CIVE 353

Soil Classification

Clay Soils

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 STRESS-STRAIN BEHAVIOUR AT
STATE Increasing water VARIOUS STATES
content
Stress
Elastic - Plastic
Liquid
Liquid Limit (LL)
Strain

Stress
Plastic
Non-linear inelastic
Plastic Limit (PL)
Strain

Semi- Solid Stress

Linear elastic – brittle failure
Shrinkage Limit (SL)
Strain
Solid

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Liquid Limit (LL)

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Atterberg Device

Liquid Limit (LL)

Moisture content that closes gaps @ 25 blows

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Liquid Limit (LL)
Moisture content @ penetration = 20mm

Plastic Limit (PL)

Roll clay until

it breaks at
1/8 inch thick
(3.2mm)

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Plastic Index (PI) STATE Increasing
moisture
content
Liquid
Liquid Limit (LL)

PI = LL-PL Plastic
Plastic Limit (PL)

Semi- Solid
Shrinkage Limit (SL)
LL = PL PI = 0 Non plastic (silt)
LL > PL PI > 0 Plastic clays
Solid

Burmister (1949) Classification

PI Description

0 Nonplastic

1-5 Slightly plastic

5-10 Low plasticity

10-20 Medium plasticity

20-40 High plasticity

>40 Very high plasticity

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Activity (A)
PI
A=
( percent clay − size fraction by weight )

PI
A=
(percent clay - size fraction by weight)

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Plasticity Index and Clay Content

Atterberg Limits and Clay Minerals

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Liquidity Index (LI)
w - PL w - PL
LI = =
LL - PL PI
‡ Compares field water content with
LL and PL.

LI=0 LI=1 LI>1

w1 w2 w3
PL LL
PI

Bulky Soils

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Sieve Analysis

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Fine sand, silt and clay

Soil fraction passing

No. 40 sieve (0.425mm)

L(cm)
D(mm) = K
t (min)

K = f(temp and Gs)

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12
 Poorly graded

Well graded
Gap graded

Particle Size Definitions

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Particle Size Distribution Curves

D60
Cu = = Coefficent of Uniformity
D10

D 2 30
Cc = = Coefficent of Gradiation
D60 x D10

Grain Size Distribution

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 Unified Soil Classification
System

(USCS)

UNIFIED Soil Classification System (USCS)

Particle diameter (mm)

Boulder > 300

Cobble 76.2 - 300
Bulky
Gravel 4.75 – 76.2 Particles

Sand 0.075 – 4.75

Silt .005 – 0.075
Clay 0.002 - .005
Plate/Needle
Colloid < 0.002 Particles

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Soil Classification Systems

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