UNIVERSITY OF NICOSIA

CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING
Soils Mechanics Laboratory

Grain Size Distribution: Sieve Analysis

Report No: 1

Written by: Elvis KARAYIGA

Test date: 02/12/2021

Due Date:12/01/2023
1.TABLE OF CONTENTS

i. INTRODUCTION…………..

ii. PRECTICAL APPLICATIONS

iii. OBJECTIVE……….

iv. EQUIPMENT……………..

v. EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE…………

vi. RESULTS ………………..

vii. ANALYSIS ……………….

viii. CONCLUSION…………….

ix. RECOMMENDATIONS ……………….

x. REFERENCES ……………….
 1. INTRODUCTION:

The grain size analysis test is performed to determine the percentage of each size of grain that is
contained within a soil sample, and the results of the test can be used to produce the grain size
distribution curve. This information is used to classify the soil and to predict its behavior. The
two methods generally used to find the grain size distribution are:

 Sieve analysis which is used for particle sizes larger than 0.075 mm in diameter and
 Hydrometer analysis which is used for particle sizes smaller than 0.075 mm in diameter

This report will be focusing on sieve analysis. Sieve analysis is a method that is used to
determine the grain size distribution of soils that are greater than 0.075 mm in diameter. It is
usually performed for sand and gravel but cannot be used as the sole method for determining the
grain size distribution of finer soil. The sieves used in this method are made of woven wires with
square openings. The list of the U.S. standard sieve numbers with their corresponding opening
sizes are provided in Table 3.1.

PRACTICAL APPLICATONS

 This test method is used primarily to grade aggregates. The results are used to determine the
compliance of the particle size distribution with applicable specification requirements and to
provide necessary data for controlling the production of various aggregate products and
mixtures containing aggregates.
 The data may also be useful in developing relationships concerning porosity and packing.
Information obtained from the particle size analysis (uniformity coefficient Cu, coefficient of
curvature, Cc, and effective size, D10, etc.) is used to classify the soil.
 Particle size is one of the criteria used to ascertain whether the soil is suitable for building
roads, embankments, dams, etc.
 Information obtained from particle size analysis can be used to predict the soil-water
movement if the permeability test is not available.

OBJECTIVE
 To obtain the grain size distribution curve for a given soil sample.

2. EQUIPMENT

 Stack of sieves with a cover,

 Mortar and pestle or a mechanical soil pulverized
 Balance
 Oven
 Mechanical sieve shaker
 Brush

3. EXPERIMENT PROCEDURE:

 A set of clean sieve shacks ranging from size 8.000mm, 4.000mm, 2.000mm,
1.000mm,0.500mm, 0.250mm,0.125mm, 0.063mm and bottom pan (passing 0.063mm)
was prepared in ascending orders.
 . The empty clean sieve shack was weight and the mass was recorded before conducting
the experiment.
 The sieve shack was stacked in ascending order starting from 8.000mm on the top until
0.063mm and finally a pan was put on the bottom part of the shacks.
 The soil sample of 1 Kg was poured carefully on the top of the stacked sieve and the top
was covered with a sieve cap.
 The stack of sieve shack was then put on the mechanical shaker and starts the machine
leave the soil sample for at least 5 minutes.
 After 5 minutes, the stack was allowed to rest and the lightweight particle soil was
allowed to settle before continuing the experiment.
 The sieve was carefully removed from the stack and the mass was recorded according to
the corresponding masses.
 The obtained mass of each sieve plus soil was subtracted with the mass of empty sieve in
order to obtain the mass retained. If the sum of the soil sample retained has a percentage
error above 2% thee process should be redone.
 The percentage of the mass retained was computed to the sum of the soil sample retained.
 The percentage finer was calculated starting from 100 percent and was subtracted with
the percentage retained on each sieve as a cumulative procedure.
 A logarithmic plot of grain size versus percentage of finer was plotted
 4. RESULTS:
Sample mass,
M = 1000g

