The stack of sieves on our mechanical shaker starts with the 4.75 mm opening at the top and narrows down to the 75-micron pan at the base, while the hydrometer cylinder settles nearby in a temperature-controlled bath. In Cleveland, where the glacial history has left a complex sequence of tills, varved clays, and deltaic sands beneath the city streets, this dual-method approach is the only way to build a complete particle-size distribution curve. A sieve alone misses the silt and clay fraction that often controls drainage behavior in the lacustrine deposits underlying neighborhoods from Ohio City to University Circle. The hydrometer picks up where the No. 200 sieve leaves off, measuring settling rates in the 2-micron range, and together the two methods produce the full gradation envelope that feeds into USCS classification per ASTM D2487 and informs everything from compaction specs to permeability estimates for stormwater infiltration designs near the Cuyahoga River.
A complete gradation curve from 75 mm down to 2 microns gives you the soil's drainage fingerprint, and in Cleveland's layered glacial deposits, that fingerprint changes every few feet.
Scope of work in Cleveland
Typical technical challenges in Cleveland
ASTM D6913 and D7928 require strict adherence to sample preparation protocols, and skipping the washing step on the No. 200 sieve is one of the most common errors we catch when reviewing third-party reports from Cleveland projects. Fine-grained glacial tills can retain clay coatings on sand particles that skew the gradation curve toward coarser fractions if not properly dispersed. The hydrometer analysis introduces its own sensitivity: temperature fluctuations in the sedimentation cylinder, incomplete deflocculation, or misreading the meniscus can shift the reported clay fraction by several percentage points. In the context of Cleveland's building code under IBC Chapter 18, a misclassified soil can mean the difference between a spread footing design at 3,000 psf bearing capacity and one that requires overexcavation or deep foundations. For earth retention systems along the Cuyahoga Valley slopes, where silt content governs drainage behavior, an inaccurate grain size analysis translates directly into either overly conservative—and unnecessarily expensive—wall drainage, or under-designed systems that lead to hydrostatic pressure buildup behind the wall face.
Our services
Our Cleveland geotechnical laboratory runs grain size analysis as part of a broader characterization package tailored to the glacial and lacustrine soils that dominate the region. Each test report includes the full gradation curve, USCS classification, and computed coefficients that feed directly into foundation and pavement design parameters.
Combined Sieve and Hydrometer Analysis
Full particle-size distribution from coarse gravel through silt and clay fractions using mechanical sieving followed by ASTM 152H hydrometer sedimentation. We report percent gravel, sand, silt, and clay along with D10, D30, D60, coefficient of uniformity, and coefficient of curvature for every sample.
Wash Sieve and Fines Characterization
For samples with significant silt and clay content, we perform a wash through the No. 200 sieve prior to dry sieving, oven-dry the retained fraction, and run the hydrometer on the passing material. This method is particularly relevant for Cleveland's clay-rich tills where fines percentages often exceed 40 percent.
Quick answers
When is a hydrometer analysis required instead of just a sieve analysis?
A hydrometer analysis is necessary when more than 12 percent of the sample passes the No. 200 sieve, which is very common in Cleveland's glacial tills and lacustrine clays. The sieve analysis alone cannot differentiate between silt and clay, and that distinction matters for USCS classification, permeability estimates, and frost susceptibility evaluation. We run the hydrometer on the minus-No. 200 fraction using ASTM D7928 to capture particle sizes from 75 microns down to about 2 microns, which gives us the silt-clay boundary at 5 microns and allows proper classification of lean clays, fat clays, and silts that occur throughout Cuyahoga County.
How does grain size analysis affect foundation design in Cleveland?
Grain size distribution directly influences soil strength, compressibility, and drainage behavior, all of which feed into bearing capacity and settlement calculations. A well-graded sand with a Cu above 6 will compact densely and drain freely, while a uniform fine sand may be prone to erosion or, if saturated and loose, to liquefaction under seismic loading. The fines content and clay fraction determine whether a soil will consolidate slowly under load, which is critical for predicting long-term settlement in the compressible lacustrine deposits found near the Lake Erie shoreline and in the river valleys.
What sample size do you need for a full sieve and hydrometer test?
For a combined analysis, we typically need about 1,000 grams of material, though the exact mass depends on the maximum particle size. ASTM D6913 specifies minimum sample masses based on the largest particles present. For the fine-grained soils dominant in Cleveland, 500 grams is usually sufficient for the sieve portion, and we take a representative split of the minus-No. 200 fraction for the hydrometer. We can work with bag samples, Shelby tube specimens, or split-spoon samples from SPT drilling, though we recommend sealed containers to preserve natural moisture content.
What does grain size analysis cost in Cleveland?
A combined sieve and hydrometer analysis in Cleveland typically ranges from US$100 to US$180 per sample, depending on whether additional wash sieving, organic content testing, or expedited turnaround is required. The final cost depends on the number of samples and the testing package selected. We provide written quotations before any work begins so there are no surprises. More info.