Applies to QEST Web App

This article provides an overview of the Sieve Portion Preparation section in QEST Web App sieve analysis worksheets.

- 1.1 Sieve Portion Preparation
- 1.2 Additional Trays
2 Portion Sieving
- 2.1 Sieve Set Selection
- 2.2 Buttons
- 2.3 PSD Grid
  - 2.3.1 Sieve ID
  - 2.3.2 Individual Mass Retained & Cumulative Mass Retained
  - 2.3.3 Individual Maximum Masses
  - 2.3.4 Limits
- 2.4 Sieving in Parts
- 2.5 Related Articles

Sieve Portion Preparation

The appearance of this section can differ by test method.

This section records all the information required to describe how a test portion is prepared for sieving. Of particular interest is how the total dry mass of the test portion used in the sieve analysis test is determined and calculated.

As mentioned in previous articles, selections available in the Specimen Preparation section https://spectraqest.atlassian.net/wiki/x/BAESwgcan make changes to the structure and content of this section, especially in relation to how the dry mass of the test portion is determined. The options available and the changes made will depend on the actual test method being used.

While there are sieve analysis worksheets that share some similar functionality, the contents of this section is highly dependent on the test method’s requirements. This leads to a high variability between worksheets and reference to the article directly relating to the test method of interest is required for details.

Additional Trays

This button allows the use of multiple trays to weigh the initial sample if it is quite large.

If the Add Tray button is clicked by mistake, removing the extra tray (by clicking above it) will reset the section to its previous state.

Portion Sieving

The appearance of this section can differ by test method.

Depending on the number of separations applied, the worksheet will have one or more Portion Sieving sections. All sieving operations on a worksheet are recorded in one, or more, of these sections.

All Portion Sieving sections essentially have the same format:

Sample/portion mass information
Equipment selection
- balance, sieve set
Buttons
- Add Sieve, Sieve in Parts, Manage Separations, Refresh Sieves
PSD grid.

Sieve Set Selection

Unless a specification has been selected to be used for adding sieves, the initial step in a worksheet sieving operation is to select a suitable sieve set for the operation.

Sieve sets are stored as QEST Equipment items and can be accessed like any other equipment item. For information about the Sieve Set equipment item, refer to Sieve and Sieve Set Properties

Selecting a Sieve Set populates the sieve column in the PSD grid.

If a suitable Sieve Set is not available, sieves can be added manually to the grid by using the Add Sieve button, or by using a specification.

If the selected Sieve Set has a designated size set on its equipment properties, this will be imported into the Sieve Set Size field.

If not, a dropdown list will be visible to select a Sieve Set Size.

The value in Sieve Set Size becomes the default sieve frame size for sieves added manually to the section.

Buttons

The row of buttons provides access to various worksheet operations.

Selection	Action

Selection	Action
	If required, this button allows a sieve, not present in the selected Sieve Set, to be added. Also, if a suitable Sieve Set is not available, sieves can be added individually to the grid by using the button. Sieves added in this way will be assigned the same value for sieve frame size that is assigned to the field Sieve Set Size.
	When the mass retained on a sieve exceeds its allowed maximum, use this button to provide extra spaces to record the mass as sub-portions. See Sieving in Parts, below, for more details.
	This button has the same functionality as the button, with the same label, in the Test Preparation section Managing Sieve Analysis Separations (Sample Splitting) \| Managing Separations .
	This button has the same functionality as the button, with the same label, in the Test Preparation section Adding Sieves, Refreshing Sieves \| Refreshing Sieves

PSD Grid

Sieve ID

The information in this field is technically optional, in that the calculations will proceed successfully, whether anything is shown here, or not.
For a value to be shown here, the required sieve must be entered into the Equipment List.

Individual Mass Retained & Cumulative Mass Retained

Both of these are always present.
One is available for data entry, the other is calculated, depending on the selection made for the Sieve Retained Masses Are option, in the Test Preparation sectionhttps://spectraqest.atlassian.net/wiki/x/wIAUwg .

Selection	Result

Selection	Result

Individual Maximum Masses

These values are the limits placed on the amount of material that can be processed on a single sieve during the sieving operation. The values of these limits are not uniform across all test methods, but are generally similar, and are typically calculated using sieve aperture size and area of available sieving screen.

For a value to be shown here, the Sieve Set Size field must have a value.

When a sieve has been overloaded, the value for the limit will be displayed in red and an error message will be displayed.

If overloading of a sieve occurs, the worksheet provides a process to complete sieving the fraction by using sub-portions. This process is initiated by clicking the Sieve in Parts button.

Limits

If a specification has been applied to the sample, the limits will be displayed next to each result to which it applies.

If a calculated percentage for an individual sieve is outside the limits, that value, and the limits, will be highlighted in red.

An error message is also displayed.

For more details about Specifications, see the article Managing Specifications .

Sieving in Parts

As mentioned above, this is a solution for the problem of overloaded sieves.

Clicking the Sieve in Parts button, when the weighing method Sieve Weighing Method, Weighing Pan Masses, Calculation Method | Sieve Weighing Method is Individual, adds two extra columns to the grid:

One for adding a second mass retained;
The other for displaying the total mass retained for the sieve.

Clicking the Sieve in Parts button, when the weighing method is Cumulative, adds an extra column to the grid for adding a second mass retained.

If the amount of material to be sieved is more than twice the amount allowed on a single sieve, additional masses can be added by clicking the Sieve in Parts button again, for as many times as needed.

QEST Platform 5.6 Documentation

Sieve Portion Preparation, Portion Sieving, Sieve Set Selection, Sieving in Parts

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