Week 4: Soil Classification

I. Introduction:
A soil classification system is the arrangement of different soils having similar properties into
groups and subgroups based on their application. It provides a common language to express
briefly the general characteristics of soils. Common classification system that is being used today
are from; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

II. Objective

III. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

AASHTO -
American
USDA - United
Association of USCS - Unified
States
State Highway Soil Classification
Department of
and System
Agriculture
Transportation
Officials

USDA Textural Classification System

Soil texture refers to the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay particle sizes, irrespective of
chemical or mineralogical composition. Sandy soils are called coarse-textured, and clay-rich soils
are called fine-textured. Loam is a textural class representing about one-fifth clay, with sand and
silt sharing the remainder equally.

The USDA textural classification system identifies the soil on the classification chart shown below
done on the basis of texture (percentage of sand, clay and silt particles without consideration for
other properties such as plasticity. The classification is done by following the percentage lines
(horizontal for sand, diagonal for silt on clay) on the chart. The intersection of these lines defines
the type of soil.

As shown in the figure, each side of a triangle is divided into 100 parts, representing the
percentage of three soil constituents: clay, silt, and sand. A point within a triangle indicates the
percentage of these constituents, the sum which adds up to 100%.

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 The classification system is based only on the percentage of sand, clay and silt in the sample;
the effect of gravel and larger materials is deducted thus;

Sand clay
% Sand = 100% % clay = 100%
100-Gravel 100-Gravel

Sand
% silt = 100%
100-Gravel

Example 1:
A soil particle has the following particle size distribution: 7% sand, 19% gravel, 50% silt
and 24% clay. Using the USDA method determine the following:
a) percentage of sand
b) percentage of silt
c) Percentage of clay
d) classification of soil
Solution

a.) percentage of sand

Sand 7
% Sand = 100% % Sand = 100% %𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 8.64%
100-Gravel 100-19

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 b.) Percentage of Silt Clay
Silt 50
% Silt = 100% % Silt = 100% %𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 = 61.7%
100-Gravel 100-19
c.) Percentage of clay
Sand 24
% clay = 100% % clay = 100% %𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 = 29.6%
100-Gravel 100-19
d.) Classification of Soil

Example 2:

2. A soil particle has the following grain characteristics

Size (mm) Percent Fine

2.0 100

0.050 65

0.002 15

Using the USDA classification system determine the following

a) percentage of sand
b) percentage of silt
c) Percentage of clay
d) classification of the soil

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

Solution:

from USDA classification System

Gravel Sand Silt Clay

> 2 mm 2 mm to 0.05 mm 0.05 mm to 0.002 mm < 0.002

percentage of sand = 100 – 65 = 35%

percentage of silt = 65 – 15 = 50%
percentage of Clay = 15%
Check 100 %

The Soil is Loam, Silty Loam

IV. USCS
Under this system, soils are classified under two categories:

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 Coarse- Fine-grained
grained soils soils

are gravelly and sandy

in nature with < 50% with > 50% passing No.
passing 200 sieve
No. 200 sieve

The group symbol prefix M means

The group symbols start with
prefixes of either G or S; symbol G
means
gravel or gravelly soil and S means
sand or sandy soil.
inorganic silt, C means inorganic clay,
and O means organic silts and clays. The
symbol Pt
is used for peat, muck, and other highly
organic soils.

Other symbols used for the classification

are: W, well graded; P, poorly graded; L,
low plasticity (LL < 50); and H, high
plasticity (LL > 50).

The unified system uses a plasticity chart in classifying fine grained soil.

50% of Coarse fraction is considered in classifying coarse grained soils and is computed;

Coarse fraction = percent passing # 4 sieve – percent passing # 200 sieve

Figure: Plasticity Chart for classification of fine-grained soil and fine –grained fraction of coarse-
grained soil

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 FLOW CHART FOR CLASSIFYING COARSE GRAINED SOIL
(more than 50% retained on No. 200 sieve)
TABLE 1
Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla
 FLOW CHART FOR CLASSIFYING FINE GRAINED SOIL
(more than 50% passes No. 200 sieve)
TABLE 2
Note < 30% Plus No. 200 – means less than 30% is retained in the # 200 sieve

FLOW CHART FOR CLASSIFYING ORGANIC FINE-GRAINED SOIL

(more than 50% passes No. 200 sieve)
TABLE 3
Note < 30% Plus No. 200 – means less than 30% is retained in the # 200 sieve

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 Example 1:
The result of the sieve analysis of soil sample. Classify the samples using USCS method.

