Purbanchal University

Khwopa Engineering College

(An Undertaking of Bhaktapur Municipality)
Libali-8,Bhaktapur

A
Lab Report On
Civil Engineering Material
Practical No: 1
Grading Of Aggregate
SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:
Name: Marsal BK Er.RameshBala
Roll No: 37 Department Of Civil Engineering
Section: Civil AB(1st Sem)

Date of Submission: 2079/11/29

 Objective:
 To determine the particle size distribution of aggregate by sieve analysis
 Requirement:
 Apparatus Required
 A Balance of 10kg capacity
 A set of I.S Sieve
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 Brush

oMaterial Required
  Fine mixed Aggregate of 2kg wt.
  Well m ixed Aggregate of 5Kg wt.

 Theory
The particle size distribution of an aggregate as determined by sieve analysis is termed as
grading of aggregate. If all the particles of an aggregate are of uniform size, the compact mass
will contain more voids, where as an aggregate comprising particles of various sizes will give a
mass containing lesser voids. The particle size distribution of a mass of aggregate should be
such that the smaller particle fills the voids between the larger particles. The proper grading of
an aggregate produces dense concrete and needs less quantity of fine aggregate and cement
paste. The grading of an aggregate is expressed in terms of percentage by weight retained on
or passing through a series of sieve taken in order of 40 mm, 20 mm, 16 mm, 14 mm, 12.5 mm,
9.5 mm , 4.75 mm for coarse aggregate.

The curve showing the cumulative percentages of the material passing the sieve represented
on the ordinate with the sieve openings to the logarithmic scale represented on the abscissa is
termed as grading curve. The grading curve indicate whether the grading of a given sample
confirms to that specified, or too coarse or too fine, or deficient in a particular size.

Fineness modulus: - The fineness modulus is a numerical index of fineness, giving some idea of the
mean size of the particles present in the entire body of the aggregate. The determination of the
fineness modulus consists in dividing a sample of aggregate into fractions of different sizes by
sieving through a set of standard test sieves taken in order. Each fraction consists of particles
between definite limits. The material retained on each sieve after sieving represents the fraction of
aggregate coarser than the sieve in lower but finer than the sieve above. The sum of the cumulative
percentages retained on the sieves divided by 100 give the fineness modulus. For example, a
fineness modulus of 8 can be interpreted to mean that the 8th sieve i.e., 4.75 mm is the average
size. The value of fineness modulus is higher for coarser aggregate.
 o Coarse Aggregate: - The aggregate particles retain on 4.75 mm I.S.
sieve is called coarse aggregate.

o Fine Aggregate: - Any natural sand particles won from the land through the
mining process is fine aggregate. Fine aggregates consist of natural sand or any
crushed stone particle that are 4.75mm I.S sieve and retained on 75-micron sieve.

o Coefficient of Uniformity: -
(Cu) = D60/D10
(D60, D30, D10 respectively are the particle size such that 60%, 30% and

10% of the total soil is finer than this size)

o Coefficient of Curvature: -
(Cc) = (D30)2/(D10*D60)

 Procedure:

1.A representative sample was taken.

2.The sample was cleaned and dried .

3.A set of sieves with different mesh sizes was arranged in a descending order, with the largest
sieve on top and the smallest on the bottom.

4.The dried sample was placed on the top sieve, and then the sieves were stacked on top of each
other, with a cover on the top.

5.The sieves were then shaken horizontally and vertically using a sieve shaker for a period of time,
typically 10 to 15 minutes. The shaking process was continued until no further material passed
through the sieves.

6.The amount of material retained on each sieve was weighed, and the weight of material passing
through each sieve was also recorded.

7.The percentage of material passing through each sieve was calculated by dividing the weight of
material passing through the sieve by the total weight of the sample.

 Observation Table:
Weight of total aggregate taken for analysis = 5000 grams
 a) For Coarse Aggregate:
Sieve Size Wt. of aggregate Cum. Wt. Cum. % Cumulative % Finer(N)
Remarks
(mm) retain (gms) retain(gms) Retained than(100-R)
40 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00
20 3254.00 3254.00 65.08 34.92
16 1210.00 4464.00 89.28 10.72
14 248.00 4712.00 94.24 5.76
12.5 170.00 4882.00 97.64 2.36
9.5 82.00 4964.00 99.28 0.72
4.75 12.00 4976.00 99.52 0.48
Pan 24.00 5000.00 100.00 0.00
Total Mass
5000.00 645.04 154.96
Retained

b) For fine aggregate:

