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
English
18-05-2017
Important note : All end users must be registered with an Account prior to user licenses being assigned.CONTAINED IN VOL. 04.09, 2017 Pertains to separate particles into size ranges and to determine quantitatively the mass of particles in each range.
| Committee |
D 18
|
| DevelopmentNote |
Supersedes ASTM D 6913. (05/2017)
|
| DocumentType |
Redline
|
| Pages |
34
|
| PublisherName |
American Society for Testing and Materials
|
| Status |
Current
|
| Supersedes |
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 | 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 | 12.5.1.2 |
| CP, Acceptable Loss During Washing | 12.5.1.3 |
| Composite Sieving, Subspecimen (finer | 12.5.2 |
| Percent Passing, Specimen (combined | 12.5.2.1 |
| Subspecimen, Acceptable Fractional | 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 | 12.6.2.2 |
| 2nd Coarser Portion, Acceptable Loss on | 12.6.2.3 |
| 2nd Coarser Portion, Acceptable Fractional | 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 | 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 | 12.6.4.1 |
| 2nd Finer Portion, Percent Passing for | 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 | A2.2 |
| Clean Gravel (GW, GP) and Clean Sand | A2.2.1 |
| Gravel with Fines (GM, GC, GC-GM, | A2.2.2 |
| Sand with Silt Fines (SW-SM, SP-SM, | A2.2.3 |
| Sand with Clay and Silt Fines or Clay | A2.2.4 |
| Silts with Sand or Gravel, or Both (ML, | A2.2.5 |
| Organic Soils with Sand or Gravel, or | 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.
| 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 |
Access your standards online with a subscription
Features
-
Simple online access to standards, technical information and regulations.
-
Critical updates of standards and customisable alerts and notifications.
-
Multi-user online standards collection: secure, flexible and cost effective.