Fourth Lab Report : Balsam




Lab Report 4 : Balsam (Sieve Test Analysis)
Lecturer : Madam Diana


NAME
MATRIX NUMBER
ANGIE FAN YAN KAI
BS17110476
ELAVARASI A/P KASIRAJAN
BS17160663
NG JIT MUN
BS17160693
NIELSON EDWARD
BS17110462
NURUL HUDA BINTI IBRAHIM
BS17110437
UMI NAJUA BINTI ROSLAILY
BS17110319




1.0 INTRODUCTION

Sieve analysis is an analytical technique used to determine the particle size distribution of a granular material with macroscopic granular sizes. This technique involves a stack of sieves including pan and cover layering on top one another in the order of increasing sieve size, starting from the finest sized sieve being rotated and reoriented by a throw-action methods to allow coarse soil particles which are added from the top to be separated or broken up by grinding against one-another. Sieve analysis is important for analyzing materials because particle size distribution can affect a wide range of properties such as the strength of concrete, the solubility of a mixture, surface area properties and even their taste. It can be performed on any type of non-organic or organic granular materials including sands, crushed rock, clays, granite, feldspars, coal, soil, a wide range of manufactured powders, grain and seeds, down to a minimum size depending on the exact method.


2.0 OBJECTIVES
a) Select sieves as per I.S specifications and perform sieving.
b) Obtain percentage of soil retained on each sieve.
c) To find out the relationship sieve opening mesh size and percentage of soil granules passed through.


3.0  Materials and apparatus
  •         Air-Dried soils
  •         Stack of sieves including pan and cover
  •         Weighing balance
  •         Mechanical sieve shaker
  •         Brush
  •         Pestle and mortar
  •         Brush



4.0  Procedures

1)    Tree roots, pieces of bark and rocks are removed from the soil samples.
2)    Clumps of air-dried soils are broke by hands before air-dried samples are sieve.
3)    The total weight of the sample soil before sieve was measured.
4)    5 size of mesh sieves are selected.
5)    Sieves are cleaned. The soils particles which are stuck in the opening are poked by using brush gently without injuring the mesh.
6)    A stack if sieves on the mechanical sieve shaker are prepared. Sieves having larger opening sizes are placed above the one having smaller opening size. The pan is set first in the stack, the cover on top of the biggest mesh size sieve.
7)    The soil is poured and the cover is placed.
8)    The clamps are fixed.
9)    The tray is placed below the opening of the pan to collect the finest particle.
10) The time is adjusted for 15 minutes and the shaker is let go for 40-50.
11) After the shaker has stopped, the mass of each sieve and retained soil are measured.
The finest particle on the pan are also collected.
12) Particles that were stuck on the mesh were poked out using a brush and collected.
13) The soil is labelled and kept for further analysis.


5.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSION 
The total mass of soil weighed : 100g 

Table 1 : Sieve analysis result for sandy clay loam soil
Sieve No.
Sieve opening mesh size (mm)
Mass of soil retained (g)
Percent of mass retained on each sieve (Rn)
Cumulative percent retained (Cumulative passing = 100% - % Cumulative Retained)
Percent Finer       100 - ∑ Rn






10
1
7.91
7.91
7.91
92.09
35
0.5
40.61
40.61
48.52
51.48
60
0.25
21.62
21.62
70.14
29.86
70
0.212
4.81
4.81
74.95
25.05
120
0.125
12.75
12.75
87.71
12.29
230
0.063
6.35
6.35
94.06
5.94
PAN

4.79
4.79
98.85
1.15




DISCUSSION 

           Mechanical analysis is the determination of the size range of particles present in a soil, expressed as a percentage of dry weight. The percentage distribution of those parts determine soil structure. Soil has 3 main constituent parts which are :
* Sand is any soil particle larger than 0.06 mm
* Silt is any soil particle from 0.002 mm - 0.06 mm
* Clay is any soil particle below 0.002 mm 

     There are two methods generally used to find the particles size distribution of soil which are Sieve analysis and hydrometer analysis. Sieve analysis is usually done for particles size larger than 0.075 mm. Sieve analysis is type of mechanical analysis which determines the size range of particles present in a soil expressed as a percent of the total dry weight or mass. It is determined by passing the material through a series of sieves stacked with progressively smaller openings from top to bottom and weighing the material retained on each sieve. As a stack of sieves were prepared, the sieve that has larger opening size are placed above the ones that having smaller opening sizes. This means, the sieve that have diameter of aperture of 1 mm will be placed at the above followed by 500 µm (0.5mm), 250 µm (0.25mm), 212 µm (0.212mm) , 125 µm (0.125mm) and 63 µm (0.063mm).

       According to table 1, the sieve opening mesh size ranges from 1mm to 0.063 mm. Since all the soil particles lies in between 1 mm to 0.063 mm, therefore they are sand particles.From the results, the total mass of the sample after sieving is smaller than the total mass before sieving with a 1.15 g difference in value. This is probably due to large soil particles being separated by the sieves and cannot pass through sieves with smaller diameter. Hence, only very fine soil particles make it to the bottom and being weighed later. Furthermore, to ensure the accuracy of the experiment, the sieves are first cleaned with brush to ensure no soil are stuck in the openings as it will affect the result of the experiment. Lastly, the machine is also being set up correctly to avoid any errors.

CONCLUSION


It can be clearly seen that sieves can be used to separate both fine and coarse aggregates into different particles sizes. The sizes of aggregate pass to the next is depend on the number of sieves. As a recommendation ensure all the material entrapped within the openings of the sieve are cleaned out properly with the brush.

APPENDIX 



                     Figure 2 : Sieves separate both fine and coarse aggregates into different particles sizes
            
                
                                                               Figure 3 : Sieve  Analysis Machine 

                                                               Figure 4 : Classification of soil particles

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