University of Sulaimani

Faculty of Engineering
Civil Engineering Department
Concrete Technology (CE205)
Concrete Technology Laboratory Report
Academic Year (2021-2022)

Student Details
Name Rahand kawa hamasalih
Stage and Lab Group 2nd stage -A1
Test Details
Test Name Sieve Analysis of Fine and coarse Aggregate
Test Number 5, 6
Date of Laboratory 21/11/2021, 5/12/2021
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Contents
1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Importance of Test ................................................................................................................... 1
2 Materials and Instruments .................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Materials .................................................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Instruments.............................................................................................................................. 2
3 Test Procedure ..................................................................................................................................... 3
4 Data and Results .............................................................................................................................. 4
Data sheet 1 ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Data sheet 2 ......................................................................................................................................... 5
4.1 Calculations .............................................................................................................................. 6
Table calculation of fine aggregate .................................................................................................. 6
Table calculation of coarse aggregate .............................................................................................. 8
4.2 Results ................................................................................................................................... 10
5 Discussions .................................................................................................................................... 11
Answer Problems .................................................................................................................................. 12
Maximum Size of Aggregate: ............................................................................................................ 12
Nominal Size of Aggregate: ............................................................................................................... 12
Types of Grading................................................................................................................................... 13
UNIFORM GRADED AGGREGATE (Single size).................................................................... 13
OPEN GRADED AGGREGATE ................................................................................................ 13
GAP GRADED AGGREGATE................................................................................................... 14
DENSE GRADED AGGREGATE .............................................................................................. 14
6 Conclusions.................................................................................................................................... 15
7 References ..................................................................................................................................... 16

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

1 Introduction
The test about grading of the aggregate by using sieve analysis with different size to segregate
between courses and fine aggregate.

Grading of aggregate give good information of about this material to produce good concrete in
many sides: workability, strength and durability.

The test talks about grading of the aggregate by using sieves with different sizes to segregate
between courses and fines aggregate.

1.1 Aim

This test method covers determination of gradation and fineness modulus of fine aggregate
(sand) and coarse aggregate (gravel) using sieve analysis, and to obtain the grading curve of a
sample of fine and coarse aggregate, to determine the grain-size distribution of fine and coarse
aggregate.

1.2 Test Standards

Standard Test Methods

ASTM C 136 – 01Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
Standard Specifications
ASTM C33-01, ASTM C33-92

1.3 Importance of Test

Performing a sieve analysis is important when analyzing materials because their particle size
distribution can affect a wide range of properties such as the strength of concrete, the
solubility of a mixture, well grading sand is obtained when its sample contains all standard
fractions of specified limits.

Well graded aggregate → less voids→ less required cement paste → less cost →higher
strength

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 Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

2 Materials and Instruments

2.1 Materials

1. A sample of (2000g) fine aggregate (Sand).

2. A sample of (1000g) coarse aggregate (Gravel).

2.2 Instruments

1. Balance.

2. Pan.

3. Drying oven.

4. Mechanical sieve shaker (see Figure 1)

5. ASTM Standard sieve set for fine aggregate is (Cap, 9.5mm, 4.75mm, 2.36mm,
1.18mm,600μm, 300μm, 150μm and pan),
6. ASTM Standard sieve set for coarse aggregate is (Cap, 37.5mm, 25mm, 19mm,
12.5mm,9.5mm, 4.75mm, and pan), size number 56 in Table 2.
7. Brush.
8. Small shovel.

Figure 1

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

3 Test Procedure

1. Bring (1000g) and (2000g) of an air dry or oven dry sample of fine aggregate and
coarse aggregate, respectively, W.
2. Clean the sieves by hire brush (if required) and weigh each sieve and record their
designation names and name them W1.
3. Assemble ASTM set of sieves with smallest size at the bottom and larger size at the
top.
4. Weigh the pan and record the weight in datasheet and place it at the bottom of sieves
and cover the top of sieves by a cap.
5. Place the set of sieves in the mechanical shaker and shake it for not less than 10
minutes.
6. After shaking weigh individual sieves with retained aggregates on them and name
them W2 respectively.
7. Clean the sieves with a brush and make certain you clean all equipment for other test.

