CE 111 - GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING I

(SOIL MECHANICS)

Lesson 6. Soil Classification

A classification scheme provides a method of identifying soils in a particular group that

would likely exhibit similar characteristics. Soil classification is used to specify a certain soil type
that is best suited for a given application. Also, the classification scheme can be used to establish
a soil profile along a desired cross section of a soil mass.
Different soils with similar properties may be classified into groups and subgroups
according to their engineering behavior. Classification systems provide a common language to
concisely express the general characteristics of soils, which are infinitely varied, without detailed
descriptions. Most of the soil classification systems that have been developed for engineering
purposes are based on simple index properties such as particle-size distribution and plasticity.
Although several classification systems are now in use, none is totally definitive of any soil for all
possible applications because of the wide diversity of soil properties.
In general, there are two major categories into which the classification systems developed
in the past can be grouped.
1. The textural classification is based on the particle-size distribution of the percent of
sand, silt, and clay-size fractions present in a given soil.
2. The other major category is based on the engineering behavior of soil and takes into
consideration the particle-size distribution and the plasticity (i.e., liquid limit and
plasticity index). Under this category, there are two major classification systems in
extensive use now:
a. The AASHTO classification system
b. The Unified classification system.

I. Textural Classification
Generally, texture of soil refers to its surface appearance. Soil texture is influenced by the
size of the individual particles present in it. Table VI.1 divided soils into gravel, sand, silt, and
clay categories on the basis of particle size. In most cases, natural soils are mixtures of particles
from several size groups. In the textural classification system, the soils are named after their
principal components, such as sandy clay, silty clay, and so forth.

Table VI.1 Particle-Size Classifications

Note: Sieve openings of 4.75 mm are found on a U.S. No. 4 sieve; 2-mm openings on a U.S. No.
10 sieve; 0.075-mm openings on a U.S. No. 200 sieve.
 A number of textural classification systems were developed in the past by different
organizations to serve their needs, and several of those are in use today.
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology System (MIT)

The MIT system of soil classification was first developed by Prof. G. Gilboy at
Massachusetts Institute in the USA.

According to this classification, the soil is classified into four main categories as follows:

1. Gravel (soil with particle size greater than 2mm).

2. Sand (soil with particle size ranging from 0.06mm to 2mm).

3. Silt (soil with particle size ranging from 0.002mm to 0.06mm).

4. Clay (soil with particle size less than 0.002mm).

MIT System of Soil Classification

2. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Textural Classification of soil was developed by the U.S Bureau of Soils. It is also
commonly referred to as the triangular classification of soil. The triangular chart consists of
different groups of soil indicating different percentages of sand, silt and clay-sized particles.
In this classification, first of all, the soil sample is sieved to determine the percentage of
sand, silt and clay-sized particles. Utilizing the obtained relative percentage, the triangular chart is
filled. The textural classification of soils is highly suitable for the classification of coarse-grained
soils.
This classification method is based on the particle-size limits as described under the USDA
system in Table VI.1; that is
 Sand size: 2.0 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
 Figure 6.1 U.S. Department of Agriculture textural classification (USDA)
Example:
If the particle size distribution of soil A shows 20% gravel, 10% sand, 30% silt, and 40%
clay-size particles, determine the zone into which each soil falls.

Solution:
Step 1. Calculate the modified percentages of sand, gravel, and silt as follows:

% 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 100%
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 % 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 =
100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙

% 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝑥 100%
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 % 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 =
100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙

% 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑥 100%
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 % 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 =
100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙
 10% 𝑥 100%
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 % 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 = = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓𝟎%
100% − 20%

30% 𝑥 100%
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 % 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 = = 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓𝟎%
100% − 20 %

40% 𝑥 100%
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 % 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 = = 𝟓𝟎. 𝟎𝟎%
100% − 20%

On the basis of the preceding modified percentages, the USDA textural classification is
clay (see Figure). However, because of the large percentage of gravel, it may be called gravelly
clay.

II. Classification by Engineering Behavior

Although the textural classification of soil is relatively simple, it is based entirely on the
particle-size distribution. The amount and type of clay minerals present in fine-grained soils dictate
to a great extent their physical properties. Hence, the soils engineer must consider plasticity, which
results from the presence of clay minerals, to interpret soil characteristics properly. Because
textural classification systems do not take plasticity into account and are not totally indicative of
many important soil properties, they are inadequate for most engineering purposes. Currently, two
more elaborate classification systems are commonly used by soils engineers. Both systems take
into consideration the particle-size distribution and Atterberg limits. They are the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) classification system and
the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). The AASHTO classification system is used mostly
by state and county highway departments. Geotechnical engineers generally prefer the Unified
system.

