Republic of the Philippines

Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology

City of Mati, Province of Davao Oriental
INSTITUTE OF COMPUTING AND ENGINEERING

Name: _____________________________________________ Group No.: ______ Rating: ______

Date Performed: __________________ Date Submitted: ___________________

EXPERIMENT NO. 3
SIEVE ANALYSIS FOR COARSE AGGREGATES

Purpose:
To determine the grading of Coarse Aggregates.

Standard Reference:
ASTM C136
AASHTO T27

Significance:
Sieve analysis is used to determine the particle size distribution or gradation of an aggregate. A suitable
gradation of an aggregate in a Portland cement concrete mixture is desirable in order to secure workability
of the concrete mix and economy in the use of cement. For asphalt concrete, suitable gradation will not
affect the workability of the mixture and economy in the use of asphalt, but also will affect significantly the
strength, stability, resistance to aging, and other important properties.

Higher maximum aggregate size lowers paste requirements, increases strength and reduces w/c ratios.
However, excessively large aggregate tends to lower strength by reducing available bonding area. ASTM
has limits for grading of concrete aggregates.

Equipment:
Scale (or Balance) – 0.1g accuracy for fine sieve analysis, 0.5g accuracy for coarse sieve analysis
One set of 8 inches diameter sieves with pan and cover
Mechanical Shaker
Brush
Drying Oven (110 ± 5ºC)

Test Procedure:
1. Obtain proper weight of dry aggregate.
Coarse Aggregate (> No. 4 sieve) – 5 kg (oven dried)
2. Assemble sieves in following order:
Coarse Aggregate: 8” diameter size sieves, 3”, 2”, 1.5’, 1”, ¾”, ½”, 3/8”, pan
3. Place the aggregates in the top of the sieve stack and cover with the lid. Agitate the sieves by hand
or by mechanical apparatus for a sufficient period such that not more than 1% by weight of the
residue on any individual sieve will pass that sieve during 1 minute of additional hand sieving. Ten
minutes of original sieving will usually accomplish this criteria.
4. Weigh the materials that are retained on each of the sieves, including the weight retained on the
pan, and record on the data sheet. The sum of these retained masses should be approximately
equal the initial mass of the aggregate sample. A loss of more than two percent is unsatisfactory.

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 5. Compute the cumulative percent retained on, and the percent passing each sieve. Plot the
gradation curves for the coarse aggregates from the experiment on the gradation chart as shown in
the example plot.

6. Calculate the fineness modulus as follows:

Coarse Aggregate:
F.M. = {Σ (Cumulative % retained on 3”, 2”, 1 1/2”, 1”, 3/4”, 3/8” sieves)} /100

Data:

SIEVE ANALYSIS TEST DATA SHEET

COARSE AGGREGATE Initial Weight: ______________

Sieve No. Weight Cumulative Cumulative % Passing Governing Specs

In. mm Retained Weight % Retained (Mass % Passing)
Retained
3 75
2 50 100
1½ 37.5 95 - 100
1 25
¾ 19 35 - 70
½ 12.5
3/8 9.5 10 - 30
Pan 0-5

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Computation:

Results and Discussion:

Documentation: