CE 412

Geotechnical Engineering 1: Soil Mechanics

Laboratory Report No. 7: Engineering Classification of Soil

Lab Date: October, 2018

Report Date: October 30, 2018

T. A: Engr. Marcelo R. Teñoso

Lab Group: Group 5

Members: Alibuyog, Vonn Xavier

Dagdagan, Vera Crizelle M.

Faderogao, Allen

Malolos, Joshua L.

Maquimot, Cyril Jeansen B.

Mulingtapang, Mika C.

Suarez, Kim Charlone

Villanueva, Jesille C.
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I. ABSTRACT

Soil classification system categorizes soil based on its on distinguishing

characteristics and on its performance given a particular condition. This laboratory

deals with the understanding and the application of two different methods, the Unified

Soil Classification System (USCS) and American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) soil classification in order to categorize a soil

sample and determine its probable usage with the aid of the data from the previous

laboratory experiments. The basis of USCS under coarse-grained soil is the

uniformity coefficient and coefficient of gradation from the particle size distribution

curve, while under fine-grained soil, the Atterberg limits is used such as plastic and

liquid limits which are the limits of water content used to define soil behavior. For

AASHTO, the guide we used for classifying soil is also the Atterberg limits and the

percent finer of sieve nos. 4, 10, 40 and 200. The soil was classified as well graded

sand with clay (USCS) and belongs to Group A-1-b (AASHTO).

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II. TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. ABSTRACT………………………………………………….………..… ii

II. TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………….…..…. iii

III. LIST OF TABLE(S).…………………….…………………….….……. iv

IV. LIST OF FIGURES(S)..………………………………………….…...… v

V. OBJECTIVE(S)…………………………………….…….….…...…...… 1

VI. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND……………..…….….…….…….... 1

VII. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT…………………….…………….... 6

VIII. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE…………………………..……..….. 6

IX. ANALYSIS OF DATA ………………………………….….….…….…. 8

X. DICUSSION OF RESULTS …………………………………..…..…… 9

XI. SUMMARY ……………………………….………………….….……...11

XII. CONCLUSION ……………………………..……….…………….……11

XIII. RECOMMENDATIONS ………………..……………….……….……12

XIV. REFERENCES……………………………………………….…………12

XV. APPENDIX A……………………………………………………...……13

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III. LIST OF TABLE(S)

Table 1-1. ASSHTO Soil Classification System…………………………………….2

Table 1-2. Group Symbol for Soil According to the USCS………………………..3

Table 1-3. USCS Soil Classification System………………………………………..3

Table 1-4. Results from Sieve Analysis and Atterberg Limit Test……………….9

Table 1-5. Results from Sieve Analysis…………………………………………….9

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IV. LIST OF FIGURE(S)

Figure 1-1. Group Name for Coarse-Grained Soil………………………………...4

Figure 1-2. Group Names for Inorganic Fine-Grained Soils……………………...4

Figure 1-3. Group Names for organic Fine-Grained Soils………………………..5

Figure 1-4. Plasticity Chart…………………………………………………………5

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V. OBJECTIVE(S)

 To be able to classify soil sample using Unified Soil Classification System

(USCS) and American Association of State Highway and Transportation

Officials (AASHTO) Soil Classification System

 To be able to describe the property of the classified soil sample

VI. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

AASHTO Soil Classification System

The AASHTO Soil Classification System classified soil according to seven

major groups, A-1 through A-7, based on their grain size distribution, liquid limit,

and plasticity indices. Soils listed in groups A-1, A-2, and A-3 are coarse-grained

materials, where 35% or less of the particles pass through the No. 200 sieve and those

in groups A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7 are fine-grained materials where more than 35% of

the particles pass through No. 200 sieve.

The AASHTO classification system (for soils A-1 through A-7) is presented

in table 1-1. Note that group A-7 includes two types of soil. For the A-7-5 type, the

plasticity index of the soil is less than or equal to the liquid limit minus 30. For the A-

7-6 type, the plasticity index is greater than the liquid limit minus 30.

