Electromagnetic Tapper for Use in Sieve Analysis of Sands with Comparisons to Other Mechanical and Hand Agitation Methods

B hand agitation of the nest of sieves in the mechanical analysis of sands is a tedious and time-consuming process, a variety of mechanical rotating and tapping devices have been proposed for this purpose. A number of disadvantages of such devices have been noted, including bulk, weight, expensiveness, or ineffectiveness in producing complete separation, especially in passage of finer sands through the finer sieves. Several workers concerned with sieve analysis of sands have indicated an interest in the possible effectiveness of an electromagnetic method of sieve agitation. Two or more commercial sieving devices operate on this principle. In an effort to evaluate several of these methods for soil materials, and to overcome some.of the disadvantages mentioned, a simple, inexpensive, electromagnetic tapping device was applied to the problem and compared to other methods.