GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY MANUAL

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Determination of Grain size analysis of soil by Dry Sieving Method

A. OBJECTIVE:

Dry and Wet Sieve Analysis is carried out to quantitatively detennine the Particle/Grain Size
Distribution for soil particles of size 75 micron and bigger. For soil particles of size 4.75mm
and bigger, dry sieve analysis is done and for soil particles of size above 75 micron and below
4.75mm, wet sieve analysis is also needed if the soil particles are coated by clay/silt.
B. THEORY:

The grain size distribution of any soil can be detennined using the grain size analysis, also
called mechanical analysis. The basic method of mechanical analysis is to sieve the soil
through a set of sieves of standard opening size. Sieve analysis can be used only for the
mechanical analysis of gravel and sand as the smallest sieve size available is 75micron (0.075
mm).

To determine the grain size distribution of silt and clay and hence to get the grain size
distribution for the complete particle size range in soils, sedimentation analysis is carried out.
_Muxi11111m St:,• tf Ma.u 111 h1• Tuken
Mu11•riul P"'-'1'111 in /,ir Tes,
\'uhstamiul Quamitie.t
IS Sieve 450 mm Dia. 300 mm Dia.
mm k~ Designation Sieves (in kg) Sieves (in kg)
75 80 mm
40
60
25
20 mm
15 kg 6kg l
25 13 4kg 2kg
19 b.5 4.75 mm l.O kg 0..5kg
12.5 J.5
10 1.5
2mm 0.20
6.5 0.75 425 micron 0.050
4.75 0.4
75 micron 0.025
(Qty. of sample taken for test)
Fig 12. Max. wt. retained on sieves
·C. MATERIALS & EQUIPMEN T REQUIRED
1. Set of sieves with a lid and pan
Note: Sieve numbers (4.75, 2.36, 1.18, 0.600,
0.425, 0.300, 0.150, 0.075) mm LS sieves are
generally used for most standard sieve analysis
work.
2. A balance sensitive up to 0.1 g.
3. Mechanical Sieve shaker.
Fig 13. Sieve sets

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GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEEIVILRIN ENGINEERING '

SCHOOLOFC

4. Oven.
5. Wooden mallet
6. Tray

D. PRECAUTION S
.. nt of0.1% of total weight of sample
1. The balance to be used must be sensitive to the exte
taken.
2. Calibration of sieves to be verified before conducting the experiment.
e th~ test procedure of sieve
3. The soil and sieve set should be completely dried beior
&:

analysis.
4. Clean the sieves set so that no soil particles were struck in them.
5. While weighing put the sieve with soil sample on the balance in a concentric position:
E. PROCEDURE:
1. Collect a representative oven dry soil sample. Samples having largest particles of the
size ofl.S sieve openings (4.75 mm) should be about 500 grams. For soils having larger
particles of size greater than 4.75 mm, larger weights are needed.Total mass of soil is
taken as (W)
2. Break the soil sample into individual particles using a mortar and a rubber-tipped pestle.
(Note: The idea is to break up the sofl into individual particles, not to break the particles
themselves.)
3. Determine the mass of the sampie arci:.tr:1tdy :<£) !(J, Jg weight.
4. Prepare a stack of sieves. A sieve with larger openings is placed above sieve with smaller
openmgs.
5. Pour the prepared soil into the stack of sieves from the ~op.
6. Place the cover on the top of the stack of sieves.
7. Run the stack of sieves through a sieve shaker for about 1oto 15 minutes.
8. Stop the sieve shaker and remove the stack of sieves.
7. Weigh the amount of soil retained on each sieve and the bottom pan.
 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY MANUAL
SCHOOL OF CNIL ENGINEERING

F. OBSERVATION AN D CALCULATION :
I.S sieve Wt. Retained Percentage on Cumulative % % finer Remarks
number or in each sieve, each sieve retained on each 100-WJ
size in mm (em) W1 W2 W,*100/W sieve,WJ
4.75
4.0
2.36
1.18
0.600
0.425
0.300
0.150
0.075
Collector
Total
i=n

Percentage finer = 100 - L

i=l
Rn

Particle having corresponding sizes are noted below.

Gravel 20-4.75mm
CALCULATION :
Sand 4.75-0.075
1. Calculate the percent of soil retained on the Coarse 4.75- 2 mm
Medium 2- 0.425mm
nth sieve (counting from the top). Fine 0.425- 0.075 mm

= ~\=n Rn = Calculate mass retained Wnx 100 Silt 0.075- 0.002mm

Ln=l Total Mass W
Clay less than 0.002mm

2. Calculate the cumulative percent of soil r~L,;ned on the nth sieve.

3. Calculate the cumulative percent pas:~nr iMmigh the nth sieve.
4. The percentage of soil retained on each si,:;vt shall be calculated on the basis of total weight
of soil sample taken. Then, cumuiative percentage of soil retained (which will give% finer
when deducted from 100) on successive sieve is found.
5. Plot a graph on log scale with "Particle size (Diameter)" on X-axis & "Percent finer" on
Y- axis. The graph is known as grading curve (Fig. 7). Corresponding to 10%, 30% and
60% finer, obtain diameters from graph, which are designated as D10, D3o and D60 .
6. Calculate the Coefficient of Uniformity (Cu) and the Coefficient of Curvature (Cc) using
the following equations.
Cu= D60/ D10
Cc= D3a2 I (D60 x D10)

15
p

C C

the above re uirement

1 < C <3
6
ot rneetin
---~ - -

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cOIISf-91
-- fflf-f,iintd G,~vtl
SllflCI j
,ourst mtdun

t ---
.,_ Sit ,ntdil#n
fint COUlst
u0
Clay fllt
-' n,ecillll course I' / ,,/
frit -/
-;
/
G,avtl Sane!, / /,,. -
100 I -/
.! -
<II 90
80 l
I
-; I

intdlllffl San< I _,,v

//
-
I _...... / ...clayey Gfavtl -" Swl -
o 70
.6 60 I ,,,,, I
...i 50 I lilt S1111
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I
., ,o 7
j
I
l 30 / LotSS ,,1" I
/
.
l5 20
/ ,...,,. ,,.,- I I
I i: /
~--;.--

ooo2 o.ooe o.02

j
o.oe
/
02
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0.03 z e.o 20 83
· GIMI o, Sitvt Sizes in nvn
Fig 14. Soil classification based on% finer and grain size

G. DISCUSSION
l. This test method is used primarily to grade aggregates. The results are used to detennine 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.
2. The data may also be useful in developing relationships concerning porosity and packing. Infonnation
obtained from the particle size analysis (uniformity coeffi ,.~ i~·i, t Cu, coefficient of curvature, Cc, and
effective size, D10, etc.) is used to classify the soil.
3. Particle size is one of the criteria used to ascertain whether the soil is suitable for building roads,
embankments, dams, etc.
4. Information obtained from particle size analysis can be used to predict the soil-water movement if the
permeability test is not available.
H. QUESTION S
1. What is the purpose of sieve analysis?
2. Why do you classify soil?
3. What do you understand by uniformly grad d d
. e an well graded soils?
4. What 1s meant by gap graded s01.1?.
5. What do you understand by GW GP G
I. REFEREN CE ' ' M, GC, SW, SP, SM, SC in soil classification?

IS: 2720 (P-4) (1985). Grain . An .

size alys1s of 01·1
- - - - - - - -- - - - - ' (Second Reprint Sept 1994). Reaffinne~ ·

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