Materials Required

• Set of standard sieves (e.g., 10 to 325 mesh)
• Granular sample (e.g., sand, starch, or pharmaceutical powder)
• Weighing balance (accuracy ±0.01 g)
• Mechanical sieve shaker / manual setup
• Brush (for cleaning sieves)
• Collection pan
• Stopwatch or timer
• Calculator / spreadsheet for analysis

Procedure

1. Arrange the sieves in descending order (coarsest on top, finest at bottom).
2. Weigh approximately 100 g of the dry sample.
3. Place a collection pan under the bottom sieve.
4. Transfer the sample to the top sieve and secure the lid.
5. Shake manually or mechanically for 10–15 minutes.
6. Carefully remove and weigh the material retained on each sieve.
7. Record the weights and calculate:
   • Percentage retained = (Weight retained / Total weight) × 100
   • Cumulative % passing = 100 – Cumulative % retained
8. Plot a graph of log particle size (X-axis) vs. % finer (Y-axis).
9. Determine D₁₀, D₅₀, and D₉₀ from the curve.

Observation and data

Calculations

• Percentage Retained = (Weight Retained / Total Weight) × 100
• Cumulative % Passing = 100 – Cumulative % Retained
• Graphically determine D₁₀, D₅₀, and D₉₀ from the plotted curve.

Result
The particle size distribution was successfully determined, and the D₁₀, D₅₀, and D₉₀ values were obtained from the graph, reflecting the range and uniformity of the sample’s particle sizes.

Precautions

• Ensure sieves are clean and dry before use.
• Avoid overloading sieves.
• Maintain consistent shaking duration and motion.
• Handle sieves gently to prevent mesh damage.