I.

Title:

LABORATORY WORK NO.4: SIEVE ANALYSIS OF FINE AGGREGATE

II. Objective:

To determine the Modulus of Fineness of sand by mechanical sieving.

III. Material:

Representative sample of fine and coarse aggregates:

a. Sand – a fine aggregate that is less than 5mm.

IV. Apparatus and Method of Testing:

A. Apparatus

1. Containers – used to hold material

a. Small pan – used to hold washed materials on a hot plate.
b. Large pan – use to hold materials while washing.
2. Hot Plate – use to dry materials faster.
3. Trowel – small hand tool that is use for applying, digging, smoothing or moving
materials.
4. Used paper – a kind of used paper that is serves as a canvas during the process
of quartering.
5. Sieve shake - are used for separation and size determination of particles.
6. Digital Balance - they allow the user to quickly and accurately measure the mass
of a substance to a level of accuracy.
7. Set of Sieves (#4, #8, #16, #30, #50, #100 and pan.) - used to measure particle size.

B. Method of testing

1. Using a sample splitter or by quartering, reduce a field sample of sand to an

amount suitable for testing.
2. Wash the sample materials with water.
3. Transfer enough amounts of sample materials into a small pan and dry them on
a hot plate and allow it to cool.
4. Obtain grams of dry fine aggregate.
5. Assemble the sieves in the following manner: #4, #8, #16, #30, #50, #100 and
pan.
6. Place the weighed aggregates on top of the stack of sieves. Properly secure the
sieves in the mechanical shaker, and turn on the shaker for five minutes.
7. Weigh the aggregate retained in each sieve, and record as tabulated.
8. Compute for the quantities called for
 V. Data and Results:

a. Weight of Sample: 2914.2 grams

b. Source: irregular and flaky; rough

c. Physical Characteristics: dry

d. Moisture Condition of the Sand Used: poor graded

e. Fineness Modulus, FM: 3.3078

The table below shows the results of cumulative weight retained, percent weight
retained, cumulative percent weight retained and percent passing. These were
identified from weigh retained of sieve #4, #8, #16, #30, #50, #100 and pan.

Sieve Size Weight Cumulative Percent Cumulative Percent

Retained Weight Weight Percent Weight Passing
Retained Retained Retained
#4 34.22 g 34.22 g 1.11 % 1.11% 98. 89 %
#8 687.34 g 721.56 g 22.36 % 23.48 % 76.52 %
#16 730.94 g 1452.5 g 23.77 % 47.26 % 52.74 %
#30 738.09g 2190.59 g 24.01 % 71.27 % 28.73 %
#50 573.66 g 2764.25 g 18.66 % 89.94 % 10.06 %
#100 239.76 g 3001.01 g 7.8 % 97.74 % 2.26 %
pan 69.6 g 3074. 61 g 2.26 % 100 % 0%

PERCENT PASSING (%)

100
a90

80
70

60

50

40

30
20

10
0
SIEVE SIZE 1” ¾” ½” 3/8” #4 #8
 The graph on the previous page page plots gradation curve and interprets the
result. Where, the percent passing decreases as the size of the sieve lowers.

VI. Discussion
In the duration of the activity, the students made observation as they sieved the
fine aggregates using sieves #4, #8, #16, #50, and #100 with the aid of a mechanical
shaker. The aggregate sample, upon observation, appears to be fine grained with
relatively few impurities i.e. gravel, newspaper, and plastic. It was observed that most of
the sand particles had sizes of 2.36mm to 300µm. The accumulated 2.46% of the sample
or 69.6g are fine enough to be considered dust according to the standard. It was also
observed that there were relatively low counts of particles with sizes less than 4.75mm
(#4 sieves). Moreover the sample had a fineness modulus of 3.3079.
In conclusion, the majority of the samples had sizes of 2.36mm to 300µm which
implies that the sample had more characteristics similar to aggregates taken from river
i.e. river sand that are mostly used in finishing surfaces smooth. Moreover, with a fineness
modulus of 3.3079 – considerably greater than 2.75, the average fineness modulus of
fine aggregate – we can assume that the sample contains relatively large particles.

