Concrete Technology (I) Lecture 10

Sieve Analysis:
This somewhat grandiose name is given to the simple operation of dividing a sample
of aggregate into fractions, each consisting of particles of the same size. In practice,
each fraction contains particles between specific limits, these being the openings of
standard test sieves. The test sieves used for concrete aggregate have square
openings and their properties are prescribed by BS 410-1 and 2 : 2000 and ASTM E
11-09. In the latter standard, the sieves can be described by the size of the opening
(in inches) for larger sizes, and by the number of openings per lineal inch for sieves
smaller than about in. Thus a No. 100 test sieve has 100 × 100 openings in each
square inch. The standard approach is to designate the sieve sizes by the nominal
aperture size in millimeters or micrometers.
Before the sieve analysis is performed, the aggregate sample has to be air-dried
in order to avoid lumps of fine particles being classified as large particles and
also to prevent clogging of the finer sieves.

5mm or
In ASTM standards is the dividing line between the
4.75mm
fine and coarse aggregate. sieve

The results of a sieve analysis are best reported in tabular form, as shown in Table
3.4. Column (2) shows the mass retained on each sieve. This is expressed as a
percentage of the total mass of the sample and is shown in column (3). Now,
working from the finest size upwards, the cumulative percentage (to the nearest 1
per cent) passing each sieve can be calculated (column (4)), and it is this percentage
that is used in the plotting of grading curves.

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Example of Sieve Analysis

Wt. %Accumulative %Accumulative
Sieve size % retained
retained retained passing
10mm 0 0 0 100
(6/307)*1
5mm 6 2 100-2=98
00=2
2.36mm 31 10.1 12 88
1.18mm 30 9.8 22 78
0.6mm 59 19.2 41 59
0.3mm 107 34.9 76 24
0.15mm 53 17.3 93 7
0.075mm 21 6.8 ---
Total=246
Total= Fineness
307 Modulus=2.46

Grading curves
In the grading chart commonly used, the ordinates represent the cumulative
percentage passing and the abscissae show the sieve opening plotted to a
logarithmic scale. Since the openings of sieves in a standard series are in the ratio of
1:2, a logarithmic plot shows these openings at a constant spacing. This is illustrated
in Fig. 3.5 which represents the data of Table 3.4.

Fineness Modulus:
The fineness modulus, defined as of the sum of the cumulative percentages
retained on the sieves of the standard series: 150, 300, 600 μm, 1.18, 2.36, 5.00
mm (ASTM Nos. 100, 50, 30, 16, 8, 4) and up to the largest sieve size used
divided by 100. It should be remembered that, when all the particles in a sample are
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coarser than, say, 600 μm (No. 30 ASTM), the cumulative percentage retained on
300 μm (No. 50 ASTM) sieve should be entered as 100; the same value, of course,
would be entered for 150 μm (No. 100). The value of the fineness modulus is
higher the coarser the aggregate (see column (5), Table 3.4). The fineness modulus
can be looked upon as a weighted average size of a sieve on which the material is
retained. The fineness modulus gives an indication of the probable behavior of a
concrete mix made with aggregate having a certain grading, and the use of the
fineness modulus in assessment of aggregates and in mix proportioning has many
supporters.

Fig. 3.5 Example of a grading curve (see Table 3.4)

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Q/ what are the usefulness of determination of fineness modulus of

aggregate?
[1] It is used in mix design of concrete.
[2] Can be used to describe the average size of aggregate
[3] Used to know the changes of grading of aggregate used.

Grading requirements
We have seen how to find the grading of a sample of aggregate, but it still remains to
determine whether or not a particular grading is suitable. A related problem is that of
combining fine and coarse aggregates so as to produce a desired grading. What,
then, are the properties of a ‘good’ grading curve?
Because the strength of fully compacted concrete with a given water/cement ratio is
independent of the grading of the aggregate, grading is, in the first instance, of
importance only in so far as it affects workability.
It has been suggested that the main factors governing the desired aggregate
grading are: the surface area of the aggregate, which determines the amount of
water necessary to wet all the solids; the relative volume occupied by the
aggregate; the workability of the mix; and the tendency to segregation.
The requirements of workability and absence of segregation tend to be partially
opposed to one another: the easier it is for the particles of different sizes to pack,
smaller particles passing into the voids between the larger ones, the easier it is also
for the small particles to be shaken out of the voids, i.e. to segregate in the dry state.
In actual fact, it is the mortar (i.e. a mixture of sand, cement and water) that should
be prevented from passing freely out of the voids in the coarse aggregate. It is also
essential for the voids in the combined aggregate to be sufficiently small to prevent

