinder results, making
it unusable.
3. Members should stack and assemble sieves on top of each other, ranging from
largest aperture sieve at the top to the smallest aperture sieve at the bottom,
followed with a pan beneath the sieve.
4. Our test sample which was already weighed by the lab technician but weighed again
by students is to be placed in the largest top sieve with a lid used to the cover the
top section of the sieve.
5. Sieve column to be placed in the mechanical shaker where the column will be shook
for 10 minutes. This is to ensure all aggregates have filtered through all the sieves
with their corresponding particle sizes.
6. After the 10 minutes of shaking in the mechanical shaker, we had to weigh each
sieve with particles left on the mesh and bottom pan and its respective masses are to
be recorded.
7. Thereafter our percentages were expressed to the nearest whole number, with the
total percentage of materials passing through the 75 µm sieve is to be rounded off to
the nearest first decimal.
8. Calculate the fineness modulus of the aggregates to the nearest 0,1%