MANUAL VISUAL CLASSIFICATION

INTRODUCTION

This topic presents a procedure for describing soil samples obtained from a

designated location. It involves examining soil samples visually and manually with

respect to texture, plasticity, and color. The soil description of this practice are based on

the user’s option. It has a particular value in grouping similar soil samples so that only a

minimum number of laboratory tests can be undergone for positive soil classification.

The soil can be given identification by assigning a group symbol(s) and name. It can

be classified based on the standardized criteria of ASTM-D2488-09a [Standard Practice

for Description and Identification of Soils(Visual-Manual Procedure)].

OUTLINE OF INVESTIGATION

It is done by first obtaining a representative sample of the soil. Manually identify the

soil’s descriptive information as prescribed in the standards and criteria of ASTM-

D2488-09a. Then, identify if the soil specimen is coarse grained or fine grained based on

the procedures in ASTM-D2488-09a manual. The judgment is then based on flow charts

on FIG.1a, FIG.1b, FIG.2 found in Appendix A depending whether the type of soil

sample is inorganic fine-grained, organic fine-grained, or coarse-grained.

(Documentations found on Appendix B)

 Soil Sample Report

1) Group Name: Lean Clay

2) Group Symbol: CL

3) Percent of cobbles or boulders, or both (by volume): 0%

4) Percent of gravel, sand, or fines, or all three (by dry weight): <15%

5) Particle size range

Gravel( fine, coarse): N/A

Sand(fine, medium, coarse): fine

6) Particle Angularity(angular, subangular, subrounded, rounded): Subangular

7) Particle shape(if appropriate: flat, elongated, flat and elongated): Flat

8) Max. Particle size or dimension: approximately 15mm

9) Hardness of Coarse Sand and Larger Particles: Particle size crumble with

hammer blow.

10) Plasticity of fines (nonplastic, low, medium, high): Medium

11) Dry strength (non, low, medium, high, very high):Low

12) Dilatancy (non, slow, rapid): None3

13) Toughness (low, medium, high): Medium

14) Color (in moist condition): Brown with greenish shade

15) Odor(organic or unusual): organic

16) Moisture (dry, moist, wet): moist

FOR INTACT SAMPLES:

17) Consistency (fine-grained soils only: very soft, soft, firm, hard, very hard): very soft

18) Structure (stratified, laminated, fissured, slickensided, lensed, homogenous): Lensed

19) Cementation (Weak, moderate, strong): Moderate

20) Local name: Loam-clay

21) Add’l comments: Presence of roots has been observed

With the report presented, the soil’s group name was identified as Lean Clay with a

symbol CL. Zero percent of cobbles or boulders were examined and the percent of gravel,

sand, or fines was less than fifteen percent. Particle size range of sand was observed as

fine. As perceived by the conductor of the experiment, the particle’s angularity is

subangular and its shape is flat. The maximum particle size is approximately fifteen

millimeters. It was also observed that particle size crumble with hammer blow. In

addition to the properties identified, the soil’s plasticity of fines is medium, its dry

strength is low, dilatancy was described to be none, toughness is medium, color is brown

with greenish shade,odor is organic and it is in moist condition. For intact samples, the

consistency is very soft, its structure is lensed, and cementation is weak.The local name

was recognized to be Loam-clay.

LIMITATIONS

This study intends to focus only on classifying soil samples that are naturally

occurring(either intact or disturbed) and limits the evaluation on the experimenter’s

preference and judgment in accordance to the given criteria of ASTM-D2488-09a.

CONCLUSION

Soil is an important factor in all building constructions. Classification of soils is

necessary since they inherit different properties.

Manual Visual Classification of soil is a practice that needs proper guidance in order

to identify the soil correctly. Precision and bias statements in this method is not

applicable since it requires to provide qualitative information only.

RECOMMENDATION

Since this method of classifying soils depends on the performer’s judgment, frequent

comparisons with laboratory particle size analysis should be made. It is also

recommended that the experimenter must follow the criteria and procedures stated in

ASTM-D2488-09a accordingly to attain a much precise and acceptable result.

APPENDIX A

NOTE 1—Percentages are based on estimating amounts of fines, sand, and gravel to the
nearest 5 %.
FIG. 1a Flow Chart for Identifying Inorganic Fine-Grained Soil (50 % or more Þnes.
 NOTE 1—Percentages are based on estimating amounts of fines, sand, and gravel to the
nearest 5 %.
FIG. 1 b Flow Chart for Identifying Organic Fine-Grained Soil (50 % or more Þnes)

NOTE 1—Percentages are based on estimating amounts of fines, sand, and gravel to the nearest 5 %.
FIG. 2 Flow Chart for Identifying Coarse-Grained Soils (less than 50 % Þnes)
APPENDIX B