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

4 Data and Results

Data sheet 1

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

Data sheet 2

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 Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

4.1 Calculations

Table calculation of fine aggregate

University of Sulaimani / Civil Engineering Department / Concrete Technology Lab
Rahand kawa hamasalih ( A1 )
Sieve analysis of Fine Aggregate (Sand for Concrete)
Sample mass befor sieving, g 1000
Total retained mass after test, g 998.5
Tolerance must be <0.03 0.015
ASTM ASTM
upper Lower
Weight of empty Weight of (empty Net retained weight on each Percent retained weight Cumulative percent Cumulative percent passing
percent pecent Result
ASTM sieves, g sieves+retained weight), g sieves, g (rounded to 1%) retained weight, % weight
passing passing
sieves
Limit Limit
(W3/total retained 100-cumulative pecent
W1 W2 W3=W2-W1
mass)´100 retained weight
9.5mm 590.5 590.5 0 0 0 100 100 100 Pass
4.75mm 539 562 23 2 2 98 100 95 Pass
2.36mm 507 816 309 31 33 67 100 80 Fail
1.18mm 475.5 648.5 173 17 51 49 85 50 Fail
600mm 458.5 596.5 138 14 64 36 60 25 Pass
300mm 399 573 174 17 82 18 30 10 Pass
150mm 385 498 113 11 93 7 10 2 Pass
pan 257 325.5 68.5 7
Total 3611.5 4610 998.5 100 325
Fineness Modulus 3.25

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

Sieve analysis of Fine Aggregate(Sand)

120

100

80
Pecent passing

60

40

20

0
9.5mm 4.75mm 2.36mm 1.18mm 600micro.m 300micro.m 150micro.m
ASTM Sieve sizes

ASTM Upper Limit ASTM Sieve Sizes ASTM Lower Limit

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 Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

Table calculation of coarse aggregate

University of Sulaimani / Civil Engineering Department / Concrete Technology Lab

Rahand kawa hamasalih ( A1 )
Sieve analysis of Coarse Aggregate (Gravel for Concrete)
Sample mass befor sieving, g 2000
Total retained mass after test, g 2000.5
Tolerance must be <0.03 -0.00025
ASTM ASTM
Weight of (empty upper Lower
Weight of empty Net retained weight on each Percent retained weight Cumulative percent Cumulative percent passing
sieves+retained percent pecent Result
ASTM sieves, g sieves, g (rounded to 1%) retained weight, % weight
weight), g passing passing
sieves
Limit Limit
(W3/total retained 100-cumulative pecent
W1 W2 W3=W2-W1
mass)*100 retained weight
37.5mm 507 507 0 0 0 100 100 100 Pass
25mm 546.5 577.5 31.0 2 2 98 100 90 Pass
19mm 531.5 805 273.5 14 15 85 85 40 Pass
12.5mm 533 1576.5 1043.5 52 67 33 40 10 Pass
9.5mm 589.5 878.5 289.0 14 82 18 15 0 Fail
4.75 538.5 846 307.5 15 97 3 5 0 Pass
pan 539.5 595.5 56.0 3 100 0
Total 3785.5 5786 2000.5 100 363
Fineness Modulus 3.63

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

Sieve analysis of Coarse Aggregate

120

100

80
Percent Passing

60

40

20

0
37.5mm 25mm 19mm 12.5mm 9.5mm 4.75mm
ASTM Sieve Sizes

ASTM Upper Limit ASTM Lower Limit Sample

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

4.2 Results

A. For Fine Aggregate

Fineness modulus: 3.25 (out of range)

Grading of (2.36mm,1.18mm) Sieves Failed

B. For Coarse Aggregate

Fineness modulus: 3.63

Grading of (9.5mm) Sieve Failed

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

5 Discussions

In our last tests we found about sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregate we gain fineness
modulus for fine and coarse aggregate about (3.25,3.63) respectively, FM of fine aggregate out
of range according to ASTM (Table.1) standard specification we evaluate our sand is (Coarse
Sand) and it’s Grading of Sand sieve size (1.18mm, 2.36mm) failed according to ASTM
specifications (Table.2) we have excess amount of (1.18mm) sieve about 13% and excess
amount of (2.36mm) sieve about 1% so we can say our sand is nearly dense aggregate or well
graded we can fix the problem by adding other sieve size aggregates or mix another sand to ours
that contain less amount grade of two failed sieves, I noticed that total of retained coarse
aggregate after sieving is more than the sample mass before sieving that maybe this error caused
by balance instrument or non-cleansed sieved after previous tests and Grading of Coarse
aggregate sieve of (9.5mm) was failed which its lack about 3% according to ASTM
specifications other sieves generally near to ASTM upper percent passing limit the sieve of
(9.5mm) is 467 Size number cause of passing through 37.5mm to 4.75mm ASTM limits this 10-
30%, Group A2’s sieve analysis of sand shows very coarse sand type because of failing of sieve
(9.5mm,4.75mm,2.36mm) and their sand Fineness Modulus is (4.931) and their Coarse
aggregate Sieve analysis shows that their gravel is finer than ours Coarse aggregate .

Table.1

Table.2

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 Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

Answer Problems

1.

Maximum size. The smallest sieve through which 100 percent of the aggregate sample particles
pass. Superpave defines the maximum aggregate size as “one sieve larger than the nominal
maximum size” (Roberts et al., 1996[1]).

Nominal maximum size. The largest sieve that retains some of the aggregate particles but
generally not more than 10 percent by weight. Superpave defines nominal maximum aggregate
size as “one sieve size larger than the first sieve to retain more than 10 percent of the material”
(Roberts et al., 1996[1]).

