FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND THE BUILD

ENVIRONMENT

BACHELOR IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

FINENESS TEST
ON SAND
Group 2
Khong Wai Chun (SCM-029013)
Chai Shien Qin (SCM-029173)
Member Yang Kit Liang (SCM-029038)
Ong Chan Wooi (SUKD-1501783)
Lawrence Goh Zhen Hao ( SUKD-1502791 )
Subject Title CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Subject Code ECV 3123

Date Of Experiment November 2015

Submission of Report

Lecturer Ms Salmaliza
Titles Pages

Title Page

Contents

Objective

Apparatus/Material

Introduction

Theory

Procedure

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

Reference

Appendix

CONTENT
 OBJECTIVE
To determine the fineness of sand by applying the particle size analysis using the
mechanical method.

APPARATUS/MATERIAL
1. Fineness test sieve with pan and cover

2. Sieve Shaker Machine

3. Specimen
a. Mine sand

4. Measurement apparatus
a. Electronic balance
 INTRODUCTION
In our daily life, sand is very important especially acts as one of the aggregate
to make concrete for the use of construction. Sand is a granular material made up of
fine mineral particles and it is a naturally occurring, finely divided rock. There are
many types of sand such as river sand and mine sand. However, for this lab session,
the topic is fineness test on sand and the only mine sand will be used to carry out for
the whole lab session.

Fineness test of the sand is similar to the sieve analysis test. It used to assess
the particle size distribution of the sand used in this lab session. The size distribution
of sand is very important that can let us know the way of the specific size sand
performs in use. By performing this fineness test of the sand, a particle distribution
curve (PDS) can be formed so that we can know the detail about the amount of
different size of sand present in the mine sand.

The grading or size distribution of sand is an important characteristic because

it determines the paste requirement for workable concrete. The required amount of
cement paste is dependent upon the amount of void space that must be filled and the
total surface area that must be covered. When the particles are of uniform size the
spacing is the greatest, but when a range of sizes is used the void spaces are filled and
the paste requirement is lowered. The more these voids are filled, the less workable
the concrete becomes, therefore, a compromise between workability and economy is
necessary.
 THEORY
Fineness is a vital property of aggregates and has to be carefully controlled
when choosing the admixtures to make concrete. Although in a same type of the sand
(fine aggregate), it also contains different sizes of the sand particles. Thus, fineness
test is very important to be carried up to assess the particle size distribution.

By performing this fineness test, all the information from the observation can
be used to form a sieve analysis table including the data of sieve opening size, mass of
soil retained on each sieve, cumulative mass retained above each sieve, percent of soil
retained, percent finer or percent passing. This sieve analysis table is very important
as an initial step to form a particle distribution curve graph to check the gradation.

The fineness test of the sand is presented as a semilog plot of percent finer
versus particle size, called a particle distribution curve. A semilog plot is used for the
particle sizes to give both small and large diameters as nearly equal weight as
possible. Percent finer is always plotted as the ordinate using an arithmetic scale.

From the particle size distribution curve, particle size such as D10, D30 and
D60 can be obtained. The D refers to the size, or apparent diameter, of the sand
particles and the subscript (10, 30, 60) denotes the percent that is smaller. An
indication of the spread of particle sizes is given by the coefficient of uniformity (C u),
which is defined as:

D60
Cu =
D10

The coefficient of curvature (Cc) is a measure of the shape of the curve between D60
and D10 particle sizes, and is defined as
2
( D30)
Cc =
D60 × D 10

After analysing all the information and forming a particle size curve, the sand
can be properly described such as well-graded gravel sand or sandy silt. Furthermore,
the grading or size distribution of sand can be determined by analysing the particle
size curve which is very important in the paste requirement for workable concrete.
 PROCEDURE
1. A set of different opening size of sieve such as 3.35mm, 2.00mm, 0.6mm,

0.30mm, 0.15mm with cover and pan was prepared.

2. All the sieves and pan must be dry and clean. The mass of each sieve and pan

were determined by electronic balance and the readings were recorded.

3. Mine sand prepared as a fine aggregate to be used in the fineness test.

4. All the sieves were arranged accordingly by following the opening size of

each sieve from the top to bottom.

5. The pan was placed below the last sieve which was the smallest opening size.

6. The mine sand was pour into the set of sieve from the top which started with

the largest opening size of sieve. The cover was put on the top of first sieve

after the mixture was pour into the sieve.

7. The whole set of sieve was put on a sieve shaker machine to sieve for 5

minutes.

8. After 5 minutes, the set of sieve was taken out and separated to determine the

mass of each sieve. All the readings were recorded.

9. A table was formed to record all the readings from observation and a sieve

analysis table was formed to collect and analysis all the reading from

observation.

10. Particle distribution curve graph formed by using the data from the sieve

analysis table.
 RESULT
Sieve opening size Mass of sieve Mass of sieve Mass of sand
(mm) (g) with sand (g) (g)

3.35 350.5 350.5 0.0

2.00 402.8 585.6 182.8

0.60 330.6 787.5 456.9

0.30 285.0 291.7 6.7

0.15 265.6 265.6 0.0

Pan 305.1 305.1 0.0

 Calculation
 Calculation of mass of soil retained on each sieve:

Mass of soil retained (g) = Mass of sieve with soil (g) – Mass of sieve (g)

 Calculation of percent of soil retained:

Mass of soil retained (g)

Percent of soil retained (%) = × 100
Total mass of soil (g)

 Calculation of percent finer:

Percent of finer (%)

= 100% – Percent of cumulative mass of soil retained (%)

 Sieve Analysis Table

Sieve opening Mass of soil Cumulative mass Percent of soil Percent

size (mm) retained (g) of soil retained (g) retained (%) finer (%)

3.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00

2.00 182.80 182.80 28.00 72.00

0.60 456.90 639.70 71.00 1.00

0.30 6.70 646.40 1.00 0.00

0.15 0.00 646.40 0.00 0.00

Pan 0.00 646.40 0.00 0.00

 Based on the particle distribution graph:
1. D10 = 0.75mm

2. D30 = 1.30mm

3. D60 = 1.90mm

1.90
4. Uniformity of coefficient, Cu =
0.75
= 2.53

2
(1.30)
5. Coefficient of curvature, Cc =
1.90× 0.75
= 1.19

6. Approximate proportion:
a. medium sand : 1% 0% = + 1%

b. coarse sand : 72% - 1% = + 71%

c. fine gravel : 100% - 72% = + 28%

7. Thus, the mine sand used in this lab session can be classified as sandy
gravel.
 DISCUSSION
This fineness test of sand is carried up to determine the fineness of sand be
used in this test. In order to have an accurate results and readings, sand be used must
be in dry condition. However, the day before this fineness test is carried up, it was
raining heavily and the sand sample be used was put outside the lab. Therefore, in the
process of the fineness test, we found that the sand was in wet condition and it will
also not easily pass through the opening of sieve when sieving.

The sieve be used in this test must be dry. A dry cloth can be used to clean the
sieve to avoid other sand or materials affect the accuracy of the result. After that, all
the sieves are weighted separately by using the electronic balance and the readings
must be recorded. An important step must be remembered is that the electronic
balance must be tare to zero reading first before the sieve put on the electronic
balance.

By analysing the data from the observation, a sieve analysis table can be
formed. The data from the sieve analysis table can be used to form a semilog plot of
percent finer versus particle size and is called as particle distribution curve. The
particle size in D10, D30 and D60 which is the maximum size of the smallest each
percentage of the sample can be obtained from the curve and used to find the
coefficient of uniformity (Cu) and coefficient of curvature (Cc). Both Cu and Cc will be
unity for a single-size soil. When Cu greater than 3, it is a well-graded soil while Cu
smaller than 3, it is a uniform grading soil. Most well graded soils will have grading
curves that are mainly flat or slightly concave, giving values of C c between 0.5 and
2.0.

As the sand is in wet condition during the experiment, most of the sand stuck
in the sieve and not easily pass through the sieve. Therefore, the period and power for
sieving must be increased so that the sand can pass through the opening of the sieve.
After the experiment be done, the sand can be reused for other experiment or in
construction.
 CONCLUSION
From the sieve analysis table and the particle distribution curve, the uniformity
of coefficient is 2.53 while coefficient of curvature is 1.19. We can also find that the
approximate proportion of each type of sand in the sand sample such as medium sand
is + 1%, coarse sand is + 71% and fine sand is + 28%. Therefore, the sand sample
used also can be classified as sandy gravel.
 REFRENCE
1. G.E. Dieter, Mechanical Metallurgy, McGraw-Hill Inc., New York, 1986.

2. F.A. McClintock and A.S. Argon, Mechanical Behavior of Materials,

Addison-Wesley Inc., Reading, Mass., 1966

3. The Effect of Aggregate Properties on Concrete

(http://www.engr.psu.edu/ce/courses/ce584/concrete/library/materials/
aggregate/aggregatesmain.htm)

4. Fineness Modulus of Aggregate- What, Why & How (2014)

(http://civilblog.org/2014/09/01/fineness-modulus-of-aggregate-what-why-
how/)
APPENDIX