SOIL CLASSIFICATION SCHEMES

A classification scheme provides a method of identifying soils in a particular

group that would likely exhibit similar characteristics. Soil classification is
used to specify a certain soil type that is best suitable for a given application.
There are several classification schemes available. Each was devised for a
specific use. For example, the American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO) developed one scheme that classifies soils
according to their usefulness in roads and highways while the Unified Soil
Classification System (USCS) was originally developed for use in airfield
construction but was later modified for general use.

Unified Soil Classification System

The USCS is neither too elaborate nor too simplistic. The USCS uses symbols
for the particle size groups. These symbols and their representations are: G -
Gravel, S – Sand, M – Silt, and C – Clay. These are combined with other
symbols expressing gradation characteristics: W for well graded, and P for
poorly graded – and plasticity characteristics – H for high and L for low, and
a symbol, O, indicating the presence of organic material. A typical
classification of CL means a clay soil with low plasticity, while SP means a
poorly graded sand. The flowchart shown in Figs. 3.11.a, b provide a
systematic means of classifying a soil according to the USCS. The American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) flowcharts linking the group
symbols with group names are shown in Figs. 3.12a, b.
Experimental results from soils tested from different parts of the world were
plotted on a graph of plasticity index (ordinate) versus liquid limit (abscissa).
It was found that clays, silts, and organic soils lie in distinct regions of the
graph. A line defined by the equation PI =0.73 ( ¿−20 ) %
called the “A-line” delineates the boundaries between clays (above the line)
and silts and organic soils (below the line) as shown in Fig. 3.13 . A second
line, the U-line expressed as
PI =0.9(¿−8)
Defines the upper limit of the correlation between plasticity index and liquid
limit. If the results of your soil tests fall above the U-line, you should be
suspicious of your results and repeat your tests.
FIG. 3.11a
FIG 3.11b
AASHTO Soil Classification System
Is used to determine the suitability of soils for earthworks, embankments,
and road bed material (subgrade-natural material below a constructed
pavement, sub base – a layer of soil above the subgrade, and base – a layer
of soil above the sub base that offers high stability to distribute wheel loads).
According to AASHTO granular soils are soils in which 35% or less are finer
than the No.200 sieve (0.075mm). Silt-clay soils are soils in which more than
35% are finer than the No.200 sieve. (Table 3.6)
The AASHTO system classifies soils into seven major groups, A-1 through A-
7. The first three groups, A-1 through A-3 are granular (coarse-grained) soils
while the last four groups, A-4 through A-7, are silt-clay (fine-grained) soils
(Table 3.7). Silt and clay soils are located within the plasticity chart as shown
in Fig.3.14.
A group index (GI) value is appended in parentheses to the main group to
provide a measure of quality of soil as highway subgrade material. The group
index is given as:
Group Index :GI=( F−35 ) ( O .2+ 0.005 ( ¿−40 ) ) +0.01( F−15)( PI −10)
While F is percent passing No. 200 sieve and the other terms have been
defined before. The GI index is reported to the nearest whole number (2.4
reported as 2, 2.5 reported as 3) and if GI < 0, it is set to 0.
GI for groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is zero. For groups A-2-6
and A-2-7, the partial group index equation
GI =0.001 ( F−15 )( PI −10 )
Is used. The higher the group index the lower the quality of the soil as
subgrade material. The GI should not exceed 20 for any groups of A-4
through A-7.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA Triangular Textural Classification Chart
 Table 8-1: Classification of Soil and Soil – Aggregate Mixture (I)

SILTY – CLAY MATERIALS

General GRANULAR MATERIALS
(more than 35% passing
Classification (35% or less passing 0.075mm)
0.075mm)
A -1 A-3 A-2 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7
Group
A-7-5
Classification A-1-a A-1-b A-2-4 A-2-5 A-2-6 A-2-7
A-7-6
SIEVE ANALYSIS: PERCENT
PASSING
2.00mm(no.10)
0.425mm (no. 40) 50max - - - - - - - - - -
0.075mm (no. 200) 30max 50 max 51min - - - - - - - -
15 max 25 max 10 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 35 max 36 min 36 min 36 min 36 min
CHARACTERISTIC OF
FRACTION PASSING 0.45mm
(no. 40)
LIQUID LIMIT
PLASTICITY INDEX - - 40max 41 min 40 max 41 min 40max 41 min 40 max 41 min
6 max NPa 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 min 10 max 10 max 11 min 11 minb
USUAL TYPES OF
Stone fragments, Fine
SIGNIFICANT Silty or Clayey Gravel and Sand Silty Soils Clayey Soils
Gravel and Sand Sand
CONSTITUENT MATERIALS
GENERAL RATING AS
EXCELLENT TO GOOD FAIR TO POOR
SUBGRADE

a
NP, nonplastic
b
Plasticity Index of A-7-5 subgroup is equal to or less than LL minus 30. Plasticity index of A-7-6 subgroup is greater than LL minus 30
Table 3.2: Unified Soil Classification System Group Symbols for Gravelly Soils
Group
Criteria
Symbol
Less than 5% passing no. 200 sieve; Cu is greater than or
GW
equal to 4; and Cc is between 1 and 3.
Less than 5% passing no. 200 sieve; and not meeting both
GP
criteria for GW
More than 12% passing no. 200 sieve; Atterberg limits plot
GM
below “A” line or plasticity index less than 4
More than 12% passing no. 200 sieve; Atterberg limits plot
GC
above “A” line and plasticity index greater than 7
More than 12% passing no. 200 sieve; Atterberg limits fall in
GC – GM
hatched area marked CL – ML.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
GW – GM
criteria for GW and GM.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
GW – GC
criteria for GW and GC.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
GP – GM
criteria for GP and GM.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
GP - GC
criteria for GP and GC.