Maximum Size of Aggregate:

The smallest size of sieve through which entire amount of aggregate can pass through it.

Ex: Take 400g sample of 20mm aggregate. This 20mm aggregate can easily pass through the sieve of 25mm,
30mm, 40mm, 50mm…. because the size of 20mm is lesser than above sieves. In this scenario, the smallest
size of sieve through which 20mm aggregate can pass is 25mm. Therefore, the maximum size of aggregate is
25mm.

2.

Nominal Size of Aggregate:

The smallest size of sieve through which entire amount of aggregate can pass through it. But it may retain 10%
of total weight of aggregate.

Ex: Take 400g of 30mm aggregate and allow it pass through 30mm sieve. In this scenario, the aggregate
smaller or equal to 30mm will pass through the sieve and rest of aggregate which are bigger than 30mm retains
on sieve. If the amount of aggregate retained on sieve is less than 10% of total weight of aggregate then the
nominal size of aggregate is 30mm

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

3.

Types of Grading

1. Dense-or well-graded aggregate – Has gradation close to the FWHA maximum density
grading curve.
2. Gap-graded aggregate – Has only a small percentage of particles in the mid-size range.
3. Uniformly graded aggregate – Composed mostly of particles of the same size.
4. Open-graded aggregate – Contains only a small percentage of small-size particles.

UNIFORM GRADED AGGREGATE (Single size)

It refers to a gradation that contains most of the particles in a very narrow size range. In essence,
all the particles are the same size. The curve is steep and only occupies the narrow size range
specified.
1. Narrow range of sizes.
2. Grain-to-grain contact.
3. High void content.
4. High permeability.
5. Low stability.
6. Difficult to compact.

OPEN GRADED AGGREGATE

In this type of gradation of aggregates, only a small percentage of aggregate particles are in the
small range. This results in more air voids because there are not enough small particles to fill in
the voids between the larger particles. The curve is near vertical in the mid-size range, and flat
and near-zero in the small-size range.

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

GAP GRADED AGGREGATE

Gap-graded aggregate contains only a small percentage of aggregate particles in the mid-size
range. The curve is flat in the mid-size range. Some PCC mix designs use gap graded aggregate
to provide a more economical mix since less sand can be used for a given workability. When
gap-graded aggregate are specified, certain particle sizes of aggregate are omitted from the size
continuum. Gap-graded aggregate are used to obtain uniform textures in exposed aggregate
concrete. Close control of mix proportions is necessary to avoid segregation.

1. Missing middle sizes.

2. No grain-to-grain contact.
3. Moderate void content.
4. Moderate permeability.
5. Low stability.
6. Easy to compact.

DENSE GRADED AGGREGATE

A dense gradation refers to a sample that is approximately of equal amounts of various sizes of
aggregate. By having a dense gradation, most of the air voids between the materials are filled
with particles. A dense gradation will result in an
even curve on the gradation graph.

1. Wide range of sizes.

2. Grain-to-grain contact.
3. Low void content.
4. Low permeability.
5. High stability.
6. Difficult to compact.

5. Well grading sand is obtained when its sample contains all standard fractions of
specified limits.
Well graded aggregate → less voids→ less required cement paste → less cost →higher
strength

Affect on fresh concrete is more workability and need less vibration on site while casting,
And affect of hardened concrete is donates the concrete much compressive strength and high

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

durability because of decreasing a void.

6. Basically, river sand are used for any plastering work. Generally, in any plastering work
plasterers are used natural sand, crushed stone sand or crushed gravel sand. Though,
there is a grading limit of sand which are used in plastering work. Other types of sand
will also work, but it could be more expensive to use
▪ The sand shall be hard, durable, clean and free from adherent coatings and organic matter
and shall not contain clay, silt and dust.
▪ The sand shall not contain any harmful impurities, such as, iron pyrites, alkalis, salts,
coal, mica, shale etc.

6 Conclusions

In our tests we gain Fineness modulus and Sieve data and Curves of Fine and Coarse
aggregates, I struggled that the total retained coarse aggregate more than coarse aggregate
sample mass which maybe affect the results that we achieved.

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Civil Engineering Department Concrete Technology Laboratory Report (2021-2022)

7 References

• https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/4472/sieve-analysis
• https://www.thecengineer.com/2020/04/sieve-analysis-of-fine-and-coarse.html
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335081396_The_influence_of_aggregat
e_gradation_on_the_fresh_and_hardened_concrete_properties
• https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/materials/aggregate/gradation-and-size/
• https://forum.civilread.com/question/what-is-the-difference-between-nominal-size-aggregate-
and-maximum-size-aggregate/
• https://www.aboutcivil.org/gradation-of-aggregates
• https://civilsitevisit.com/which-sand-is-best-for-plastering/

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