This is the report of my fine aggregates experiments in course construction materials.

1. SIEVE
ANALYSIS OF
FINE
AGGREGATES
COURSE: CE 212
INSTRUCTOR: BUN KIM
NGUN
KOL VEASNA DOUNG
Architetcure depertment
Group 1
07/04/2018

2. 1
Contents
I. Introduction:
- objectives
- Test equipment
II. Sample Proportion:
III. Experimental Procedure:
IV. Data & Calculations
V. Result & Discussion
VI. References

3. 1
I. Introduction:
Aggregates are inert materials which are mixed with binding materials such as
cement or lime for manufacturing of mortar or concrete. Aggregates are used as filler in
mortar and concrete. Aggregate size vary from several inches to the size of the smallest grain
of sand. The aggregates (fine + coarse) generally occupy 60% to 75% of the concrete volume
or 70% to 85% by mass and strongly influence the concrete’s freshly mixed and hardened
properties, mixture proportions, and economy. All aggregates pass IS: 4.75mm sieve is
classified as fine aggregate.
All aggregate technicians use the sieve analysis (gradation test) to determines the
gradation (the particle size distribution, by size, within a given sample) in order to determine
compliance with design, production control requirements, and verification specifications.
Used in conjunction with other test, the sieve analysis is a very good quality control and
quality acceptance tool.
Gradation meaning the distribution of particle sizes within the total range of size. It
can be identified on a graph as well graded, uniform, or gap graded (sometimes called skip
graded:
 Well graded means sizes within the entire range are in approximately equal amounts,
although there will be very small amount of the largest and smallest particles.
 Uniform gradation means that a large percentage of the particles are of the same size.
 Gap graded or skip graded means that most particles are of a large size or a small size
with very few particles of an intermediate size.
Figure 1 – Graph of Uniformly graded Figure 2 – Graph of Well graded
Figure 2 – Graph of Well graded

4. 2
- Objectives:
The whole procedure is to determine the particle size distribution of the fine
aggregates and determine whether it is suitable to use in concrete mixing.
- Test equipment:
 A series of IS sieve:
+ Sieve No.4 (4.75 mm)
+ Sieve No.10 (2 mm)
+ Sieve No.20 (0.85 mm)
+ Sieve No.40 (0.425 mm)
+ Sieve No.80 (0.18 mm)
+ Sieve No.100 (0.15 mm)
+ Sieve No.200 (0.075 mm)
 A pan and a shovel
 Balance or scale with an accuracy to measure 0.1 percent of the weight of the test sample
 Mechanical sieve shaker
 1000 grams of fine aggregates (sand)
Figures 4-7: Test Equipment
II. Sample Proportions:
Our desire sample is 1000 grams and to get the Sample, we use the Quartering Method.
Because our sample is dried already, all of us has skipped the drying stage.
- First, we took 4000 grams of Fine aggregates from the bag and start the quartering method.
- Secondly, we distributed a shovel full of fine aggregate as uniformly as possible over a wide
at pile that is reasonably uniform in thickness and diameter.
- Then, we divided the pile cleanly into equal quarters with a square-ended shovel. Next, we
distributed the rest into halves, then into quarters.

5. 3
- After that, we picked only one pile from the quarters and weighed it to exactly 1000 grams.
Figure 8 – Quartering Method
III. Experimental procedure:
1. Weighed the sample to exactly 1000g.
2. Cleaned all sieves using wire brush to be clear of aggregates stuck in some gaps.
3. Prepared the sieves onto the shaking machine from top to bottom, by the size from biggest
Sieve No.4 (4.75 mm) to smallest Sieve No.200 (0.075mm).
4. The sample is sieved by using the set of IS Sieves for 10 minutes.
5. After the sieving is done, the aggregates on each sieve is weighed.
6. Our group’s Cumulative weight passing through each sieve is calculated as a percentage of
the total sample weight.
7. We collected data from other two groups and combined, then average of each sieve is
calculated as a percentage of the total sample weight.
8. Draw the graphs with lower and upper limit, we got it from (M Limits: BS 882: 1992)
Formulas to calculate the percentage retained and percentage passing:

6. 4
IV. Data & Calculations:
- Determination of Practical Size Distribution of Fine Aggregates:
+ Total Weight of Fine Aggregate = 999g from our group
Sieve no.
Size (mm)
Mass
Retained (g)
Mass
Passing (g)
Percentage
Passing (%)
4.75 2.9 996.1 99.7
2 188 808.1 80.9
0.85 409.5 398.6 39.9
0.425 208.5 190.1 19.0
0.18 155.6 34.5 3.5
0.15 15.4 19.1 2.0
0.075 12.5 6.6 0.7
Pan 6.6 0 0
+ Graph from the data of our group:
Figure 9 – Graph from our group

7. 5
+Total Average Weight of Fine Aggregate = 999g from 3 different groups:
Sieve No.
Size (mm)
Mass of Fine Aggregate Retained (g)
Percentage
Retained (%)
Percentage
Passing (%)
Sampling No.
I II III Average
4.75 2.9 0 0 1 0.1 99.9
2 188 139.6 171 166.2 16.6 83.3
0.85 409.5 361.8 407 392.8 39.3 44
0.425 208.5 250.2 225.2 228 22.8 21.2
0.18 155.6 199.7 165.8 173.7 17.4 3.8
0.15 15.4 19.3 11.9 15.5 1.6 2.2
0.075 12.5 19.2 11.7 14.5 1.5 0.7
Pan 6.6 8.7 6.3 7.2 0.7 0.1
+Graph from all 3 group’s average:
Figure10 – Graph from average of 3 other groups

8. 6
V. Result & Discussion:
As we can see from both graphs above, the quartering method worked really well for us
since there is not much difference in both graphs, and after the discussion, our group agreed
that the aggregates that we took the sample from is not the ideal aggregate to use in concrete
mixing because its particle distribution is not even enough to compact each other.
To sum up, Sieve analysis of fine and coarse aggregates are really important and needed
before buying the aggregates for every construction and we must follow each steps very
carefully in order to obtain a very clear and precise result.
VI. References:
- Lessons in class of Lecturer Bun Kim Ngun
- www.slideshare.net/SarchiaKhursheed/sieve-analysis-of-coarse-and-fine-aggregate-report
- www.slideshare.net/sandeep107/report-work
- https://www.slideshare.net/luwalagajohn/understanding-sieve-analysis-of-sand
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