Soil Classification Schemes
Content;
Textural Classification
AASHTO Classification system
Unified classification system
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Classification systems background
• A classification scheme provides a method of identifying soils in a
particular group that would likely exhibit similar characteristics.
• There are several classification schemes available. Of the number
of classification systems proposed over the past few decades, the
Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) and the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) system are the most widely used by current
practitioners.
• Other countries like Japan, Europe and China also posses their own
soil classification systems.
• The AASHTO system classifies soils according to their usefulness
in roads and highways, while USCS was originally developed for
use in airfield construction but was later modified for general use.
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Classification Schemes
•For this particular course let us consider and discuss
three types of soil classification systems
• Textural Classification: it is based on grain size only
• AASHTO Classification: it is based on grain size and
Atterberg Limits (LL,PL, PI)
• Unified Classification: it based on grain size, Atterberg
limits (LL, PI) & organic content
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A. Textural Classification
• This classification is based on a triangular chart shown below.
• A soil with known percentage of sand, silt and clay sizes is
represented by a given point on a triangular chart of this type.
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Example: Classify a soil with the following textures of 35%
sand, 25% silt, and 40% clay-size particles,
This soil falls into the zone of Sandy Clay [small---large].
Class exercise: Classify your soil which you conducted its gradation test previously.
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B. AASHTO Classification System
• The AASHTO classification system, also called Public Roads
Administration (PRA) classification, is based on the following three
soil properties: Grain-size distribution, Liquid limit and Plasticity
index
• This system is generally used by highway engineers, for classification
of sub-grade soils for the highway pavements
• 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
with 35% or less passing through a No. 200 sieve.
• Soils with more than 35% passing a No. 200 sieve are classified
under groups A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7. These soils are mostly silt and
clay-type materials.
• Under this classification system, a characteristic called group index
(G.I) is used to describe the performance of a soil when used as a
highway subgrade material.
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• Group index (GI) is not used to place the soil in a particular
group, but is actually a means of rating the value of a soil as a
subgrade material, within its own group.
GI = 0.2a+ 0.005ac + 0.01bd
• a = that portion of percentage of particles passing No.200 sieve
greater than 35% and not exceeding 75%, expressed as positive
whole number (0 to 40).
• b = that portion of percentage of particles passing No.200 sieve
greater than 15% and not exceeding 55 %, expressed as positive
whole number (0 to 40).
• c = that portion of the liquid limit greater than 40 and not
exceeding 60 , expressed as positive whole number (0 to 20).
• d = that portion of the plasticity index greater than 10 and not
exceeding 30, expressed as positive whole number (0 to 20).
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Example
• A sample of inorganic soil has the following grain size
characteristics:
Sieve No Cumulative Percent passing (finer)
10 100
40 80
200 40
The liquid limit is 65 percent and the plasticity index 22
percent; then Classify the soil by AASHTO system and
Calculate G.I ?
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Solution:
• Using AASHTO classification table (since 40% of the soil is
passing through No. 200 sieve), it falls under the silt – clay type
of material, i.e., A-4, A-5, A-6 or A-7. Proceeding from left to
right, it falls under group A-7. It may be A-7-5 or A-7-6 which is
decided as below:
• The plastic limit (ωp) of this soil can also be worked out as:
PL = LL - PΙ = 65 – 22 = 43%, which is greater than 30
• Hence, the classification, as per note given at the bottom of
AASHTO classification is A-7-5, because PL > 30%.
• GI = 0.2a+ 0.005ac + 0.01bd
a = (40-35)=5, b= (40-15)=25
c = (60-40)=20 , d = (22-10)=12
• GI = 0.2(5)+ 0.005(5)(20) + 0.01(25)(12) = 4.5; say 5
• Therefore, the soil will be classified as A-7-5 (5)
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C. Unified Soil Classification System
• The system is most popular for use in all types of engineering
problems involving soils. And this system is developed by ASTM.
• It divides soil into three major divisions; namely:
• Coarse-grained soils [in to eight groups - GW, GP, SW,
SP, GM, GC, SM & SC ]
• Fine-grained soils [in to eight groups - CH, OH, CL, OL,
MH, OH, ML & OL] and
• Highly organic (peat) soils. [Highly organic soils and
can be identified by using visual identification or liquid
limit laboratory tests]
• The name and symbols used to distinguish between the typical
and boundary soil groups are given below.
• Based on USCS; Cobble > 80 mm, Gravel > 4.75 mm,
Sand > 0.075 mm and Fine < 0.075 mm (the type of fine
grained soil will be determined by Plasticity chart).
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a) Coarse-grained soils (<50% passing #200 Sieve)
G = Gravel , S = Sand
The gravel and sand are further divided into subgroups as;
W = Well graded, P = Poorly graded
b) Fine-grained soils (>50% sieve passing #200 Sieve)
M = Inorganic silt
C = Inorganic clay
O = Organic silts and clays
Pt = Peat
• The above groups of fine-grained soils (excluding peat)
are further subdivided according to their liquid limits into
L = Low plasticity (LL < 50%)
H = High plasticity (PL > 50%)
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Classification of fine grained soils and fine fraction of
coarse grained soils
• For this purpose we use the Plasticity Chart: - The
plasticity chart is a plot of plasticity index versus liquid
limit.
• The diagonal line drawn in the plasticity chart is called
the “A” line and is given by the equation PΙ = 0.73 (LL -
20).
• Clays fall above the A-line and silts below it.
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Coarse-Grained soils : if more than 50% of the soil is retained on sieve No.
200 (0.075 mm opening sieve).
The coarse grained designated as gravel (G) if 50 % or more of course
fraction (above 0.075 mm) is retained on Sieve number 4 (4.75 mm opening
sieve); otherwise it is tern=med as Sand (S).
If coarse-grained soil contains less than 5% fines (Silt & clay) are Well-
graded (W) or Poorly-graded (P), hey sre given the symbols GW, SW, GP &
SP. If the coarse –graded soils contain more than 12% fines, they designated
as GM, GC,SM or SC as per the criteria. If the percentage of finer is is
between 5 % to 12 %, dual symbols such as GW – GM, SP-SM is used.
Fine-Grained soils : if more than 50% of the soil passes on sieve No. 200
(0.075 mm opening sieve). [in to eight groups - CH, OH, CL, OL, MH, OH,
ML & OL].
When the plasticity index and liquidity limit plot in the hatched portion of
the plasticity chart, the soil is given double symbol CL – ML.
To check weather the soil is organic or not, use the following ratio;
It te ratio is true, the soil is organic, if not then the soil is inorganic.
�� (���� �����)
Ratio = < �. ��
�� (��� �����) 14
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Comparison of USCS Vs AASHTO
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Example: The results of the grain size analysis of an inorganic soil are as
follows:
Percent passing on №. 4 sieve = 100; Percent passing on №. 40 sieve = 80
Percent passing on №.200 sieve = 58
• The liquid limit and plastic index of minus № - 40 fraction of the soil are 30%
and 10%, respectively. Classify the soil by the unified classification system.
Solution:
• Since 58% of the soil is passing through №. 200 sieve, it is a fine-grained soil.
• Referring to the plasticity chart for LL = 30% and PΙ = 10%, it can be classified
as CL.
• Proportion for gravel, Sand and Finer are;
Gravel = 100 – 100 = 0%, Sand = 100 – 58 = 42 %, percentage of Finer = 58 %.
• Plus # 200 (42%)>30%
• % Sand > % Gravel… (42%>0)
• % Gravel < 15 % ……( 0<15%)
• Following the flow chart for the classification of fine grained soils:
We get the Group Name of the soil using the USCS to be: Sandy Clay (CL)
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Class Excises:
Classify your previous soil, which you did its
gradation and Atterber limits, in;
a) Triangular System
b) AASHTO System
c) USCS system
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THE END
CHAPTER
TWO
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Example: A gradation and Atterberg Limit tests were conducted
and the result of tests are shown in following tables.
Sieve size Mass of Mass of sieve
(mm) sieve(g) + soil (g) Based on
25 710.6 710.6 Hydrometer
19 697.6 730 0.074 98
9.5 679.5 740.0
0.01 50
4.75 722 811.0
0.001 30
0.425 377.0 780.0
0.0001 20
0.075 372.0 450.0
pan 365.5 968.4
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• If Plastic limits for two trials are 40.5% and 39.5% and the liquid limits
for oven dried and air dried samples are shown in the following pages,
then;
a) Draw the combined gradation curve
b) Determine the grade of soil (Well or poorly graded)
c) Determine the Percentage of gravel, sand, silt and clay
d) Determine the plastic limit
e) Determine the Liquid limits for both oven dried and air dried samples
f) Determine the Plasticity index
g) Determine the liquidity index if the natural water content is
35 % and tell me the state of soil.
h) Determine void ratio, porosity, specific volume and air
content at the liquid limit, if Gs = 2.5.
i) Determine Activity of soil
j) Is the soil organic or inorganic?
k) Classify the soil based on Triangular, AASHTO and USCS systems
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Number of blows, 10 19 23 27 40
Water content (%) 74.25 59 54 51 39
Solution
AIR DRIED
SAMPLE
Therefore, LL(air dried) = 52%
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Number of blows, 10 19 23 27 40
Water content (%) 73.16 58.4 53 50 38 OVEN DRIED
Solution;
SAMPLE
Therefore, LL(oven dried) = 51%
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Grain Size Analysis
Sieve size Mass of sie Mass of sieve Mass of % of mass Cummulative Cummlative
(mm) ve (g) + soil (g) Reatained soil (g) retained % Retained % finer
25 710.6 710.6 0 0 0 100
19 697.6 730 32.4 2.6 2.6 97.4
Grain Size Analysis
9.5 679.5 740 60.5 4.8 7.3 92.7
4.75 722 811 89 7.0 14.4 85.6
0.425 377 780 403 31.8 46.2 53.8
0.075 372 450 78 6.2 52.4 47.6
pan 365.5 968.4 602.9 47.6 100 0
Total Mass = 1265.8
Based on Hydrometer PA (%)
0.074 98 46.7
0.01 50 23.8
0.001 30 14.3
0.0001 20 9.5
PA = Adjusted Hydrometer Analysis
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Combined Results
Particle size
% of Finer
(Opening Size) (mm)
25 100
19 97.4
9.5 92.7
4.75 85.6
0.425 53.8
0.075 47.6
0.074 46.7
0.01 23.8
0.001 14.3
0.0001 9.5
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100
80
Percent Finer (%)
60
40
20
0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0.000
Particle Diameter (mm)
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100
80
Percent Finer (%)
60
40
20
0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0.00001
Particle Diameter (mm)
30
100
80
Percent Finer (%)
60
40
20
0
100 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0.00001
Particle Diameter (mm) 31
• If 1< CC <3 : well-graded soils
• CC outside of the range 1 to 3 : Gap graded
• D30 = 0.02mm, D60 = 0.75 mm
• The diameter D10 = effective size = 0.00012mm
• The diameter D50 = average size = 0.25 mm
• Cu = 0.75/0.00012 = 6250 ( Well Graded)
• Cc = (0.02*0.02)/(0.00012*0.75) = 4.44 (out of 3. so, Poorly Graded)
• Therefore, the soil is poorly graded
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• Gravel > 4.75 mm, Sand > 0.075mm and Silt > 0.002mm & Clay < 0.002mm
If so, % Gravel = !00 – 85.5 = 14.5%
% Sand = 85.5 – 47.5 % = 38% ………% Coarse = 14.5+38 = 52.5%
% Silt = 47.5% - 16.5 = 31%
%Clay = 16.5%.............%fines = 31+16.5 = 47.5%
Liquidity index if the natural water content is 35 % and tell me the state of soil.
PL =(39.5+40.5)/2=40% ��−��
�� = =- 0.42, the soil is at solid or
��
PI = 52 -40 = 12%
semi-solid state
Determine void ratio, porosity, specific volume and air content at the liquid limit,
if Gs = 2.5.
e*S =w*G; w = LL = 52%, 2.8, S =1 (fully saturated);
e*1 = 2.5*0.52 ; e = 1.3
n = e/(1+e) = 1.3/(1+1.3) = 0.565; n = 56.5%
Vs (Specific volume) = 1+e = 1+1.3; Vs = 2.3
ac (air content) = 1-S = 1-1 =; ac = 0%
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Activity of Clay (A)
PL =(39.5+40.5)/2=40%
PI = 52 -40 = 12%
PI 12
A 0 . 72 .......... . Nonactive
Clay fraction (%) 16.5
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Classification
1. Based on Triangular classification systems;
In this classification system % Sand + % Silt + % Silt must be = 100% but the actual %
Sand + % Silt + % Silt = 85.5%.
So, find the proportional percentages;
% Sand = 38*100/85.5 = 44.4%; % Silt = 31*100/85.5 =36.3%
% clay = 16.5*100/85.5 = 19.3%, THEN the classifications will lies on Sandy Silt
2. Based on AASHTO system
% Passing on Sieve No. 200 = 47.5%....[A-4, A-5,A-6 or A-7]
% Passing on Sieve No. 10 = 73 %. ...[A-4, A-5,A-6 or A-7]
% Passing on Sieve No. 40 = 53 %. ...[A-4, A-5,A-6 or A-7]
% Passing on Sieve No. 200 = 47.5%. ...[A-4, A-5,A-6 or A-7]
LL =52% …..[A-5 0r A-7]
PI = 12 % ……[A-7] and PL = 40%....[A-7-5]
• GI = 0.2a+ 0.005ac + 0.01bd
a = (47.5-35)=12.5, b= (47.5-15)=32.5 , c = (52-40)=12 , d = (12-10)=2
• GI = 0.2(12.5)+ 0.005(12.5)(12) + 0.01(32.5)(2) = 3.9; say 4
• Therefore, the soil will be classified as A-7-5 (4) 35
3. USCS
Since, Coarse = 52.5% > fines = 47.5%......so, Under coarse grained soil.
Since, % Gravel = 14.5% < % Sand = 38% ……So, falls under sand soil
Since % fines (47.5%) > 12 %, there for the sand is not clean sand, rather it
sands with fines.
Classy the fine fractions using plasticity chart (LL,PI) = (52%, 12%) and
then it lies on MH or OH.
�� (���� �����) ��
Ratio = = = �. �� > �. ��
�� (��� �����) ��
therefore it is ��������� ���� (MH).
Then the soil is Silty Sands (SM)
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