CIVIL ENGINEERING MATERIALS

O.E.L (OPEN ENDED LAB) REPORT

BATCH 23 BS-CV (B)

Submitted By:

MOAAZ WASIF (23L-6710)

MONIS MUDDASIR (23L-6701)
ASIM SHAHBAZ (23L-6715)
FASEEH SHAHID (23L-6729)
(DEC 05, 2023)

Submitted to: Prof. Asim Iqbal

Department of Civil Engineering

FAST-NU, Lahore

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 ABSTRACT

This lab report explores the particle sizes in fine aggregate and the fineness of
cement, both crucial factors influencing concrete performance. Using Sieve
Analysis for fine aggregate and the use of a sieve for fineness of cement, we
examined size distribution and surface area. The Sieve Analysis revealed how fine
aggregate particles are distributed, aiding concrete mix design. The sieve test
measured cement fineness. Results were compared to standards, and the
interplay between fine aggregate and cement fineness was explored. This study
provides practical insights for optimizing concrete mixtures, with potential
applications in construction.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to FAST-NUCES (Foundation for

Advancement of Science and Technology, National University of Computer and
Emerging Sciences) for providing us with the opportunity to conduct this research
as part of our academic curriculum. We greatly appreciate the support and
resources offered by the institution that have enabled us to carry out this study
effectively.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our faculty members and advisors for their
guidance and valuable insights throughout the research process. Their expertise
and encouragement have been instrumental in shaping the quality of our work.

We also acknowledge the cooperation and assistance provided by the university’s

laboratory staff and librarians, who facilitated our access to essential resources,
data, and equipment necessary for this study.

Lastly, we would like to express our appreciation to our fellow students and peers
at FAST-NUCES for their intellectual exchange, discussions, and feedback, which
have enriched our research experience.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents
#1 EXPERIMENT...........................................................................................................................................5
1.1 Scope and Significance:..........................................................................................................................5
1.2 Related Theory:.....................................................................................................................................5
1.3 Apparatus:.............................................................................................................................................6
1.4 Sieve Analysis:........................................................................................................................................6
1.5 Notes:....................................................................................................................................................7
1.6 Functions of Sieve Analysis:...................................................................................................................7
1.7 Set of Sieves:..........................................................................................................................................7
1.8 Procedure:.............................................................................................................................................8
1.9 Gradation Curve.....................................................................................................................................9
1.10 Comments:.........................................................................................................................................10
#2 Experiment...........................................................................................................................................11
2.1 Objective:.............................................................................................................................................12
2.2 Related Theory:....................................................................................................................................12
2.3 Apparatus and Materials:....................................................................................................................12
2.4 Procedure:...........................................................................................................................................13
2.5 Precautions:.........................................................................................................................................14
2.6 Observations and Calculations.............................................................................................................14
2.7 Comments & Conclusions:...................................................................................................................15

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#1 EXPERIMENT
To carry out sieve analysis of various samples of fine aggregate, determination
of fineness modulus, draw gradation curve and determine D50 (average particle
size).

1.1 Scope and Significance:

 This test method covers the determination of the particle size distribution
of fine aggregates by sieving.
 This test method is used to determine the grading of material.
 Accurate determination of materials finer than 75 microns (Sieve No 200)
cannot be achieved by this test

1.2 Related Theory:

Fineness Modulus:

It is the cumulative percentage retained on standard sieve 150μm or sieves No

100 and above divided by 100. The information obtained from fineness modulus
is helpful in the following ways;

1. Fineness modulus tells us directly whether the material is well-graded or

gap-graded.
2. Fineness modulus gives us an overall idea whether the material is fine or
coarse. Higher the value of FM, coarser will be the aggregate.

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Surface Area ∝
Fineness Modulus

3. It also indicates the surface area of the particles. Lower the surface area of
the aggregate, the required amount of fresh cement pastes to cover the
aggregate particles will be less and thus less water is required.

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1.3 Apparatus:

 Standard set of sieves

 Sieve shaker
 Sample of fine aggregate

1.4 Sieve Analysis:

 It is the operation of dividing the aggregate into various fractions, each
consisting of particles of same size.
OR
It is the operation of determining the particle size distribution of the given
specimen.
 The standard approach is to designate the sieve sizes by nominal aperture
sizes in mm or μm (micron).
 1 mm = 1000 μm (micron)

1.5 Notes:

 Sieve No 4 is the dividing line between coarse and fine aggregate.

1.6 Functions of Sieve Analysis:

Sieve analysis is performed on coarse and fine aggregates to in order to check

their gradation. This gradation gives an indirect measure of the workability and
average particle size.