For qualitative evaluation of the desirability of a soil as a highway subgrade

material, a number referred to as the group index has also been developed. The

higher the value of the group index for a given soil, the weaker will be the soil’s
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performance as a subgrade. A group index of 20 or more indicates a very poor

subgrade material. The formula for group index is given below:

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

Where:

F = percent passing no. 200 sieve, expressed as a whole number

LL = liquid limit

PI = plasticity index

If the equation above gives a negative value, then GI is equal to zero. When

calculating the group index for a soil belonging to groups A-2-6 or A-2-7, use only

the partial group index equation relating to the plasticity index which is GI =

0.01(F − 15)(PI − 10). The group index is rounded to the nearest whole number

and written next to the soil group in parentheses. Lastly, the GIs for soil groups A-1-

a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 are always zero.

Table 1-1. ASSHTO Soil Classification System

USCS Soil Classification System

The Unified Soil Classification System was originally proposed by A.

Casagrande in 1942 and was later revised and adopted by the United States Bureau of

Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers. This system is presently used in practically
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all geotechnical work. In the Unified System, the following symbols are used for

identification:

Symbol G S M C O H L W P

Description Gravel Sand Silt Clay Organic High Low Well Poorly
Silt And Plasticity Plasticity Graded Graded
Clay

Table 1-2. Group Symbol for Soil According to the UCSC

The plasticity chart in figure 1-4 and table 1-2 shows the procedure for

determining the group symbols for various types of soil. When classifying a soil be

sure to provide the group name that generally describes the soil, along with the group

symbol. Figures 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3, respectively, give the criteria for obtaining the

group names for coarse grained soil, inorganic fine-grained soil, and organic fine-

grained soil.

Table 1-3. USCS Soil Classification System

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Figure 1-1. Group Name for Coarse-Grained Soil

Figure 1-2. Group Names for Inorganic Fine-Grained Soils

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Figure 1-3. Group Names for organic Fine-Grained Soils

Figure 1-4 Plasticity Chart

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VII. MATERIALS USED

1. Particle size analysis of the soil sample that has been obtained in sieve

analysis experiment.

2. Atterberg limits of soil sample that has been calculated in the previous

experiment.

VIII. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

AASHTO Soil Classification System

1. Determine the percentage of soil passing through U.S. No. 200 sieve (0.075

mm opening). If 35% or less passes through No. 200 sieve, it is a coarse-

grained material (sand or gravel). Precede to Steps 2 and 4. If more than 35%

pass through No. 200 sieve, it is a fine-grained material (silty or clayey

material). For this, go to Steps 3 and 5.

2. Determine the groups or subgroups. For coarse-grained soils, determine the

percent passing U.S. sieve Nos. 10, 40 and 200 and, additionally, the liquid

limit and plasticity index. Then proceed to Table 1-1, start from the top line

and compare the known soil properties with those given in the table. Go down

one line at a time until a line is found for which all the properties of the

desired soil matches. The soil group or subgroup is determined from the table.

3. For fine-grained soils, determine the liquid limit and the plasticity index.

Then go to table 1-1. Start from the top line. By matching the soil properties

from the table, determine the proper soil group or subgroup.

4. Determine the group index of the soil of the classified soil.

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5. For obtaining the GI of coarse-grained soils, use the following equation: GI =

(F - 35)[0.2 + 0.005(LL - 40)] + 0.01(F - l5)(PI - 10) . If the GI comes out

negative, round it off to zero. However, if it is positive, round it off to the

nearest whole number.

6. Expression for Soil Classification. The final classification of a soil is given by

first writing down the group or subgroup followed by the group index in

parenthesis.

AwwUSCS Soil Classification System

1. If it is peat (primarily organic matter, dark in color, and has organic odor),

classify it as Pt by visual observation. For all other soils, determine the

percent of soil passing through U.S. No.200 sieve. If less than 50% passes,

then it is a coarse grained soil (gravel and sand).

