SOIL

CLASSIFICATION
MODULE 7

CIE 114: GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERS

 Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

• State the significance of Soil

Classification in Civil
Engineering.
• Classify soil using AASHTO,
USCS, and/or USDA.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

WHY IS SOIL IMPORTANT TO CIVIL

ENGINEERS?
The first steps of design for construction projects require
exploratory sampling, testing, and analysis of soil and rock
materials. This sampling, classification, and testing program
provide answers for engineers to determine the soil's suitability
for the proposed use.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

SOIL CLASSIFICATION
• Soil classification is a means of
organizing knowledge about soils.
• It is common to use hierarchical
schemes because there are many
soils and they have numerous
physical, chemical, and biological
properties.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL CLASSIFICATION

• The soil classification system is important in determining the number
of building and landscaping limitations on any particular piece of land.
• Soil classification is essentially the methodology involving the
separating of soil into classes or groups which have similar
characteristics and potentially similar behavior.
• The systems for classification of soils permit a universal design
"language" for foundation and pavement designs.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

WHY SOILS ARE REQUIRED TO BE

CLASSIFIED?
• To determine the engineering properties and load bearing capacities of
the soils
• To determine the safe bearing capacities to clayey(cohesive) and
sandy(granular) soils.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

TWO CATEGORIES OF CLASSIFICATION

SYTEM:
Textural Classification - based on the particle size distribution of the
percent of sand, silt, and clay-size fractions present in a given soil.
• USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
The other is based on the engineering behavior of soil and takes into
consideration the particle size distribution and plasticity.
• USCS - Unified Soil Classification System
• AASHTO - American Association of State Highways and
Transportation Officials
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

SOIL-PARTICLE SIZE

Table 1.0: Particle-Size Classification Table 1.1 Soil-separate-size limits by various system

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

METHODS:

SIEVE ANALYSIS HYDROMETER ANALYSIS

(Mechanical
Sieving)
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

1. Plastic Limit (PL)

The plastic limit is the water content at which a soil-water paste changes from a semisolid to a plastic
consistency as it is rolled into a 3.175-mm (1/8-inch) diameter thread in a standard test.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

2. Liquid Limit (LL).

The liquid limit is the moisture content at which the groove, formed by a standard tool into the sample
of soil taken in the standard cup, closes for 10 mm on being given 25 blows in a standard manner.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

2. Liquid Limit (LL).

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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE
The USDA soil classification system provides
a standardized way to describe and categorize
soils, helping farmers, land planners, and
environmental managers make informed decisions.
It facilitates comparison, information sharing, and
supports research and planning for agriculture,
construction, and conservation. The system also
identifies soils prone to erosion or degradation,
aiding in conservation efforts and ensuring
accurate, practical soil information.
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13
USDA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

• CLAY SOIL - Clay is a fine-grained soil with particles smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter. It has high
plasticity and cohesion when wet, which allows it to be easily molded. When dry, it becomes hard and
brittle.
• SANDY CLAY - This soil contains a mixture of clay and sand, with clay being the predominant
component. It has some sand particles that improve drainage compared to pure clay.
• SANDY CLAY LOAM - This soil has a balanced mixture of sand, clay, and silt, with sand being the
most significant component among the three. It’s less sticky than pure clay but retains more moisture
than sandy loam.
• LOAMY SAND - This soil is composed mainly of sand with a small amount of clay and silt. It has
good drainage properties and feels gritty to the touch.
• SAND - Sand has larger particles (0.05 to 2 mm in diameter) and is well-draining. It feels gritty and
does not retain water well.
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USDA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

• SANDY LOAM - This soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay, with sand being the dominant component.
It has a slightly gritty texture but retains more moisture than pure sand.
• CLAY LOAM - This soil is a mix of sand, silt, and clay, with clay being the dominant component. It
feels slightly gritty but retains more moisture compared to sandy soils, making it suitable for plants
that need a balance of water retention and drainage
LOAM - Loam is a well-balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay. It has a crumbly texture and is often
considered the ideal soil type for agriculture due to its balanced properties.
• SILTY LOAM - Silty loam contains a significant amount of silt with lesser amounts of sand and clay.
It has a smooth, silky texture and holds moisture better than sandy soils.
• SILT - Silt consists of very fine particles (0.002 to 0.05 mm in diameter). It feels smooth and powdery
when dry and can become sticky when wet.
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 USDA SOIL CLASSIFICATION

• SILTY CLAY LOAM - This soil is a mix of silt, clay, and a small amount of sand, with silt being the
dominant component. It has a smooth texture with some cohesiveness from the clay.
• SILTY CLAY - Silty clay is composed mostly of clay and silt, with silt being the dominant
component. It has a smooth texture and is sticky when wet.

