CONTENTS

Introduction :

Coarse aggregate is one of material to make a concrete. To make a good concrete, the
aggregate must have good sizing. The sizes of coarse aggregate is larger than 4.75mm. A
maximum size up to 40mm is used for coarse aggregate in most structural applications, while
for mass concreting purpose suchs as dams, sizes up to 150mm may be used.

Aggregate is part of concrete. It used to mix with cement to make a concrete. The shape,
composit and size of the aggregate all have significant impact on the workability, durability,
strength, weight and shrinkage of the concrete. To get a good sizing of coarse aggregate, the
sieve test must be done.

Objective :

To determine the particular soil grain size distribution (GSD).

Tool :

1. Dry coarse aggregate.(granite)

Diagram 1.
2. Sieve size 25.0mm, 20.0mm, 12.7mm, 10mm, 5.0mm, pan and cover.

Diagram 2.

3. Mechanical sieve shaker.

Diagram 3.

4.Digging shovel.
 Diagram 4.

5. Weighing tool.

Diagram 5.

6. Bowl.
 Diagram 6.

Procedure :

1. Perform a visual classification on the soil provided.

2. Inspect your sieve stack. Check for any loose screens, holes in the screens or tears at the
seams. Clean the sieve if necessary. Use a coarse wire brush for larger sieves, but use a soft
nylon brush with smaller sieve sizes.

3. Collect 1 pile of coarse aggregate.

Diagram 7.

4. Weigh accurately 2000g coarse aggregate.

 Diagram 8.

5. Use sieve with diameter 30.48mm to 4.76mm for coarse aggregate.

6. Place your sieve in a stack of increasing sieve number- this corresponds to decreasing
opening size. The largest sieve opening should be on top, and the pan at the bottom.

Diagram 9.

7. Pour the aggregate sample into the top of the sieve and place the cover tightly on top.

8. Place the sieve stack into the sieve shaker and secure the top clamp.
 Diagram 10.

9. Set the timer attached to the shaker for 7 minutes. The shaker will now start.

10. When the sieve shaker has stopped, remove the sieve stack.

12. Carefully disassemble the sieve stack. The sieves will tend to be stuck one another quite
tightly. If you force them apart. You may end up scattering the aggregate inside all over the
laboratory. Try to use a twisting motion to separate the sieves. If all else fails, use a wedge.
Which should be located by the sieve rack.

13. Now, record the mass each sieve and the pan with its contents. Since you’ve already
obtained the sieve’s masses, you can now determine the amount of soil retained on each
sieve.

Diagram 11

Safety Awareness :
 Sequence of Job Potential Hazard Safe Job Never
Tasks Procedures
Wash sample Particles in eyes Wear all personal
mixture protective equipment
Sift material into
sieve stack
Place sieves into  Foot injury  Wear all
shaker  Tripping/falling personal
protective
equipment
 Awareness of
obstructions in
travel path.
Lift the pail full of  Hand/ foot injury  Wear a glove Lift without glove or
coarse aggregate and safety boot safety boot
Collect 2000g/2kg  Particles in eyes  Wear a goggle
coarse aggregate  Hard to breath  Wear a safety
into pail boot

Results :

1. Analyse the result obtained, by drawing the distribution curve in the graph given.
Determine the various zone of aggregate with the analysed result and compare it with
Grading Standard MS 7.4. Discuss the differences.

Sample of aggregate : Granite

Weight of sample : 2000g
Sieve No. Weight Percent Weight Percent Cumulative Cumulative
Retained Retained Passing Passing % Retained % Passing
Through Through Through

Table 2 – Result

2. Plot cumulative percent passing through the sieve verses sieve opening size on the graph
given below :
Analysis :

3. The important sieve analysis test to coarse aggregate is to separate the different size to
their specific grades.

4.

5. The table 3 below shows the physical properties of aggregates :

Properties of aggregate Range

Fine aggregate’s Modules Fineness 2.3 - 3.1
Coarse aggregate’s maximum nominal size 37.5 – 9.5mm

Table 3 – Physical Properties Of Aggregates

Conclusion :