A sieve is a mechanical device used to separate samples of different sizes.
Sieve sizes typically used for Superpave mix design are 1½ in, 1.0 in, ¾ in, ½ in, 3/8 in, No. 4, No. 8, No. 16, No. 30, No. 50, No. 100 and No. 200 (37.5, 25.0, 19.0, 12.5, 9.5, 4.75, 2.36, 1.18, 0.600, 0.300, 0.150 and 0.075 mm) sieves. Assemble the sieves in order of decreasing size of opening from top to bottom and place the nest of sieves over a pan (Video 1).
Video 1: Assembling the sieve nest.
The sample is poured into the top sieve in the nest (Figure 1).
After the sample is loaded, the material is sieved in a mechanical sieve shaker (Figure 2 and Video 2).
Video 2: Shaking an aggregate sample.