What size sieve for soil?

Monday August-04 2025  16:33:06

Size sieve for soil mainly involves the sieve frame diameter and the sieve hole size. Commonly used sieve frame diameters are 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, etc. The choice of sieve frame diameter depends on the number of soil samples to be screened and the specific requirements of the experiment. For small sample amounts, a sieve frame with a smaller diameter can be selected; for large sample amounts, a sieve frame with a larger diameter needs to be selected.

The aperture range of standard soil sieves is usually between 0.075mm and 60mm. Specific apertures include but are not limited to: 0.075mm, 0.25mm, 0.5mm, 1mm, 2mm, 5mm, 10mm, 20mm, 40mm, 60mm, etc. These different apertures are used to separate soil particles of different sizes. For example, a 1mm sieve can be used to screen out dust powder in the soil, while a 3mm sieve can screen out soil particles of 1-3 mm in size.

In addition, standard soil sieves usually consist of a set of sieves with multiple sieves of different apertures to facilitate a series of graded screening. For example, a set of standard soil sieves may include 10 sieves of different apertures plus a top cover and a bottom cover.

Common soil sieve sizes

200 mesh (0.075mm aperture): used to separate extremely fine soil particles, such as clay particles. In soil texture analysis, it can help distinguish the amount of clay in the soil. For example, when studying the water retention and nutrient adsorption capacity of the soil, the clay content is an important indicator because clay particles have a larger specific surface area and can absorb more water and nutrients.

100 mesh (0.15mm aperture): can separate particles slightly larger than 200 mesh, usually used for preliminary screening of fine particles in soil. In some soil sample preparation processes, a 100 mesh sieve is first used to screen to remove larger impurities, and then a finer sieve is used for further separation.

60 mesh (0.25mm aperture): used to separate fine sand and silt in soil. In soil texture classification, the distinction between silt and fine sand is important for judging the air permeability and water permeability of soil. For example, soil with a high silt content has a water permeability between clay and sand.

40 mesh (0.425mm aperture): can separate larger soil particles, such as coarse sand. In the construction industry, for some projects that require sand as filling material, a 40 mesh sieve can be used to screen out the appropriate sand particle size to ensure the performance of the filling material.

20 mesh (0.85mm aperture): used to separate gravel and coarse sand. In water conservancy projects, for the analysis of riverbed soil, a 20-mesh sieve can help determine the gravel content, which is important for evaluating the stability of the riverbed and the scouring effect of water flow.

10 mesh (2mm aperture): used to separate larger gravel and small stones. In the agricultural field, for some operations that require land leveling, a 10-mesh sieve can be used to screen out larger stones so that they can be removed to ensure the farming conditions of the land.

Conversion of sieve size and mesh number

Net	Aperture (mm)	Net	Aperture (mm)	Net	Aperture (mm)
2 mesh	12.5	45 mesh	0.4	220 mesh	0.065
3 Mesh	8	50mesh	0.355	240mesh	0.063
4 mesh	6	55 mesh	0.315	250 mesh	0.061
5 mesh	6	60 mesh	0.28	280 mesh	0.055
6 mesh	4	65 mesh	0.25	300 mesh	0.050
8 mesh	3	70 mesh	0.224	320 mesh	0.045
10 mesh	2	75 mesh	0.2	325 mesh	0.043
12 mesh	1.6	80 mesh	0.18	340 mesh	0.041
14 mesh	1.43	90 mesh	0.16	360 Head	0.040
16 mesh	1.25	100 mesh	0.154	400 mesh	0.0385
18 mesh	1	110 mesh	0.15	500 mesh	0.0308
20 mesh	0.9	120 mesh	0.125	600 mesh	0.026
24 mesh	0.8	130 mesh	0.112	800 mesh	0.022
26 mesh	0.71	140 mesh	0.105	900 mesh	0.020
28 mesh	0.68	150 mesh	0.100	10 00 mesh	0.015
30 mesh	0.6	160 mesh	0.096	1800 mesh	0.010
32 mesh	0.58	180 mesh	0.09	2000 mesh	0.008
35 mesh	0.50	190 mesh	0.08	2300 mesh	0.005
40 mesh	0.45	200 mesh	0.074	2800 mesh	0.003

Size sieve for soil specifications

Testing Sieve Specification
Sieve Material		Brass, AISI304/316/316L,galvanized,etc.
Technology		Woven
Standard		ASTM E11-09      ISO3310-1
Sieve Diameter		3" 6" 8" 10" 12" 200mm 300mm
Frame	Material	Brass , stainless steel ,etc.
	Height (full)	1-3/4'' -- 2-5/8''
Aperture shape		Square
Mesh opening / Aperture		5--500mesh    10--200μm

International standard Size sieve for soil

ASTM E11		ISO 565/3310-1
Standard	Alternate	Size
100.0mm	4in	-
90.0mm	3 1/2in	-
75.0mm	3in	-
63.0mm	2 1/2in	63.0mm
-	-	56.0mm
53.0mm	2.12in	53.0mm
50.0mm	2in	50.0mm
45.0mm	1 3/4in	45.0mm
-	-	40.0mm
37.5mm	1 1/2in	37.5mm
-	-	35.5mm
31.5mm	1 1/4in	31.5mm
-	-	28.0mm
26.5mm	1.06in	26.5mm
25.0mm	1in	25.0mm
22.4mm	7/8in	22.4mm
-	-	20.0mm
19.0mm	3/4in	19.0mm
18.0mm	-	18.0mm
16.0mm	5/8in	16.0mm
-	-	14.0mm
13.2mm	0.530in	13.2mm
12.5mm	1/2in	12.5mm
11.2mm	7/16in	11.2mm
-	-	10.0mm
9.5mm	3/8in	9.5mm
-	-	9.0mm
8.0mm	5/16in	8.0mm
-	-	7.1mm
6.7mm	0.265in	6.7mm
6.3mm	1/4in	6.3mm
5.6mm	No. 3 1/2	5.6mm
-	-	5.0mm
4.75mm	No.4	4.75mm
-	-	4.50mm
4.00mm	No.5	4.00mm
3.55mm	-	3.55mm
3.35mm	No.6	3.35mm
-	1/8in*	-
3.15mm	-	3.15mm
2.80mm	No.7	2.80mm
-	-	2.50mm
2.36mm	No.8	2.36mm
2.00mm	No.10	2.00mm
-	-	1.80mm
1.70mm	No.12	1.70mm
-	-	1.60mm
1.40mm	No.14	1.40mm
-	-	1.25mm
1.18mm	No.16	1.18mm
-	-	1.12mm
1.00mm	No.18	1.00mm
-	-	900µm
850μm	No.20	850µm
-	-	800µm
710μm	No.25	710µm
-	-	630µm
600μm	No.30	600µm
-	-	560µm
500μm	No.35	500µm
-	-	450µm
425μm	No.40	425µm
-	-	400µm
355μm	No.45	355µm
-	-	315µm
300μm	No.50	300µm
-	-	280µm
250μm	No.60	250µm
-	-	224µm
212μm	No.70	212µm
-	-	200µm
180μm	No.80	180µm
-	-	160µm
150μm	No.100	150µm
-	-	140µm
125μm	No.120	125µm
-	-	112µm
106μm	No.140	106µm
-	-	100µm
90μm	No.170	90µm
-	-	80µm
75μm	No.200	75µm
-	-	71µm
63μm	No.230	63µm
-	-	56µm
53μm	No.270	53µm
-	-	50µm
45μm	No.325	45µm
-	-	40µm
38μm	No.400	38µm
-	-	36µm
32µm	No.450	32µm
25µm	No.500	25µm
20µm	No.635	20µm

Precautions for using soil sieve

Preparation before screening: Before screening the soil, the soil needs to be air-dried to remove the moisture. Because wet soil particles tend to stick together, affecting the accuracy of screening. At the same time, make sure that there are no large impurities in the soil, such as plant roots, plastic fragments, etc., which may block the sieve holes and interfere with the screening process.

