Sieve Analysis of Fine Aggregate

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Sieve analysis of fine aggregate is an experiment that to determine the size of particle distribution in fine aggregate by sieving it. The size distribution is often of critical importance to the way the material performs in use. A sieve analysis can be performed on any type of non-organic or organic granular materials including sands, crushed rock, clays, granite, feldspars, coal, soil, a wide range of manufactured powders, grain and seeds, down to a minimum size depending on the exact method. Being such a simple technique of particle sizing, it is probably the most common. In this experiment, fine aggregate that will sieve will divide by size within 10 mm to 75 µm. From theory, the fineness modulus indicates whether the material is well-graded or gap-graded. It also indicates the surface area of the particles. The lower the surface area of the aggregate, the required amount of fresh cement paste to cover the aggregate particles will be less and thus less water is required.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

1. To obtain the grading curve of a sample of fine aggregate. 2. To determine the grain-size distribution of fine aggregate.

3.0 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS 1. Balances or Bench scale (Refer Figure 3.1)

For weighing sample of fine aggregate to obtain specific amount of sample needed for sieve test.

Figure 3.1

2. Standard Sieve (Refer Figure 3.2)

Sieves used for separating mixtures

of sample according to size.

Figure 3.2

3. Mechanical shaker (Refer Figure 3.3)

To shake the set of sieves so that the fine aggregate are separated according to their respective sizes..

Figure 3.3 4. Container, bucket and shovel

To take the sufficient amount of soil sample for sieve analysis test. 5. Sample of fine aggregate – as shown in Figure 3.5.1 and Figure 3.5.2

The materials used in the sieve analysis of fine aggregate

Figure 3.5.1 Figure 3.5.2

4.0 PROCEDURE

1. The sample of fine aggregate were put in the container. (See Figure 4.1)

Figure 4.1

2. The sample of fine aggregate were separated in the container into 4 parts (quartering process) . (See Figure 4.2)

Figure 4.2

3. 500g of sample of fine aggregate were obtained from part A and part B and weight. The bucket mass were 0.42kg. So, 920g were obtained included the mass of the bucket. (See Figure 4.3)

A

Figure 4.3

4. The standard sieve were arranged according to the sequence size from the bigger size at the top to the smaller size to the bottom. (See Figure 4.4)

Figure 4.4

5. 500g of sample of fine aggregate were poured into the standard sieve plate before switch on the mechanical shaker. (See Figure 4.5)

Figure 4.5

6. Mechanical shaker were shake to sieve about 7 minutes. (See Figure 4.6)

Figure 4.6

7. After 7 minutes, the retained sample of fine aggregate were weighted and recorded in Table 5.0.

8. The results and the analysis of the sieve analysis were recorded in Table 5.0 and Figure 5.1.

5.0 RESULT AND DATA ANALYSIS

Dry weight of used material 500 g Sieve Size according British Standard Mass of Retained (g) Percentage retained (%) Cumulative Percentage retained Cumulative Percentage passing Note 10.0 mm 0 0 0 100.00 5.0 mm 20 4.00 4.00 100.00 2.36 mm 20 4.00 8.00 96.00 1.18 mm 160 32.00 40.00 92.00 600 µm 160 32.00 72.00 60.00 300 µm 40 8.00 80.00 28.00 150 µm 80 16.00 96.00 20.00 75 µm 20 4.00 100.00 4.00 Pan 0 0 0 0 TOTAL 500 100 400.00 0 Calculation involve

1.

=

Example

:-For sieve 2.36 mm

,

= 4.00 %

2. Cumulative percentage retained (%) Example

:-For sieve 1.18 mm , Cumulative percentage retained (%) = 8.00 + 32.00 = 40.00 3. Cumulative Percentage passing (%)

Example

For sieve 2.36 mm , Cumulative Percentage passing (%) = 100.00 – 4.00 = 96.00

4. Fine Modulus, FM

FM = Total Cumulative Percent Retained / 100

= 0.0 + 4.0 + 8.0 + 40.0 + 72.0 + 80.0 + 96.0 + 100.0 100.0 FM = 400.0 100.0 FM = 4.00 5.

6.0 DISCUSSION

There are some factors that might affect the loss of fine aggregate of the experiment:

1. Some particles that left in sieve apparatus for previous experiment may drop into our sample during shaking.

2. The aggregate that used is not really pure and may contain others material such as dried leave or dust.

3. Some dust or other material that contained in aggregate had lost when the sieves were shaken and hence affect the accuracy of the experiment.

7.0 CONCLUSION

Sieve analysis is performed on coarse and fine aggregates to in order to check their gradation. This gradation gives an indirect measure if the workability and average particle size. Fineness modulus is an index to the particle size not the gradation. In fineness modulus, the finer the material the more the water demand. The FM should not less than 2.3 or more than 3.1. Based on the experiment, the fineness modulus is 4.00. The grading curve that plotted were stated that these sample of fine aggregate were classified between medium sand to medium gravel.

8.0 APPENDIX

B ritish Standard Sieve Size (BS)

9.0 REFERENCE

1. DAC21103 Geotechnical Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Diploma Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. Amir Khan Suwandi, Ahmad Hakimi Mat Nor (2015).