CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Soil Classification
CE 330 Introduction to Soil Behavior
Points to be covered
• Unified Soil Classification System
(USCS)
• Use chart as provided in Fundamentals
of Engineering Exam (FE)
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CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Soil Classification
• Language of communication
– Those concerned with the engineering
behavior of soils
• Systematic grouping according to
probable engineering behavior
– Based on index properties
– Can provide good indication of engineering
behavior
Soil Classification
• Not a substitute for more complete lab
testing, but engineering properties do
correlate with the index measurements
used for classifications
– Tables exist comparing performance of
various of soil classifications for different
functions
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CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Soil Classification
Many systems proposed, but most
common in engineering are
– Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
• Used for most types of civil infrastructure
except pavements
– AASHTO System (not covered in CE330)
• Widely used for roadways and aircraft
pavements
Soil Classification
• Both USCS and AASHTO based on
index properties
– particle size
• Grain size distribution curve
– effect of water on soil behavior
• Atterberg limits
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CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Soil Classification (USCS)
• USCS developed by Professor A.
Casagrande for airfield construction
during World War II
• Later modified for use in dams
• Distinguish based percent passing #200
sieve
– Coarse-grained or Fine-grained
– #200 sieve opening is approximately the size of the
smallest particle detected by unaided eye
Soil Classification (USCS)
• Coarse Grained: Sand (S) & Gravel (G)
< 50% Passing #200 Sieve
• Fine Grained: Clay (C) & Silt (M)
> 50% Passing # 200 Sieve
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CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Soil Classification (USCS)
• Classification uses suffix modifiers to
further classify soil
– Example: clayey sand vs. sandy clay
• Note: first character always refers to soil
type, i.e., Cx = clay, Sy= sand , Gz
=gravel
– first character refers to the “noun”
– second character refers to the “adjective”
Classification: Fine-grained
• Fine Grained: Clay (C) & Silt (M)
> 50% Passing # 200 Sieve
• Plot Atterberg limits on Casagrande
Chart
– Clay: Atterberg limits plot above A-Line
– Silt: Atterberg limits plot below A-Line
• U-line is upper limit of of likely
combinations of LL & PI
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CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Classification: Fine-grained
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Classification: Fine-grained
• Fine-grained are further classified by
plasticity
– Low Plasticity (L) LL < 50
– High Plasticity (H) LL > 50
• Examples:
– CL CH ML MH
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CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Classification: Coarse-grained
• Coarse Grained: Sand (S) & Gravel (G)
< 50% Passing #200 Sieve
• #4 sieve used to distinguish between
Sand and Gravel
– Sand: > 50% of Coarse Fraction Pass #4
– Gravel: < 50% of Coarse Fraction Pass #4
• where: Coarse Fraction = % retained on # 200
sieve
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Classification: Coarse-grained
• Coarse-grained are further classified
depending upon amount of fines
present
• There are three cases
– Insignificant (<5%) amount of fines
– Significant (>12%) amount of fines
– Intermediate (between 5 % and 12 % fines)
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CE 330 The University of Tennessee Intro to Geotechnical Engineering
Eric C. Drumm
Classification: Coarse-grained
– Insignificant (<5%) amount of fines
• behavior affected by grain size distribution
• Well-graded (W) or Poorly Graded (P)
• Examples: SP SW GP GW
– Significant (>12%) amount of fines
• behavior dominated by plasticity of fine particles
• Above A-line (C) below A-line (M)
• Examples: SC SM GC GM
– Intermediate (between 5 % and 12 % ) fines
• use dual symbols based on grain size distribution of
coarse and plasticity of fines
• Examples: SP-SM SW-SM SP-SC SW-SC
GP-GM GW-GM GP-GC GW-GC
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Soil Classification (USCS)
• Often use textual descriptions
• Examples:
• SM = Silty sand (sand with significant silt fines)
• SC = Clayey sand (sand with significant clay
fines)
• GM= Silty gravel (gravel with significant silt
fines)
• GC= clayey gravel (gravel with significant clay
fines)
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