Aggregate analysis of soils. I.-apparatus and method

A sieving machine, based on the principle of the reciprocating movement of a lift, to raise and lower a series of sieves for dry and wet sieving of soils, is described. The machine is portable and can be used in the field with an accumulator. The accuracy of results with this machine is within 1.5%. Two criteria have been used as tests of the correct standardization of speed of the machine: (i) the granular structure of the final aggregates on the sieves and the absence of pasty matter, and (ii) stability curves of the aggregates with time. Results obtained in a study of the stability of aggregates of a soil with this machine are reported.