Opening (mm) Mass retained (g), %Mass retained, % cumulative % Finer

Mr Mr
∗100
Mt
8.000 0 0 0 100
4.000 18.9 1.89 1.89 98.11
2.000 188.2 18.82 18.82 79.29
1.000 219 21.90 42.61 57.39
0.500 290.8 29.10 71.71 28.3
0.250 194.3 19.43 91.14 8.87
0.125 66.3 6.63 97.77 2.24
0.063 17.7 1.77 99.54 0.46
Pan 4.6 0.46
Mt 999.8 100

% Error 0.02

5. ANALYSIS:
The grain-size distribution of the soil sample can be obtained by plotting the percent finer with
the corresponding sieve on log graph.
The values of D10, D30, and D60, which are the diameters that correspond to the percentfiner of
10%, 30%, and 60%, respectively can be determined from the grain-size distributioncurve. The
values of the uniformity coefficient Cu and the coefficient of gradation Cc can be calculated
using the following equations:
2
D30
C c=
D60 ⋅ D10
D60
C u=
D10
The values of Cu and Cc are used to classify whether the soil is well-graded or not. Sand isconsidered
well-graded, if Cu is greater than 6 and Cc is between 1 and 3. For gravel to be considered as well-graded,
Cu should be greater than 4 and Cc should be between 1 and 3.

6. CONCLUSION:
7. RECOMMENDATION:
In this experiment, several precautions must be taken into consideration in order to prevent
errors from occurring. The screen of the sieves should be carefully cleaned in order to remove
all grain sands. The stack of the sieve shaker must be locked tidily to avoid them moving away
during the shaking process. Ensure that all the leftover sand in each sieve is transferred to the
container used in the weighing process. The area around the digital scale balance must be
cleaned first to get accurate readings and avoid environmental effects. Students can also use a
soft bristle brush to gently wipe the workspace.
8. REFERENCES:

Graph of Particle Diameter Vs % Finer (Sample A)

120.00
100.00
80.00
% Finer

60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle Diameter (mm) Log Scale
Sample B
Initial Mass [g]= 7958.9

Mass of Sand Retained % Retained

Opening (mm) % Cumulative % Finer
Mr (g) (M r/M t)*100
8 329.1 4.16 4.16 95.84
4 1183.5 14.94 19.10 80.90
2 1056.3 13.34 32.44 67.56
1 1313.8 16.59 49.03 50.97
0.5 1219.7 15.40 64.43 35.57
0.25 1425.8 18.00 82.43 17.57
0.125 1137.6 14.36 96.80 3.20
0.063 192.7 2.43 99.23 0.77
Pan 60.8 0.77
Mt 7919.3 100

Mass of Soil lost (%) 0.50

Graph of Particle Diameter Vs % Finer (Sample B)

120.00

100.00

80.00
% Finer

60.00

40.00

20.00

0.00
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle Diameter (mm) Log Scale
 Graph of Particle Diameter Vs % Finer
(Comparison of Sample A and Sample B)
Sample A Sample B

120.00
100.00
80.00
% Finer

60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
0.01 0.1 1 10
Particle Diameter (mm) Log Scale

FOR SAMPLE A
% Fine- grained soil = 0.81%
% coarse grained soil= 100-0.81= 99.19%

From graph I got,

D10 = 0.25 = Effective size
D30 = 0.35
D60 = 0.65
Therefore,
the uniformity coefficient
Cu = D60/ D10 =0.65/0.25 = 2.6

The coefficient of curvature

Cc = D302/ D10. D60 = 0.352/0.25*0.65= 0.75

FOR SAMPLE B
% Fine- grained soil = 0.77%
% coarse grained soil= 100-0.77= 99.23%

From graph I got,

D10 = 0.2 = Effective size
D30 = 0.4
D60 = 1.5
Therefore,

the uniformity coefficient

Cu = D60/ D10 =1.5/0.2 = 7.5

The coefficient of curvature

Cc = D302/ D10. D60 = 0.42/0.2*1.5= 0.53

9. DISCUSSION: By combining both sample A and Samle B,

Sample A: Gap Graded
Sample B: well graded.