Mass soil retained

U.S Sieve size Opening (mm) Percent Finer %
(g)
4 4.75 0 100
10 2.00 60 92.03
20 0.850 80 81.41
40 0.425 95 68.79
60 0.250 130 51.52
80 0.180 140 32.93
100 0.150 180 9.03
200 0.075 56 1.89
Pan - 12 0

Solution:

Since in both samples less than 50% passes # 200 sieve (or more than 50% retained in the # 200
sieve), both of them are coarse grained soil (see Table 1).

o Plot grain size distribution curve to determine Cc and Cu ,% of sand, % of fines and % of
gravel

Soil Sample:

100
Particle Size Distribution
92.03 100
81.41 90

68.79 80
70
51.52 60 PERCENT FINER %
50
32.93 40
30

9.03 20
1.89 10
0
10 1 0.1 0.01
PARTICLE SIZE IN MM

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 D10= 0.095
D30 = 0.18
D60 = 0.30

Uniformity coefficient
𝐷60 0.30
Cu = = = 1.875
𝐷10 0.16

Coefficient of gradation
2
𝐷30 0.182
Cc = = = 0.653
𝐷60 𝑋𝐷10 0.31𝑋0.16

% of gravel = 0
% of sand= 100-0 =100%
% of fines = 0

FLOW CHART FOR CLASSIFYING COARSE GRAINED SOIL (more than 50% retained on No. 200 sieve)
TABLE 1
Soil is SP- Poorly Graded Sand

Example 2:
A given soil has the following properties:

Percent passing # 4 sieve = 70% Plasticity Index = 12

Percent passing # 200 sieve = 30% Liquid limit = 33

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 Classify the soil using USCS method.

Solution:

% of gravel = 100 -70 = 30

% of sand = 70 -30 =40; % of Fine =30%, % sand > % of gravel
% passing # 200 sieve = 30% < 50% soil is coarse grained soil

Use Plasticity chart (Liquid Limit and PI available), Plot coordinates of LL and PI

FLOW CHART FOR CLASSIFYING COARSE GRAINED ( more than 50% retained on No. 200 sieve)
TABLE 1
Soil is SC – clayey sand with gravel
Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla
Example 3:

An inorganic soil has the following data:

% passing #4 sieve =100 Liquid Limit = 60
% passing # 200 sieve = 75 Plasticity Index = 25

Classify the soil using USCS method.

Solution:
% of gravel = 100 -100 = 0
% of sand = 100 -75 =25
% of Fine = 75%, % sand > % of gravel
% passing # 200 sieve = 75% > 50% soil is Fine grained soil; 25% retained in # 200 sieve

USE Plasticity chart (Liquid Limit and PI available), Plot coordinates of LL and PI

Week 10-11: Soil Compaction

I. Introduction

II. Objective

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 FLOW CHART FOR CLASSIFYING FINE GRAINED SOIL ( more than 50% passes No. 200 sieve)
TABLE 2
Note < 30% Plus No. 200 – means less than 30% is retained in the # 200 sieve

Soil is MH- elastic silt with sand

III. AASHTO

AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

According to this system, soil is classified into seven major groups, A-1 through A-7. Soils classified
under groups A-1, A-2, and A-3 are granular materials with 35% or less passing through a No. 200 sieve.
Soils with more than 35% passing a No. 200 sieve are classified under groups A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7.
These soils are mostly silt and clay-type materials. To classify a soil by the table in this system, one
must proceed from left to right with the required test data available. By the process of elimination, the
first group from the left into which the test data will fit gives the correct classification.

To evaluate the performance quality of soil as a highway subgrade material under this system, a number
called the group index is included with the groups and subgroups of the soil; it is written in parentheses
after the group or subgroup designation. The group index of a soil may from 0 to 20 and is expressed as
a whole number. The approximate subgrade performance quality of a given soil is inversely proportional
to its group index, and it can be expressed by the following empirical relation,

GI = (F200 − 35 )0.2 + 0.005 (LL − 40 ) + 0.01  (F200 − 15 )(PI − 10 )

where

F200 – 35 ranges from 0 to 40 F200 – 15 ranges from 0 to 40

PI – 10 ranges from 0 to 20 LL – 40 ranges from 0 to 20

F = percentage of soil passing the # 200 sieve

Assign GI = 0 where the liquid limit could not be calculated or when GI yields a negative
value
For A-2-6 and A-2-7 subgroup use the second portion of the formula (PI portion) only
Show GI value in parenthesis following the group symbol: e.g A-2-7(12)
Highly organic soil such as peat or muck maybe classified as an A-8 group
Plasticity Index for A-7-5 subgroup is equal to or less than LL-30, Plasticity index for A-7-6
subgroup
greater than LL-30

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 Classification of Highway Subgrade Materials for
Granular Materials (AASHTO)
Table 1

General Granular materials

Classification 35% or less of total sample passing No. 200
A-1 A-2
Group
A-1- A-1- A-2- A-2- A-2- A-2-
classification A-3
a b 4 5 6 7
Sieve analysis
(percentage
passing)
50
No. 10
max
30 50 51
No. 40
max max min
15 35 10 35 35 35 35
No. 200
max max max max max max max
Characteristics
of
fraction
passing
No. 40
40 41 40 41
Liquid limit
max min max min
Plasticity 10 10 11 11
6 max NP
index max max min min
Usual types of
significant Stone fragments, Fine
Silty or clayey gravel and sand
constituent gravel, and sand sand
Materials
General
subgrade Excellent to good
Rating

Classification of Highway Subgrade Materials for

Silt-Clay Materials (AASHTO)
Table 2

General Silt-clay materials

classification (more than 35% of total sample passing No. 200)

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 A-7
Group
A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7-5a
classification
A-7-6b

Sieve analysis
(percentage
passing)
No. 10
No. 40
No. 200 36 min 36 min 36 min 36 min

Characteristics
of fraction
passing No. 40

Liquid limit 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min

Plasticity
10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min
index
Usual types of
significant
Silty soils Clayey soils
constituent
materials
General
Fair to poor
subgrade rating
a
For A-7-5, PI ≤ LL – 30
b
For A-7-6, PI > LL – 30

Example 1:

Classify the following soils by the AASHTO Classification System.

