Sõelanalüüs

Sõelanalüüs, also known as sieve analysis or screen analysis, is a method used to determine the particle size distribution of a granular material. It involves passing a sample of the material through a series of sieves with progressively smaller mesh sizes. The sieves are stacked in order, with the largest mesh at the top and the smallest at the bottom. The material is placed on the top sieve and the stack is agitated, usually by shaking or rolling, for a specific period.

After agitation, the material retained on each sieve is collected and weighed. The weight of the material on each sieve, expressed as a percentage of the total sample weight, represents the proportion of particles within that particular size range. The results of a sõelanalüüs are often presented graphically as a particle size distribution curve, which plots the cumulative percentage of material finer than a given particle size against the particle size itself.

Sõelanalüüs is widely used in various industries, including construction, mining, agriculture, and environmental science. In construction, it is used to characterize aggregates for concrete and asphalt. In mining, it helps in controlling crushing and grinding processes. In agriculture, it is applied to soil analysis and grain grading. The method is relatively simple, cost-effective, and provides essential information for material characterization, process control, and quality assessment. However, it is most effective for materials where particle shape is not a dominant factor and for particles that do not significantly clog the sieve mesh.