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South African Guidelines PDF
South African Guidelines PDF
AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
The Australian soil classification method is described in AS
17263. AS 1726 also classifies the primary soil type based on
proportion (>50% by mass). The classification of soils with a
majority of fi nes material (silt or clay) is based generally by
plotting the results of Atterberg limits test results against the
A-Line on the plasticity index:liquid limit chart (where this
information is available).
Descriptive terms for secondary and less fractions are pro-
vided using a defined set of percentages, which vary for coarse-
and fine-grained soil components.
AS 1726 is the only system discussed in this article which
quantifies a medium plasticity nomenclature for clay ma-
terials (liquid limit of 35% to 50%), in addition to a low and
high plasticity.
The consistency of cohesive soils is based on the
undrained shear strength. This nomenclature differs from
the South African guidelines classification. For instance, a
very stiff clay (AS 1726) approximately correlates with a stiff
clay (South African guidelines) and a very high strength clay
(BS EN ISO 14668-24).
The consistency of non-cohesive soils is based on density
index (%), which, whilst different to the South African guide-
lines1, generally correlates similarly.
EUROPEAN STANDARD
The European (including British) standard description of soil
and rock is presented in BS EN ISO 14688-15 and BS EN ISO
14688-24. Notwithstanding the comments below, the standard
indicates that, in general, the interpreted geotechnical engi-
neering behaviour of the soil is used to classify the soil type.
Thus, for instance, where the material is considered to behave
as a clay, it should be named a clay.
The soil type is named after the majority (>50% by mass)
principal fraction where the soil has a majority of very coarse
DISCUSSION NOTES
When using a proportional basis for soil type naming, as used 1. Guidelines for Soil and Rock Logging in South Africa;
by the South African, American and Australian systems, there 2nd Impression 2002; Proceedings of the Geoterminology
is a potential risk. A situation could arise when the granular Workshop (1990); AEG – SA Section, SAICE and
(non-cohesive) fraction is greater than the cohesive fraction, SAIEG; ABA Brink and RMH Bruin (ed.).
however the soil may behave as a cohesive material in terms of 2. Revised Guide to Soil Profi ling for Civil Engineering
its interpreted geotechnical engineering behaviour. Take, for Purposes in Southern Africa; 1973; JE Jennings,
example, a soil with 40% clay (cohesive fraction) and 60% sand ABA Brink and AAB Williams; Die Siviele
(granular fraction). In this instance, the material would typi- Ingenieur in Suid-Afrika – January 1973.
cally be described as a clayey sand, using a proportional-based 3. AS 1726: Geotechnical Site Investigations;
naming convention (although some may describe it as a clay- 3rd Ed., 1993; Standards Australia.
sand), but the geotechnical engineer should generally assume 4. BS EN ISO 14688-2: Geotechnical Investigation
that this material is likely to behave as a cohesive material, and Testing – Identification and Classification
that is, as a clay. Where the proportion of clay is not esti- of Soil – Part 2: Principles for a Classification;
mated, the designer reviewing the data will have little means 2004; British Standards Institution.
to correctly interpret the material behaviour. 5. BS EN ISO 14688-1: Geotechnical Investigation and Testing –
Largely due to the above discussion, engineers in South Identification and Classification of Soil – Part 1: Identification
Africa commonly use a behaviour-based methodology when clas- and Description; 2002; British Standards Institution.
sifying soil type. The Australian AS 1726 classification system 6. ASTM D2488: Standard Practice for Description of Soils
has been in place since 1993. The AS 1726 standard is currently (Visual-Manual Procedure); 2009; ASTM International.
being debated by a geotechnical panel of professionals, and a 7. ASTM D2487: Classification of Soils for
major revision to the classification system is expected in the Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification
next few years. The revised system will likely present a soil clas- System); 2011; ASTM International.
sification on the basis of soil behaviour, rather than the current 8. SANS 633: Profi ling, Percussion Borehole and Core Logging
proportional-based system. in Southern Africa; 2007; Standards South Africa.