Soil Classification Systems

Prepared by: Mohammad.Almasoud@g.AustinCC.edu

Soil classification systems divide soils into groups and subgroups based on common engineering properties such as the grain-size
distribution, liquid limit, and plastic limit. The two major classification systems presently in use are (1) the American Association of
State Highway and Transportation omcials (AASHTO) System and (2) the Unified Soil Classification System (also ASTM) The
AASHTO system is used mainly for the classification of highway subgrades. lt is not used in foundation construction.
AASHTO System
The AASHTO Soil Classificanon system was orginally proposed by the Highway Research Board's Committee on Classification of
Materials for Subgrades and Granular Type Roads (1945). According to the present form of this system, soils can be classified
according to eight major groups, A-1 thiough A-8, based on their grain size distribution, liquid limit, and plasticity index. Soils listed in
groups A-1, A-2, A-3 are coarse-grained materials, and those in groups A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7 are fine-grained materials. Peat, muck,
and other highly organic soils are classified under A-8. They are identified by visual inspection. The AASHTO classification system
(for soils A-1 through A-7) is presented in Table below. Note that group A-7 includes two types of soil. For the A-7-5 type, the
plasticity index of the soil is less than or equal to the LL- 30. For the A 7.6 type, the plasticity index is greater than the LL- 30. For
qualitative evaluation of the desirability of a soil as a highway subgrade material, a number referred as the group index has also been
developed. The higher the value of the group index for a given soil, the weaker will be the soil's performance as a subgrade, A group
index of 20 or more indicates a very poor subgrade material. The formula for the group index is shown below:
GI = ( F200 - 35 ) [ 0.2 + 0.005 ( LL - 40 ) ] + 0.01 ( F200 - 15 ) ( PI - 10 )
AASHTO Soil Classification System Table (from AASHTO M 145 or ASTM D3282)
General Silt-Clay Materials (more than 35%
Granular Materials (35% or less passing the N0.200) passing the N0.200)
Classification

Group A-1 A-3 A-2 A-7

A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7-5a
Classification A-1-a A-1-b A-2-4 A-2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7 A-7-6b

Sieve Analysis %
passing
2.00 mm (No. 10) 50 max
0.425 (No. 40) 30 max 50 max 51 min
0.075 (No. 200) 15 max 25 max 10 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 36 min 36 min 36 min 36 min
Characteristics of
fraction passing
0.425 mm (No. 40)
Liquid Limit LL 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min 40 max 41 min
Plasticity Index PI 6 max N.P. 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min
Group Index 0 0 0 4 max 8 max 12 max 16 max 20 max

Usual types of stone fragments, fine

silty or clayey gravel and sand silty soils clayey soils
materials sand
gravel & sand
General rating as a
subgrade excellent to good fair to poor

𝐚𝐈𝐟 Pl ≤ LL − 30, the classification is A−7.5. 𝐛𝐈𝐟 Pl > LL − 30, the classification is A−7.6.

F200 = percent passing no. 200 sieve, expressed as a whole number LL = lquid limit PI = plasticity index

When calculating the group index for a soil belonging to group A-2-6 or A-2-7, use only the partial group index equation
relating to the plasticity index;
GI = 0.01 ( F200 - 15 ) ( PI - 10 )
The group index is rounded to the nearest whole number and written next to the soil group in parentheses; for
example, we have A-4(5) A−4 5
Soil group Group index
a) Soils which are non-plastic and for which the Liquid Limit cannot be found have GI = 0.
b) If the final GI has a negative number, it is reported as zero (0).
c) Although not explicitly expressed in either the AASHTO or ASTM specifications, GI for A-2-4 and A-2-5 are zero.
 AASHTO Plasticity chart for Soil Classification (AASHTO M 145 or ASTM D3282)
70

60
Plasticity index (PI)

50

40

A
-7
-6
30

A-6

A-7-5
20

10

A-4 A-5
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Lquid limit (LL)

Prepared by: Mohammad.Almasoud@g.AustinCC.edu

Unified Plasticity chart for Soil Classification System (ASTM D 2487)

Plasticity index (PI)

Lquid limit (LL)