Unified Soil Classification

System(USCS)
Provides a method of classifying and grouping unconsolidated earth materials
according to their engineering properties. It is based on soil behavior, which is a
reflection of the physical properties of the soil and its constituents.
 Unified Soil Classification System(USCS)
This system classifies soils into two broad categories:
1. Coarse-grained soils that are gravelly and sandy in nature with less than 50% passing
through the No. 200 sieve. The group symbols start with a prefix of G or S. G stands for
gravel or gravelly soil, and S for sand or sandy soil.
2. Fine-grained soils are with 50% or more passing through the No. 200 sieve. The
group symbols start with prefixes of M, which stands for inorganic silt, C for inorganic
clay, or O for organic silts and clays. The symbol Pt is used for peat, muck, and other
highly organic soils.
Secondary symbols used for the classification are:
M- Silty
C-Clayey
W—well graded
P—poorly graded
L—low plasticity (liquid limit less than 50)
H—high plasticity (liquid limit more than 50)
𝐹200 < 50

𝐹200 > 50
 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑠 % retained ≥50
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 % retained <50

𝐹200 < 50

%𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙
%𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑜. 4 = % 𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

100 − 𝐹4
%𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑛𝑜. 4 = × 100%
100 − 𝐹200
 𝐿𝐿 < 50

𝐹200 > 50

𝐿𝐿 ≥ 50
Figure 5.3. Plasticity chart
𝑝𝑙𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 % 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑟 %𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟
 Unified Soil Classification System(USCS)
For proper classification according to this system, some or all of the
following information must be known:
• Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of gradation (Cc)
• Liquid limit and plasticity index of the portion of soil passing the No.
40 sieve
✓ The group symbols for coarse-grained gravelly soils are GW, GP,
GM, GC, GC-GM, GW-GM, GW-GC, GP-GM, and GP-GC.
Similarly, the group symbols for fine-grained soils are CL, ML, OL,
CH, MH, OH, CL-ML, and Pt.
Unified Soil Classification System(USCS)
More recently, ASTM designation D-2487 created an elaborate system
to assign group names to soils. These names are summarized in Figures
5.4, 5.5, and 5.6. In using these figures, one needs to remember that, in a
given soil,
• Fine fraction percent passing No. 200 sieve
• Coarse fraction percent retained on No. 200 sieve
• Gravel fraction percent retained on No. 4 sieve
• Sand fraction = Coarse fraction – Gravel fraction
Unified Soil Classification System(USCS)
• Fine fraction = 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎
• Coarse fraction = Gravel Fraction + Sand Fraction= 𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎
• Gravel fraction = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝑭𝟒
• Sand fraction = Coarse fraction – Gravel fraction
 Sample Problem 3
Classify the soils 1and 2 by using the Unified soil classification system. Give the
group symbols and the group names.

% FINER
Soil No.4 No.200 Liquid Plasticity Cu Cc
Limit Index
1 48 20 41 22
2 71 11 32 16 4.8 2.9