Polytechnic of Namibia

School of Engineering Pg 1

Examples on Classification of soils: Adapted from Principles of

Geotechnical Engineering by Braja M. Das and Khaled Sobhan.

Example 1
• Classify the following soils according to
the USDA textural system.

Soil
Particle size
distribution (%) A B C D

Gravel 12 18 0 12

Sand 25 31 15 22

Silt 32 30 30 26

Clay 31 21 55 40

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 1
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1

Example 1 continued…
% sand
Modified % sand = 100
100 − % gravel
% silt
Modified % silt = 100
100 − % gravel
% clay
Modified % clay = 100
100 − % gravel

Soil
Particle size
distribution (%) A B C D
Soil classification Modified
A B C D Sand 28.4 37.8 15 25
Gravelly Gravelly Gravelly Silt 36.4 36.6 30 29.5
Clay
clay loam loam clay
Clay 35.2 25.6 55 45.5

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 2
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1
Example 2: The results of the particle –size analysis of a soil are as below:
▪ Percent passing the no. 10 sieve = 42
▪ Percent passing the no. 40 sieve = 35
▪ Percent passing the no. 200 sieve = 20
The LL& PI of the minus No. 40 fraction of the soil are 25 & 20 respectively. Classify the soil by
the AASHTO system.

Solution:
Parameter Specifications in table 5.1 Parameters of a given soil
Percent passing
❖ The soil is 20% (<35%) passing sieve
No.200 sieve, it is granular.
❖ It can belong to A-1 to A-3 in table
No.10
5.1. No.40 50 max 35
❖ Sweeping from the left of the table, it No.200 25 max 20
falls under A-1-b.
Plasticity index (PI) 6 max PI=LL-PL=25-20=5

➢ Finally:
❖ The soil is classified as A-1-b (0)
❖ NB: The GI is zero, since the soil falls under A-1 to A-3.

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 3
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1
Example 3: 95 % of the soil passes through the No.200 sieve and has a LL of 60 and PI of
40. Classify the soil by the AASHTO system.
Specifications in table Parameters of a given
Solution: Parameter 5.1 soil
❖ The soil is 95% (>35%) passing Percent passing
No.200 sieve, it is silty-clay soil. sieve No.200 36 min 95
❖ It can belong to A-4 to A-7 in table LL 41 min 60
5.1. PI 11 min 40
❖ Sweeping from the left of the table,
it falls under A-7-6.
Plasticity index PI=40>=LL-30
(PI) >LL-30 =60-30=30

GI = (F200 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005( LL − 40)] + 0.01(F200 − 15)( PI − 10)

= (95 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(60 − 40)] + 0.01(95 − 15)(40 − 10)
= 42

➢ Finally:
❖ The soil is classified as A-7-6 (42)

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 4
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1
Example 4: The results of the particle –size analysis of a soil are as below:
▪ Percent passing the no. 10 sieve = 100
▪ Percent passing the no. 40 sieve = 80
▪ Percent passing the no. 200 sieve = 58
The LL& PI of the minus No. 40 fraction of the soil are
30 & 10 respectively. Classify the soil by the USCS system.

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 5
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1
Example 4: The results of the particle –size analysis of a soil are as below:
▪ Percent passing the no. 10 sieve = 100
▪ Percent passing the no. 40 sieve = 80
▪ Percent passing the no. 200 sieve = 58
The LL& PI of the minus No. 40 fraction of the soil are
30 & 10 respectively. Classify the soil by the USCS system.
Solution:

❖ Since 58 % (>50%, table 5.2 criteria) of soil passes No.200 sieve, it is a fine-grained soil.
❖ We move to plasticity chart (figure 5.3); LL=30 and PI=10 yields a group symbol of CL.
❖ Figure 5.5 gives further classification to attain group name: % passing No.200 >30% ; % gravel = 0
since we have 100 % passing No.10 sieve; % sand = (100-58) – (0) = 42.
❖ Therefore: % sand > % gravel and % gravel < 15 %.

➢ Finally:
❖ The group name is sandy lean clay

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 6
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1

Example 5: The LL& PI of the minus No. 40 fraction of the soil are as tabulated below. The
grain size distribution curves of the two soils are as shown. Determine the group symbol and names
according to the USCS.

Parameter Soil A Soil B

Liquid limit 30 26
Plastic limit 22 20

Soil A Solution: grain size distribution curve

indicates that % passing No. 200 sieve is 8
(coarse- grained soil, Table 5.2 ). Figure 5.9
shows % retained on no.4 sieve is 0(sandy
soil). Fig 5.9 gives D10= 0.085 mm; D30= 0.12
mm; D60= 0.135 mm.

D60 0.135
Cu = = = 1.59  6
D10 0.085
( 0.12 )
2
D302
Cc = = = 1.25  1
D60  D10 ( 0.135)( 0.085)

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 7
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1
Example 5 continued….
❑ LL=30 and PI=30-22 = 8 >7;
which plots above A-line (fig 5.3)
giving group symbol SP-SC:
❑ Group name must be determined
with the help of fig 5.4 .

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 8
 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1
Example 5 continued…

9February 2011 Geomechanics 9

 Polytechnic of Namibia
School of Engineering Pg 1
Example 5 continued….
❑ LL=30 and PI=30-22 = 8 >7; which plots above A-line (fig 5.3) giving
group symbol SP-SC:
❑ Percentage of gravel = 0 (which is <15 %).

➢ Finally:
❖ The group name is poorly graded sand with clay.

February 22011
Semester Geomechanics 10