CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

The concept of sieve shaking began with early Egyptians when they sieve grain, it

can be considered as the backbone of particle size technology. Throughout its history,

sieving has been deployed in many fields (mostly used for grading grain). As sieving was

introduced to industry, volumes of diverse specifications emerged. Specifications naming

frame construction and mesh sizes began to proliferate. These prerequisite set parameters

for sieve types. Sieving’s continuing popularity is due to the technique’s fundamentally

simple principle and methodology, historical reference and cost effectiveness. Later

instructions for manually sieved grain become more detailed and the following processes

are now being prescribed by ASTM.

Sieve Analysis or Gradation Test is a procedure used to access the particle size

distribution of granular materials (mostly Sand or Gravels) and the fineness modulus of

aggregates. Concrete mix designs can be influenced by the size of aggregates to be used.

Particle size distribution, also known as gradation, is used to classify soils for engineering

and agricultural purposes, since particle size influences how fast or slow water or other

fluid moves through a soil.

Sieve Shaker is an instrument/equipment used to provide motion to a sample in a

test sieve. An effective shaker creates a sieve motion that presents all the particles inside

to all the sieve openings to pass through.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Problem with performing the sieve process by hands and Manual Sieve Shakers

is that it may not give you consistent results because it is impossible to replicate the same

movement and strength used every trial and while there are already available instruments

known as automated sieve shakers, the operators still needs to take note of how long the

sieve process takes and the intensity is already fixed.

Here in the Tarlac State University, Sieve Analysis is a major part of the courses

Soil Mechanics and Construction Materials in the engineering curriculum. However,

according to our professors, the Automated Sieve Shaker in TSU has lost most of its parts

and is no longer functional. There is also a Manual Sieve Shaker but it is already outdated

during this period of time.

The primary objective of this research is to design and develop a sieve shaker that improves

the effectiveness of the sieve process.

1.) To have a more efficient sieving process by having to control the intensity.

2.) To Analyze the efficiency of the sieve shaker device through its time process.

3.) To have Consistency in terms of results.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

By successfully creating the Sieve Shaker, practicing the sieve process and studying

sieve analysis and its significance will be much easier as it offer lesser work since can do

its purpose unattended with just a click of the buttons. The following specifications and

features are implemented under the supervision of Engr. Yoshio Otsuka, Engr. Aldrin

Taduran, Engr. Don Sanvictores, Engr. Fernando Lacsina and Engr. Gener Chalwangco.

Since the instrument will be provided to Tarlac State University after the research

study, engineering students will be able to use it for their courses Soil Mechanics and

Construction Materials.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

Our study focuses on designing and developing a sieve shaker that improves the

effectiveness of the sieve process. Our sieve shaker offers a variety of features like Selector

Switch for the control of Intensity and Digital Timer to set how long is the sieving process.

Since it is automated, we have confidence that the results are consistent. It can fit up to 10

Sieves and can carry a maximum load of 10 kg. Though we come up and studied the Idea

and Designs, most of the Mechanical and Electronic parts of the instrument will made

under the guidance of the experts in that field. It has two platforms, the bottom part is to

provide a seesaw movement while the upper part is to provide a circular movement to

properly sieve the soil. There is also a detachable plate in the base in case a maintenance

is required
DEFINITION OF TERMS

a) Sieve Analysis - procedure used to access the particle size distribution of granular

materials (mostly Sand or Gravels) and the fineness modulus of aggregates.

b) Soil Mechanics – study about the properties and behavior of soil

c) Construction Materials – study of materials and apparatus used in construction.

d) ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials

e) Fineness Modulus Aggregates – which is generally measured in percentage helps

in finding maximum amount of aggregates lying in one particular size of sieve of

given total aggregate.

f) Silt - granular material of a size between sand and clay. Silt may occur as a soil

(often mixed with sand or clay) or as sediment mixed in suspension with water.

g) Sand - granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. It

is defined by size, being finer than gravel and coarser than silt.

h) Gravel - loose aggregation of rock fragments

i) Effective Diameter – D10 is said to be the effective diameter for sieving process.
 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES AND LITERATURE

Existing Manual Sieve Shaker in Tarlac State University

The Tarlac State University has an available Manual Sieve Shaker for students to

use however it is already out dated compared to the modern sieve shaker available now in

the market. It can fit up to 7 sieves and Intensity depends on the operator on how strongthey

will spin the handle.

Existing Manual Sieve Shaker in the DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways has a Manual Sieve Shaker mainly

used for testing and comparison. It is identical to the Manual Sieve Shaker that the Tarlac

State University owns.

Existing Automated Sieve Shaker in the DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways also has an Automated Sieve

Shaker. Compared to the Automated Sieve Apparatus the Tarlac State Univeristy owns, it

is more modernized. According to engineers in charge, it provides more consisted and

accurate results compared to the manual sieve shaker and sieving process done by hands.

It has Fixed Intensity, a Time Indicator and can fit up to 8 sieves. The Instrument alone

cost approximately 130,000 php.

 Laboratory Sieve Shaker

The Laboratory Sieve Shaker will quickly and efficiently size laboratory products,

thus allowing the determination of various important treatment factors. Results of

sizing tests and analyses of sized products will determine such important factors.