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SAND:

SILT:

CLAY:

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

IF THE PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION

OF SOIL A SHOWS 30% SAND, 40%
SILT, AND 30% CLAY - SIZE
PARTICLES, ITS TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION CAN BE
DETERMINED BY PROCEEDING IN THE
MANNER INDICATED BY THE ARROWS
IN FIGURE 5.1.

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SAND :
30%

19
SILT :
40%

20
CLAY :
30%

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WE CAN THEREFORE
CONCLUDE THAT THE
SOIL FALLS INTO THE
ZONE OF CLAY LOAM.

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
The particle distribution of soil as
follows. Sand = 12%, silt = 24%, and
clay = 44%. If the soil contains 20%
larger of size larger than 2 mm size,
the actual sum of the percentage of
sand, silt and clay particles is 80%.
Classify the soil using USDA and
compute the corrected percentages
of: sand, silt, and clay.

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 %san
%sand= x 100
%sandd+ %silt +
%clay

%silt
%silt= x 100
%sand + %silt +
%clay

%cla
%clay %sandy+ %silt +
x 100

= %clay

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 12%
%sand= x 100
12% + 24% + 44%

24%
%silt= x 100
12% + 24% + 44%

44%
%clay 12% + 24% + 44%
x 100

=
25
%sand= 15%

%silt= 30%

%clay 55%
=
26
SAND :
15%

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SILT :
30 %

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CLAY:
55 %

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 WE CAN THEREFORE
B. CONCLUDE THAT THE
SOIL FALLS INTO THE
ZONE OF CLAY.

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #3

If soil C has a particle

size distribution of 20%
gravel, 10% sand, 30%
silt, and 40% clay, the
corrected textural
composition are:

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 %san
%sand= x
d -
100
100
%gravel

%sil
%silt = x
t -
100 100
%gravel

%cla x
%clay= y -
100 100
%gravel

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 10%
%sand= x
100 – 20%
100

%silt = 30%
x
100 – 20% 100

40% x
%clay=
100 – 20% 100

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%sand= 12. 5
%

%silt = 37.5
%

%clay= 50.0 %

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SAND :
12.5 %

35
 SILT :
37.5 %

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CLAY :
50.0%

37
WE CAN THEREFORE
CONLCUDE THAT THE
SOIL FALLS INTO THE
ZONE OF GRAVELLY
CLAY.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION

SYSTEM(USCS)
USCS is a soil classification
system used in engineering
and geology to describe the
texture and grain size of a
soil.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION

SYSTEM(USCS)
The classification system Symbol Description Symbol Description

Well graded
can be applied to most G Gravel W
S Sand P Poor Graded
unconsolidated materials and L Low Plasticity
M Inorganic Silt
is represented by 2 letter C Inorganic Clay H High Plasticity
symbol. Organic Silt
O
and Clay

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS
For proper classification according to this
system, some or all of the following
information must be known:
1. Percent of gravel—that is, the fraction
passing the 76.2-mm sieve and retained
on the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening)
2. Percent of sand—that is, the fraction
passing the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm
opening) and retained on the No. 200
sieve (0.075-mm opening)
3. Percent of silt and clay—that is, the
fraction finer than the No. 200 sieve
(0.075-mm opening)
4. Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the
coefficient of gradation (Cc)
5. Liquid limit and plasticity index of the
portion of soil passing the No. 40 sieve
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS
This system classifies soils into two
broad categories:

1. Coarse-grained soils that are gravelly

and sandy in nature with less than 50%
passing through the No. 200 sieve. The
group symbols start with a prefix of G or
S. G stands for gravel or gravelly soil,
and S for sand or sandy soil.

2. Fine-grained soils are with 50% or

more passing through the No. 200 sieve.
The group symbols start with prefixes of
M, which stands for inorganic silt, C for
inorganic clay, or O for organic silts and
clays. The symbol Pt is used for peat,
muck, and other highly organic soils.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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SALFORD & CO.

