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  • ASTM D 6913/D6913M : 2017 : REDLINE

    Current The latest, up-to-date edition.

    Standard Test Methods for Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation) of Soils Using Sieve Analysis

    Available format(s):  PDF

    Language(s):  English

    Published date:  18-05-2017

    Publisher:  American Society for Testing and Materials

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    Abstract - (Show below) - (Hide below)

    CONTAINED IN VOL. 04.09, 2017 Pertains to separate particles into size ranges and to determine quantitatively the mass of particles in each range.

    Scope - (Show below) - (Hide below)

    1.1Soils consist of particles with various shapes and sizes. This test method is used to separate particles into size ranges and to determine quantitatively the mass of particles in each range. These data are combined to determine the particle-size distribution (gradation). This test method uses a square opening sieve criterion in determining the gradation of soil between the 3-in. (75-mm) and No. 200 (75-µm) sieves.

    1.2The terms, soils and material, are used interchangeably throughout the standard.

    1.3In cases where the gradation of particles larger than 3 in. (75 mm) sieve is needed, Test Method D5519 may be used.

    1.4In cases where the gradation of particles smaller than No. 200 (75-µm) sieve is needed, Test Method D7928 may be used.

    1.5Typically, if the maximum particle size is equal to or less than 4.75 mm (No. 4 sieve), then single-set sieving is applicable. Furthermore, if the maximum particle size is greater than 4.75 mm (No. 4 sieve) and equal to or less than 9.5 mm (3/8-in sieve), then either single-set sieving or composite sieving is applicable. Finally, if the maximum particle size is equal to or greater than 19.0 mm (3/4-in sieve), composite sieving is applicable. For special conditions see 10.3.

    1.6Two test methods are provided in this standard. The methods differ in the significant digits recorded and the size of the specimen (mass) required. The method to be used may be specified by the requesting authority; otherwise Method A shall be performed.

    1.6.1Method A—The percentage (by mass) passing each sieve size is recorded to the nearest 1 %. This method must be used when performing composite sieving. For cases of disputes, Method A is the referee method.

    1.6.2Method B—The percentage (by mass) passing each sieve size is recorded to the nearest 0.1 %. This method is only applicable for single sieve-set sieving and when the maximum particle size is equal to or less than the No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve.

    1.7This test method does not cover, in any detail, procurement of the sample. It is assumed that the sample is obtained using appropriate methods and is representative.

    1.8Sample Processing—Three procedures (moist, air dry, and oven dry) are provided to process the sample to obtain a specimen. The procedure selected will depend on the type of sample, the maximum particle-size in the sample, the range of particle sizes, the initial conditions of the material, the plasticity of the material, the efficiency, and the need for other testing on the sample. The procedure may be specified by the requesting authority; otherwise the guidance given in Section 10 shall be followed.

    1.9This test method typically requires two or three days to complete, depending on the type and size of the sample and soil type.

    1.10This test method is not applicable for the following soils:

    1.10.1Soils containing fibrous peat that will change in particle size during the drying, washing, or sieving procedure.

    1.10.2Soils containing extraneous matter, such as organic solvents, oil, asphalt, wood fragments, or similar items. Such extraneous matter can affect the washing and sieving procedures.

    1.10.3Materials that contain cementitious components, such as cement, fly ash, lime, or other stabilization admixtures.

    1.11This test method may not produce consistent test results within and between laboratories for the following soils and the precision statement does not apply to them.

    1.11.1Friable soils in which the sieving processes change the gradation of the soil. Typical examples of these soils are some residual soils, most weathered shales and some weakly cemented soils such as hardpan, caliche or coquina.

    1.11.2Soils that will not readily disperse such as glauconitic clays or some dried plastic clays.

    1.11.3To test these soils, this test method must be adapted, or altered, and these alterations documented. Depending on the design considerations, a specialized gradation-testing program could be performed. The alterations could require the washing and sieving procedures to be standardized such that each specimen would be processed in a similar manner.