1. AASHTO Classification System

The AASHTO system of soil classification was developed in 1929 as the Public Road
Administration classification system. It has undergone several revisions, with the present version
proposed by the Committee on Classification of Materials for Subgrades and Granular Type Roads
of the Highway Research Board in 1945 (ASTM designation D-3282; AASHTO method M145).

Table VI.2. Classification of Highway Subgrade Materials

 The AASHTO (See AASHTO, 1982) classification in present use is given in Table VI.2.
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 of which 35% or less of the
particles pass through the No. 200 sieve. Soils of which more than 35% pass through the 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. This classification system is based on the following criteria:

1. Grain size
a. Gravel: fraction passing the 75-mm (3-in.) sieve and retained on the No. 10
(2mm) U.S. sieve.
b. Sand: fraction passing the No. 10 (2-mm) U.S. sieve and retained on the No. 200
(0.075-mm) U.S. sieve.
c. Silt and clay: fraction passing the No. 200 U.S. sieve.

2. Plasticity:
The term silty is applied when the fine fractions of the soil have a plasticity index
of 10 or less. The term clayey is applied when the fine fractions have a plasticity index of
11 or more.

3. If cobbles and boulders (size larger than 75 mm) are encountered, they are excluded
from the portion of the soil sample from which classification is made. However, the
percentage of such material is recorded.

To classify a soil according to Table VI.2, 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. Figure 6.2 shows a plot of the range of the liquid limit and the plasticity index for
soils that fall into groups A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7.

Figure 6.2 Range of liquid limit and plasticity index for soils in groups A-2, A-4, A-5,
A-6, and A-7
 To evaluate the quality of a soil as a highway subgrade material, one must also incorporate
a number called the group index (GI) with the groups and subgroups of the soil. This index is
written in parentheses after the group or subgroup designation. The group index is given by the
equation:

𝑮𝑰 = (𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓) [𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 (𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎)] + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓)(𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎) Eq. #6.1
Where:
F200 = percentage passing through the No. 200 sieve
LL = liquid limit
PI = plasticity index

The first term of equation — that is, (F200 - 35) [0.2 + 0.005(LL - 40)] — is the partial
group index determined from the liquid limit. The second term—that is, 0.01(F200 - 15) (PI - 10)
—is the partial group index determined from the plasticity index.
The following are some rules for determining the group index:
1. If Eq. #6.1 yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.
2. The group index calculated from equation is rounded off to the nearest whole number (for
example, GI = 3.4 is rounded off to 3; GI = 3.5 is rounded off to 4).
3. There is no upper limit for the group index.
4. The group index of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is
always 0.
5. When calculating the group index for soils that belong to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7, use the
partial group index for PI, or

𝑮𝑰 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓)(𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎) Eq. #6.2

In general, the quality of performance of a soil as a subgrade material is inversely
proportional to the group index.

Example#1
The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil are as follows:
 Percent passing the No. 10 sieve = 42
 Percent passing the No. 40 sieve = 35
 Percent passing the No. 200 sieve = 20

The liquid limit and plastic limit of the minus No. 40 fraction of the soil are 25 and 20,
respectively. Classify the soil by the AASHTO system.

Solution:
Since 20% (i.e., less than 35%) of soil is passing No. 200 sieve, it is a granular soil. Hence
it can be A-1, A-2, or A-3. Refer to Table VI.2. Starting from the left of the table, the soil falls
under A-1-b (see the table below).

Parameter Specifications in Table VI.2 Parameters of the given soil

Percent passing sieve
No. 10 —
No. 40 50 max 35
No. 200 25 max 20

Plasticity index (PI) 6 max 5

The group index of the soil is 0. So, the soil is A-1-b(0).
Example#2

Ninety-five percent of a soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and has a liquid limit of 60
and plasticity index of 40. Classify the soil by the AASHTO system.

Solution:

Ninety-five percent of the soil (which is $ 36%) is passing through No. 200 sieve. So it is
a silty-clay material. Now refer to Table VI.2. Starting from the left of the table, it falls under
A-7-6 (see the table below).

