ANSI/ASAE S319.

3 FEB03
Method of Determining and Expressing Fineness of Feed
Materials by Sieving

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ANSI/ASAE S319.3 FEB03
Approved JUL 1997; reaffirmed FEB 2003 by American National Standards Institute
Method of Determining and Expressing Fineness of Feed
Materials by Sieving
Proposed initially by a subcommittee of the American Feed
Manufacturers Association; approved by the ASAE Electric Power and
Processing Division Technical Committee; adopted by ASAE December
1968; reconfirmed December 1973, December 1978, December 1983;
revised March 1985; revised by the ASAE Food and Grain Processing
and Storage Committee; approved by the Food and Process Engineering
Institute Standards Committee December 1989; revised editorially
November 1990; reaffirmed December 1994, December 1995; revised
October 1996; approved as an American National Standard July 1997;
reaffirmed December 2001, February 2003; reaffirmed by ANSI February
2003. Editorially revised March 2003.
1 Purpose and scope
1.1 The purpose of this Standard is to define a test procedure to
determine the fineness of feed ingredients and to define a method of
expressing the particle size of the material. Surface area and number of
particles per unit mass can be calculated from the determined particle
size.
1.2 This Standard should be used to determine the fineness of feed
ingredients where the reduction process yields particles which are
primarily spherical or cubical. It is not adequate to define the particle size
of materials such as steamed and rolled grains, which are a flaked
product, or products such as chopped hay where a substantial fraction
consists of elongated particles.
1.3 This Standard is compatible with ISO 565, ISO 2395, ISO 2591-1,
ISO 3310-1, and ISO 9276-1.
2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through references in
this text, constitute provisions of this Standard. At the time of publication,
the editions indicated were valid. All standards are subject to revision,
and parties to agreements based on this Standard are encouraged to
investigate the possibility of applying the most recent editions of the
standards indicated below. Standards organizations maintain registers of
currently valid standards.
ASTM E11-95 Specification for Wire-Cloth Sieves for Testing Purposes
ASTM D1921-89 Test Methods for Particle Size (Sieve Analysis) of
Plastic Materials
ASTM D4749-87 Test Method for Performing the Sieve Analysis of Coal
and Designating Coal Size
ASTM D4570-86 Test Methods for Rubber Chemicals—Determination of
Particle Size of Sulfur by Sieving (Dry)
ISO 565:1990 Test sieves—Metal wire cloth, perforated metal plate and
electroformed sheet—Nominal sizes of openings
ISO 2395:1990 Test sieves and test sieving—Vocabulary
ISO 2591-1:1988 Test sieving—Part 1: Methods using test sieves of
woven wire cloth and perforated metal plate
ISO 3310-1:1990 Test sieves—Technical requirements and testing—Part
1: Test sieves of metal wire cloth
ISO 9276-1:1990 Representation of results of particle size analysis—Part
1: Graphical representation
3 Definitions
The following is a list of the definitions for the terms related to this
Standard. Refer to ISO 2395 for more general terminology of test sieving.
602 ANSIÕASAE S319.3 FEB03
3.1 aperture size: Dimension defining an opening.
3.2 blinding: Obstruction of the apertures of a sieving medium by
particles of material being sieved.
3.3 charge: A test sample, or part of a test sample, placed on a test
sieve or a nest of test sieves.
3.4 cumulative oversize distribution curve: A curve obtained by
plotting the total percentages by mass retained on each of a set of sieves
of descending aperture size against the corresponding aperture sizes.
3.5 cumulative undersize distribution curve: A curve obtained by
plotting the total percentages by mass passing each of a set of sieves of
descending aperture size against the corresponding aperture sizes.
3.6 dispersion agent: Non-toxic chemicals that help break up
agglomerates.
3.7 end-point: The point in time after which further sieving fails to pass
an amount sufficient to change the result significantly.
3.8 frame: A rigid framework that supports the sieving medium and limits
the spread of the material being sieved.
3.9 log-normal standard deviation: The standard deviation of the
logarithm of particle diameters in a log-normal size distribution curve
(refer to equation 2).
3.10 median size: Particle diameter at 50% probability of a size
distribution curve. Equivalent to geometric mean diameter (see equation
1).
3.11 nest of test sieves: A set of test sieves assembled together with
a lid (cover) and a receiver (pan).
3.12 oversize: That portion of the charge that has not passed through
the apertures of a stated sieve.
3.13 sample: A representative part taken from a quantity of material.
3.14 sieving: The process of separating a mixture of particles according
to their size by means of one or more sieves.
3.15 size distribution curve: A graphical representation of the results of
a size analysis.
3.16 test sieve: A sieve, intended for the particle size analysis of the
material to be sieved, that conforms to a test sieve standard
specification.
3.17 undersize: That portion of the charge that has passed through the
apertures of a stated sieve.
3.18 woven wire cloth: A sieving medium of wires that cross each other
to form the apertures.
4 Test equipment
4.1 A set of woven wire-cloth sieves having a frame diameter of either
200 mm (ISO 565) or 203 mm (8 in.) (ASTM Standard E11) are used.
With the most common shaking equipment, sieves having a height of 25
mm (1 in.) or half-height sieves are most suitable to avoid the necessity
of resieving the finer fraction. These sieves should consist of the aperture
sizes shown in table 1.
4.2 A sieve shaker, such as a Tyler Ro-Tap1) or equivalent unit, is
required.
4.3 A balance that can weigh to an accuracy better than 0.1% of the
charge mass should be used.
1)
Registered trade name
ASABE STANDARDS 2006
 Table 1 – Aperture sizes for test sieves 5.6 If 20% or more of the material by mass passes the smallest sieve,
the fine material should be subjected to a non-sieving particle size
ISO 3310-1 analysis, such as microscopic measurement or sedimentation testing,
supplementary and such analysis should be reported separately.
sizes R40/3 US sieve no. US sieve opening Tyler designation

(mm) (mm) (in.) 6 Data analysis

4.75 4 4.76 0.187 4
3.35 6 3.36 0.132 6 6.1 Particle size data can be presented in histograms, density
2.36 8 2.38 0.0937 8 distributions and cumulative distributions. The procedures and
1.70 12 1.68 0.0661 10 nomenclature specified in ISO 9276-1 apply to this Standard.
1.18 16 1.19 0.0469 14 6.2 Calculation of particle size, surface area, and number of particles by
(µm) (µm)
mass calculations is based on the assumption that particle sizes of all
850 20 841 0.0331 20 ground feeds and feed ingredients are logarithmic-normally distributed.
600 30 595 0.0234 28 6.2.1 The size of particles can be reported in terms of geometric mean
425 40 420 0.0165 35 diameter (or median size) and geometric standard deviation by mass.
300 50 297 0.0117 48
212 70 210 0.0083 65 6.2.2 Calculation formulas, based on the derivations by Pfost and

冋 册
150 100 149 0.0059 100 Headley (1976) and Sokhansanj and Yang (1996), are as follows:
106 140 105 0.0041 150 n

兺
75 200 74 0.0029 200
53 270 53 0.0021 270 共 W i log d i 兲
i⫽1
Pan ⫺1
d gw ⫽log n (1)
兺 Wi

冋 册
i⫽1

n 1/2
4.4 Sieve agitators such as plastic or leather rings, or small rubber balls
may be required to break up agglomerates on finer sieves, usually those 兺
i⫽1
W i 共 log d i ⫺log d gw 兲 2
S ln
smaller than 300 mm in opening (ISO 3310-1) or US sieve No. 50. S log⫽ n ⫽ (2)
2.3
4.5 A dispersion agent2) should be used to facilitate sieving of high-fat or
similar materials.
兺
i⫽1
Wi

4.6 Sieve openings must be kept free of feed particles so that normal
sieving can be accomplished. A stiff bristle sieve cleaning brush, or 1
S gw ⬇ d gw 关 log⫺1 S log−(log⫺1 S log)−1] (3)
compressed air, is useful for cleaning sieves clogged due to blinding. 2
Sieves must be cleaned periodically to remove oil. Oil can be removed by where:
washing with water containing a detergent. Sieves must be dried before
use. di is nominal sieve aperture size of the i th sieve, mm
d i⫹1 is nominal sieve aperture size in next larger than ithsieve
(just above in a set), mm
5 Method of sieving d gw is geometric mean diameter or median size of particles
5.1 A charge of 100 g should be used, although larger or smaller by mass, mm, or
charges may be used if necessary. Extra care shall be taken to recover is geometric mean diameter or median size of particles
all material from the sieves when smaller charges are used. on ith sieve, mm, or
5.2 Place the charge on one sieve or the top sieve of the nest of test is (d i ⫻d i⫹1 ) 1/2
sieves and shake until the mass of material on any one sieve reaches S log is geometric standard deviation of log-normal distribution
end-point. End-point is decided by determining the mass on each sieve by mass in ten-based logarithm, dimensionless
at 1-min intervals after an initial sieving time of 10 min. If the mass on the
S ln is geometric standard deviation of log-normal distribution
smallest sieve containing any material changes by 0.1% or less of the
charge mass during a 1-min period, the sieving is considered complete. by mass in natural logarithm, dimensionless
For industrial applications, the end-point determination process can be S gw is geometric standard deviation of particle diameter by mass,
omitted, and the end-point is set to be the sieving time of 15 min. mm
Wi is mass on ith sieve, g
5.3 For hand-sieving, take the test sieve or nest of test sieves in one
hand, or cradle it in the crook of the arm if too heavy. Incline the sieve n is number of sieves +1 (pan)
(or the nest) at an angle of about 20° with the point at which the sieve S log can, in addition to equation 2, also be determined by graphical
is held in the lower position, and tap the sieve (or nest) approximately method as:

冉 冊 冉 冊
120 times a minute with the other hand. After tappings, return the test
sieve to a horizontal position, turn 90° and give a hard tap by hand d 84 d 50
S log⫽log ⫽log (4)
against the sieve frame. From time to time the sieve may also be shaken d 50 d 16
vertically.
5.4 Mass of material on all sieves should be determined and recorded. 1
S gw ⬇ 共 d 84 ⫺d 16 兲 (5)
5.5 If a dispersing agent is required, it should be added at a level of 2
0.5% relative to total charge mass, and its effect on particle size need not where:
be considered.
d 84 is particle diameter at 84% probability
2)
Dispersion agents include Cab-O-Sil MS available from the Cabot Corp., Boston; d 50 is particle diameter at 50% probability
Ziolex 23A and Zeofree 80 available from the J. M. Huber Corp., New York; and
Flo-Gard available from the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., St. Louis. d 16 is particle diameter at 16% probability

ASABE STANDARDS 2006 ANSIÕASAE S319.3 FEB03 603

6.2.3 Material passing a 53-µm sieve (ISO 3310-1) or US sieve No. 270 6.2.6 Table 1 shows a typical data sheet used for tabulation of sieving
should be considered to have a mean diameter of 0.045 or 0.044 mm, data and calculation of log-normal particle size distribution parameters by
respectively, and di is equal to 0.045 mm or 0.044 mm, respectively. The mass where sieves of 203-mm frame diameter (ASTM Standard E11) are
geometric mean diameter (or median size) of particles larger than the used.
aperture size of 4.75 mm (ISO 3310-1) or US sieve No. 4 is determined 6.2.7 Sample calculations.
by using the 6.70 mm sieve (ISO 3310-1) or US sieve No. 3 with a sieve
Using equations 1 through 3, the following can be obtained:
aperture size of 6.73 mm (4.76 ⫻ &) as the i th ⫹ 1 sieve.
6.2.4 The equation for estimating the total surface area of particles in a
charge is: d gw ⫽log⫺1 冋 兺 共 W i log d i 兲
兺Wi
册 ⫽log⫺1 冋 ⫺21.986
96.3
册
⫽0.591 mm

␤ sW t
冋 册 冉 冊
1/2 1/2
A st ⫽ exp共 4.5 ␴ ln2−ln ␮ gw 兲 (6) 兺 W i 共 log d i ⫺log d gw 兲 2 11.256
␤ v␳ S log⫽ ⫽ ⫽0.341
兺 Wi 96.3
where:
A st is estimated total surface area of a charge, cm2 1 0.591 共 2.19⫺2.19 ⫺1 兲
S gw ⫽ d gw 关 log⫺1 S ln⫺ 共 log⫺1 S ln兲 ⫺1 兴 ⫽
␤ s is shape factor for calculating surface area of particles. Cubical, 2 2
␤ s ⫽ 6; Spherical, ␤ s ⫽ ␲ ⫽0.512 mm
␤ v is shape factor for calculating volume of particles. Cubical,
␤ v ⫽ 1; Spherical, ␤ v ⫽ ␲/6 The geometric mean diameter (or median size) (d gw ) and log-normal
geometric standard deviation (S log) may also be obtained graphically by
␳ is particle density of the material, g/cm3
plotting the summed percentages in table 2 (兺 P i , %<) on logarithmic
␴ ln is log-normal geometric standard deviation of parent population probability paper in relation to particle diameter (figure 1). From figure 1,
by mass in natural logarithm, use S ln as an estimate
d gw ⫽d 50 ⫽0.59 mm
␮ gw is geometric mean particle diameter of parent population by
mass, cm, use d gw as an estimate
(Note: ␮ gw is expressed in cm and d gw in mm)
S log⫽log 冉 冊 冉 冊 冉 冊 冉 冊
d 84
d 50
⫽log
1.3
0.59
⫽log
d 50
d 16
⫽log
0.59
0.26
⫽0.34