1. What is the definition of “Fineness Modulus”? What is the fineness modulus range for
good quality sand?
-Fineness Modulus relating to sand ( fine aggregate) according to The
Constructor Civil Engineering Home, is an index number which represents the mean size
of the particles in sand. It is calculated by performing sieve analysis with standard
sieves. The cumulative percentage retained on each sieve is added and subtracted by
100 gives the value of fineness modulus. As stated by a research entitled ‘Concrete
Plant Field’, the fineness of fine aggregates should not be less than 2.3 or more than 3.1,
or vary by more than 0.20 from batch to batch.

2. What is the effect of a very low Fitness Modulus of sand in Portland cement
concrete?
- Low fineness modulus of sand in Portland cement indicates decrease of
compressive strength, flexural strength and permeability that affects the relative
proportions, cementing materials and water requirements, workability, pumpability,
economy, porosity, shrinkage, and durability.

3. Discuss the role of the Fineness Modulus of Sand in the derivation of mixture
proportion and strength of Portland cement concrete.
- Fineness, or particle size of portland cement affects hydration rate and thus the
rate of strength gain. The smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area-to-
volume ratio, and thus, the more area available for water-cement interaction per unit
volume. The effects of greater fineness on strength are generally seen during the first
seven days (PCA, 1988).
VII. Review of Related Literature:
A. Title: Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
B. Author/s: AASHTO T 27
C. Literature Review:

The sieve analysis, commonly known as the gradation test, is a basic essential test
for fine aggregate technicians as mentioned in the research. It is one of the important
practices in civil engineering as it is used for finding particle size distribution of particular
aggregate and it is also used for finding the fineness modulus of aggregate. Where,
fineness modulus to a certain extent it is a method of standardization of the grading of
the aggregate. As added in the research, it is perform to determine compliance with
design, production control requirements, and verification specifications.
As defined by the research, the researchers conducted the experiment by
performing the first step which is weighing the sample. It is said that it is needed to
check for any loss of material after the sample has been graded. Then, the researchers
arranged the sieve sizes by decreasing sizes and placed the sample on top and let the
mechanical sieve shaker to sieve it for five minutes, where the procedures is very similar
to the study of University of Cordilleras students under Construction Material Testing. The
entire nest is then agitated, and the material whose diameter is smaller than the mesh
opening passes through the sieves. After the aggregate reaches the pan, the amount
of material retained in each sieve is then weighed. Where, you can now solve for the
cumulative percentage to get fineness modulus.
The results of this test are used to describe the properties of the aggregate and
to see if it is appropriate for various civil engineering purposes such as selecting the
appropriate aggregate for concrete mixes and asphalt mixes as well as sizing of water
production well screens as stated by a study entitled ‘Sieve Analysis for Fine
Aggregate’.
VIII. Appendices:
Appendix 1: Computation
Computation:

Sieve Cumulative Percent Weight

Size Weight Retained Retained Cumulative Percent Percent
Weight Retained Passing

#4 0+34.22 = 34.22 (100) = 1.05 % 34.22 (100) =1.11% 100 – 1.11

34.22 g 3074. 61 3074. 61 =98.89 %
#8 34.22 + 687.34= 687.34 (100)= 22.36 % 721.56 (100)= 23.48 % 100 – 23.48
721.56 g 3074. 61 3074. 61 =75.52 %
#16 721.56 + 730.94= 730.94 (100)= 23.77 % 1452.5 (100)= 47.26 % 100 – 47.26
1452.5 g 3074. 61 3074. 61 =52.74 %
#30 1452.5 + 738.09= 738.09 (100)= 24.01% 2190.59 (100)= 71.27 % 100 – 71.27
2190.59 g 3074. 61 3074. 61 =28.73 %
#50 2190.59 + 573.66= 573.66 (100)= 18.66 % 2764.25 (100)= 89.94 % 100 – 89.94
2764.25 g 3074. 61 3074. 61 =10.06 %
#100 2764.25 + 239.76= 239.76 (100)= 7.8 % 3001.01 (100)= 97.74 % 100 – 97.74
3001.01 g 3074. 61 3074. 61 =2.26 %
pan 3001.01 +69.6= 69.6 (100)= 2.26 3074.61 (100)= 100 % 100 – 100
3074. 61 g 3074. 61 3074. 61 =0 %

Fineness Modulus: 1.11 + 23.48 + 47.26 + 71.27 + 89.94 + 97.74 = 3.3079

100