2. Determine the percent retained on U.S. No, 200 sieve.

3. If percent retained in No. 200 sieve is greater than 50%, it is a coarse-grained

soil. However, if it is less than or equal to 50%, it is a fine-grained soil. For

the case where percent retained is 50% go to Step 4. If percent retained in No.

200 > 50%, go to Step 5.

4. For fine-grained soils with percent retained is 50%, determine if the soil is

organic or inorganic in nature.

 If the soil is organic, the group symbol can be OH or OL. If the soil is

inorganic, the group symbol can be CL, ML, CH, MH, or CL-ML.

 Determine the percent retained on U.S. No.4 sieve.

 Determine the percent of sand fraction in the soil.

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 For inorganic soils, determine the liquid limit (LL) and the plasticity

index (Pl). Go to Step 4. For organic soils, determine the liquid limit

(oven dried and not oven dried) and the plasticity index (not oven dried).

 With known values of percentage of soil retained in No. 200 sieve percent

of gravel in soil, percent of sand in soil, liquid limit and plasticity index,

use Figure 1-2 to obtain group symbols and group names of inorganic

soils.

5. For coarse-grained soils:

 If percent retained in No.4 sieve > 0.5 percent retained in No.200 sieve it

is a gravelly soil. These soil may have the following group symbols:

GW GW-GM

GF GW-GC

GM GP-GM

GC GP-GC

GC-GM

 If percent retained in No.4 sieve > 0.5 percent retained No.200 sieve, it is

a sandy soil. These soils may have the following group symbols:

SW SW-SM

SP SW-SC

SM SP-SM

SC SP-SC

SM-SC
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IX. ANALYSIS OF DATA

The table below shows the results from Sieve analysis and Atterberg limit

experiment.

% % %
Uniformity Coefficient Liquid Plastic Plasticity
passing passing passing
Coefficient of Gradation Limit Limit Index
No. 10 No. 40 No. 200

58 17 6 10.5 2.1488 42.1 22.3 19.8

Table 1-4. Results from Sieve Analysis and Atterberg Limit Test

As for AASHTO soil classification we check first if the soil has more or less

than 35% passing the No. 200 sieve, and since less of total sample passes No. 200, it

is mainly composed of granular materials. Next is checking the table provided by

AASHTO. To classify the soil the test are applied from left to right to get the correct

classification of the soil. Thus, we concluded that the soil belongs to Group A-1-b

Finally, since it belongs to the A-1-b group the group index is zero (0).

Fine Fraction
% Coarse Fraction Gravel fraction Sand Fraction
passing No. 200 % retained No. 200 % retained No. 4 % retained No. 200 - %retained No. 4

6 94 8 86

Table 1-5. Results from Sieve Analysis

As for USCS, we first check if the soil contains organic materials which was

not the case, hence we proceeded into checking the amount of soil passing No. 200

sieve. We then have 6% of soil passing No. 200 sieve which is less than 50%, and

thus the soil is classified as coarse grained. Subtracting 6% in 100% we then have

94% of coarse material in the soil sample. Next thing to do is to find whether 50% of
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the coarse grained is passing sieve No.4, and upon checking percent passing sieve

No.4 is 92% hence the soil is sand. Then the percent of fines has to be checked by

looking again the percent passing No.200 which is 6%. Since the sands contain 5 to

12% fines, it will require dual symbols. The uniformity coefficient (Cu) is 10.5 which

is greater than 6 and the coefficient of gradation (Cc) is 2.1488 which is between 1

and 3, therefore the sand is a SW-SC. Then, checking the percent of gravel as shown

below, the group name is well-graded sand with clay.

<15% gravel Well-graded sand with clay

SW-SC
>15% gravel Well-graded sand with clay and gravel

X. DICUSSION OF RESULTS

For AASHTO we see that the soil belongs to granular materials, and upon

checking the table we were able to conclude that the soil fit in to A-1-b. Also, the

group index was automatically zero (0), since according to the rules of determining

GI, the group index of soils belonging to group A-1-a , A-1-b, A-3, A-2-4, A-2-5 is

always zero. With the obtained result, the general subgrade rating of the soil is

excellent to good.

