How to do sieve analysis testing?

Friday August-01 2025 16:51:35

The Sieve analysis test is a method used to detect the particle size distribution of materials. It can quickly detect sample particle sizes from 125 mm to 20 microns. The sieve frame diameters are 75 mm, 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm and 400 mm. The following are sample analysis and testing methods for common materials:

Test Material	Screening Method	Screening Mesh Size (Mesh/Inch)	Mesh Size (mm)	Screen Frame Diameter (mm)	Application Industry	Remarks
Soil	Dry/Wet Screening	10-325 Mesh	2.0-0.045	200, 300	Geology, Agriculture, Environmental Protection	Requires tiered screening, commonly using a 300mm sieve frame to detect particle gradation
Sand and Gravel (Quartz Sand)	Dry Screening	4-100 Mesh	4.75-0.15	200, 300	Building Materials, Casting	Graded according to GB/T 14684. A 300mm sieve frame is suitable for coarse particle screening
Aggregate (Stone)	Dry Screening	5-40 mesh	0.15-9.5	300, 400	Concrete, Highway Engineering	A square hole screen is required. A 400mm screen frame is used for large-volume screening.
Cement Powder	Negative Pressure Screening	45-325 mesh	0.08-0.3	75, 200	Building Materials, Quality Inspection	A stable negative pressure of 4000-6000 Pa is required for optimal screening efficiency.
Diamond Micropowder	Slap Screening	200-400 Mesh	0.038-0.075	75, 200	Superhard Materials, Abrasives	High-precision Screening, Anti-Blocking Mesh Design
Glass Bead Powder	High-Frequency Vibration Screening	20-200 Mesh	0.075-0.85	75, 100, 200	Optics, Chemicals	Vibration Frequency Control Required (500 times/min)
Activated Carbon	Dry Screening	40-100 Mesh	0.15-0.42	200, 300	Environmental Protection, Water Treatment	Anti-static requirements, recommended screen material: stainless steel 4
Traditional Chinese Medicine Powder	Pharmacopoeia Screening	50-200 Mesh	0.075-0.3	200	Pharmaceutical Industry	Complies with Pharmacopoeia standards, requires moisture-proof treatment

Why is sieve analysis test important?

1. Determine the gradation of aggregates: ensure that the particle size distribution of aggregates meets the design requirements.

2. Control the density of concrete: reasonable aggregate grading can improve the density of concrete and reduce porosity.

3. Improve the strength of concrete: high-density concrete has higher strength and durability.

4. Reduce costs: by optimizing the aggregate ratio, material waste can be reduced and costs can be reduced.

In addition, sieving analysis can also help us identify and remove aggregates with irregular shapes and high mud content, thereby improving the quality of concrete.

How do you perform a sieve analysis test?

The Sieve Analysis test consists of five steps: preliminary material preparation, sample pretreatment, sieving, data recording, and result analysis. The specific steps are as follows:

1. Preliminary Preparation: Select a standard sieving method based on the material characteristics, determine the sieve size and sample size (which can be adjusted through preliminary experiments). Mark and weigh each empty sieve (tare weight) in advance, and arrange the sieve racks from largest to smallest or smallest to largest apertures.

2. Sample Preparation: Take a representative sample and perform pretreatment such as drying or crushing to ensure dispersion.

3. Sieving: Pour the sample onto the top sieve and sieve manually or mechanically to achieve thorough particle separation.

4. Data Recording: After sieving, weigh the residual material on each sieve in sequence, deduct the tare weight, and obtain the net weight.

5. Result Analysis: Calculate the proportion of each particle size range, generate a distribution curve or table, and evaluate the material's particle size characteristics.

What are the steps in the sieve analysis test?

Weigh a representative sample, and take about 500g of sample to set as the total sample (or according to the industry standard).

SI	Maximum size of material present in substantial quantities	Weight to be taken for test in Kgs
1	75mm	60Kg
2	40mm	25Kg
3	25mm	13Kg
4	19mm	6.5Kg
5	12.5mm	3.5Kg
6	10mm	1.5Kg
7	6.5mm	0.75Kg
8	4.75mm	0.4Kg

Stack the sieves according to the aperture size of the Analytical Test Sieves. The sieve with a large opening (small aperture value) is placed above the small opening (large aperture value), and the bottom end prevents the tray from collecting samples passing through all apertures. #4 and #200 sieves should always be included in the analysis of samples.

Put the weighed 500g sample into the top sieve of Analytical Test Sieves, place it on the laboratory vibrating sieve (the sample together with all the Analytical Test Sieves stacked together), fix the sieve frame, set the analysis time, and start the machine.

After the machine stops running, the sieve frames are taken out one by one and the weight of the sample retained in each sieve frame is weighed.

Sample retention, data recording, and analysis are performed to derive particle size distribution curves.

If you need to perform comparative analysis of different samples, please keep weighing, use the same model of Analytical Test Sieves, and use the same analysis time (control variable) to conduct sample analysis and comparison.

How to do sieve analysis calculations?

The particle size distribution of a soil sample can be obtained by plotting the finer percentage with the corresponding sieve on semi-logarithmic graph paper as shown below.

Once the sieving process is complete, the results need to be calculated and interpreted. The mass of particles retained on each sieve is determined by dividing the mass retained on each sieve by the total mass of the soil sample retained and then multiplying by 100 to find the percentage retained on each sieve. To better understand the distribution of particle sizes, it is useful to calculate the cumulative percentage retained for the soil sample.

Sieve analysis test sample report

Typically, this is done by weighing the material remaining on each sieve in the pile. This should equal the weight of a representative sample. It is also possible to look at the percentage of material that has passed through. For example, determine the amount of material that has passed through the top sieve, record it, and then do the same for the material that has passed through the second sieve. Continue this process until you reach the lower part of the pile of sieves.