C4-SIEVE ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

Aggregates can be described as clean, hard, inert material incorporated in

concrete mixes (Taylor, 2002). Aggregates make up 65 to 85 percent of a concrete
structure, accounting for more than 30 percent of the total cost. In Malaysia, the most
commonly used aggregate in construction practice is granite.
Aggregates usually serve the following two main functions
1. Cost reduction. Most aggregates are natural materials which require
Only extraction, washing and grading prior to transport to site.
2. Well graded aggregates produce workable, yet cohesive, concrete.
The grading of fine and coarse aggregates are generally required to be within
the limits specified in BS 882: 1992.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain the grading curve for both fine and coarse aggregate and to determine the
suitability of the aggregate to be used in concrete mixes.

APPARATUS

1. Balance – balance or scale used in testing fine and coarse aggregates.

2. Sieves - the sizes and apertures appropriate to the specification of the material
being tested, complying with BS 410)
3. Mechanical Sieve Shaker – a mechanical sieving device, used to create
vibration of the sieve to cause all particles to bounce.

CONCRETE LABORATORY
 C4-SIEVE ANALYSIS

DATA:

Fine aggregate sample weight : 501 g

BS Retained Passed Retained Passed

Sieve Size Weight Weight Percentage Percentage
(mm) (g) (g) (%) (%)
5 3 498 0.60 99.40
2.36 66 432 13.17 86.23
1.18 180 252 35.93 50.30
0.6 120 132 23.95 26.35
0.3 81 51 16.17 10.18
0.15 30 21 5.99 4.19
Pan 21 0 4.19 0
TOTAL 501 100

CALCULATION

For sieve size 1.18mm, the retained weight is 180 g.

Passed Weight = total retained weight – cumulative reatained weight

= 501 – ( 3 + 66 + 180 )
= 252 g

Retained Percentage = retained weight  total retained weight

= 180  501
= 35.93 %

Passed Percentage = passed weight  total retained weight

= 252  501
= 50.30 %

CONCRETE LABORATORY
 C4-SIEVE ANALYSIS

Coarse aggregate sample weight : 3000 g

BS Retained Passed Retained Passed

Sieve Size Weight Weight Percentage Percentage
(mm) (g) (g) (%) (%)
37.5 - 3000 0.00 100.00
20.0 563 2437 18.77 81.23
14.0 1350 1087 45.00 36.23
10.0 670 417 22.33 13.90
5.0 390 27 13.00 0.90
2.36 13 14 0.43 0.47
Pan 14 0 0.47 0.00
TOTAL 3000 100

CALCULATION

For sieve size 10mm, the retained weight is 670 g.

Passed Weight = total retained weight – cumulative retained weight

= 3000 – (563 + 1350 + 670)
= 417 g

Retained Percentage = retained weight  total retained weight

= 417  3000
= 22.33 %

Passed Percentage = passed weight  total retained weight

= 417  3000
= 13.90 %

CONCRETE LABORATORY
 C4-SIEVE ANALYSIS

COMMENT

From the observation of the grading curve produced above, several comments
on the properties of the sample are stated below.

Type M fine aggregate is well-graded. The grading curve located well within
the standard grading envelope. Hence, the aggregate sample consists of all sizes
particles, ranging from 0.15mm to 5mm, at a suitable proportion.

The properties of the coarse aggregate (20mm) cannot be observed clearly

from the grading curve. This is an unusual situation. As from the analysis, we found
out that nearly 90% of the sample surpass the 20 mm size sieve. This suggests that
the sample is, in the fact, not 20 mm, but maybe 25 or 30 mm coarse aggregate. This
maybe due to suppliance problem from the supplier, or other unpredicted reasons.
It can be said that, the sample maybe well graded, if it is proven by another
test, using sieves of larger size. However, certainly, the sample size is not 20 mm, as
what we are informed. This may lead to disastrous events as aggregates of larger
sizes, tends to cause poor bonding between concrete and steel, segregation or other
problems.

CONCLUSION

1. The fine aggregate is well graded and will serve satisfying quality when used
in concrete mix.
2. The coarse aggregate does not contain 20 mm particles at a right proportion.
Hence, it is strongly not recommended to be used in concrete mixes.

REFERENCE

1. G. D. TAYLOR, Materials in Construction, 2002, Longman: page 226-228

2. DERUCHER, Materials for Civil and Highway Engineers, Prentice Hall,

1998:

CONCRETE LABORATORY
 C4-SIEVE ANALYSIS

page 51 – 55

CONCRETE LABORATORY