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the fresh cement paste from passing through and separating out. There is a further
requirement for a mix to be satisfactorily cohesive and workable: it must contain a
sufficient amount of material smaller than a 300 μm (No. 50 ASTM) sieve.
Let us now consider the surface area of the aggregate particles. The water/cement
ratio of the mix is generally fixed from strength considerations. At the same time,
the amount of the fresh cement paste has to be sufficient to cover the surface of all
the particles so that the lower the surface area of the aggregate the less paste, and
therefore the less water, is required. The surface area is still inversely proportioned
to the particle size, as shown in fig.3.6.
If the grading extends to a larger maximum aggregate size, the overall specific
surface is reduced and the water requirement decreases, but the relation is not linear.
For instance, increasing the maximum aggregate size from 10 mm to 63 mm reduce
the water requirement for a constant workability by as much as 50 kg per cubic
metre of concrete. Some typical values are shown in Fig. 3.7.

Fig. 3.6 Relation between specific surface and particle size

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Fig. 3.7 Influence of maximum size of aggregate on mixing water requirement for a
constant slump

Fig. 3.8 Road Note No. 4 type grading curves for 19.05 mm (3/4 in.) aggregate.
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Practical gradings
The most important advantages of using aggregate with grading is to obtain:
1- Reasonable workability and
2- Minimums segregation.
The grading of coarse aggregate is divided in to curves according to the
maximum size of coarse aggregate.

Q/ What are the effect of grading of coarse aggregate on properties of fresh

concrete?
1) For the same water content the coarser grading the lesser amount of water.
2) Continuous grading gives less voids in concrete.
3) Good grading is economical because it permits lesser amount of cement in the
mix.
4) Good grading minimizes the segregation problems
5) Effect the Shrinkage of concrete

Q/ What are the effect of grading of fine aggregate on properties of fresh

concrete?
1) The effect on workability
2) The cement content for the mix.
3) The quantity of coarse aggregate.
4) The shrinkage
5) The effect on strength

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The grading of fine aggregate, the areas between the four curves is
divided to 3 zones (A, B and C) according to BS 882/ 1992, ASTM C33
and IQS No.45 is divided 4 zones.

It should be remembered, however, that in practice the aggregate available locally or

within an economic distance has to be used, and this can generally produce
satisfactory concrete. For aggregate which includes natural sand, it may be useful,
as one basis of comparison, to use the curves of the Road Research Note No. 4 on
the Design of Concrete Mixes

Curve No.1 represents the coarsest grading in each such a grading is comparatively
workable and can, therefore, be used for mixes with a low water/cement ratio or for

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rich mixes; it is, however, necessary to make sure that segregation does not take
place.
Curve No. 4 represents a fine grading: it will be cohesive but not very workable It is
difficult to place by hand.
In particular, an excess of material between 1.20 and4.76 mm (No. 16 and in.) sieves
will produce a harsh concrete, which may be suitable for compaction by vibration,
but is difficult to place by hand. If the same workability is to be obtained using
aggregates with grading curves No.1 and 4, the latter would require a considerably
higher water content: this would mean a lower strength if both concretes are to have
the same aggregate/cement ratio or, if the same strength is required, the concrete
made with the finer aggregate would have to be considerably richer.
In the case of grading lying partly in one zone, partly in another, there is, however, a
danger of segregation when too many intermediate sizes are missing (cf. gap
grading). If, on the other hand, there is an excess of middle-sized aggregate, the mix
will be harsh and difficult to compact by hand and possibly even by vibration.

