Description & classification

Basic characteristics of soils

Soil as an engineering material

Size range of grains
Identification
Shape of grains
SAND grains
CLAY grains
Specific surface
Composition of grains
Structure or fabric

Origins, formation and mineralogy

Origins of soils from rocks
Weathering of rocks
Clay minerals
Transportation and deposition
Loading and drainage history

Grading and composition

Coarse soils
Particle size tests
Simulation
Typical grading curves
Grading characteristics
Sieve analysis example
Fine soils
Consistency
Simulation
Plasticity index
Plasticity chart
Activity
Specific gravity

Volume-weight properties

Volume: the soil model

Simulation
Degree of saturation
Air-voids content
Masses of solid and water
Densities and unit weights
Laboratory measurements
Water content
Unit weight
Field measurements

Current state of soil

Deposition and erosion

Ageing
Density index
Liquidity index
Predicting stiffness and strength

BS system for description and classification

BS description system
Definitions of terms
British Soil Classification System