Description Soil A Soil B Soil C

Percent finer than
No. 10 sieve 83 98 45

Percent finer than

48 92 20
No. 40 sieve
Percent finer than
20 75 5
No. 200 sieve
Liquid Limit 25 70
Plastic Index 5 32 Non Plastic

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 Solution:

To classify a soil according to the applicable table, one must apply the test data
from left to right. By process of elimination, the first group from the left into which the
test data fit is the correct classification

Soil A:
Percent passing No. 200 sieve = 20 % < 35 % Use Table 1
The soil is either A-1, A-2, or A-3

Percent passing No. 10 sieve = 83 % > 50 %, it is not A-1-a

Percent passing No. 40 sieve = 48 % < 50 %
Percent passing No.200 sieve = 20 % < 25 %
Plasticity index = 5 % < 6 %
Thus, the soil is A-1-b.
Group index;

𝐺𝐼 = (𝐹200 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(𝐿𝐿 − 40)] + 0.01(𝐹200 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10)

𝐺𝐼 = (20 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(25 − 40)] + 0.01(20 − 15)(5 − 10)

𝐺𝐼 = −2.125 Use GI = 0

soil is A-1-b(0)
Soil B:

Percent passing No. 200 sieve = 75 % > 35 % , Use Table 2

The soil is either A-4, A-5, A-6, or A-7
LL = 70 > 40, it is not A-4
PI = 32 > 10, it is not A-5
LL = 70 > 40, it is not A-6
LL – 30 = 40
PI < LL – 30, the soil is A-7-5

Group index;

𝐺𝐼 = (𝐹200 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(𝐿𝐿 − 40)] + 0.01(𝐹200 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10)

𝐺𝐼 = (86 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(70 − 40)] + 0.01(86 − 15)(32 − 10)

𝐺𝐼 = 20

soil is A-7-5 (20)

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 Soil C:

Percent passing No. 200 sieve = 5 % < 35 %, Use Table 1

The soil is either A-1, A-2, or A-3
Percent passing No. 10 sieve = 45 % < 50 %
Percent passing No. 40 sieve = 20 % < 30 %
Percent passing No.200 sieve = 5 % < 15 %
Thus, the soil is A-1-a.

GI = 0 since LL is not determined; thus soil is A-1-a(0)

Example 2:

Classify the soil with the following properties using AASHTO Method
Percent finer
No. 10 sieve 88% Liquid limit 39%
No.40 sieve 75%
No. 200 sieve 34% Plasticity Index 12%

Solution:
percent passing # 200 sieve = 34% < 35% Use Table 1

Not A-1-a ; % passing # 10 sieve > 50%

Not A-1-b ; % passing # 40 sieve > 50%
Not A-3 ,;% passing # 200 sieve > 10%
Not A-2-4 or A-2-5 ; PI > 10%
A-2-6 , LL < 40%, PI > 11%, thus soil is A-2-6

𝐺𝐼 = 0.01(𝐹200 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10)

𝐺𝐼 = 0.01(34 − 15)(12 − 10)
𝐺𝐼 = 0.38 → Approximately 0
soil is A-2-6(0)

APPROXIMATE EQUIVALENT GROUPS OF AASHTO AND

UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
AASHTO UNIFIED
A-2-6 GC,SC
A-2-7 GC,SC
A-3 SP
A-4 ML,OL
A-5 MH
A-6 CL
A-7-5 CL,OL
A-7-6 CH,OH

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

 Example 4:
A Silty Clay soil is found to have a plastic limit of 20 % and a plasticity index of 25%
The natural water content is 30 %. Determine the following

a) Liquidity index
b) Soil classification according to AASHTO
c) Soil classification according to USCS

a) Plastic Limit;

PI =LL-PL
25 =LL -20
LL = 45

Liquidity index;
𝜔−𝑃𝐿 30−20
𝐿𝐼 = = 𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿−𝑃𝐿 45−20
𝐿𝐼 = 0.4
b.) AASHTO Classification

Not A-4, LL >40

Not A-5, PI > 10
Not A-6 ,LL >40
A-7,
LL > 41 ok,
PI > 11 ok
LL -30 = 45 -30 = 15
PI >LL -30
Soil is A-7-6

c.) USCS Classification

Soil is CL or OL

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla

IV. Exercises

Refer to your LMS account.

Soil Mechanics 1 by: Engr. Judy Bravo Tordilla