For USCS the soil is categorized as SW-SC well-graded sand with clay. We

see that 94% of soil particles is classified as coarse-grained wherein 94% is purely

composed of sands. And upon checking the uniformity coefficient and coefficient of

gradation we see that Cu ≥ 6 and 1< Cc ≤ 3 and the gravel fraction is 8% which

conforms to the qualification of the soil as well-graded sand with clay.

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XI. SUMMARY

Based from the result of the previous experiments, the group examined the

soil using USCS and ASSHTO soil classification system. The materials used were

the particle size analysis of soil sample that has been obtained in sieve analysis

experiment, Atterberg limits of soil sample that has been calculated in the previous

experiment, USCS tables and chart, AASHTO table, and plasticity chart. Soil

classification involves choosing the right classification of soil to give the right

symbol and name of soil. In using AASHTO, proper classification was observed by

applying a test from left to right using the chart given through the process of

elimination. This was based on the percent finer of sieve nos. 10, 40 and 200 and the

Atterberg limits. This yields to a result of A-1-b which has a general subgrade rating

of excellent to good. Moreover, the identified classification of soil using the USCS is

SW-SC well-graded sand with clay. This was based on percent finer and retained of

sieve nos. 4 and 200.

XII. CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the group was able to obtain the classification of soil using the

USCS and AASHTO classification system. The soil examined belongs to group A-1-

b (0) under AASHTO soil classification and classified as SW – SC well-graded sand

with clay under USCS. The two groups described the soil using the particle size

distribution from the result of the sieve analysis. Hence, classifying soil largely

depends on sieve analysis and Atterberg limit experiment. Moreover the group index

of the soil examined is 0 which was a good indicator that it has excellent quality for

the quality of performance of a soil as a subgrade material is inversely proportional to

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its group index. This conforms to the results in the USCS for it was classified as well

graded. Thus, we can conclude that the soil sample which is mostly composed of

sand is an excellent construction material.

XIII. RECOMMENDATIONS

The group recommends that the classification tests should be set up in mind.

Therefore, the classification tests are not just a formality, but a first step toward

understanding the engineering behavior of the soil. For example, the silty sand

material could be used as structural fill in an embankment on a highway project.

Classifying the material is a quick way to predict its strength and ability to drain

water beneath the roadway. The determination of soil plasticity index from Atterberg

limits testing is a quick way to estimate the compressibility and stability of the clay

foundation soil beneath the embankment.

XIV. REFERENCES

 https://www.scribd.com/document/373935726/Lab-Report-Soil-Classification

 https://sites.google.com/site/introtogeotechnicalengineering/aashto-soil-

classification

 https://www.iamcivilengineer.com/how-to-classify-soil-according-to-aashto/

 https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/ahmedfouad218/soil-classification-lab

 Das, Braja M. And Nagaratnam Sivakugan. 2017, Fundamentals of

Geotechnical Engineering. 5th ed. Phil. Edition: Cengage Learning

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XV. APPENDIX

Experiment on Sieve Analysis

Experiment on Atterberg Limits

(Fall Cone, Casagrande, Plastic limit)
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Mass of Mass of Percent of

sieve soil mass Cumulative
Sieve Mass of
Sieve + retained retained Percent Percent
diameter empty
No. Mass of on each on each retained Finer (%)
(mm) sieve (g)
soil sieve sieve (%)
(g) (g) (%)
4 4.75 515 555 40 8 8 92
10 2.00 460 630 170 34 42 58
20 0.85 385 540 155 31 73 27
40 0.425 360 410 50 10 83 17
60 0.250 335 360 25 5 88 12
100 0.150 325 340 15 3 91 9
200 0.075 315 330 15 3 94 6
Pan ------ 365 400 35

Result of Sieve Analysis