SOIL

CLASSIFICATION
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Module IV

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Determine the effective size of the soil using sieve analysis and triangular chart
distribution.

2. Classify soil in terms of particle size distribution, by AASHTO Classification

System, and Unified Classification System.

Introduction

A classification scheme provides a method of identifying soils in a particular

group that would likely exhibit similar characteristics. Soil classification is used to
specify a certain soil type that is best suitable for a given application. There are several
schemes available. Each devised for a specific use. For example, the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASTHO) developed one
scheme that classifies soils according to their usefulness in roads and highways while
the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) was originally developed for use in
airfield construction but was later modified for general use.

Particle Size Distribution Curve

1. Effective Size (D10) – This is the diameter in the particle size distribution curve
corresponding to 10% finer. It is used to measure the hydraulic conductivity and
drainage through the soil

2. Uniformity Coefficient (Cu)

𝐷60
𝐶𝑢 =
𝐷10
𝐷60 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 60% 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟
3. Coefficient of gradation or curvature (Cc)
(𝐷30 )2
𝐶𝑐 =
𝐷60 𝐷10
𝐷30 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 30% 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟
4. Sorting Coefficient
𝐷75
𝑆𝑜 = √
𝐷25

Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD

Asst. Prof IV
 29
Module IV

Methods of Determining Percent of Gravel, Sand, Silt and Clay

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Gravel Sand Silt Clay
>2 mm 2 to 0.06 mm 0.06 to 0.002 mm <0.002 mm

2. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Gravel Sand Silt Clay
>2 mm 2 to 0.05 mm 0.05 to 0.002 mm <0.002 mm

3. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASTHO)

Gravel Sand Silt Clay
76.2 to 2 mm 2 to 0.075 mm 0.075 to 0.002 <0.002 mm
mm

4. Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Gravel Sand Clay
76.2 to 4.75 mm 4.75 to 0.075 mm <0.075 mm

ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEMS
4.1 Given soil having the particle size distribution
as follows: 8% sand, 20% gravel, 48% silt

0
100

and 24% clay. Use the given figure shown.

10
90

20
a. Compute the % of sand using USDA 80

30
70

Method.
y

40

Pe
Cla

60 Clay

b. Compute the % of silt using USDA

rce
50
of

50

nta
ge

Silty

Method. Clay

60

ge
nta

40 Sandy Clay

of
rce

Silty Clay

70
Clay Loam

c. Compute the % of clay using USDA Loam

Sil
30
Pe

Sandy Clay

t
Loam

80
Method. 20
Loam
Silty Loam
90
10 Sandy Loam

d. Classify the type of soil using USDA Loamy Sand Silt

0
10

Sand
0

Method. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Percentage of Sand

Solution: Figure 4.1 Triangular Chart

1. % of Sand.
(% 𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑)100 8 (100)
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = =
100 − %𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 100 − 20

Sand Size = 10%

Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD

Asst. Prof IV
 30
Module IV

2. % of Silt.
(% 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑡)100 48 (100)
𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = =
100 − %𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 100 − 20

Silt Size = 60%

3. % of clay.
(% 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦)100 24 (100)
𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = =
100 − %𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 100 − 20

Clay Size = 30%

4. Classification of Soil
Draw a line from 10% of sand, 60% of silt, and 30% of clay. They will intersect at
point B. Therefore, the soil is silty clay loam.

