The Fineness modulus (FM) is an empirical figure obtained by adding the total percentage of the sample of an aggregate retained on each of a specified series of sieves, and dividing the sum by 100. The sieve sizes are 150μ, 300μ, 600μ, 1.18 mm, 2.36 mm, 4.75 mm, 9.5 mm, 19.0 mm, 38.1 mm and larger increasing in the ratio of 2:1. The same value of fineness modulus may therefore be obtained from several different particle size distributions. In general, however, a smaller value indicates a finer aggregate. Fine aggregates range from a FM of 2.00 to 4.00, and coarse aggregates smaller than 38.1 mm range from 6.50 to 8.00. Combinations of fine and coarse aggregates have intermediate values.
Fineness modulus of combined aggregates
Fineness modulus of combined aggregates is always between the Fineness modulus of aggregates combined. it is given by the formula:
here
ratio X of fine aggregate on coarse aggregate in combined aggregate can be found by:
proportion of fine aggregate Y in percentage can be calculated by: