When conducting a sieve analysis, what factor is primarily being determined?

In a sieve analysis, the primary objective is to determine the aggregate gradation, which refers to the distribution of particle sizes within a given sample of material. This process involves passing the sample through a series of sieves with progressively smaller openings and measuring the amount of material retained on each sieve.

Understanding aggregate gradation is crucial for various applications, particularly in construction and materials engineering, as it influences the structural integrity, workability, and durability of concrete and other composite materials. Proper gradation ensures that a mixture has adequate interlock among particles, leading to optimal performance under load and reducing the likelihood of voids or weakness within the material.

While moisture content, specific gravity, and compressibility are important properties in the study of materials, they are not the focus of a sieve analysis. Instead, moisture content affects the weight and consistency of the material, specific gravity relates to the density of the particles relative to water, and compressibility refers to how much a material will deform under pressure. Each of these characteristics may be evaluated using different tests, but they do not pertain directly to the particle size distribution determined in sieve analysis.