Parameter Specifications in Table VI.2 Parameters of the given soil

Percent passing sieve
No. 200 36 min 95

Liquid Limit 41 min 60

Plasticity Index 11 min 40
For A-7-5, PI ≤ LL - 30
For A-7-6, PI > LL – 30 PI > LL – 30 = 40 > (60-30) 40 > 30

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

= (95 - 35)[0.2 + 0.005 (60 - 40)] + (0.01)(95 - 15)(40 - 10)
= 42
So, the classification is A-7-6(42).

3. Unified Soil Classification System

The original form of this system was proposed by Casagrande in 1942 for use in the airfield
construction works undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. In
cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, this system was revised in 1952. At present, it
is used widely by engineers (ASTM Test Designation D-2487). The Unified classification system
is presented in Table VI.3.

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.
Table VI.3. Unified Soil Classification System
(Based on Material Passing 76.2mm Sieve)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Figure 6.3)

(Fig.6.3)
(Fig.6.3)

Figure 6.3. Plasticity Chart

Other symbols used for the classification are
● W—well graded
● P—poorly graded
● L—low plasticity (liquid limit less than 50)
● H—high plasticity (liquid limit more than 50)

For proper classification according to this system, some or all of the following information
must be known:
1. Percent of gravel—that is, the fraction passing the 76.2-mm sieve and retained on the No.
4 sieve (4.75-mm opening)
2. Percent of sand—that is, the fraction passing the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening) and
retained on the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm opening)
3. Percent of silt and clay—that is, the fraction finer than the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm
opening)
4. Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of gradation (Cc)
5. 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 finegrained soils are CL,
ML, OL, CH, MH, OH, CL-ML, and Pt.
More recently, ASTM designation D-2487 created an elaborate system to assign group
names to soils. These names are summarized in Figures 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6. 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 = (percent retained on No. 200 sieve) - (percent retained on No. 4 sieve)
Figure 6.4. Flowchart group names for gravelly and sandy soil
 See Figure 6.6

See Figure 6.6

Figure 6.5. Flowchart group names for inorganic silty and clayey soils

Figure 6.6. Flowchart group names for organic silty and clayey soils
Example#1
The result of the particle size analysis of a soil are as follows:

Percent passing through the No. 10 sieve = 100

Percent passing through the No. 40 sieve = 80
Percent passing through the No. 200 sieve = 58

If LL and PI of the soil are 30 and 10, respectively, classify the soil using USCS.

Solution:

Refer to Table VI.3. Since 58% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve, it is a fine
grained soil. Referring to the plasticity chart in Figure 6.3, for LL=30 and PI=10, it can be
classified as CL (group symbol).
In order to determine the group name, refer to Figure 6.5. The percent retained on No. 200
sieve is more than 30%. Percent of gravel = 0; percent of sand = (100 - 58) - (0) = 42. Hence,
percent sand > percent gravel. Also, percent gravel is less than 15%. Hence the group name is
sandy lean clay.

Comparison between the AASHTO and Unified Soil Classification Systems

Both soil classification systems, AASHTO and USCS, are based on the texture and
plasticity of soil. Also, both systems divide the soils into two major categories, coarse grained and
fine grained, as separated by the No. 200 sieve. According to the AASHTO system, a soil is
considered fine grained when more than 35% passes through the No. 200 sieve. According to the
Unified system, a soil is considered fine grained when more than 50% passes through the No. 200
sieve. A coarse-grained soil that has about 35% fine grains will behave like a fine-grained material.
This is because enough fine grains exist to fill the voids between the coarse grains and hold them
apart. In this respect, the AASHTO system appears to be more appropriate. In the AASHTO
system, the No. 10 sieve is used to separate gravel from sand; in the Unified system, the No. 4
sieve is used. From the point of view of soil-separate size limits, the No. 10 sieve is the more
accepted upper limit for sand. This limit is used in concrete and highway base-course technology.

In the Unified system, the gravelly and sandy soils clearly are separated; in the AASHTO
system, they are not. The A-2 group, in particular, contains a large variety of soils. Symbols like
GW, SM, CH, and others that are used in the Unified system are more descriptive of the soil
properties than the A symbols used in the AASHTO system.
 The classification of organic soils, such as OL, OH, and Pt, is provided in the Unified
system. Under the AASHTO system, there is no place for organic soils. Peats usually have a high
moisture content, low specific gravity of soil solids, and low unit weight.

Table VI.4. Comparison of the AASHTO System with the Unified System

Table VI.5. Comparison of the AASHTO System with the Unified System

Reference:
1. SOIL MECHANICS FUNDAMENTALS by Muni Budhu 2015 edition
2. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering by Braja M. Das 5th edition.
3. https://dreamcivil.com/soil-classification-systems/