SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SIEVE ANALYSIS OF
FINE AGGREGATES

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION LABORATORY

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 5

Performed by:

MARAVILLA, BENNY Y.
PAGARAN, JOHN HARVEY A.
PALMERA, EARL ROBERT M.

Submitted by:

PAGARAN, JOHN HARVEY A.

Submitted to:

ENGR. ROBERT A. ROMERO

December 18, 2017

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I. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this exercise is to determine the particle size distribution or gradation of an
aggregate. A suitable gradation of an aggregate in a concrete mix is desirable in order to secure
workability of the mixture and economy in the use of cement.

II. EQUIPMENTS

a. Set of Sieves
b. Containers
c. Sieve Shaker

III. PROCEDURE

Note: Before starting the experiment, execute the method of quartering or miniature stockpiling in
collecting the sample aggregates.

1. Obtain proper weight of dry aggregate. (1.000kg)

2. Assemble sieves in the following order: #4, #10, #20, #40, #60, #100, #200, Pan

3. Place the weighted aggregates in the top of the sieve stack and cover with the lid. Properly secure the
sieves in the mechanical shaker and turn on the shaker for 5 minutes.

4. Weigh the materials that are retained on each of the sieves, including the weight retained on the pan,
and record in the data sheet. If the sums of these weights are not within 1 percent of the original sample
weight, the procedure should be repeated. Otherwise, use the sum of the weight retained to calculate
the percentage on each sieve.

5. Compute the cumulative percent retained, and the percent passing each sieve.

6. Plot the gradation curves for the fine aggregate from the experiment. Compare the plotted points to
its average.

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 IV. TABULATION OF DATA

Trial 1:

Total Weight of Aggregate = 1.000 kg

WEIGHT OF AGGREGATE % TOTAL OF WEIGHT CUMULATIVE % OF TOTAL

SIEVE SIZE % PASSING
RETAINED (kg) RETAINED WEIGHT RETAINED
#4 0.063 6.3 6.3 93.7%
#10 0.149 14.9 21.2 78.8%
#20 0.218 21.8 43.0 57.0%
#40 0.260 26.0 69.0 31.0%
#60 0.135 13.5 82.5 17.5%
#100 0.105 10.5 93.0 7.0%
#200 0.042 4.2 97.2 2.8%
Pan 0.028 2.8 100% 0.0%

Calculations 1:

% Total of Weight Retained=Weight Retained × 100 %

¿ 20 :21.2+21.8=43.0 %
¿ 4 :0.063× 100 %=6.3 % ¿ 40 : 43.0+26.0=69.0 %
¿ 10 :0.149 ×100 %=14.9 % ¿ 60 : 69.0+13.5=82.5 %
¿ 20 :0.218 ×100 %=21.8 % ¿ 100 : 82.5+10.5=93.0 %
¿ 40 :0.260 ×100 %=26.0 % ¿ 200 : 93.0+ 4.2=97.2 %
¿ 60 :0.135 ×100 %=13.5 % PAN :97.2+2.8=100 %
¿ 100 :0.105 ×100 %=10.5 %
¿ 200 : 0.042× 100 %=4.2 % % Passing :
PAN :0.028 ×100 %=2.8 %
¿ 4 :100 %−6.3=93.7 %
Cumulative % of Total Weight Retained : ¿ 10 :93.7−14.9=78.8 %
¿ 20 :78.8−21.8=57.0 %
¿ 4 :0+6.3=6.3 % ¿ 40 :57.0−26.0=31.0 %
¿ 10 :6.3+14.9=21.2 % ¿ 60 :31.0−13.5=17.5 %
¿ 100 : 17.5−10.5=7.0 %
¿ 200 : 7.0−4.2=2.8 %
PAN :2.8−2.8=0.0 %
Trial 2:

Total Weight of Aggregate = 1.000 kg

WEIGHT OF AGGREGATE % TOTAL OF WEIGHT CUMULATIVE % OF TOTAL

SIEVE SIZE % PASSING
RETAINED (kg) RETAINED WEIGHT RETAINED
#4 0.063 6.3 6.3 93.7%
#10 0.150 15.0 21.3 78.7%
#20 0.217 21.7 43.0 57.0%
#40 0.250 25.0 68.0 32.0%
#60 0.140 14.0 82.0 18.0%
#100 0.110 11.0 93.0 7.0%
#200 0.040 4.0 97.0 3.0%

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 Pan 0.030 3.0 100% 0.0%
Calculations 2:

% Total of Weight Retained=Weight Retained × 100 %¿ 20 :21.3+21.7=43.0 %

¿ 40 : 43.0+25.0=68.0 %
¿ 4 :0.063× 100 %=6.3 % ¿ 60 :68.0+14.0=82.0 %
¿ 10 :0.150 ×100 %=15.0 % ¿ 100 : 82.0+11.0=93.0 %
¿ 20 :0.217 ×100 %=21.7 % ¿ 200 : 93.0+ 4.0=97.0 %
¿ 40 :0.250 ×100 %=25.0 % PAN :97.0+ 3.0=100 %
¿ 60 :0.140 ×100 %=14.0 %
¿ 100 : 0.110 ×100 %=11.0 % % Passing :
¿ 200 :0.040 ×100 %=4.0 %
PAN :0.030 ×100 %=3.0 % ¿ 4 :100 %−6.3=93.7 %
¿ 10 : 93.7−15.0=78.7 %
Cumulative % of Total Weight Retained : ¿ 20 : 78.7−21.7=57.0 %
¿ 40 :57.0−25.0=32.0 %
¿ 4 :0+6.3=6.3 % ¿ 60 :32.0−14.0=18.0 %
¿ 10 :6.3+15.0=21.3% ¿ 100 : 18.0−11.0=7.0 %
¿ 200 : 7.0−4.0=3.0 %
PAN :3.0−3.0=0.0 %

Trial 3:

Total Weight of Aggregate = 1.000 kg

WEIGHT OF AGGREGATE % TOTAL OF WEIGHT CUMULATIVE % OF TOTAL
SIEVE SIZE % PASSING
RETAINED (kg) RETAINED WEIGHT RETAINED
#4 0.063 6.3 6.3 93.7%
#10 0.145 14.5 20.8 79.2%
#20 0.223 22.3 43.1 56.9%
#40 0.249 24.9 68.0 32.0%
#60 0.138 13.8 81.8 18.2%
#100 0.111 11.1 92.9 7.1%
#200 0.041 4.1 97.0 3.0%
Pan 0.030 3.0 100% 0.0%

Calculations 3:
¿ 4 :0+6.3=6.3 %
% Total of Weight Retained=Weight Retained × 100 %¿ 10 :6.3+14.5=20.8 %
¿ 4 :0.063× 100 %=6.3 %
¿ 10 :0.145 ×100 %=14.5 %
¿ 20 :0.223 ×100 %=22.3 %
¿ 40 :0.249 ×100 %=24.9 %
¿ 60 :0.138 ×100 %=13.8 % ¿ 20 : 20.8+22.3=43.1 %
¿ 100 : 0.111× 100 %=11.1% ¿ 40 : 43.1+ 24.9=68.0 %
¿ 200 : 0.041× 100 %=4.1 % ¿ 60 :68.0+13.8=81.8 %
PAN :0.030 ×100 %=3.0 % ¿ 100 : 81.8+11.1=92.9 %
¿ 200 : 92.9+ 4.1=97.0 %
Cumulative % of Total Weight Retained :

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PAN :97.0+ 3.0=100 % ¿ 20 :79.2−22.3=56.9 %
¿ 40 :56.9−24.9=32.0 %
% Passing : ¿ 60 :32.0−13.8=18.2 %
¿ 100 : 18.2−11.1=7.1 %
¿ 4 :100 %−6.3=93.7 % ¿ 200 : 7.1−4.1=3.0 %
¿ 10 :93.7−14.5=79.2 % PAN :3.0−3.0=0.0 %
Average:

Total Weight of Aggregate = 1.000 kg

WEIGHT OF AGGREGATE
SIEVE SIZE % PASSING
RETAINED (kg)
#4 0.063 93.7%
#10 0.148 78.9%
#20 0.219 57.0%
#40 0.253 31.7%
#60 0.138 17.9%
#100 0.109 7.0%
#200 0.041 2.9%
Pan 0.029 0.0%

SEMI-LOG GRAPH:

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V. DOCUMENTARY

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VI. REMARKS

The sieves are one of the most

expensive and hard to find apparatuses in the laboratory. It is strongly advised to handle these sieves
with care and return it to its designated places after use.

In pouring the sample aggregates into the sieves, one must be very careful in doing so because
the sieves are very fragile. If it is done roughly, the diameter of a sieve could be compromised. Also, in
stacking the sieves, the one handling it should tightly stack the sieves to prevent spillage of the sample.

After shaking the sieves, always check for residues in the sieves before recording the sample’s
weight. There is a high possibility that some samples were still stuck in between the holes of the sieves
and if these were neglected, an error is expected in calculating for its total weight.

VII. CONCLUSION

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 Fine Aggregates make up 30% to 35% of the concrete mixture. The required diameter must be
4.75mm (#4) > d > 0.075mm (#200) because large aggregates are economically advantageous in
portland cement and asphalt concrete, as they have less surface area and, therefore, require less binder.
In addition to that, ASTM defines fine aggregate as those passing through the 4.75 mm (#4) sieve. From
this, it can be concluded that our sample passed the sieve test since much of its size were retained in
between sieve #4 and sieve #200.

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