    1.12Some materials that are not soils, but are made up of particles may be tested using this method. However, the applicable sections above should be used in applying this standard.

    1.13All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026, unless superseded by this test method.

    1.13.1The procedures used to specify how data are collected/recorded and calculated in this standard are regarded as the industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures used do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user's objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of these test methods to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design.

    1.14Units—The dimensional values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard, such as 200-mm or 8-in. diameter sieve. Except, the sieve designations are typically identified using the “alternative” system in accordance with Practice E11, such as 3 in. and No. 200, instead of the “standard” system of 75 mm and 75 µm, respectively. Only the SI units are used for mass determinations, calculations, and reported results. However, the use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass (lbm) shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.

    1.15A summary of the symbols used in this test method is given in Annex A1.

    1.16This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

    1.17Table of Contents—All tables and figures appear at the end of this standard.

    Section

    Scope

    1

     Method A

    1.6.1

     Method B

    1.6.2

     Sample Processing

    1.8

     Units

    1.14

    Referenced Documents

    2

     ASTM Standards

    2.1

    Terminology

    3

     General

    3.1

     Definitions

    3.2

     Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard

    3.3

    Summary of Test Method

    4

    Significance and Use

    5

    Apparatus

    6

     Sieves

    6.1

      Standard Sieve Set

    6.1.1

      Washing Sieve, No. 200 (75-μm)

    6.1.2

      Designated Separating Sieve

    6.1.3

     Washing Sink with Spray Nozzle

    6.2

     Mechanical Sieve Shaker

    6.3

     Balances

    6.4

     Drying Oven

    6.5

     Sieving Containers

    6.6

      Specimen Containers

    6.6.1

      Collection/Transfer Device

    6.6.2

      Cumulative Mass Container

    6.6.3

     Sieve Brushes

    6.7

     Miscellaneous Items

    6.8

     Splitter or Riffle Box (optional)

    6.9

     Quartering Accessories (optional)

    6.10

     Mortar and Rubber-Covered Pestle (optional)

    6.11

     Low Temperature Drying Oven (optional)

    6.12

     Ultrasonic Water Bath (optional)

    6.13

     Dispersion Shaker (optional)

    6.14

    Reagents

    7

     Sodium Hexametaphosphate

    7.1

      Dry Addition

    7.1.1.1

      Solution

    7.1.1.2

    Preparation of Apparatus

    8

     Verification of Sieves

    8.1

      Verification Interval

    8.1.1

     Verification of Mechanical Sieve Shaker and
     Standard Shaking Period

    8.2

      Large Mechanical Sieve Shaker

    8.2.1

      Verification Interval

    8.2.2

      Hand Sieve Shaking Procedure

    8.2.3

    Sampling

    9

     General

    9.1

     Sample Sources

    9.2

      Bulk Samples

    9.2.1

      Jar and Small Bag Samples

    9.2.2

      Intact Tube Samples

    9.2.3

      Samples from Prior Testing

    9.2.4

    Specimen

    10

     General

    10.1

     Minimum Mass Requirement

    10.2

     Selection of Sieving Procedure

    10.3

      Single Sieve-Set Sieving

    10.3.1

      Composite Sieving

    10.3.2

     Specimen Procurement

    10.4

      Moist Procedure

    10.4.1

      Air-Dried Procedure

    10.4.2

      Oven-Dried Procedure

    10.4.3

      Discussion on Segregating Soils

    10.4.4

     Specimen Procurement and Processing Requirements

    10.5

      Moist Procedure, Single Sieve-Set Sieving

    10.5.1

      Moist Procedure, Composite Sieving

    10.5.2

       Coarse Portion Acceptable Loss (CPL)

    10.5.2.3

      Air-Dried Procedure, General

    10.5.3

      Air-Dried Procedure, Single Sieve-Set Sieving

    10.5.4

      Air-Dried Procedure, Composite Sieving

    10.5.5

      Oven-Dried Procedure, General

    10.5.6

      Oven-Dried Procedure, Single Sieve-Set Sieving

    10.5.7

      Oven-Dried Procedure, Composite Sieving

    10.5.8

    Procedure (Sieving)

