Index Properties of Soil and

Soil Classification
Eng. Ahmed Yehia
Water Content (Wc %)
Specific Gravity of Solid Particles (Gs)
𝑊𝑠
𝐺𝑠 = = 2.6~2.9
𝑉𝑠 × 𝛾𝑤
 Specific Gravity of Solid Particles (Gs)

𝑊𝑠
𝐺𝑠 = = 2.6~2.9
𝑉𝑠 × 𝛾𝑤
 Unit Weight of Soil
𝑊
𝛾=
𝑉

Core Cutter test

Particle Size distribution
Particle Size distribution
Soil Type Size (Egyptian Code) Size AASHTO Test Performed
Gravel > 4.75 mm > 2 mm
Sieve Analysis
Sand 4.75 ~ 0.75 mm 2 mm ~ 0.075
Silt 0.075 ~ 0.002 mm 0.075 ~ 0.002 mm
Hydrometer
Clay < 0.002 mm < 0.002 mm

Sieve Analysis Hydrometer

 Sieve Analysis
Sieve No. Sieve Size Weight Retained

4 4.75 0

10 2 100

20 0.85 120

40 0.425 120

60 0.25 30

Cum Retained % Passing

Sieve Analysis Example =
𝑊𝑡 − 𝑊𝑖
𝑊𝑡
∗ 100

Weight Retained
Sieve No. Sieve Size
(gm)
729 − 0
4 4.75 mm 0 0 = ∗ 100 = 100
729
729 − 40
10 2 mm 40 0+40 = 40 = ∗ 100 = 94.5
729
729 − 100
20 0.85 mm 60 40 + 60 = 100 = ∗ 100 = 86.3
729
729 − 189
40 0.425 mm 89 189 = ∗ 100 = 74.1
729
60 0.25 140 329 54.9
80 0.18 122 451 38.1
100 0.15 210 661 9.3
200 0.075 56 717 1.7
Pan - 12 729 0
∑ 729 (WT)
 %
Size Passing

4.75 100
2 94.5
0.85 86.3
0.425 74.1
0.25 54.9
0.18 38.1
0.15 9.3
0.075 1.7
- 0
 Sieve Analysis

Grain size distribution “by using sieve

analysis”
Coefficient of uniformity
CU = D60/D10
Coefficient of concavity (or curvature)
CC= (D30)^2/(D10 × D60)
D10(effective Diameter): size
corresponding to 10% Passing
D30: size corresponding to 30% Passing
D60: size corresponding to 60% Passing
D Size

D10 0.15
D30 0.17
D60 0.27
The Soil is Poorly Graded
Relative Density of Sand Dr%

emin , γdmax emax , γdmin e , γdfield

Relative density
Dr = [(emax – e)/(emax – emin)] × 100

= [(γD field – γD min)/(γD max – γD min)][γD max/γD

field] × 100
Relative Density of Sand Dr%
 Example
A sand has a minimum void ratio of 0.41 and a maximum void ratio of 0. 78.
The actual void ratio of the sand is 0.576.
The relative density of the sand is most nearly
(A) 40%
(B) 55%
(C) 65%
(D) 80%
Dr= [(emax – e)/(emax – emin)] x 100
=(0.78 - 0.576)/(0.78 - 0.41) x 100
=55%

The answer s (B).

Example
Soil States
• The consistency of a soil means its physical state with respect to the
moisture content present that time.

• Consistency states are:

1. Solid state
2. Semi solid state
3. Plastic state
4. Liquid state.
Atterberg Or Consistency Limits
Liquid Limit:
The moisture content at which 25 blows of Cassagrande apparatus
closes a standard groove cut in the soil paste along a distance of
12.7 mm.
Atterberg Or Consistency Limits
Plastic Limit:
The moisture content at which a soil can be rolled
into threads of (3.2mm) diameter without cracking
and crumbling.
• Threads thinner than (3.2 mm) diameter are
possible, if the moisture is higher than the plastic
limit.
• And if the moisture is less than plastic limit the
thread will crumble before reaching the required
diameter of 1/8” (3.2 mm).
Atterberg Or Consistency Limits
Shrinkage Limit:
It is that moisture content at which a reduction
in moisture will not cause a decrease in the total
volume of soil mass, but an increase in moisture
will result in an increase in volume of soil mass.
At Shrinkage Limit The Degree Of Saturation is
100%.
The shrinkage limit is not given much
importance since it is not used in soil
classification.
Atterberg Or Consistency Limits
Plasticity Index: is the difference between the liquid limit and
plastic limit of a soil.
𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿. 𝐿 − 𝑃. 𝐿
Plasticity Index A-line
𝑃𝐼𝐴−𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 0.73(𝐿. 𝐿 − 20)
Liquidity Index and Consistency Index
𝑊𝑐 −𝑃.𝐿
𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿.𝐿−𝑃.𝐿
The in situ moisture content for a sensitive clay may be greater
than the liquid limit. In this case
𝐿𝐼 > 1
Soil deposits that are heavily over consolidated may have a natural
moisture content less than the plastic limit. In this case
𝐿𝐼 < 0
𝐿. 𝐿 − 𝑊𝑐
𝐶𝐼 = 𝐼𝑐 =
𝐿. 𝐿 − 𝑃. 𝐿
there are approximate values relating consistency index to
unconfined compressive strength
Example

1- Draw The curve and get Liquid Limit

Flow Chart
From Graph L.L=39.8% 45

2- What is the plasticity Index of Soil 44

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿. 𝐿 − 𝑃. 𝐿 =
43

WATER CONTENT
39.8 − 22.7 = 17.1%
42

41

40

39

38
10
NO. OF BLOWS
Example
3- If the water content of the soil in the
Field is 45% Calculate the liquidity index
And the consistency index and state the case of the structure of soil
𝑊𝑐 −𝑃.𝐿 45−22.7
𝐿𝐼 = = = 1.3 > 1 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝐿.𝐿−𝑃.𝐿 39.8−22.7

𝐿. 𝐿 − 𝑊𝑐 39.8 − 45
𝐶𝐼 = = = −𝑣𝑒
𝐿. 𝐿 − 𝑃. 𝐿 39.8 − 22.7
4- according to A-line Classify the soil
𝑃𝐼𝐴−𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 = 0.73 𝐿. 𝐿 − 20 = 14.45

𝑃𝐼𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 > 𝑃𝐼𝐴−𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