Civil Engineering Materials

(LAB)
Experiment 03
Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and
Coarse Aggregates from Different Sources (ASTM
C136-14)
OBJECTIVE

 To familiarize the students with the process of sieve analysis of

fine and coarse aggregate and determining the fineness modulus
of fine aggregate i.e. sand.

 To understand its significance and advantages.

SCOPE

 This test method covers the determination of the particle size

distribution of fine and coarse aggregates by sieving.

 This test method is used to determine the grading of materials

proposed or being used as aggregates. This gradation gives an
indirect measure of the workability and average particle size.

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

 Accurate determination of materials finer than 75 micron (Sieve No

200) cannot be achieved by this test
RELATED THEORY
 Fineness Modulus is a measurement of the coarseness and fineness of a
given aggregate.

 Coarser the sand more will be its fineness modulus value and more will
be the strength of the concrete in which the sand is used as aggregate.

 Fineness modulus is the direct measure of the strength of an aggregate.

 It is the cumulative percentage retained on standard sieve 150μm or

sieves No 100 and above divided by 100. It is a single factor or an
empirical number which we get from the results of sieve analysis. The
value of FM will not change if we add nonstandard sieves in standard
set of sieves.
RELATED THEORY
 Different aggregate grading may have the same FM.

 Aggregate content is a factor which has direct and far-reaching

effects on both the quality and cost of concrete. The more the
fineness modulus the coarser is the sand and thus more suitable
for concrete. But a compromise has to be made between quality
and cost factors.

 Lawrancepur sand, being most coarse is most suitable for concrete

but is not easily available in plain areas and thus Chenab sand is
mixed with it to reduce the cost factor.
PROs and CONs
 Compressive and flexure strength of concrete increases with
increase of fineness modulus of sand.

 Permeability of concrete remains more or less constant.

 With increase in fineness modulus of sand, water demand gets

affected and consequently workability gets affected.

 Increase in FM value to a certain limit, increase the fresh

properties of self consolidated concrete due to decrease in finer
fraction, however, crossing the limit can decrease the fresh
properties of SCC due to increase in coarser fraction. Therefore
proper gradation has to be maintained.
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS
 The following apparatus and material are used for the test.

 Sieve-Shaker “This is used during commercial testing for

accurate results, however, for class purpose, shaking will be
carried out manually ;)”

 Sieve Set

 Electronic Balance

 Wire Brush

 Sample of sand
PROCEDURE
 Take 2 kg of the oven-dried sample. (Oven Temp = 110±5 °C)

 The sample should be perfectly dry because if there is some moisture

content present then the particles will stick together and will not pass
through the sieves.
 Place the set of sieves in decreasing size order from top to 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 follows;
 Forward and backward motion
 left and right motion
 clockwise (CW) and counter-clockwise (CCW) motion
 Frequent jolting
PROCEDURE
 Time elapsed for the sieving process is 3-5 minutes and should
not be less than 3 minutes.

 Weight the material retained on the sieves and calculate

percentage passing through each sieve.

 Then the FM can be calculated by using the relation

 Larger value of FM is preferred for fine aggregates. For a good fine

aggregate, the FM should be between 2.3 and 3.1 (ASTM Range for
fine aggregates).
PRECAUTIONS
 Shaking of sieve should be carried out in all patterns holding the
sieve in both hands.

 Balance should be checked for zero error.

 Wire brush should be used to clear the pores of sieve screens.

The underside shall be lightly brushed.

 Only sum up the values of standard sieves and do not include the
values of the non-standard sieves

 If any standard sieve is missing, we may use the value of next

higher sieve

 Adding extra sieves does not change the result of FM.

 OBSERVATION AND
CALCULATIONS
Retained
Sieve Cumulative
Sieve Weight % Weight
Size % Weight % Passing
# Wr Retained
(mm) Retained
(grams)

No. 4 4.76 X1 (X1/Wt) x100= Y1 Y1 100 – Y1 = Z1

No. 8 2.38 X2 (X2/Wt) x100= Y2 Y1 + Y2 100 – (Y1 + Y2) = Z2
No. 16
No. 30         
No. 50         
No.100
       
 

Total weight of Sample = ______________ Fineness Modulus (F.M) = _____________

COMMENTS AND CONCLUSIONS

 What you did and learned?

 What observations did you make and what are your findings?