LAGUNA COLLEGE
GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING
Soil Mechanics 1
Lesson 2: Classification of Soil
Prepared By:
Engr. Glen Patrick Enriquez
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SIEVE ANALYSIS
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SIEVE ANALYSIS
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL SIEVE NUMBER OPENING (mm)
25 0.50
SIZES OF SIEVE OPENINGS 30 0.425
SIEVE NUMBER OPENING (mm) 35 0.50 Aggregates
4 4.75 40 0.425
5 4.00 50 0.355 Coarse:
6 3.35
Larger than 4.75 mm
60 0.25
7 2.80 70 0.212
Fine:
8 2.36 80 0.180 Smaller than 4.75
10 2.00 100 0.15 mm, but retain on
12 1.70 120 0.125 0.075mm sieve
openings.
14 1.40 140 0.106
16 1.18 170 0.090
18 1.00 200 0.075
20 0.85 270 0.053
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
EXAMPLE:
Find the Percent Passing per Sieve Number
SIEVE MASS RETAINED
OPENING (mm)
NUMBER (grams)
4 4.76 25
8 2.38 80
10 2.00 110
20 0.84 160
40 0.42 180
60 0.25 220
80 0.180 380
100 0.149 590
200 0.074 110
Pan 85
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL 𝑊 −𝑥
% 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟 =
SOLUTION: 𝑊
SIEVE MASS RETAINED CUMMULATIVE
OPENING (mm) PERCENT FINER
NUMBER (grams) MASS RETAINED (x)
4 4.76 25 25 98.71%
8 2.38 80 105 94.59%
10 2.00 110 215 88.92%
20 0.84 160 375 80.67%
40 0.42 180 555 71.39%
60 0.25 220 775 60.05%
80 0.180 380 1155 40.46%
100 0.149 590 1745 10.05%
200 0.074 110 1855 4.38%
Pan 85 1940
Total: 1,940 grams
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
PARAMETERS FOR PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
1. Effective Size (D10)
-Refers to the diameter that corresponds to 10% finer.
2. Uniformity Coefficient (Cu)
𝐷 60
𝐶𝑢=
𝐷 10
3. Coefficient of Gradation or Coefficient of Curvature (Cc)
( 𝐷 30 )2
𝐶𝑐 =
𝐷 60( 𝐷 10)
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
PARAMETERS FOR PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
4. Sorting Coefficient (So)
𝑆𝑜 =
√ 𝐷75
𝐷 25
SN RATING
5. Suitability Number 0-10 Excellent
√
11-20 Good
3 1 1
𝑆𝑁 =1.7 2
+ 2
+ 2 21-30 Fair
( 𝐷 50 ) ( 𝐷 20 ) ( 𝐷10 ) 31-50 Poor
50 above Unsuitable
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
Calculate for D10,CU,CC,SO AND SN. 2. Uniformity Coefficient (Cu)
𝐷 60
𝐶𝑢=
𝐷 10
0.25 − 0.180 0.25 − 𝐷 60
=
60.05 − 40.46 60.05 − 60
𝐷 60 =0.25
0.25
𝐶𝑢=
0.148
1. D10 (Effective Size)
𝑈𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐶𝑢=1.689
0.149 −0.074 0.149 − 𝐷 10
10.05 −10 𝐷 10=0.148 𝑚𝑚
=
10.05 − 4.38
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
( 0.169 )2
Calculate for D10,CU,CC,SO AND SN. 𝐶𝑐 =
0.25( 0.148)
𝐶𝑐 =0.772
4. Sorting Coefficient (So)
𝑆𝑜 =
0.84 − 0.42
=
√ 𝐷75
𝐷 25
0.84 − 𝐷 75
𝐷 75=0.583 𝑚𝑚
80.67 −71.39 80.67 −75
3. Coefficient of Curvature (Cc)
0.180 − 0.149 0.180 − 𝐷 25
2
( 𝐷 30 ) 0.180 − 0.149 0.180 − 𝐷 30 = 𝐷 25=0.164 𝑚𝑚
𝐶𝑐 = = 40.46 − 10.05 40.46 − 25
𝐷 60( 𝐷 10) 40.46 − 10.05 40.46 − 30
60 =0.25 𝐷 30=0.169 𝑚𝑚
𝐷 10=0.148 𝑚𝑚
𝑆𝑜=
√
0.583 𝑚𝑚
0.164 𝑚𝑚
𝑆𝑜 =1.885
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
0.25 − 0.180 0.25 − 𝐷50
Calculate for D10,CU,CC,SO AND SN. =
60.05 − 40.46 𝐷 50=0.214 𝑚𝑚
60.05 −50
0.180 − 0.149 0.180 − 𝐷 20
= 𝐷 20=0.159 𝑚𝑚
40.46 − 10.05 40.46 − 20
𝑆𝑁 =1.7
√ 3
2
+
1
2
+
1
( 0.214 ) ( 0.159 ) ( 0.148 )
2
𝑆𝑁 = 20.870
SN RATING
5. Suitability Number
0-10 Excellent
√3 1 1 11-20 Good
𝑆𝑁 =1.7 2
+ 2
+ 2 21-30 Fair
( 𝐷 50 ) ( 𝐷 20 ) ( 𝐷10 )
31-50 Poor
𝐷 10=0.148 𝑚𝑚 50 above Unsuitable
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
GRADATION CURVE
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
GRAPH THE GRADATION CURVE OF THE SIEVE ANALYSIS
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
GRAPH THE GRADATION CURVE OF THE SIEVE ANAYLIS
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR SOIL
1. Textural Classification
2. Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
3. AASHTO Classification System
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
1. Textural Classification
-Soil are named after their principal components, such as sandy clay, silty clay, silty loam etc.
-Developed by the USDA (US Department of Agriculture).
Classification Chart
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
Gravel: larger than 2.0 mm
Sand Size: 2.0 to 0.05mm in diameter
Silt Size: .05to 0.002mm in diameter
Clay Size: smaller than 0.002mm in diameter
Example:
The Soil consists 35% clay;40% silt and 26% sand.
Answer: The Soil is Clay Load using USDA
Classification Chart
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL If the Soil has Gravel
Example:
Gravel =20%
Sand=10%
Silt=30%
Clay40%
Classify the Soil Using USDA Method:
Modified % Sand=
12.5%
Modified % silt= 37.5%
Modified % clay= 50%
The soil sample is a clay using USDA Method
Classification Chart
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 6
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL If the Soil has Gravel
Example
Passing through 2mm :100%
Passing through .05mm :60%
Passing Through .002mm: 30%
Percent Clay=30%
Percent Silt= 60%-30% 30%
Percent Sand= 100%-60% 40%
The soil sample is a clay loam using USDA Method
Classification Chart
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSFICATION SYSTEM
(USCS)
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
UNITED SOIL CLASSFICATION SYSTEM(USCS)
Coarse-grained Soil
-Soil that are gravelly and sandy in nature with less than 50% passing through the sieve No. 200
-The group symbols start with prefixes of either G or S. G for gravel or gravelly soil and S for sand
or sandy soil.
Fine-grained Soil
-Soil that are gravelly and sandy in nature with 50% or more than passing through the sieve No.
200.
-The group symbols start with prefixes M (inorganic silt), C(inorganic clay), O (Organic Silts and
clays. The symbol Pt is used for peat, muck and other highly organic soil.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
Coarse-grained Soil
Flow Chart for Classification of coarse-grained
soils
(<50% passing No. 200 sieve)
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
Fine-grained Soil
Flow Chart for Classification of fine-grained
soils
(>=50% passing No. 200 sieve)
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 7
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Classify Soil A, B and C using USCS.
PERCENT PASSING (%)
OPENING SIZE
Sieve No.
(mm) SOIL A SOIL B SOIL C
4 4.76 90 100 100
8 2.38 64 90 100
10 2.00 54 77 98
20 0.84 34 59 92
40 0.42 22 51 84
60 0.25 17 42 79
100 0.149 9 35 70
200 0.074 4 33 63
Pan - - - -
LL - 46 47
PL - 29 24
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Classify Soil A, B and C using USCS.
PERCENT Soil A
PASSING (%)
OPENING SIZE
Sieve No.
(mm)
SOIL A 0.250 −0.149 0.250 − 𝐷 10 2.38 −2.00 2.38 − 𝐷 60
= =
17 −9 17 −10 64 −54 64 − 60
4 4.76 90 0.162 2. 228
0.840 −0.420 0.84 − 𝐷 30
8 2.38 64 34 − 22
=
34 − 30
10 2.00 54 𝐷 30 =0.70
20 0.84 34
40 0.42 22
60 0.25 17
100 0.149 9 𝐷 60 ( 𝐷 30 )2
𝐶𝑢= 𝐶𝑐 =
200 0.074 4 𝐷 10 𝐷10 (𝐷 60)
2.228 ( 0.70 )2
𝐶𝑢= 𝐶𝑐 =
Pan - - 0.162 2.228(0.162)
`
LL - 𝐶𝑢=13.75 ¿6 𝐶𝑐 =1.358 ¿3
PL - Soil A is SW ( Well-graded sands
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING and gravelly sand, little or no fines)
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Classify Soil A, B and C using USCS.
PERCENT
OPENING SIZE
PASSING (%) Soil B
Sieve No.
(mm)
SOIL B
𝑃𝐼 =𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
4 4.76 100 𝑃𝐼 = 46 −29
𝑃𝐼 =17
8 2.38 90
10 2.00 77
20 0.84 59
40 0.42 51
60 0.25 42
100 0.149 35
200 0.074 33
Pan - -
LL 46
PL 29 Soil B is SC ( Clayed sands, sand clay
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING mixture)
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Classify Soil A, B and C using USCS.
PERCENT
OPENING SIZE
PASSING (%) Soil C
Sieve No.
(mm)
SOIL C
𝑃𝐼 = 47 −24
𝐿𝐿=47
4 4.76 100 P 𝑃𝐼 =23
8 2.38 100
10 2.00 98
20 0.84 92
40 0.42 84
60 0.25 79
100 0.149 70
200 0.074 63
Pan - -
LL 47
Soil C is CL ( Organic Clays of low to
PL 24 medium plasticity, gravelly clays)
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Used to evaluate the quality of soil as a highway subgrade material
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
GROUP INDEX
𝐺𝐼 = ( 𝐹 200 − 35 ) ¿
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑠 :
1.0 𝐼𝑓 𝑡h𝑒𝑒𝑞𝑛.𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐺𝐼 ,𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑠 0.
2.0 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 𝑠h𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑏𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑡𝑜 𝑡h𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑤h𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 .
3.0 𝑇h𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐺𝐼
. 𝐺𝐼 =0.01( F 200 − 15)( PI −10)
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
NOMENCLATURE FOR AASHTO
𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐺𝐼 =0
𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒 : 𝐴−3 (0)
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEM 8
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Classify Soil B and C using AASHTO Method.
PERCENT PASSING (%)
OPENING SIZE
Sieve No.
(mm) SOIL A SOIL B SOIL C
4 4.76 90 100 100
8 2.38 64 90 100
10 2.00 54 77 98
20 0.84 34 59 92
40 0.42 22 51 84
60 0.25 17 42 79
100 0.149 9 35 70
200 0.074 4 33 63
Pan - - - -
LL - 46 47
PL - 29 24
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Classify Soil B and C using AASHTO.
PERCENT
OPENING SIZE
PASSING (%) Soil B PI=17
Sieve No.
(mm)
SOIL B
4 4.76 100
8 2.38 90
10 2.00 77
20 0.84 59
40 0.42 51 Use Partial GI for A-2-6 and A-2-7
60 0.25 42
𝐺𝐼 =0.01(F 200 − 15)(PI −10) 𝐴 − 2− 7( 1.26)
100 0.149 35
200 0.074 33
𝐺𝐼 =0.01(33 −15)( 17 −10)
Pan - 𝐺𝐼
- =1.26 𝑨 − 𝟐 − 𝟕(𝟏)
LL 46
PL 29
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: Classify Soil B and C using AASHTO.
PERCENT
Sieve No.
OPENING SIZE
PASSING (%) Soil C PI=23
(mm)
SOIL C
23 ≤ 17
4 4.76 100 23 > 17
8 2.38 100
10 2.00 98
𝐴− 7 −6
20 0.84 92
40 0.42 84 Group Index
60 0.25 79 𝐺𝐼 = ( 𝐹 200 − 35 ) ¿
𝐺𝐼 = ( 63 − 35 ) ¿
100 0.149 70
200 0.074 63
𝐺𝐼 =12.82
Pan - -
𝑨 −𝟕 − 𝟔(𝟏𝟑)
LL 47
PL 24
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
QUESTIONS?
Next Discussion: Review and Lesson 1 and 2
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
THANK YOU!
Lesson 1: Classification of Soil
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING