CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering

I. TITLE
GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS (ASTM D 422) (SIEVE ANALYSIS)

II. INTRODUCTION

A sieve analysis or gradation test is a widely used technique or procedure in civil engineering to
assess the particle size distribution, sometimes referred to as gradation, of a granular material.
The sieve analysis method can be used to gauge the grain size distribution of soil samples by
passing them through a stack of sieves with progressively decreasing mesh openings and
weighing the weight retained on each sieve.

III. OBJECTIVE

• This test is performed to determine the percentage of different grain sizes contained within a
soil.

IV. PROCEDURE

1. Write down the weight of each sieve as well as the bottom pan to be used in the analysis.
2. Record the weight of the given dry soil sample.
3. Make sure that all the sieves are clean and assemble them in the ascending order of sieve
numbers (#4 sieve at top and #200 sieve at bottom). Place the pan below the #200 sieve.
Carefully pour the soil sample into the top sieve and place the cap over it.
4. Place the sieve stack in the mechanical shaker and shake for 10 minutes.
5. Remove the stack from the shaker and carefully weigh and record the weight of each sieve with
its retained soil. In addition, remember to weigh and record the weight of the bottom pan with its
retained fine soil.

CE461 – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 (SOIL MECHANICS)

 CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Civil Engineering

V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Table 1. Percent finer and Sieve Analysis Results

Mass of Empty Mass of Sieve + Cummulative

Sieve Number Diameter (mm) Soil Retained (g) Percent Retained Percent Passing
Sieve (g) Soil Retained (g) Mass

4 4.75 775 1078 303 30.48 69.52 303

10 2 682 959 277 27.87 41.65 580
30 0.6 406 686 280 28.17 13.48 860
40 0.425 393 445 52 5.23 8.25 912
50 0.3 381 413 32 3.22 5.03 944
80 0.18 506 538 32 3.22 1.81 976
200 0.075 335 345 10 1.01 0.80 986
Pan 368 376 8 0.80 0.00 994
Total Weight 994

Table 1 shows the result of a sieve analysis performed on a sample weighing 994 g. The sample
was passed through several sieves, and the mass that was retained was found and added to a table.
Using these measurements, the percent mass retained, and the cumulative percent passing were then
calculated and recorded. The percent finer or percent passing was then calculated by the total weight
of soil retained minus the cumulative mass, divided by the total weight multiplied by 100. Percent
retained was then calculated by dividing soil retained by the total weight, multiplied by 100.

𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 − 𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔

% 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓 = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅

𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅
% 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 = 𝒙 𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅

CE461 – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 (SOIL MECHANICS)

 CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Civil Engineering

Table 2. Particle-Size Distribution Curve

Particle-size distribution curve then plotted having the diameter of the sieve (mm) as the x-axis
and percent finer (% finer) as the y-axis.

Table 3. Uniformity Coefficient and Coefficient of Gradation Calculation Results

5. Compute Cc and Cu for the soil.

D60 2.349
D30 0.6
D10 2

Uniformity coefficient, Cu:

Cu 1.175
Coefficient of gradation, Cc:
Cc 0.077

In Table 3, the particle diameters of 10%, 30%, and 60% finer are listed respectively. Then
proceed on getting the uniformity coefficient (Cu) by dividing D60 by D10 to obtain the value. For the
coefficient of gradation (Cc), it’s D30 squared over D60 multiplied by D10.
𝑪𝒖 = 𝑫𝟔𝟎/𝑫𝟏𝟎

(𝑫𝟑𝟎)𝟐
𝑪𝒄 =
(𝑫𝟔𝟎)(𝑫𝟏𝟎)
CE461 – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 (SOIL MECHANICS)
 CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Civil Engineering

VI. CONCLUSION

Sieve analysis was performed to determine the particle size distribution of the soil sample. It
involves shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves that have different diameters, from sieve no. 4
to sieve no. 200 to its pan. A sample of 1000 grams is poured over the set of sieves and was shaken
for 10 minutes. Data was recorded and analyzed and plotted the particle-size distribution curve.

It is evident that sieves can be used to separate coarse and fine aggregates into various particle
sizes. What size aggregate passes through to the next sieve is indicated by the number of sieves.

CE461 – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 (SOIL MECHANICS)

 CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering and Architecture
Department of Civil Engineering

V. DOCUMENTATION

CE461 – GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1 (SOIL MECHANICS)