Sieving operation: Place the soil sample on the sieve and gently vibrate the sieve to allow the soil particles to pass through the sieve holes. The amplitude of vibration should not be too large to avoid damaging the screen or splashing soil particles. For finer sieves, such as 200 mesh sieves, it may take a long time to vibrate to allow most of the fine particles to pass through the sieve holes. During the screening process, pay attention to the condition of the screen. If the sieve holes are found to be blocked, they should be cleaned in time.

Post-screening treatment: After the screening is completed, collect the soil particles on and under the sieve separately. For the soil particles on the sieve, further analysis or treatment can be carried out as needed. For the soil particles under the sieve, if further separation is required, a finer sieve can be used to continue screening. At the same time, the sieved soil particles should be marked and recorded for subsequent research or application.

Applications of Size sieve for soil

Size sieve for soil, also commonly known as a soil particle size analysis sieve, is a tool used to perform particle size analysis on soil samples. Its core application is to classify and evaluate soils based on particle size. Specifically, its applications include soil texture classification. Sieving soil through a series of sieves with varying apertures can separate particles of varying sizes, such as sand, silt, and clay. Determining the percentage of particles of different sizes allows for accurate soil texture classification according to international or national standards. In civil engineering and geological engineering, soil particle distribution is a key parameter for predicting its physical and mechanical behavior. Sieve analysis can assess soil gradation and determine whether the particle size distribution is uniform. For example, "well-graded" soil typically has a high density and is suitable for foundation material, while "poorly graded" soil may contain more porosity and require treatment. Soil sieving is also widely used in environmental science. Sieving can separate soil particles of varying sizes, allowing analysis of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and other contaminants in each particle size fraction. Because fine particles (clay) generally have stronger adsorption capacity, this fractionation analysis helps more accurately assess the distribution and migration risk of pollutants. In soil remediation projects, it is sometimes necessary to sort contaminated soil by particle size to remove heavily contaminated fine particles, thereby reducing treatment costs. Agricultural researchers and farmers also use soil sieving techniques. Understanding soil texture helps select crops suitable for specific soil types and develop appropriate tillage and irrigation plans. Soil texture affects fertilizer retention. Sieving analysis allows for more informed application of fertilizers and soil amendments to improve soil fertility and promote crop growth. In short, size sieve for soil is a fundamental tool for obtaining soil particle distribution data. This data is crucial for understanding soil physical, chemical, and engineering properties, and is widely used in research, engineering, the environment, and agriculture.

Calculation formula for Size sieve for soil

For #8 sieve,

Sieve weight = 491.8 gm

Sieve + soil weight = 504 gm

Weight of soil retained = (504 – 491.8) = 12.2 gm

Percent retained= $2.2/300 × 100 = 4.07%

Cumulative percent retained= 0 + 4.07 = 4.07%

Percent finer= 100 – 4.07= 95.93%

The grain-size distribution of the soil sample can be obtained by plotting the percent finer with the corresponding sieve on semi-log graph paper, as shown below. An example of the grain-size distribution curve is shown in Figure 3.7.

he values of D10, D30, and D60, which are the diameters that correspond to the percentfiner of 10%, 30%, and 60%, respectively can be determined from the grain-size distributioncurve. The values of the uniformity coefficient Cu and the coefficient of gradation Cc can be calculated using the following equations:

The values of Cu and Cc are used to classify whether the soil is well-graded or not. Sand isconsidered well-graded, if Cu is greater than 6 and Cc is between 1 and 3. For gravel to be considered as well-graded, Cu should be greater than 4 and Cc should be between 1 and 3.

From Figure 3.5,

D10= 0.18, D30= 0.35, and D60= 0.61

Uniformity coefficent, Cu=D60/D10=0.61/0.18=3.39

Coefficent of gradation, Cc= (D230)/(D60×D10)=(0.35)2/(0.61×0.18) =1.12

In short, the size of the soil sieve should be determined according to the specific purpose and requirements of the soil analysis. The correct use of the soil sieve can effectively help us understand the physical properties of the soil and provide important data support for the research and application of the soil.