Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Soil Mechanics
NCE 412
Engineering
Classification of Soil
Content
• Quick Overview
• Unified Soil Classification System
• Basic Classification Parameters
• Group Names
• Classification Steps
• Examples
Quick Revision – Atterberg’s Limits
- 1. Solid
Moisture Content (w)
2. Semi-Solid
LI = 0
Plastic Limit (PL)
Liquidity Plasticity Index
3. Plastic
Index (LI) (PI) = PL - LL
Liquid Limit (LL)
LI = 1
+ 4. Liquid
Quick Revision – Plasticity Chart
USCD System
Soil
Coarse Fine
F200 < 50 F200 ≥ 50
Gradation
Well Graded Poorly Graded
W P
Classification Steps
Step One:
Classify Soil
Classification Steps
Step Two:
Find Soil Name
Gravel
Sand
Fine Aggregates
Fine Aggregates
Sand
Fine Aggregates
USDA(US Department of
Agriculture)
• This classification method is based on the
particle-size limits as described under
• the USDA system in Table 2.3; that is
• • Sand size: 2.0 to 0.05 mm in diameter
• • Silt size: 0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter
• • Clay size: smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter
USDA
4. American Association of State
Highway and Transportation
Officials system (AASHTO)
Origin of AASHTO: (For road construction)
This system was originally developed by Hogentogler
and Terzaghi in 1929 as the Public Roads Classification
System. Afterwards, there are several revisions. The
present AASHTO (1978) system is primarily based on
the version in 1945. (Holtz and Kovacs, 1981)
31
4.1 Definition of Grain Size
No specific
grain size-use
Atterberg
limits
Boulders Gravel Sand Silt-Clay
Coars Fine
e
75 No.4 No.200
mm 4.75 0.075
mm No.40 mm
0.425
mm
32
4.2 General Guidance
– 8 major groups: A1~ A7 (with several subgroups) and organic soils A8
– The required tests are sieve analysis and Atterberg limits.
– The group index, an empirical formula, is used to further evaluate soils
within a group (subgroups).
A1 ~ A3 A4 ~ A7
34
4.4 Classification
Das,
1998
35
4.4 Classification (Cont.)
Note:
Das,
The first group from the left to fit the test data is the 1998
correct AASHTO classification. 36
Passing No.200 86%
37
Example
• Ninety-five percent of a soil passes through
the No.200 sieve and has a liquid limit of 60
and plasticity index of 40. Classify the soil by
the AASHTO system.
39
Example
The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil
are as follows:
• Percent passing the No. 10 sieve 42
• Percent passing the No. 40 sieve 35
• Percent passing the No. 200 sieve 20
The liquid limit and plasticity index of the minus
No. 40 fraction of the soil are 25 and 20,
respectively. Classify the soil by the AASHTO
system.