USCS Sample
Problem
Sieve Diame Soil Characteris
Numb ter Sample tics
er (mm) (%) of Soil

#4 0.420 9 Cu = 13
0
#10 2.000 5 Cc = 1.3
4
#40 4.760 2
2

#200 0.075 4

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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SALFORD & CO.

USCS Sample
Problem

Sieve Diame Soil Characteris

Numb ter Sample tics
er (mm) (%) of Soil

#4 0.420 10 LL = 46
0
#10 2.000 7 PL = 29
7
#40 4.760 5
1

#200 0.075 3
3

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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USCS SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USCS

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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AASHTO
The AASHTO system of soil classification was
developed in 1929 as the Public Road
Administration classification system. It has
undergone several revisions, with the present
version proposed by the Committee on
Classification of Materials for Subgrades and
Granular Type Roads of the Highway Research
Board in 1945 (ASTM designation D-3282;
AASHTO method M145).

57
AASHTO

The AASHTO classification in

present use is given in Table 5.1.
According to this system, soil is
classified into seven major
groups: A-1 through A-7.

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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AASHTO

Soils classified under groups A-1, A-

2, and A-3 are granular materials
of which 35% or less of the
particles pass through the No.
200 sieve.

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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AASHTO
Soils of which more than 35%
pass through the 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.

60
 AASHTO
This classification system is based on the
following criteria:

1. Grain size

a. Gravel: fraction passing the 75-mm (3-in.)

sieve and retained on the No. 10 (2-mm) U.S.
sieve

b. Sand: fraction passing the No. 10 (2-mm) U.S.

sieve and retained on the No. 200 (0.075-mm)
U.S. sieve

c. Silt and clay: fraction passing the No. 200 U.S.

sieve
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 AASHTO
2. Plasticity:

The term silty is applied when the fine fractions

of the soil have a plasticity index of 10 or
less.

The term clayey is applied when the fine fractions

have a plasticity index of 11 or more.

3. If cobbles and boulders (size larger than

75 mm) are encountered, they are excluded from
the portion of the soil sample from which
classification is made. However, the percentage of
such material is recorded.
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AASHTO
In classifying a soil;
• Identify if the soil is granular
material or silt-clay material.
• One must apply the test data
from left to right. By process of
elimination, the first group from the
left into which the test data fit is the
correct classification.

63
AASHTO
Figure 5.2 shows a plot of the range of the liquid limit and
the plasticity index for soils that fall into groups A-2, A-4,
A-5, A-6, and A-7.

64
AASHTO
To evaluate the quality of a soil as a highway subgrade material, one must also incorporate a
number called the group index (GI) with the groups and subgroups of the soil. This index is
written in parentheses after the group or subgroup designation. The group index is given by the
equation

Example:

A-1-b(0)
A-7-6(42)
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AASHTO
The first term of Eq. (5.1)—that is, (F200 - 35)[0.2 + 0.005(LL - 4) The group index of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b,
40)]—is the partial group index determined from the liquid A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is always 0.
limit.
The second term—that is, 0.01(F200 -15)(PI - 10)—is the partial 5) When calculating the group index for soils that belong to
group index determined from the plasticity index. groups A-2-6 and A-2-7, use the partial group index for PI, or

Following are some rules for determining the group index:

1) If Eq. (5.1) yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0

2) The group index calculated from Eq. (5.1) is rounded off to In general, the quality of performance of a soil as a subgrade
the nearest whole number (for example, GI=3.4 is rounded off material is inversely proportional to the group index.
to 3; GI=3.5 is rounded off to 4).

3) There is no upper limit for the group index.

66
AASHTO
SAMPLE PROBLEM #1
Classify the soil by the AASHTO classification system. Given the group index for the soil.

Diameter Soil Sample Characteristics

Sieve Number
(mm) (%) of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

1) Since the soil sample for Sieve #200 is 4%, it is a Granular material.

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

2) % Passing for Sieve #10 is 54% which means it exceeds the maximum for A-1-a which is 50%. Proceed to next group classification.

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

3) % Passing for Sieve #40 is 22% and % Passing for Sieve #200 is 4% which follows the criteria. However, the Plasticity Index which is 15
exceeds the limit which is 6. Proceed to next group classification.

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SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

4) % Passing for Sieve #40 is 22% which does not exceed the minimum amount, 51%. Proceed to next group classification.

72
SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

5) For A-2-4,A-2-5, A-2-6, A-2-7, the soil follow its initial criteria which is 35 max for % Passing in sieve #200. Therefore, check the values of PI and LL.
Given values are PL, and PI. The value needed is LL. Use the same formula mentioned above which is
PI= LL - PL
15 = LL - 15
LL = 30
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SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

6) LL does not exceed the maximum value for A-2-4 and A-2-6 which is 40. Check values of PI to know whether A-2-4 or A-2-6. Since PI exceeds 10,
therefore we can finally conclude that the soil classification for Sample Problem #1 using AASHTO is A-2-6.

74
SAMPLE PROBLEM #1

Sieve Diameter Soil Sample Characteri

Number (mm) (%) stics of Soil

#4 4.760 90 PI=15

#10 2.000 54 PL=15

#40 0.420 22

#200 0.074 4

7) Since the soil is A-2-6 and A-2-7, we should find its group index given the formula mentioned earlier which is
G = 0.01(F 200-15)(PI - 10)
G = 0.01 ( 4 -15) (15-10)
G = -0.55
; Since it yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.

Therefore, the complete soil classification for Sample Problem #1 using AASHTO is A-2-6(0).
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AASHTO
SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
2. Ninety-five percent of a soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and has a
liquid limit of 60 and plasticity index of 40. Classify the soil by the
AASHTO system.

Given:
% Passing No.200 = 95%
LL = 60
PI = 40

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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AASHTO
SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
2. Ninety-five percent of a soil passes
through the No. 200 sieve and has a
liquid limit of 60 and plasticity index
of 40. Classify the soil by the
AASHTO system.

Given:
% Passing No.200 = 95%
LL = 60
PI = 40

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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AASHTO
SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
2. Given:
% Passing No.200 = 95%
LL = 60
PI = 40

Solution:
PI >LL-30
40>60-30
40>30 (ok!)

Therefore, the soil classification is A-7-6.

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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

AASHTO
SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
2. Given:
% Passing No.200 = 95%
LL = 60
PI = 40
Since the soil is A-7-6, compute group
index (GI)

GI = (95 – 35) [0.2 + 0.005(60 - 40)] + 0.01(95 – 15)(40 – 10)

GI = 42
Therefore, the complete soil classification for Sample Problem #2 using AASHTO is A-7-6(42).
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

USDA USCS AASHTO

used to find suitability of soils as

used to classify characteristics used for determining suitability of soil
subgrade material for highways or
of the soil for general use
pavements

do not take plasticity into it is time consuming to use due to the

it is more convenient to use
account process of elimination

soils termed fine-grained have a soil termed fine-grained if more than soil termed fine-grained if more than
high proportion of silt and clay 50% passes No. 200 sieve 35% passes No. 200(0.075mm) sieve

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IMPORTANCE OF SOIL
CLASSIFICATION IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
82
SOIL CLASSIFICATION

1. Foundation
Design
• Bearing Capacity
- Soil classification helps engineers determine if
the soil is suitable for shallow foundations or if
deeper foundations are needed.

83
SOIL CLASSIFICATION

• Settlement Prediction
- Classification helps predict how much a foundation
will settle, allowing engineers to design structures
that can accommodate this movement without
causing damage.

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

• Lateral Support
– Soil classification helps engineers design retaining
walls and basement walls that resist lateral forces.

• Slope Stability
– Soil classification helps engineers design stable
slopes and embankments for roads, highways, and
other projects.
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 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

2. Earthwork and Excavation

• Excavation Difficulty
- Knowing the soil type helps engineers estimate the
difficulty and cost of excavation. Some soils are easy to
dig, while others require specialized equipment or
techniques.
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

3. Pavement
Design
• Subgrade Suitability
- Pavements need a stable subgrade. Soil classification
helps engineers determine if the existing soil is suitable for
a subgrade or if it needs to be improved with fill or other
materials.
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION

• Base Course Selection

- Soil classification helps engineers choose the best
materials for the base course, considering factors like
strength, drainage, and frost susceptibility.

88
 THANK
YOU
"Understanding soil classification isn't just about
knowing types of dirt; it's about mastering the
foundation on which we build the future. For civil
engineering students, it's the first step towards
creating structures that stand the test of time."