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1.7 Set of Sieves:

The set of sieves used for the process of sieve analysis can be designed as:

ASTM Standard sieves ASTM Standard sieves

(mm) (inch)
75 3
37.5 1.5

19 3/4
9.5 3/8

4.75 Sieve No. 4 (3/16)

2.36 Sieve No. 8 (3/32)

1.18 Sieve No. 16

600 Sieve No. 30
300 Sieve No. 50
150 Sieve No. 100

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1.8 Procedure:

 Take 2 kg of the oven-dried sample. The sample should be perfectly dry

because if there is some moisture present then the particles will stick
together and will not pass through the sieves. Sieve Analysis
Temperature of the oven = 110±5 °C
 Place the set of standard and non-standard sieves one above another with
the smallest aperture opening at the bottom. The pan is placed at the
bottom-most position. This experiment can be performed manually or with
the aid of a machine called “sieve shaker”.
 The manual method should be performed in a proper sequence which is as
follow; forward and backward motion, left and right motion, clockwise
(CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) motion and frequent jolting.
 Time elapsed for the sieving process is 3-5 minutes and should not be less
than 3 minutes. Weigh the mass retained on each sieve and calculate the
percentage passing through each sieve. Then the FM can be calculated by
using the relation

∑(Cumulative % Retained on Standard Sieves of 150 µm∨above )

FM =
100

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1.9 Gradation Curve

The S-curve (often referred to as a gradation curve diagram) is logarithmic

graphical

representation of cumulative percent passing of grains on the y-axis, and the

sieve size opening on

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 Sr. Sieve Sizes Mass % Cumulative Cumulative
No. Retained Retained % Retained % Passing
Sieve Passing
Number (mm) (g) (%) (%) (%)
1 # 3/8 9.5 246 g 24.6% 24.6% 75.4%

2 #4 4.75 336 g 33.6% 58.2% 41.8%

3 #8 2.36 44 g 4.4% 62.6% 37.4%

4 #16 1.18 24 g 24% 65% 35%

5 #30 0.6 70 g 7% 72% 28%

6 #50 0.3 112 g 11.2% 83.2% 16.8%

7 #100 0.15 126 g 12.6% 95.8% 4.2%

8 #200 0.075 42 g 4.2% 100% 0%

Fineness modulus of Fine Aggregate = 2.4%

1.10 Comments:
According to the ASTM standard the fineness modulus of fine aggregate
should lie between 2 – 4% hence the experimented sand is fine.
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#2 Experiment
To determine the Fineness of Hydraulic Cement by the 150 - µm (No. 100) and
75 - µm (No. 200) Sieves (ASTM C 184-94)

2.1 Objective:
 To familiarize the students with the process of determining the fineness of
cement
 To understand the significance of fineness of cement.

2.2 Related Theory:

The fineness of cement is an important physical parameter to judge the quality of
cement and thus the quality of concrete. The finer the cement the higher is the
strength of the cement and thus concrete. Good cement should be free from balls
of preset cement because it deteriorates the strength of the concrete and in turn
causes the weakening of the structure. Fineness of cement tells us about how fine
and powdered cement is and thus provides a guiding line for the c/s ratio which
should be used in mortar and also in concrete. If fineness of cement is not
correctly determined, all the calculations cannot be carried out correctly and
there’s a much risk of the collapse of building thus it is very important to
determine the fineness of cement before using it for concrete production and
practical implementation.

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2.3 Apparatus and Materials:

1. Fine Sieve-Shaker

2. Sieve# 100

3. Electronic Balance

4. Wire Brush

5. Cement Samples

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2.4 Procedure:

Take 500g of cement then assemble the apparatus by putting a pan below a 100
number sieve and before setting the apparatus weight the sieve and pan then put
the cement on the sieve and place the cover on the apparatus then manually
shake the apparatus or you can shake it using a sieve shaker the after shaking the
apparatus for 5 minutes you are to weight the retained cement on the 100 no.
sieve and also weight the cement obtained in the pan then calculate the fineness
modulus of cement by using the following formula.

)
❑

(
Percentage Fineness= 100−
Wr
Wt
× 100

2.5 Precautions:

 The sieve should be shook in a round pattern and not linearly to and fro
because this practice can break the particles resulting in incorrect
determination of fineness.
 Unloaded balance should be checked i.e., it should display zero; if zero
error exists a correction factor should be applied.
 Wire brush should be used to clear the pores of sieve screens

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2.6 Observations and Calculations

Empty weight of Sieve = 402 g

Empty weight of Pan = 290 g

Sr. # Total Weight of Retained Weight Percentage Fineness

)
❑
Cement on Sieve Wr
Wt
100− ( Wr
Wt
×100
Wt (grams) Wr(grams)

1 500 g 14 g 0.028 97.2%

2 500 g 15 g 0.03 97%

Fineness of cement = 97.1%

2.7 Comments & Conclusions:

As we know that according to the ASTM standards the percentage fineness should
be greater than 95% and the percentage fineness of our experimented cement is
97.1% hence I conclude that the cement on which I performed the experiment is
suitable for every type of construction work.

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