ASTM C136/C136M:19 pdf free download – Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates.
8.2 Select sieves with suitable openings to furnish the information required by the specifications covering the material to be tested. Use additional sieves as desired or necessary to provide other information, such as fineness modulus. or to regulate the amount of material on a sieve. Nest the sieves in order of decreasing size of opening from top to bottom and place the sample on the top sieve. Agitate the sieves by hand or by mechanical apparatus for a sufficient period, established by trial or checked by measurement on the actual test sample, to meet the criterion for adequacy or sieving described in 8.4.
8.3 Limit the quantity of material on a given sieve so that all particles have opportunity to reach sieve openings a number of times during the sieving operation. For sieves with openings smaller than 4.75-mm (No. 4), the quantity retained on any sieve at the completion of the sieving operation shall not exceed 7 kg/rn2 of sieving surface area (Note 6). For sieves with openings 4.75 mm (No. 4) and larger. the quantity retained in kg shall not exceed the product of 2.5 x (sieve opening. mm x (effective sieving area. m)). This quantity is shown in Table 1 for five sieve-frame dimensions in common use. In no case shall the quantity retained be so great as to cause permanent deformation of the sieve cloth.
8.3.1 Prevent an overload of material on an individual sieve by one of the following methods:
8.3.1 .1 Insert an additional sieve with opening size intermediate between the sieve that may he overloaded and the sieve immediately above that sieve in the original set of sieves.
8.3.1.2 Split the sample into two or more portions, sieving each portion individually. Combine the masses of the several portions retained on a specific sieve before calculating the percentage of the sample on the sieve.
8.3.1 .3 Use sieves having a larger frame size and providing greater sieving area.
8.4 Continue sieving for a sufficient period and in such manner that, after completion, not more than I % by mass of the material retained on any individual sieve will pass that sieve during 1 mm of continuous hand sieving performed as follows: Hold the individual sieve, provided with a snug-fitting pan and cover, in a slightly inclined position in one hand. Strike the side of the sieve sharply and with an upward motion against the heel of the other hand at the rate of about 150 times per minute, turn the sieve about one sixth of a revolution at intervals of about 25 strokes. In determining sufficiency of sieving for sizes larger than the 4.75-mm (No. 4) sieve, limit the material on the sieve to a single layer of particles. If the size of the mounted testing sieves makes the described sieving motion impractical, use 203-mm [8 in.] diameter sieves to verify the sufficiency of sieving.