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Sieve analysis is a method for determining the size and type of particles in soil or other materials. The sample is passed through a series of sieves, and the results are given as the percentage of the sample that passes through each sieve. This data is used by engineers and geologists to understand how a material will perform in construction and other settings.
Sieve analysis is a procedure for quantifying the sizes and types of particles present in a particular soil sample, as well as their relative frequency of occurrence. The analysis can also be performed on inorganic materials, such as gravel or aggregate mixes. The sample is sieved through a series of sieves, starting with a sieve with large openings, through successively smaller sieves. The results of a sieve analysis can tell geologists and engineers a lot about the composition of a sample and how a particular soil or other mixture will perform in civil engineering and construction settings.
A sieve is a simple device consisting of a frame to hold the material and a wire mesh bottom. Gaps in the web determine the size of particles that can pass through it. Sieves are graded to any of several standards. Most standards use a number to classify individual sieves which corresponds to the number of openings in 1 linear inch (2.54 cm) of mesh.
The various standards can vary slightly, and as the diameter of the wires used can affect the size of the openings, there are a very large number of possible combinations and sizes. This means that two sieves classified as size 10 can pass particles of different maximum sizes. This must be taken into account by the tester and the sieve size and standard used must be noted in the resulting report.
The results of a sieve analysis are given as a listing of the percentage of the test sample, by weight, that passes through each sieve. For example, the first larger sieve can pass 95% of the total sample by weight, the second largest can pass 85%, and so on. By analyzing this data, you can quickly see the relative composition of a particular sample with regards to particle size distribution and frequency.
For trained and experienced engineers and geologists, this data represents valuable information about how a particular soil or other mix may behave under a variety of conditions, including compaction, settlement and displacement. Landslide risk and floodwater behaviour, particularly with regard to how soils can absorb them, can be assessed using sieve analysis data along with other information. Civil engineering and construction project decisions often rely heavily on this type of data. Other uses for sieve analysis data can be in agriculture, environmental impact studies, watershed management, and land use decisions.
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