Dry Sieve Analysis

1.
0 OBJEKTIF
The sieve analysis determines the grain size distribution curve of soil
sample by passing them through a stack of sieves of decreasing mesh
opening sizes and by measuring the measuring the weight retained on
each sieve. The sieve analysis is generally applied to the soil fraction
larger than 75m.
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this experiment, students are able to :
2.1 understanding the methods used to determine the size of soil
particles in the laboratory
2.2
carry out the calculation processes used in particle size

determine;
2.3 understand the method used to determine the consistency

properties of fine grained soils in the laboratory.
2.4 carry out the calculation and plotting processes used in
consistency limit methods of classification;
2.5 appreciate the way in which particle size and consistency
properties are used to classify and predict the probable behavior
of soils and also to indicate the type of tests needed to assess
their engineering characteristic.
3.0 THEORY
( BS 1377 : Part 2: 1990: 9.3 ), sieving can be performed in either wet or
dry conditions. Dry sieving is used only for soil with a negligible amount of
plastic fines such as gravels and clean sands, where as wet sieving is
applied to soils with plastic fines. According to the British Standard, dry
sieving procedure. This means that it is applicable only to clean granular
materials, which usually implies clean sandy or gravelly soils that is, soils
containing negligible amount of particles of silt or clay size. Normally the
wet-sieving procedure should be followed for all soils. If particles of
medium gravel size or larger are present in significant amounts, the initial
size of the sample required may be much that riffling is necessary at some
stage to reduce the sample to a manageable size for fine sieving.
BS 1377 : 1990, allows either wet or dry sieving to be used, but the wet
method is preferred. After oven dry, the test sample mass is determine
before being separated into two parts, the first comprises that retained on
a 20mm sieve and the second that passing 20mm. that greater than
20mm is dry sieves, while that smaller is wet sieve prior to being-sieved
dry. The sieves used are generally chosen from the range ( in mm) of 75,
63, 50, 37.5, 28, 20, 14, 10, 63.5, 3.35, 2, 1.18, 0.6, 0.425, 0.3, 0.212,
0.15 and 0.063 . The mass retained on each sieve is recorded, from which
the percentage of the sample passing each sieve can be calculated.
Material passing the 63 micron (0.063mm) sieve is retained for a fine
particles analysis, if the amount justifies the further test. The combined
results of the coarse and fine analyses are plotted on a semi-logarithmic
graph of the form show in figure 1.0, to give the particle size distribution
curve.
4.0 TEST EQUIPMENT
1. Series of standard sieves with opening ranging from 7.5cm to 75m
including a cover plate and bottom pan.
2. Test sieve having the following aperture size 10mm, 6mm, 1mm,
0.6mm, 0.3mm, 0.15mm, 0.063mm.
3. Mechanical sieve shaker
4. Balance sensitive 0.5 g
5. Soft wire brush
5.0 PROCEDURES
1. Oven dry the sample, allow it to cool and measure is weight.
2. Select a stack of sieves suitable to the soil being tested. A stack of
six or seven sieves is generally sufficient for most soil and
applications. The top sieves soil should have and opening is at the
top and the smallest is at the bottom.
3. Attach a pan at the bottom of the sieve stack. Pour the sample on
the top sieve. Add the cover plate to avoid dust and loss of particles
while shaking.
4. Place the stack of sieves in the mechanical shaker and shake for
about 10 min or until additional shaking does not produce
appreciable change in the amount of materials retained in each
sieve.
5. Remove the stack of sieves from shaker. Beginning with the top
sieve, transfer its contents to a piece of the paper or a larger
recipient. Carefully empty the sieve without losing any material, and
use a brush to remove grains stuck in its mesh opening. Measure
the weight of soil retained in each sieve and notes the
corresponding sieve mesh opening and number.
6. Repeat step 5 for each sieve. As a preliminary check, the weight
retained on all the sieves and the bottom pan are added, and their
sum is compared to the initial sample weight. Both weight should be
within about 1% if the difference is greater than 1% too much
material was lost and weighing and or sieves should be repeated.
8.0 QUESTIONS :
1. What is the purpose of grain size analysis ?
2. Under what conditions should you use wet sieving instead of dry
sieving ?
3. What is the smallest and largest mesh opening used in practice for
determining grain size distribution ?
4. Is it possible to carry out a sieve analysis on a sample of clay?
5. Classify the type of soil that you use in the laboratory according to
BS 5930.

Dry Sieve Analysis

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What is the purpose of grain size analysis?

Under what conditions should you use wet sieving instead of dry sieving?

1.

carry out the calculation processes used in particle size

2.3 understand the method used to determine the consistency

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