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Soil Classification Methods Explained

The document discusses two systems for classifying soils: 1) The AASHTO classification system sorts soils into 7 major groups based on grain size and plasticity characteristics. It further classifies subgroups based on a group index calculation. 2) The Unified Soil Classification System sorts soils into coarse-grained or fine-grained groups based on the percentage passing a #200 sieve. It further classifies symbols based on plasticity and grain size distribution, and provides charts to determine group names. The document provides examples of classifying soils using both systems.

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Biyan Setya
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5 views12 pages

Soil Classification Methods Explained

The document discusses two systems for classifying soils: 1) The AASHTO classification system sorts soils into 7 major groups based on grain size and plasticity characteristics. It further classifies subgroups based on a group index calculation. 2) The Unified Soil Classification System sorts soils into coarse-grained or fine-grained groups based on the percentage passing a #200 sieve. It further classifies symbols based on plasticity and grain size distribution, and provides charts to determine group names. The document provides examples of classifying soils using both systems.

Uploaded by

Biyan Setya
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 5

Classification of Soil
1- American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
The AASHTO classification in present use is given in
Table 5.1. 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%) 35% or less of the
particles pass through the No. 200 sieve. Soils of
which(>35%) more than 35% pass through the No.
200 sieve are classified under groups A-4, A-5, A-6,
and A-7.

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


Group Index (GI)

When calculating the group index for soils that belong


to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7,use

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


Example:
The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil are as
follows:
• Percent passing the No. 10 sieve =95
• Percent passing the No. 40 sieve =65
• Percent passing the No. 200 sieve =32
LL = 25%
PI = 9%

Solution
A-2-4(6)

Example 5.3
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
A-7-6(42)

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


2-Unified Soil Classification System
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.

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)

Steps:
1- Group Symbol( Table 5.2)
(F200,Cu, Cc, LL, PI)

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


2- Group Name
Fig(5.4) for coarse
Fig(5.5) for fine
Fig(5.6) for organic

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


Othman A. Tayeh 2014
Othman A. Tayeh 2014
Othman A. Tayeh 2014
Example 5.6(text book)
For a given soil, the following are known:
• Percentage passing No. 4 sieve70
• Percentage passing No. 200 sieve30
• Liquid limit33
• Plastic limit12
Classify the soil using the Unified Soil
Classification System. Give the group symbol
and the group name.

Solution
the group symbol is SC
the group name it is clayey sand with gravel

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


Problem 2 (Eng. Ahmed Shaat)

LL = 55
PI = 28
Classify the previous soil using Unified Soil
Classification System.

Solution

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


Q1(2011)
a)86% of a soil passed sieve no. 4 and retained
on sieve no. 200. Also given:
Coefficient of gradation=1.0
Uniformity coefficient= 3

Solution

SP
Poorly Graded Sand

b)A sieve analysis of soil shows that 97% of the


soil passed through sieve no.4 and 73% passed
sieve no. 200 . If the LL=62%, PL=34.

Solution

MH
Elastic silt with sand

Othman A. Tayeh 2014


Q2(2012)
a- A 65% of soil sample retained on no. 4 sieve
and 30% retained on no. 200 sieve, Cu=3,
Cc=0.9. Also the LL=28%, PL=24.5%.

Solution

GP-GM
Poorly graded gravel with silt and sand

b- The grain size distribution is shown in the


table below with LL=32%, PL=18%.
Particle size mm % Passing
4.75 100
2.36 97
1.3 90
0.6 85
0.2 78
0.075 74

Solution
CL
Lean Clay With Sand

Othman A. Tayeh 2014

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