AASHTO classification

• Soils of similar properties may be classified or subgroups

according to their engineering behavior.
• Classification system provide a common language to concisely
express the general characteristics of soil.
• Currently two elaborate classifying systems are commonly used
by soil engineers they are:
- The American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials.
- The Unified Soil Classification.

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AASHTO classification

• AASHTO classification system:

1- It was developed in 1929 and has undergone several revision
since then.
2- According to this system the soil is classified into seven groups .
See the table (A-1 through A-7 ).
3- Soils classified under groups A-1, A-2 and A-3 are granular
material 35 % or less of its particles pass through the No. 200 sieve.
4- Soils of which more than 35% pass through sieve No. 200
(0.075mm) are classified under groups A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7. These
soils are mostly silt and clay –type materials.

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AASHTO classification

• AASHTO classification system:

5- The classification is based on grain size and liquid and plastic limits:
A- Gravel: fraction passing sieve No. 4 (4.75 mm) and retained on sieve
No. 10 (2.00 mm).
B- Sand: fraction passing sieve No. 10 (2.00 mm) and retained on sieve
No. 200 (0.075 mm).
C- Silt and clay: fraction passing sieve No. 200.
6- Plasticity: the term silty is applied if PI for fine fraction is 10 or less (PI
≤ 10). The term clayey is applied if PI for fine fraction is 11 or more (PI ≥
11).

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AASHTO classification

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AASHTO classification

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AASHTO classification

Range of liquid limit and plasticity index for soils in groups

A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7
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AASHTO classification

• AASHTO classification system:

7- If cobbled and boulders (size larger than 75 mm) are
encountered, they are excluded from the portion of the soil sample
from which classification is made.
How to classify ?
1. The test data must by applied from left to right of the table .
2. By process of elimination , the first group from the left into
which the test data fit is the correct classification.

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 AASHTO classification
• AASHTO classification system:
To evaluate the quality of soil as a highway subgrade material, one must
also incorporate a number called the group index (GI). Parentheses after
the group or subgroup designation.
• GI is given as :
𝐺𝐼 = 𝐹200 − 35 0.2 + 0.005 𝐿𝐿 − 40 + 0.01(𝐹200 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10)
F200 = percentage passing through No. 200 sieve.
LL = liquid limit, PI= plasticity index.

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AASHTO classification
• AASHTO classification system:
➢ Rules for determined GI
1. If the equation yields a negative value for GI , it is taken as 0.
2. GI calculated from the equation is rounded off to the nearest whole number.
3. There is no upper limit for GI.
4. The GI of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4 ,A-2-5 and A-3 is always 0.
5. When calculating GI for soils belong to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7 , use the partial
group index.
𝐺𝐼 = 0.01 𝐹200 − 15 𝑃𝐼 − 10
• In general, the quality of performance of a soil as a subgrade material is inversely
proportional to the GI.

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AASHTO classification
Example 1: the results of the particle size analysis of a soil are as
follows:
Percent passing through the No. 10 sieve = 100
Percent passing through the No. 40 sieve = 80
Percent passing through the No. 200 sieve = 58
The liquid limit and plasticity index are 30 and 10, respectively
classify the soil according to the AASHTO system?

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Solution:
Passing sieve No. 10 sieve = 100
Passing sieve No. 40 sieve = 80
Passing sieve No. 200 sieve = 58
LL = 30
PI = 10
𝐺𝐼
= 𝐹200 − 35 ሾ0.2
+ 0.005 𝐿𝐿 − 40 ሿ
+ 0.01 𝐹200 − 15 𝑃𝐼 − 10 =
58 − 35 0.2 + 0.005 30 − 40
+ 0.01(58 − 10)(10 − 10)≈3.45=3
The soil is classified as A-4 (3).

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AASHTO classification
Example 2: Ninety five percent of a soil passes through the No. 200
sieve and has a liquid limit of 60% and PI of 40% . Classify the soil
according to the AASHTO system.

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Solution:
Passing sieve No. 10 sieve = 100
Passing sieve No. 40 sieve = 100
Passing sieve No. 200 sieve = 95
PI = LL - PL
40 = 60 - PL
PL = 20%
PI = 40; Also, LL-30 = 30
This means that the PI (40) > LL – 30 (30)
Based on the table the soil is A-7-6

𝐺𝐼
= 𝐹200 − 35 0.2 + 0.005 𝐿𝐿 − 40
+ 0.01 𝐹200 − 15 𝑃𝐼 − 10 =
95 − 35 0.2 + 0.005 60 − 40
+ 0.01 95 − 15 40 − 10 = 42
Hence, the soil is A-7-6 (42)
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AASHTO classification

Example 3: for a given soil:

LL = 37%, PI = 12%
Classify the soil according to the AASHTO system?

Sieve No . Percent passing

10 90
40 76
200 34

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Solution:
Passing sieve No. 10 sieve = 90
Passing sieve No. 40 sieve = 76
Passing sieve No. 200 sieve = 34
LL = 37%
12 = 37 - PL
PL = 25%
Based on the table the soil is A-2-6

𝐺𝐼 = 0.01 𝐹200 − 15 𝑃𝐼 − 10 =
0.01 34 − 15 12 − 10 = 0.38 = 0
Hence, the soil is A-2-6 (0)

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