    11

     General

    11.1

     Mass Measurements

    11.2

     Sieve Overloading

    11.3

     Single Sieve-Set Sieving

    11.4

      Specimen Mass

    11.4.1

      Specimen Dispersion

    11.4.2

       Soaking without a Dispersant

    11.4.2.1

       Soaking with a Dispersant

    11.4.2.2

       Using an Ultrasonic Water Bath

    11.4.2.3

      Washing Specimen

    11.4.3

       General Precautions

    11.4.3.1

       Transfer Specimen

    11.4.3.2

       Washing

    11.4.3.3

       Transfer Washed Specimen

    11.4.3.4

      Dry Sieving

    11.4.4

       Sieve Set

    11.4.4.1

       Mechanical Shaking

    11.4.4.2

      Cumulative Material/Mass Retained

    11.4.5

       First Sieve

    11.4.5.1

       Remaining Sieves

    11.4.5.2

     Composite Sieving, Single Separation

    11.5

      Coarser Portion

    11.5.1

       Dispersing and Washing

    11.5.1.1

       Dry Sieving Coarser Portion

    11.5.1.3

      Subspecimen from Finer Portion

    11.5.2

       Dispersing and Washing Subspecimen

    11.5.2.1

       Dry Sieving Subspecimen

    11.5.2.2

     Composite Sieving, Double Separation

    11.6

      Separating 1st Subspecimen

    11.6.1

      Dispersing and Washing 2nd Coarser Portion

    11.6.2

      Dry Sieving 2nd Coarser Portion

    11.6.3

      2nd Subspecimen

    11.6.4

       Dispersing and Washing 2nd Subspecimen

    11.6.4.1

       Dry Sieving 2nd Subspecimen

    11.6.4.2

    Calculations

    12

     General

    12.1

     Sieve Overloading

    12.2

     Single Sieve-Set Sieving, Percent Passing

    12.3

     Composite Sieving, Mass of Specimen

    12.4

     Composite Sieving, Single Separation

    12.5

      Composite Sieving, Coarser Portion (CP)

    12.5.1

       CP, Percent Passing

    12.5.1.1

       CP, Composite Sieving Correction
        Factor (CSCF)

    12.5.1.2

       CP, Acceptable Loss During Washing
        and Sieving

    12.5.1.3

       Composite Sieving, Subspecimen (finer
        portion)

    12.5.2

       Percent Passing, Specimen (combined
        coarser and finer portions)

    12.5.2.1

       Subspecimen, Acceptable Fractional
        Percent Retained

    12.5.2.2

       Percent Passing, Acceptance Criterion

    12.5.2.3

       Finer Portion, Percent Passing (optional)

    12.5.3

     Composite Sieving, Double Separation

    12.6

      1st Coarser Portion

    12.6.1

      1st Subspecimen

    12.6.2

       Percent Passing, 2nd Coarser Portion

    12.6.2.1

       2nd Coarser Portion, Composite Sieving
        Correction Factor (2ndCSCF)

    12.6.2.2

       2nd Coarser Portion, Acceptable Loss on
        Sieving and Washing

    12.6.2.3

       2nd Coarser Portion, Acceptable Fractional
        Percent Retained

    12.6.2.4

       Percent Passing, Acceptance Criterion

    12.6.2.5

      2nd Subspecimen

    12.6.3

       Percent Passing, 2nd Subspecimen

    12.6.3.1

       2nd Subspecimen, Acceptable Fractional
         Percent Retained

    12.6.3.2

       Percent Passing, Acceptance Criterion

    12.6.3.3

      1st Finer Portion, Percent Passing (optional)

    12.6.4

       2nd Finer Portion, Composite Sieving
        Correction Factor (optional)

    12.6.4.1

       2nd Finer Portion, Percent Passing for
        2nd Subspecimen (optional)