W t is mass of a charge, g 1 1.3⫺0.26

S gw ⫽ 共 d ⫺d 16 兲 ⫽ ⫽0.52
6.2.5 Similarly the number of particles in a charge is calculated as: 2 84 2
Assuming that a ground corn particle is spherical and has 1.4 g/cm3
Wt average particle density,
N t⫽ exp共 4.5 ␴ ln2−3 ln ␮ gw 兲 (7)
␤ v␳ ␲ • 96.3
A st ⫽ exp关 0.5 ⫻ 共 2.3 ⫻ 0.341 兲 2 ⫺ln共 0.0591 兲兴
where: 共 ␲ /6 兲 • 1.4
N t is the number of particles in a charge ⫽9498.1 cm2

Table 2 – Typical data sheet used for tabulation of sieving data and calculation of log-normal particle size distribution parameters by mass

Test No: ASAE-11 Date: 5-16 Material: Ground corn

US
ISO 3310-1 US Sieve (log di W i (log di
Size R40/3 Sieve Size (d i ) Wi P i *1) 兺Pi − −
(mm) No. (mm) (g) (%) (%<) log di W i log di logdgw) logdgw)2

6.70 3 6.73
4.75 4 4.76 0.751
3.35 6 3.36 100.00 0.602
2.36 8 2.28 4.0 4.15 95.86 0.451 1.806 0.680 1.848
1.70 12 1.68 5.1 5.30 90.56 0.301 1.535 0.529 1.429
1.18 16 1.19 9.6 9.97 80.59 0.150 1.444 0.379 1.377
0.850 20 0.841 13.5 14.02 66.57 −0.000 −0.001 0.228 0.703
0.600 30 0.595 18.8 19.52 47.05 −0.152 −2.866 0.076 0.108
0.425 40 0.420 13.0 13.50 33.55 −0.303 −3.938 −0.075 0.072
0.300 50 0.297 11.6 12.05 21.50 −0.452 −5.243 −0.224 0.580
0.212 70 0.210 10.1 10.49 11.01 −0.603 −6.085 −0.374 1.414
0.150 100 0.149 6.6 6.85 4.16 −0.752 −4.965 −0.524 1.812
0.106 140 0.105 3.6 3.74 0.42 −0.903 −3.250 −0.675 1.638
0.075 200 0.074 0.4 0.42 0.00 −1.055 −0.422 −0.826 0.273
0.053 270 0.053 −1.203 0.000
0.045 pan 0.044 −1.356 0.000

Summation 96.3 100.01 −21.986 11.256

1)
P i is equal to the mass of the particles on the i th sieve divided by the total charge mass.

604 ANSIÕASAE S319.3 FEB03 ASABE STANDARDS 2006

 96.3
N t⫽ exp关 4.5 • 共 2.3 • 0.341 兲 2 ⫺3 ln共 0.0591 兲兴
共 ␲ /6 兲 • 1.4
⫽10136648

Figure 1 – Cumulative undersize distribution by mass

for a ground corn sample.

Annex A
(informative)
Bibliography
The following documents are cited as reference sources used in
development of this Standard.
Pfost, H. and V. Headley. Methods of determining and expressing
particle size, in: Feed Manufacturing Technology. American Feed
Industry Council, Arlington, VA, pp. 512-517;1976.
Sokhansanj, S., and W. Yang. Revision of ASAE standard: ASAE
S319.2. Method of determining and expressing fineness of feed materials
by sieving. ASAE Paper No. 966002, St Joseph, MI 49085-9659; 1996.

ASABE STANDARDS 2006 ANSIÕASAE S319.3 FEB03 605