4.2 Classify the given soil to be used as highway subgrade material by using AASTHO
method by using the attached table shown.
Sieve Analysis % finer:
No. 10 sieve = 100%
No. 40 sieve = 72%
No. 200 sieve = 39%
Plasticity for the minus No. 40 fraction:
Liquid Limit = 44
Plasticity Index = 24

Solution:
Refer to the table:
The percent passing the No. 200 sieve is 39% which is greater than 35% as
shown on the table, it is silt clay material.
A – 7 % Finer 200 = 36 min.
LL = 41 min. PI = 11 min.
If PI < LL – 30 ------ the soil designation is A-7-5
If PI > LL – 30 ------ the soil designation is A-7-6
If PI = 24
LL – 30 = 44 – 30 = 14
Therefore, PI > LL – 30, the soil is A-7-6

Determine also the group index:

Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD

Asst. Prof IV
 31
Module IV

𝐺. 𝐼. = (𝐹 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(𝐿𝐿 − 40)] + 0.01(𝐹 − 15)(𝑃. 𝐼. −10)

𝐺. 𝐼. = (39 − 35)[0.2 + 0.005(44 − 40)] + 0.01(39 − 15)(24 − 10)

𝐺. 𝐼. = 4.24 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝟒

Finally, the soil is designate as A-7-6(4).

Note: If the computed group index yields a negative, it is taken as 0.

Assignment 4.1
4.1.1 Classify the following by using the U.S.
Department of Agriculture textural
classification system. Use the given figure

0
shown. The soil has a particle size 100

10
distribution of 20% gravel, 10% sand, 30%
90

20
80

silt and 40% clay.

30
70

40
Cla

Pe
60 Clay

rce
a. Compute the % of sand.

50
of
50

nta
ge
Silty
Clay

60
nta

ge
b. Compute the % of silt. 40 Sandy Clay
rce

of
Silty Clay

70
Clay Loam
Loam

Sil
c. Compute the % of clay.
30
Pe

Sandy Clay

t
Loam

80
20

d. Classify the type of soil.

Loam
Silty Loam

90
10 Sandy Loam

4.1.2 Classify the given soil to be used as Loamy Sand Silt

0
10
Sand
0

highway sub-grade material using the 100 90 80 70 60

Percentage of Sand
50 40 30 20 10 0

AASTHO method by using the attached

table for its classification.
Figure 4.2 Triangular Chart
Sieve Analysis % finer:
No. 10 sieve = 47%
No. 40 sieve = 28%
No. 200 sieve = 9%
Plasticity for the minus No. 40 fraction:
Liquid Limit = 0
Plasticity Index = 2%

4.1.3 For given inorganic soil, the following are known:

Percentage passing No. 4 sieve = 100
Percentage passing No. 200 sieve = 77
Liquid Limit = 63
Plasticity Index = 25

Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD

Asst. Prof IV
 32
Module IV

Classify the soil by using Unified Soil Classification System (See Figure 4.3).
a. What type of soil is this?
b. What is the group symbol of the soil?
c. What is the group name of the soil?

70.00
CH
or
OH
60.00

50.00
Plasticity Index

CL

)
or
40.00

-8
OL )

LL
e -8
L in

9(
LL

in
A- 3(

0.
-L
. 7

=
0

U
30.00
.=

I.
P.
P.I
MH
20.00 or
CL - ML OH
ML
10.00 or
OL

0.00
10 16 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Liquid Limit

Figure 4.3 Unified Soil Classification System – Plastic and Liquid Limit

4.1.4 For an inorganic soil, the following grain size analysis is given:

U.S. Sieve No. Diameter % Passing (mm)

4 4.750 100
10 2.000 90
20 0.850 64
40 0.425 38
80 0.180 18
100 0.075 4

For this soil LL = 23 % and PL = 19 %.

a. Compute using value of uniformity coefficient.
b. Classify the soil using AASTHO method.
c. Classify the soil using USCS.

Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD

Asst. Prof IV
 33
Module IV

General Materials
General
Classification (35% or less of Total Sample Passing No. 200)

Group A-1 A-2

Classification
A - 1-a A - 1-b A-3 A - 2- 4 A-2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7
Sieve Analysis
(percent passing)
No. 10 50 max.
No. 40 30 max. 50 max. 51 min.
No. 200 15 max. 25 max. 10 max. 35 max. 35 max. 35 max. 35 max.

Characteristics of
Fraction passing
No. 40
Liquid Limit 40 max. 41 min. 40 max. 41 min.
Plasticity Index 6 max. NP 10 max. 10 max. 11 max. 11 min.

Usual types of
Significant
constituent Stone Fragments Fine
Materials Gravel and Sand Sand Silty or clayey gravel and sand

General subgrade
Rating Excellent to Good

Figure 4.4a AASTHO Table – Problem 4.1.4-b

Figure 4.4b AASTHO Table – Problem 4.1.4-b

Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD

Asst. Prof IV
 34
Module IV

GROUP SYMBOL GROUP NAME

<15% sand Well-graded gravel

1=Cc=3 GW
Cu = 4 =15% sand Well-graded gravel w/ sand

Cc<1orC>3 GP <15% sand Poorly-graded gravel

< 5% pass #200 =15% sand Poorly-graded gravel w/ sand
Cu < 4 ML or MH GW-GM <15% sand Well-graded gravel w/ silt
=15% sand Well-graded gravel w/ silt & sand
1=Cc=3 CL, CH, GW-GC <15% sand Well-graded gravel w/ clay or silty clay
Gravel Cu = 4
or CL-ML =15% sand Well-graded gravel w/ clay & sand or silty clay & sand)
% sand < Cc<1
5-12% pass #200 ML or MH GP-GM <15% sand Poorly-graded gravel w/silt
% gravel orC>3 =15% sand Poorly-graded gravel w/ silt & sand
Cu < 4
CL, CH, GP-GC <15% sand Poorly-graded gravel w/ silt & sand
or CL-ML =15% sand Poorly-graded gravel w/ clay &sand or silty clay & sand)

ML or MH GM <15% sand silty gravel

> 12% pass #200 =15% sand silty gravel w/ sand
CL or CH GC <15% sand Clayey gravel
=15% sand Clayey gravel w/ sand
CL -ML
GC-GM <15% sand Silty,clayey & gravel
Begin =15% sand Silty,Clayey gravel w/ sand

<15% gravel Well-graded sand

Cu = 6 1=Cc=3 SW =15% gravel Well-graded sand w/ gravel
Cc<1orC>3 SP <15% gravel Poorly-graded sand
< 5% pass #200 =15% gravel Poorly-graded sand w/ gravel
Cu < 6 ML or MH SW-SM <15% gravel Well-graded sand w/ silt
=15% gravel Well-graded sand w/ silt & sand
1=Cc=3 CL, CH,
Cu = 6 SW-SC <15% gravel Well-graded sand w/ clay or silty clay
Sand or CL-ML =15% gravel Well-graded sand w/ clay & sand or silty clay & sand)
% sand = 5-12% pass #200 Cc<1orC>3
MLorMH SP-SM <15% gravel Poorly-graded sand w/silt
% gravel Cu < 6
=15% gravel Poorly-graded sand w/ silt & sand
CL, CH, SP-SC <15% gravel Poorly-graded sand w/ silt & sand
or CL-ML =15% gravel Poorly-graded sand w/ clay &sand or silty clay & sand)
SM <15% gravel silty sand
ML or MH
=15% gravel silty sand w/ gravel
> 12% pass #200
CL or CH SC <15% gravel Clayey sand
=15% gravel Clayey sand w/ gravel
CL -ML SC-SM <15% gravel Silty,clayey & sand
=15% gravel Silty,Clayey sand w/ gravel

Figure 4.4b Flow chart for classification of coarse-grained soils.(<50%

passing #200 sieve) Adopted from ASTM D2487. Use this in
Prob. 4.1.4c.
References

Besavilla, V. I., Basic Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering, VIB Publishing,

5th Edition, Cebu City, 1998.

Budhu, M., Soil Mechanics & Foundations, University of Arizona, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc., New York, 2000.

Smith, I., Smith’s Elements of Soil Mechanics, Edinburgh Napier University, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc., Oxford, 2014.

[Link]

[Link]

Engr. BIENVINIDO C. BALANLAY Jr, PhD

Asst. Prof IV