    12.6.4.2

    Report: Test Data Sheet(s)/Form(s)

    13

    Precision and Bias

    14

     Precision

    14.1

      Precision Data Analysis

    14.1.1

      Calculation of Precision

    14.1.2

       Acceptance Criterion

    14.1.2.4

      Triplicate Test Precision Data (TTPD)

    14.1.3

       TTPD-Method A Repeatability

    14.1.3.1

       TTPD-Method A Reproducibility

    14.1.3.2

       TTPD-Method B Repeatability

    14.1.3.3

       TTPD-Method B Reproducibility

    14.1.3.4

      Single Test Precision Data (STPD)

    14.1.4

       STPD-Method A Reproducibility

    14.1.4.1

       STPD-Method B Reproducibility

    14.1.4.2

      Soils Type

    14.1.5

      Discussion on Precision

    14.1.6

     Bias

    14.2

    Keywords

    15

    ANNEXES

    Symbols

    Annex A1

    Sample to Specimen Splitting/Reduction Methods

    Annex A2

     General

    A2.1

      Mechanical Splitting

    A2.1.1

      Quartering

    A2.1.2

      Miniature Stockpile Sampling

    A2.1.3

     Sample Processing Recommendation Based
      on Soil Type

    A2.2

      Clean Gravel (GW, GP) and Clean Sand
       (SW, SP)

    A2.2.1

      Gravel with Fines (GM, GC, GC-GM,
       GW-GM, GP-GM, GP-GC)

    A2.2.2

      Sand with Silt Fines (SW-SM, SP-SM,
       SM)

    A2.2.3

      Sand with Clay and Silt Fines or Clay
       Fines (SW-SC, SP-SC, SC, SC-SM)

    A2.2.4

      Silts with Sand or Gravel, or Both (ML,
       MH)

    A2.2.5

      Organic Soils with Sand or Gravel, or
       Both (OL, OH)

    A2.2.6

    APPENDIXES

    Example Test Data Sheets/Forms

    Appendix X1

     General

    X1.1

    Precision: Example Calculations

    Appendix X2

     General

    X2.1

    TABLES and FIGURES

    1.18This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

    General Product Information - (Show below) - (Hide below)

    Committee D 18
    Development Note Supersedes ASTM D 6913. (05/2017)
    Document Type Redline
    Publisher American Society for Testing and Materials
    Status Current
    Supersedes

    Standards Referencing This Book - (Show below) - (Hide below)

    ASTM E 177 : 2014 : REDLINE Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
    ASTM D 1140 : 2017 : REDLINE Standard Test Methods for Determining the Amount of Material Finer than 75-μm (No. 200) Sieve in Soils by Washing
    ASTM D 3740 : 2012-06 PRACTICE FOR MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR AGENCIES ENGAGED IN TESTING AND/OR INSPECTION OF SOIL AND ROCK AS USED IN ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
    ASTM D 7928 : 2017 : REDLINE Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation) of Fine-Grained Soils Using the Sedimentation (Hydrometer) Analysis
    ASTM C 702 : 1998 Standard Practice for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size
    ASTM D 698 : 2013-05 TEST METHODS FOR LABORATORY COMPACTION CHARACTERISTICS OF SOIL USING STANDARD EFFORT (12400 FT-LBF/FT[3] (600 KN-M/M[3]))
    ASTM C 136 : 2006 Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
    ASTM E 11 : 2017 : REDLINE Standard Specification for Woven Wire Test Sieve Cloth and Test Sieves
    ASTM D 4753 : 2015 : REDLINE Standard Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Balances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and Construction Materials Testing
    ASTM D 4220/D4220M : 2014 : REDLINE Standard Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil Samples
    ASTM D 5519 : 2015 : REDLINE Standard Test Methods for Particle Size Analysis of Natural and Man-Made Riprap Materials
    ASTM D 6026 : 2013 : REDLINE Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
    ASTM D 653 : 2014 : REDLINE Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
    View more information

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