Sieve Size Wt. of aggregate Cum. Wt. Cum. %
% Finer(N) than(100-R) Remarks
(mm) retain (gm) retain(gm) retain®
4.75 226 226 11.3 88.7
2 436 662 33.1 66.9
1 228 890 44.5 55.5
0.600 158 1048 52.4 47.6
0.425 274 1322 66.1 33.9
0.212 460 1782 89.1 10.9
0.150 92 1874 93.7 6.3
0.075 80 1954 97.7 2.3
Pan 46 2000 100 0
Total Mass
2000 587.9 312.1
Retained
 Data on Semi-Log Graph
Particlle Size Distribution of Fine Aggregate
100

90

80

70

Percent Passing
60

50

40 Series1
30

20

10

0
0.01 0.1 1 10

Particle Size (in mm)

Particle Size Distribution of Coarse Aggregate

110

100

90

80

70
Percent Passsing

60

50
Series1
40

30

20

10

0
1 10 100

Particle Size (in mm)

 Calculation
The materials retained on different sieves are determined. The percentage of material
retained on any sieve is given by:

Pn = Mn * 100 / M

Where, Mn = mass of soil retained on sieve 'n'

M = total mass of the sample

The cumulative percentage of the material retained

Cn = P1 + P2 + ……. + Pn

Where, P1, P2 etc. are percentage retained on sieve 1, 2 …. which are coarser than
sieve n. The percentage finer than the sieve 'n'

Nn= 100- Cn

For Fine Aggregate

From Above Graph

 D10 = 0.2
 D30 = 0.3
 D60 = 1.45

Coefficient of Uniformity: -

(Cu) = D60/D10 =1.45/0.2=7.25

Coefficient of Curvature: -

2
(Cc) = (D30)2/(D10*D60) = 0.3 /(0.3*1.45) = 𝟎. 498

Fineness Modulus

(F.M) = (Total cumulative % retained)/100 =587.9/100 = 5.88

Hence, the distributed fine aggregate was found to be well graded.

For Coarse Aggregate

From Above Graph

 D10 = 16
 D30 = 20
 D60 = 27
Coefficient of Uniformity: -

(Cu) = D60/D10 = 27/16 = 1.68

Coefficient of Curvature: -

(Cc) = (D30)2/(D10*D60) = 202/(16*27)=0.93

Fineness Modulus

(F.M) = (Total cumulative % retained)/100=645.04/100=6.45

Hence, the distributed coarse aggregate was found to be poor graded.

The larger the numerical value of Cu, the more is the range of particles.

 Soil – Cu >2; uniform

 Sand – Cu ≥ 6; well graded
 Gravel – Cu ≥ 4; well graded
 For well graded Soil, 1 < Cc < 3
 Values of Fineness Modulus of Sand: -
Fineness modulus of fine aggregate varies from 2.0 to 3.5mm. Fine aggregate having
fineness modulus more than 3.2 should not considered as fine aggregate. Various
values of fineness modulus for different sands are detailed below:

Types of sand Fineness modulus range

Fine sand 2.2 – 2.6

Medium sand 2.6 – 2.9

 Coarse sand 2.9 – 3.2

Result:

Hence,the from above calculation distributedcoarseaggregate was found tobepoorlygraded

because the value of Cu was calculated 1.66 and,thedistributedfineaggregate was found
tobewellgraded.becausethevalueofCuwascalculated 7.25.

 Discussion

Sieve analysis is a commonly used method for determining the particle size distribution of aggregate
materials. The process involves passing the aggregate material through a series of standard sieves,
each with a specific mesh size. The sieves are stacked in order of decreasing mesh size, with the
finest mesh size at the bottom and the coarsest mesh size at the top.The aggregate material is
poured onto the top sieve and agitated by hand or by mechanical means until no further material
passes through the sieve.

 Conclusion:
Overall, sieve analysis is a useful method for determining the particle size distribution of
aggregate and is widely used in the concrete industry.

 Precaution:
 Weight should be measured carefully.
 Shake sieve properly, shaking sieve with hand is recommended since shaking with
machine is time consuming.
 Data should be plotted in semi-log graph and d10, d30, d60 should be measured
accurately.
 The whole set of sieves should be shaken in each direction.
 Calculation should be done correctly.

Reference:
1.Civil engineering material (S.chand and company limited)
2.Wikipedia