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6-Soil classification

Presentation · September 2011

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22357.58086

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Yan-feng Zhuang
Tsinghua University
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 Geotechnical Engineering
Yan-feng Zhuang

Associate Professor
in Geotechnical Engineering
School of Civil Engineering
Wuhan University
Wuhan 430072
P.R.China zhuang@tsinghua.edu.cn
 Soil Classification

Purpose: To provide a common language to concisely

express the general characteristics of soils without
detailed descriptions.
Index properties: For engineering purposes, soil
classification systems are based mainly on two index
properties, which are particle-size distribution and
plasticity.
 Soil Classification

Classification systems:
• USDA textural classification
(by U.S. Department of Agriculture )
• AASHTO Classification System
(by American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials)
• Unified Soil Classification System
(by Casagrande)
 USDA textural classification

Based on the particle-size limits as following:

• Sand size: 2.0 (sieve No. 10 ) to 0.05 mm in
diameter
• Silt size: 0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter
• Clay size: smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter
USDA textural classification
 USDA textural classification
The chart above is based on only the fraction of soil that
passes through the No. 10 sieve.
If there is a certain percentage of the soil particles larger
than 2 mm, a correction is required. If soil B is composed
of 20% gravel, 10% sand, 30% silt, and 40% clay, the
modified textural compositions are
 USDA textural classification

On the basis of the preceding modified percentages, the

USDA textural classification is clay.
However, because of the large percentage of gravel, it
may be called gravelly clay.
Connection of particle size distribution curves
Coarse grain
Particle size (mm) Percent passing (%)
0.425 100
0.18 70
0.09 20
0.075 0
Fine grain
Particle size (mm) Percent finer (%)
0.04 82
0.015 47
0.008 30
0.004 19
0.002 12
Mixture of 10% coarse grain + 90% fine grain
Please figure out the particle size distribution curve
 AASHTO and Unified Systems
• Limitation of the USDA textural classification is that
it is based on the particle size distribution only.
• However, the amount and type of clay minerals
present in fine-grained soils dictate to a great extent
their physical properties.
• Therefore, AASHTO and Unified systems take into
consideration the plasticity (Atterberg limits) together
with particle-size distribution.
 AASHTO and Unified Systems

• 0.075mm (sieve No. 200 ) is the boundary size for

classification of sand and silt and 0.002mm is that for
silt and clay.
• PI=10 is the boundary for classification of silt and
clay.
 Chinese Standard (GB50007-2002)

• Similar to the US standard, 0.075mm (sieve No. 200 )

is the boundary for sand and silt.
• PI=10 is the boundary for classification of silt and
clay.
• For 10<PI<17: silty clay; PI>17 clay
• A<0.75: inactive clay; A=0.75-1.25 clay; A>1.25
active clay.
The missing tables in
P105-107
The missing tables in P105-107
The missing tables in P105-107
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