Soil Tests: Grain size analysis: Sieves Analysis introduction: Apparatus: Procedure: Calculations

1. Grain Size Analysis
Presented By:
Faizan Tanoli

2. GrainSizeAnalysis
Introduction:
• The grain size distribution of any soil can be
determined using the grain size analysis, also called
mechanical analysis. The basic method of mechanical
analysis is to sieve the soil through a set of sieves of
standard opening size.
• Sieve analysis can be used only for the mechanical
analysis of gravel and sand as the smallest sieve size
available is 75 nm (0.075 mm).
• To determine the grain size distribution of silt and clay
and hence to get the grain size distribution for the
complete particle size range in soils, sedimentation
analysis is carried out.
• It also determines rather the soil is well graded or
poorly graded.

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Major Soil Groups:

4. GrainSizeAnalysis
Apparatus:
1. Two set of sieves:
• Set1: IS sieves of size 300mm, 80mm,
40mm, 20mm, 10mm, 4.75mm
• Set 2 : IS sieves of size
2mm,0.85mm,0.425mm,0.15mm,0.075m
m
2. Mechanical Shaker
3. Brush
4. Oven
5. Weigh balance

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Procedure:
1. Clean the sieves of sieve shaker using cleaning brush if any particles are struck
in the openings.
2. Record the weight of each sieve and receiving pan.
3. Dry the specimen in oven for 3-4 minutes to get the dried specimen (ignore, if
the specimen is already dried).
4. Weigh the specimen and record its weight.
5. Arrange the sieves in order as the smaller openings sieve to the last and larger
openings sieve to the top. (Simply, arrange them to the ascending order of
sieve numbers – No.4 sieve on top and no.200 sieve at bottom)-

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6. Keep the weight recorded specimen on the top sieve and then keep
the complete sieve stack on the sieve shaker (Don’t forget to keep
the lid and receiving pan).
7. Allow the shaker to work 10-5 minutes – use the clock here..!
8. Remove the sieve stack from the shaker and record the weight of
each sieve and receiving pan separately.
Procedure:

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Sample Calculation:

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