Title: Particle Size Analysis Via Mechanical Sieve: CEE 346L - Geotechnical Engineering I Lab
Title: Particle Size Analysis Via Mechanical Sieve: CEE 346L - Geotechnical Engineering I Lab
Title: Particle Size Analysis Via Mechanical Sieve: CEE 346L - Geotechnical Engineering I Lab
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Procedures ..................................................................................................................................................... 2
Data, Calculations, and Results..................................................................................................................... 3
Discussion ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................... 5
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CEE 346L – Geotechnical Engineering I Lab
Introduction
Every soil type needs to be characterized before use in construction. Its classification is dependent on its
grain size distribution measured by their weight. For other properties such as soils strength, compressibility
and hydraulic properties, this information is imperative.
To extrapolate the field conditions, the sample collected to be tested must be representative thus utmost
care must be taken while sampling. It should be well mixed before collecting and split for appropriate
amount to be used for experiments.
Since it is practically impossible to determine actual particle sizes, the sieve sizes that “trap” particles
between them can tell us about the proportion.
Equipment
A “nest” of several stacked ASTM approved sieves with decreasing sieve opening sizes in
following order No. 4, 8, 16, 30, 40, 80, 100, 200 and the pan at the bottom.
A large container
A stiff wire brush
Soft brush
A small container
Electronic weighing scale
Lab Procedures
1. Take the oven dried sample and mix it thoroughly with a spatula.
2. Take about 300g to 400g in the tare pan and record that weight.
3. Make sure you have the sieves in the following order No. 4, 8, 16, 30, 40, 80, 100, 200 and a pan
the very bottom. Note the sieve opening sizes in the data sheet.
4. Pour all the soil into the top of the nest and make sure to use the soft brush to get all the fines out
of the tare pan into the set of sieves.
5. Place the cap firmly and put the set of sieves in the mechanical shaker for 5 minutes.
6. After 5 minutes, remove the sieves from the shaker and start measuring the weight of the material
in each sieve without re taring the scale. Record the cumulative weight. Use the stiff wire brush to
remove particles stuck in gaps.
7. For the sieves that are finer than #40 use a soft brush
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CEE 346L – Geotechnical Engineering I Lab
Data
Tare Weight= 262.14 g
Calculations
Gradation Curve
80
70
60
Percent Passing %
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.01 0.10 1.00 10.00 100.00
Grain sizes (mm)
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CEE 346L – Geotechnical Engineering I Lab
2
D60 D30
Cu C
D10 ,
c
D10 D60
2 0.5^2
Cu= = 10 , Cu= = 0.625
0.2 (2∗0.2)
Discussion
Conclusions
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CEE 346L – Geotechnical Engineering I Lab
Appendix
0.40
0.35
y = 0.0061x - 0.0539
R² = 0.6318
0.30
0.25
Axis Title (units)
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0
Axis Title (units)
Figure 2 - XYXYXYXYXYX
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