What is a Standard soil sieve size

Tuesday June-24 2025  17:38:36

Standard soil sieve is an experimental equipment used to screen soil samples and grade particle sizes. It is widely used in geology, agriculture, construction and environmental monitoring. The size and structure of the sieve must meet certain standards.

According to the aperture, standard soil sieves can be divided into coarse sieves (round holes) and fine sieves (square holes). The apertures of coarse sieves commonly used in geotechnical tests are generally 100mm, 80mm, 60mm, 40mm, 20mm, 10mm, 5mm, and 2mm. The equivalent aperture of fine screen (square hole) is generally 2.0mm, 1.0mm, 0.5mm, 0.25mm, 0.10mm, 0.075mm.

According to the diameter of the screen frame, it can be divided into φ200mm, φ300mm and φ400mm.

φ200mm: Usually there are 11 pieces/set + bottom cover, the screen hole size includes 0.074mm, 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 1.0mm, 2.0mm, 5mm, 10mm, 20mm, 40mm, 60mm, etc.

φ300mm: The mesh range is 0.074mm-60mm, such as the new standard soil screen (∮300, 10+1 section), its specifications are 0.075mm, 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 1mm, 2mm, 5mm, 10mm, 20mm, 40mm, 60mm.

φ400mm: Size specification is between 0.074mm-60mm.

Common standard soil sieve size table (expressed in sieve hole size/aperture)

Note: "Mesh number" refers to the number of holes per inch on the sieve, which is used to describe the coarseness of the sieve. The commonly used sieve holes in soil analysis are: 2mm, 0.85mm, 0.425mm, 0.25mm, 0.075mm, etc.

Structural dimensions (external dimensions) of standard soil sieve

Structural specifications of soil sieve

Soil sieve is an important tool for soil particle classification and screening. It has key uses in many fields. By screening soil particles of different particle sizes, the mechanical composition of the soil (such as the proportion of sand particles, silt particles, and clay particles) is analyzed, and then the porosity, permeability, water retention and other physical properties of the soil are studied. For example, in the classification of soil texture (such as the division of sand, loam, and clay), the soil type needs to be determined based on the screening results. 

The sieved soil particles can be used to study the distribution of soil aggregates, evaluate the stability of soil structure, and provide data support for research on soil erosion and fertility maintenance. In studies on pollutant migration and soil remediation, screening soils of different particle sizes can analyze the adsorption and distribution of pollutants in different particles, such as the enrichment of heavy metals in fine-grained soil.

The use of soil sieves runs through many fields from basic research to engineering practice. Its core role is to achieve accurate analysis and application regulation of soil properties through particle classification, providing a scientific basis for decision-making and practice in various industries.