Sieve Analysis

Concrete Mix Design

Technician School

Pg 173

Terms and Definitions

Aggregate.
An inert filler material, such as crushed
stone, gravel, and sand which is mixed
with cement and water to make concrete.
Coarse Aggregate.
Generally aggregate larger than 1/2" in
diameter, referred to as stone or gravel.

Fine Aggregate

Pg 174

A natural silica or manufactured aggregate smaller than 1/4" in

diameter, normally referred to as sand.

Sieve Analysis
A process in which an aggregate is separated into its various sizes
by passing it through screens of various size openings for the
purpose of determining the distribution of the quantities separated.

Gradation of an Aggregate
The relative amounts of aggregate particles of consecutively larger
and smaller sizes.

Pg 175

Maximum Size of Aggregate

The smallest sieve opening through which the
entire amount of the aggregate is required to
pass.

Nominal Maximum Size of Aggregate

The smallest sieve opening through which the
entire amount of the aggregate is permitted to
pass.

Pg 17

Standard Sieves
Coarse Aggregate

6", 3", 1 1/2", 3/4", 3/8", and

No.4
Fine Aggregate

Nos. 4, 8, 16, 30, 50, and 100

Affect of Particle Size on

Aggregate Surface Area.
One 1- in cube of
aggregate. Surface area
= 6 x 1 x 1 = 6 sq in

27 1/3 - in cubes of aggregate.

Surface area = 6 x 1/3 x 1/3 x 27
=18 sq in.

Sieve Analysis Procedure

Take a representative sample.

Reduce to proper size for testing.

Sampling

Sieve Analysis

Pg 24
Table 1005-1
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Standard Specifications
Coarse Aggregate Gradation

Sieve

Percent by Weight Passing Each Sieve

Std Size

3/8

No. 4

No. 8

No. 200

#57

100

95-100

25-60

0-10

0-5

0-0.6*

#67

100

90-100

20-55

0-10

0-5

0-0.6*

#78M

100

98-100

75-100

20-45

0-15

0-0.6*

Pg 24

Coarse Aggregate Gradation

When tested during production the
amount passing the No. 200 sieve
may be no greater than 0.6% by
weight.
When tested at the job site prior to
use , the amount of material passing
the No. 200 sieve shall not be
greater than 1.5% by weight.

Coarse Aggregate Gradation

If a stockpile at the job site is found to

contain in excess of 1.5% passing the
No.200 sieve prior to use, the engineer
may approve its use provided the total %
by weight passing the the no 200 sieve in
the combined coarse and fine aggregate
does not exceed 2%, & no increase in
W/C ratio is required by the use of this
aggregate.

Pg 25

Table 1005-2
Aggregate Gradation of Fine Aggregate

Percentage of Total by Weight Passing

STD

3/8

#4

#8

#16

#30

#50

#100

#200

2S

100

95-100

80-100

45-95

25-75

5-30

0-10

0-3

2MS

100

95-100

80-100

45-95

25-75

5-35

0-20

0-8*

Size

Pg 25

Fine Aggregate Gradation

When tested during production the
amount of material passing the
No.200 sieve shall not be greater
than 8%.
When tested at the job site prior to
use, the amount of material passing
the No. 200 sieve shall not be
greater than 10%.

Pg 26

200 Sieve Washing Procedure

In a fine and coarse aggregate sieve
analysis, the representative sample
is washed over a No. 200 sieve.
The portion retained in the No. 200
sieve is dried and weighed.
The loss is then recorded in
accordance with AASHTO T11.

Mass of Sample after Pg 27

Drying, AASHTO T11 6.2
Nominal Max Size

Min. Mass, grams

4.75mm (No 4)

300

9.5mm (3/8 in)

1000

19mm (3/4 in)

2500

37.5 mm (1 in)

5000

Pg 27

No.200 Sieve Calculation

Percent passing No. 200 sieve =

Total dry wt wt after washing x 100
Total dry wt

Pg 28

Example 200 Sieve Problem

Total dry wt
Wt after washing

Gram matl passing 200

9.1 grams x 100

514.0 grams

514.0 grams
504.9 grams
9.1 grams
= 1.8% passing

Sieve Analysis Example

Pg 29

Pg 33

Sieve Analysis Problem 1

SA P-1

Pg 34

Sieve Analysis Problem 2

SA P-2

Pg 35

Sieve Analysis Problem 3

SA P-3

Pg 36

Sieve Analysis Problem 4

SA P-4

Pg 37

Sieve Analysis Problem 5

SA P-5

Fineness Modulus

Pg 39

Fine Modulus An index to the

coarseness or fineness of an
aggregate.

