What are the two options to prevent the heavy sample requirement from overloading the sieve?

To prevent the heavy sample requirement from overloading the sieve, portioning the sample into smaller increments and adding intermediate sieves is an effective approach. This method allows for a more manageable distribution of material across the sieves, ensuring that they are not overwhelmed by the weight of a large sample. By breaking down the sample into smaller portions, the analysis can maintain accuracy and efficiency during the sieving process.

Adding intermediate sieves is particularly beneficial in this context, as it provides more points of separation for the aggregate sizes, allowing for an improved granulation of results. This method enhances the ability to assess different sizes accurately without risking the integrity of the sieve or the quality of the test results.

Using a single larger sample could potentially exacerbate the issue of overload on the sieves, while simply reducing the sample size does not address the need for comprehensive analysis across various aggregate sizes. Employing only coarser aggregates may limit the analysis to one specific range, which could overlook finer materials essential for a complete understanding of the aggregate composition.