Soil
Classification
Systems
Reasons for classifying soil
➢Group soils with similar properties
➢Facilitate communication
➢Shorthand notation
Major Classification of Soil
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
US Department of Agriculture
(USDA)
US Department of Agriculture
(USDA)
. This classification method is based on the
particle-size limits as described under the
USDA system:
• 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
Note that this chart is based on only the fraction of soil that passes
through the No. 10 sieve.
Sample: Soil A
The particle size
distribution of soil A
is 30% sand, 40%
silt and 30% clay
size particle
Sample: Soil B
The particle size distribution of soil B is 20%
gravel,10% sand, 30% silt and 40% clay size
particle.
Note that USDA chart is based on only the fraction of soil that passes through the No. 10 sieve
The presence of gravel, a correction or modification is
necessary:
% 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝟏𝟎
Modification % of Sand= = x 100 = 12.5%
𝟏𝟎𝟎−% 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝟐𝟎
% 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝟑𝟎
Modification % of Silt= = x 100 = 37.5%
𝟏𝟎𝟎−% 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝟐𝟎
% 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝟒𝟎
Modification % of clay = = x 100 = 50%
𝟏𝟎𝟎−% 𝒐𝒇 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍 𝟏𝟎𝟎−𝟐𝟎
AASHTO Classification
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials system
(For road construction)
❖ AASHTO system of soil classification was developed in 1929;
❖ The present AASHTO (1978) system is (AASHTO M145);
❖ The system divided the soils into 8 major groups: A-1~A-7 (with several
subgroups) and organic soils A-8;
❖ Soils classified under groups A-1, A-2, and A-3 are granular materials.
❖ Soils classified under groups A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7 are silt and clay.
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Criteria Chart
AASHTO Classification
Das (2014) p 143
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Classification
AASHTO Criteria Chart
➢The system was first developed by Prof. A. Casagrande (1948) for the
United States Armey Corps of Engineers.
➢The method is standardized in ASTM D-2487 as “ Unifies Soil
Classification Systems (USCS)
➢Coarse-grained soils that are gravelly and sandy in nature with less
than 50% passing through the No. 200 sieve.
➢Fine-grained soils that are silty and clayey in nature with 50% or
more passing through the No. 200 sieve.
If the soil has more than 5% fines, a plasticity chart is used to determine
the classification of the fines
Steps for Classifying soil with USCS
1. Check to see how much soil is passing the # 200 sieve If % passing is ≤ 𝟓𝟎,
Then go to 2. Step
otherwise, go to 7
Coarse-Grained Soils:
2. Compute % fines (i.e., % passing % 200), % gravel (i.e., % retained on #4), % sand (i.e., 100%-
[5fines)-[%gravel}.
3. If (%Gravel) > (%Sand), then it’s gravel. If (%Sand)≥ (%Gravel), then its sand.
4. If (%Fines) ≤ 12%, then compute 𝐶𝑢 and 𝐶𝑐 . If (% Fines) > 12, no need to compute.
5. If (% Fines) ≥ 5%, then obtain the classification of the fines using the
Atterberg chart.
6. Use the flowchart to obtain the soil classification and its name
Steps for Classifying soil with USCS
Fined-Grained Soils:
7. Compute % fines (i.e., % 100%- [1%fines} –[%gravel])
8. IF the LL< 50%, then the soil is either CL, ML, or CL-ML. IF the LL≥ 50%, then the soil is
either CH or MH.
9. Use the flowchart to obtain the soil classification and its name.
REMEMBER: that “____% plus No.200 @00” is the same as “ ___% retained on the No. 200
(from Dr. K. Franke video)
If the soil has more than 5% fines, a plasticity chart is used to determine
the classification of the fines
Your best quote that reflects your
approach… “It’s one small step for
man, one giant leap for mankind.”
- NEIL ARMSTRONG