Note:
1- Quite good concrete can be obtained with sand of zone 4 particularly using
vibration
2-Sand of zone 1 is more suitable for rich mixes or for use in concrete of low
workability

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Grading of fine and coarse aggregates

Over the years, there have been several approaches to specifying the grading
requirements for fine aggregate. First, type grading curves were given as
representing ‘good’ grading. In the 1973 edition of BS 882, four grading zones were
introduced. The division into zones was based primarily on the percentage passing
the600 μm (No. 30 ASTM) sieve. The main reason for this was that a large number
of natural sands divide themselves at just that size, the gradings above and below
being approximately uniform. Furthermore, the content of particles finer than the
600 μm (No. 30 ASTM) sieve has a considerable influence on the workability of the
mix and provides a fairly reliable index of the overall specific surface of the sand.
Specifically, BS 882 : 1992 requires any fine aggregate to satisfy the overall grading
limits of Table 3.5 and also one of the three additional grading limits of the same
table, but one in ten consecutive samples is allowed to fall outside the additional
limits. The additional limits are, in effect, a coarse, a medium, and a fine grading.
Fine aggregate satisfying any of the additional grading limits of BS 882 : 1992 can
generally be used in concrete.
The requirements of BS 882 : 1992 for the grading of coarse aggregate are
reproduced in Table 3.6: values are given both for graded aggregate and for nominal
one-size fractions. For comparison, some of the limits of ASTM C 33-08 are given
in Table 3.7.
The actual grading requirements depend, to some extent, on the shape and surface
characteristics of the particles. For instance, sharp, angular particles with rough
surfaces should have a slightly finer grading in order to reduce the possibility of
interlocking and to compensate for the high friction between the particles.

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BS and ASTM Grading Requirements for Fine Aggregate

Grading Requirements for Coarse Aggregate According to BS 882 : 1992

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Grading Requirements for Coarse Aggregate According to ASTM C 33-08

Gap Grading Aggregate:

The grading types of aggregate:
I. Continuous
II. Single size
III. Gap

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Typical gap gradings

 Gap grading can be defined as a grading in which one or more intermediate
size fractions are omitted.
 The term continuously graded is used to describe conventional grading when it is
necessary to distinguish it from gap grading.
 Gap grading is represented by horizontal line over the range of size omitted.
 Concrete mix with gap grading aggregate gives higher workability than concrete
with continuous grading for the same aggregate/ cement ratio or w/c ratio.
 However, in the more workable range of mixes, Gap grading aggregate showed
greater segregation.
 Gap grading aggregate is recommended mainly for mixes of relatively low
workability such mixes respond well to vibration
 Good control and, above all, care in handling, so as to avoid segregation, are
essential.
 For instance, the top grading curve of Fig. 3.9 shows that no particles of size
between 10.0 and 2.36 mm sieve are present.

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Example
If we take the grading of fine aggregate from the previous example. Show if it
satisfies the grading requirements of the Iraqi specification:

To find if the grading of this fine aggregate satisfy the grading requirements of the
Iraqi specification:
First: the percentage passing from sieve 0.6 mm = 59%
Then it must follow grading zone no. 2

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Second: check if the passing from the other sieves satisfy their requirements in
grading zone 2, which satisfy them
Then this sand satisfy the grading requirements of Iraqi specification- zone 2

Maximum Aggregate Size

I. Larger maximum size lowers the water content for the concrete mix.
II. This can be achieved with aggregates up to (38.1mm) maximum size the gain
in strength due to the reduced water requirement is offset by the detrimental
effects of lower bond area and of discontinuities introduced by very large
particles

Quality of Mixing Water:

Water is not just a liquid used to make concrete: it is involved in the whole life of
concrete, for good or for evil. Most actions on concrete in service, other than
loading, involve water, either pure or carrying salts or solids. The important
influences of water, in addition to those on workability and strength, are those on:
setting, hydration, bleeding, drying shrinkage, creep, ingress of salts, explosive
failure of concrete with a very low water-cement ratio, autogenous healing, staining
of the surface, chemical attack of concrete, corrosion of reinforcement, freezing and
thawing, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, thermal properties, electrical resistivity,
cavitations and erosion.

 Water used in making or curing must be tested according to specification.

 Water and to quality may affect the properties of concrete produced.
 The quality of water plays a signification role:

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1- Affect the of concrete.

2- cause staining of its surface.
3- May lead to corrosion of the reinforcement ( pH of water)its contant chloride and
sulfate.
 Water should not contain undesirable orgainc substances or inorganic
constituents in excessive proportions.
 The guality of water used in concrete which may be considered suitable for pH 6-
8 or possiblic even 9.

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