ABSTRACT
Sands and gravels are classified in the laboratory by carrying out a sieve test. In this test the soil samples are washed, kiln dried, and then run through a set of graded sieves. The soil mass retained on each sieve is recorded and the results are plotted on a particle size distribution chart as shown in Fig. 4.1. From these grading curves it is possible to determine for each soil sample the total percentage of a particular particle size and the percentage of particle sizes larger or smaller than any particular particle size.