Fineness Modulus (FM) Defined

mathematically as the sum of the
cumulative percentages retained on
the standard sieves divided by 100.

Pg 39

Fineness Modulus
FM of fine aggregate should not be
less than 2.30 or more than 3.10,
nor vary by more than 0.20 from
batch to batch.
Coarse Sand
2.80 - 3.10
Medium
2.50 - 2.80
Fine Sand
2.30 - 2.50

Pg 39

The Standard Sieves

6 in
3 in
1 in
in
3/8 in
#4

#8
#16
#30
#50
#100

Fine agg. range 3/8 - #100

Coarse agg. range 6 in - #8

Table 5.3.6

Pg 39

Table 5.3.6 gives the volume of dry

rodded coarse aggregate per unit
volume of concrete for different
fineness moduli of sand.
If the size of coarse aggregate and
fineness modulus is known, the
volume of dry rodded coarse
aggregate can be obtained from the
table.

Pg 39

Table 5.3.6
The proportion of coarse and fine
aggregate in a concrete mix depend
upon the fineness modulus of the
fine aggregate and the size of the
coarse aggregate.
The volume of coarse aggregate
increases or decreases to maintain a
constant surface area or a constant
water demand.

Pg 40

Table 5.3.6

The variable is the fineness or

coarseness (FM) of the sand.

Pg 41

Fineness Modulus - Example

Pg 42

Fineness Modulus Problem

Pg 48
No.1

FM P-1

Fineness Modulus Problem

No.2
Pg 49

FM P-2

Fineness Modulus Problem

No. 3
Pg 50

FM P-3

Fineness Modulus Problem

Pg 51
No.4

FM P-4

TERMS I SHOULD KNOW?

Fineness Modulus
Nominal Maximum Size
Sieve Analysis
Water Reducing Agent
Workability
HOLD ON A MINUTE AND LET ME MARK
THOSE IN THE BACK OF MY BOOK!!

Homework

Homework 1

What is the fineness modulus of the following material?

Sieve
1 in
1 in
in
in
3/8 in
#4
#8
#16
#30
#50
#70
#100
#200
FM =

Cum % Retained
0
15
25
40
50
60
70
85
95

0 + 15 + 25 + 40 +50 + 60 + 70 + 85 + 95 =
100

Cum % Passing
100
95
85
80
75
60
50
40
30
15
10
5
0
4.40

Homework 2

The fineness modulus of a material which all passes the in. sieve and is all retained on
the 3/8 in. sieve is :
Sieve
3/4
3/8
#4
#8
#16
#30
#50
#100

Grams Ret.
0
150
0
0
0
0
0
0

Cum. Grams Ret.

0
150
150
150
150
150
150
150

FM = 0 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100

100

Cum. % Ret.
0
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
7.0

Quiz

Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of fine aggregate for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for 2S Sand. This sample was taken at the
R/M plant. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.
Total weight of the sample oven dry
(before washing)

504.1 grams

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve)

501.6 grams

2.5 /
Sieve Size

Grams Ret.

3/8
#4
#8
#16
#30
#50
#100
Pan
#200

0
0
5.0
60.5
176.5
171.4
75.5
12.7

504.1

Cum
Grams
Retained

x 100
Cum %
Retained

=
Percent
Passing

0.5 % Passing
NCDOT
Specs
100
95-100
80-100
45-95
25-75
8-30
.5-10

Washing
method

0-3

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications?

What is the F.M.
Is this a coarse, medium or fine sand?

Quiz

Quiz Answer

Check the following sieve analysis of a sample of fine aggregate for use in concrete and
determine if it meets NCDOT requirements for 2S Sand. This sample was taken at the
R/M Plant. Circle the sieve not passing, if any.
Total weight of the sample oven dry
(before washing)

504.1 grams

Oven dry wt.(after washing No.200 sieve)

501.6 grams

2.5 / 504.1 x 100 =

Sieve Size

Grams Ret.

3/8
#4
#8
#16
#30
#50
#100
Pan

0
0
5.0
60.5
176.5
171.4
75.5
12.7

#200

Cum
Grams
Retained
0
0
5.0
65.5
242.0
413.4
488.9
501.6

0.5 % Passing
Cum %
Retained

Percent
Passing

NCDOT
Specs

0
0
1
13
48
82
97

100
100
99
87
52
18
3

100
95-100
80-100
45-95
25-75
8-30
.5-10

0.5

0-3

Washing
method

Does this 2S Sand meet NCDOT Specifications?

Yes

What is the F.M.

2.41

Is this a coarse, medium or fine sand?

Fine

Quiz ans.