CIVE 353

Soil Classification

Clay Soils

STATE

Increasing water
content

STRESS-STRAIN BEHAVIOUR AT
VARIOUS STATES
Stress

Liquid
Liquid Limit (LL)

Strain
Stress

Plastic

Non-linear inelastic

Plastic Limit (PL)

Semi- Solid

Elastic - Plastic

Strain
Stress

Shrinkage Limit (SL)

Linear elastic brittle failure

Strain

Solid

Liquid Limit (LL)

Atterberg Device

Liquid Limit (LL)

Moisture content that closes gaps @ 25 blows

Liquid Limit (LL)

Moisture content @ penetration = 20mm

Plastic Limit (PL)

Roll clay until
it breaks at
1/8 inch thick
(3.2mm)

Plastic Index (PI)

STATE

Increasing
moisture
content

Liquid
Liquid Limit (LL)

PI = LL-PL

Plastic
Plastic Limit (PL)

Semi- Solid
LL = PL

PI = 0 Non plastic (silt)

LL > PL

PI > 0 Plastic clays

Shrinkage Limit (SL)

Solid

Burmister (1949) Classification

PI

Description

Nonplastic

1-5

Slightly plastic

5-10

Low plasticity

10-20

Medium plasticity

20-40

High plasticity

>40

Very high plasticity

Activity (A)
A=

PI
( percent clay size fraction by weight )

A=

PI
(percent clay - size fraction by weight)

Plasticity Index and Clay Content

Atterberg Limits and Clay Minerals

Liquidity Index (LI)

w - PL w - PL
LI =
=
LL - PL
PI

Compares field water content with

LL and PL.
LI=0

LI=1

w1

w2
PL

PI

LI>1
w3

LL

Bulky Soils

Sieve Analysis

10

Fine sand, silt and clay

Soil fraction passing
No. 40 sieve (0.425mm)

D(mm) = K

L(cm)
t (min)

K = f(temp and Gs)

11

12

Poorly graded

Well graded
Gap graded

Particle Size Definitions

13

Particle Size Distribution Curves

Cu =

D60
= Coefficent of Uniformity
D10

D 2 30
Cc =
= Coefficent of Gradiation
D60 x D10

Grain Size Distribution

14

Unified Soil Classification

System
(USCS)

UNIFIED Soil Classification System (USCS)

Particle diameter (mm)

Boulder
Cobble
Gravel
Sand
Silt
Clay
Colloid

> 300
76.2 - 300
4.75 76.2
0.075 4.75
.005 0.075
0.002 - .005
< 0.002

Bulky
Particles

Plate/Needle
Particles

15

Soil Classification Systems

16

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