By: L D Michaud

 Automatic Sieve Shaker for determining Soil Aggregate Stability and Dimension

using a Vertical Oscillation System.

The Author has developed an original model of automatic sieve-shaker using a

vertical oscillation system to the aim of an its possible use to determine the soil

aggregate stability and dimensional distribution. According to Dell’Aquilla R., the

proposed sieve-shaker with the introduction of some innovations realizes the

submersion and leveling of the soil samples using a lifter to support the containers

with the water.

By: Dell’Aquila, R. (2007)

 Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering 3rd Edition

By: Braja M. Das

 Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice 3rd Edition

By: Karl Terzhagi, Ralph B. Peck, Gholamreza Mesri

 Fundamentals of Soil Mechanics

By: Donald W. Taylor

 Smith’s Elements of Soil Mechanics

By: Wiley Blackwell

 Soil Mechanics and Foundations 16th Edition

By: Dr. B. C. Punmia, Ashok Kumar Jain, Arun Kumar Jain

 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION

This study was conducted in order to provide a more economical version of Sieve

Shaker with better specifications than the ordinary shakers that can be bought locally. The

researchers of Tarlac State University who have conducted this study, gathered data and

knowledge from the previous thesis found online and the existing study here in Tarlac State

University.The credibility of findings and conclusions extensively depend on the research

design, data collection, data management and data analysis. This chapter is dedicated to

the description of methods and procedures done to develop the Improvised Sieve Shaker.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The first step was to consult with an Electronics Engineer, Mechanical Engineer

and our Thesis Professor. By doing so, we learned how we can make our design possible

and how it truly works in their views as electronics and mechanical engineers. They also

gave ideas about the other possible additional features we can input.

We visited many hard wares and mechanic shops to ask for the materials we needed

and also to know how each material affects the instrument. During break times on school

days, we search for possible references on Sieve Shakers to have an idea about the existing

sieve shakers and know what they lack so we may continue to innovate them.

After the construction of the equipment, we will perform at least 3 trials and record

the results, and test it sieving under different intensity level and time. We will also perform

tests on the sieve shakers of Tarlac State University and DPWH so that we will be able to
compare it with our fabricated soil sieve shaker to know how well our instrument will fare

against them. By doing this, we will be also able to prove the importance of the added

features we included in our instrument.

In the mechanical parts of the sieve shaker, there are two parts which are the bottom

part which consists of the motor and pillow block to produce a seesaw movement while

the upper part consists of another motor to produce circular movement through the pulley

that rotates the shafts.

In the electronic parts that operates the sieve shaker, we installed Digital Timer to

set how long the sieve process will take and Selector Switch for Intensity to set the speed.

There will be LED light to indicate if the sieve process is done.

SUBJECT OF THE STUDY

The Main Subject of this study is The Improvised Sieve Shaker. First, how can we

make this more economical but better? We identify how exactly the Sieve Shakers on local
Co
market works, and by doing so we found a way to replicate how it works by using the idea ver
how washing machine or electric fans works, it is after all runs almost the same as how /Pl
sieve shakers work so we tried to replicate the main idea behind those appliances.
ate

Second, how can we make it more versatile and what helpful features can we

successfully include without affecting the sieve process too much? While the sieve process
Thr
is the heart of the study when it comes to the Sieve Analysis/gradation Test, there are also
ead
some things that must be considered like “How long the sieve process took, how many ed
aggregates were sieved during that time, what is its weight, and etc. therefore we focused Rod
on developing possible ways to meet those kind of requirements. And lastly, the importance

Vibra
Bating
sePlate
 of the sieve analysis which the sieve shaker is for. The Idea leads the researchers to conduct

an experiment trusting that it will yield good results.

APPARATUS

Threaded Rod

Cover Plate Wing Nut

Shaft
Pulley

Spring A
Spring B
Motor

Digital Display Base Part

Digital Controller
Switch

Front View
Isometric View Isometric View
with Cover without Cover
Threaded Rod

Wing Nut
Cover Plate

Base Plate

Shaft
Pulley

Tilting Plate Spring A

Spring Motor
B

Base Part

Back View
 Isometric View Front View

1 2
14
1
16
2

13 3
12
4 13
11
5 4 14
10

9 6 11

9 10

8
7 15
7
8

1 It serves as the lock to hold the sieve 9 This produces the tilting

2 To support the sieve stack 10 To support the tilting of the second plate

3 To prevent the sieve from being scratched 11 This base plate tilts to help the first base plate to sieve
the soil

4 It guides the first plate to move in circular motion 12 It supports the first belt to produce circular motion

5 This produces the circular movement 13 This base plate moves in circular motion

6 Provides support for the first and second plate 14 To hold and cover the sieve stack

7 To input the time needed 15 To turn on and to turn off the machine

8 The base of the machine itself

 27.5 in
in

46 in

4.8 in

7.5 in
17.6 in
 THREADED ROD DETAILS

SET 1 SET 3
HEIGHT: 70 cm HEIGHT: 30 cm

SET 2 Diameter of rod:

HEIGHT: 60 cm 3/8 in
Block Diagram

Seesaw Stepper Motor

Micro Power Supply

Power Supply Motor Driver
Controller Motor Driver

Micro
LCD
Controller Keypad

Button 1 Button 2 Button 3

LED
Indicator