Table 3.3: Unified Soil Classification System Group Symbols for Sandy Soils
Group
Criteria
Symbol
Less than 5% passing no. 200 sieve; Cu is greater than or
SW
equal to 6; and Cc is between 1 and 3.
Less than 5% passing no. 200 sieve; and not meeting both
SP
criteria for SW
More than 12% passing no. 200 sieve; Atterberg limits plot
SM
below “A” line or plasticity index less than 4
More than 12% passing no. 200 sieve; Atterberg limits plot
SC
above “A” line and plasticity index greater than 7
More than 12% passing no. 200 sieve; Atterberg limits fall in
SC – SM
hatched area marked CL – ML.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
SW – SM
criteria for SW and SM.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
SW – SC
criteria for SW and SC.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
SP – SM
criteria for SP and SM.
Percent passing the no. 200 sieve is 5 – 12 and meets the
SP - SC
criteria for SP and SC.
Figure 3.5: Flow Chart Group Names for Gravelly and Sandy Soil (after
ASTM, 1986)
Group Symbol Group Name
<15% sand Well - graded gravel
GW
≥15% sand Well - graded gravel with sand
<15% sand Poorly graded gravel
GP
≥15% sand Poorly graded gravel with sand
<15% sand Well - graded gravel with silt
GW – GM
≥15% sand Well - graded gravel with silt and sand
<15% sand Well - graded gravel with clay (or silt clay)
GW - GC
≥15% sand Well - graded gravel with clay and sand
<15% sand Poorly graded gravel with silt
GP – GM
≥15% sand Poorly graded gravel with silt and sand
<15% sand Poorly graded gravel with clay (or silty clay)
GP - GC ≥15% sand Poorly graded gravel with clay and sand (or
silty clay and sand)
<15% sand Silty gravel
GM
≥15% sand Silty gravel with sand
<15% sand Clayey gravel
GC
≥15% sand Clayey gravel with sand
<15% sand Silty clayey gravel
GC - GM
≥15% sand Silty clayey gravel and sand
<15% sand Well graded sand
SW
≥15% sand Well graded sand with gravel
<15% sand Poorly graded sand
SP
≥15% sand Poorly graded sand with gravel
<15% sand Well - graded sand with silt
SW – SM
≥15% sand Well - graded sand with silt and gravel
<15% sand Well - graded sand with clay (or silt clay)
SW - SC
≥15% sand Well - graded sand with clay and gravel
<15% sand Poorly graded sand with silt
SP – SM
≥15% sand Poorly graded sand with silt and gravel
<15% sand Poorly graded sand with clay (or silty clay)
SP - SC
≥15% sand Poorly graded sand with clay and gravel
<15% sand Silty sand
SM
≥15% sand Silty sand with gravel
<15% sand Clayey sand
SC
≥15% sand Clayey sand with gravel
<15% sand Silty clayey sand
SC - SM
≥15% sand Silty clayey sand with gravel
Table 3.4: Unified Soil Classification System Group Symbols for Silty and
Clayey Soils
Group
Criteria
Symbol
Inorganic; LL,50, PI>7; and plots on or above “A” line (see
CL
CL zone in Plasticity chart)
Inorganic; LL<50, PI <4, or plots below “A” line (see ML
ML
zone in Plasticity chart)
Organic; (LL-oven dried)/(LL-not oven dried) <0.75; and
OL
LL<50 (see OL zone in plasticity chart)
Inorganic; LL≥50; and PI plots on or above “A” line (see CH
CH
zone in plasticity chart)
Inorganic; LL ≥ 50; and PI plots below “A” line (see MH
MH
zone in plasticity chart)
Organic; (LL-oven dried)/(LL-not oven dried) <0.75; and LL
OH
≥50 (see OH zone in plasticity chart)
CL - ML Inorganic; plot in the hatched zone in the plasticity chart
Pt Peat, muck, and other highly organic soils
Figure 3.5: Flowchart Group names for inorganic silty and clayey soils (after ASTM, 1986)
Group
Group Name
Symbol
<15% plus No. 200 Lean Clay
<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Lean Clay with Sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Lean Clay with Gravel
PI >7 and plots on or <15% gravel Sandy Lean Clay
CL
above A - line % sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy Lean Clay with gravel
>30% plus no. 200
<15 sand Gravelly lean clay
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly lean clay with sand
<15% plus No. 200 Silty clay
<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Silty clay with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Silty clay with gravel
4 ≤ PI ≤ 7 and plots <15% gravel Sandy Silty clay
Inorganic CL - ML
on or above A - line % sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy silty clay with gravel
LL<50 >30% plus no. 200
<15 sand Gravelly silty clay
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly silty clay with sand
<15% plus No. 200 Silt
<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Silt with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Silt with gravel
PI<4 or plots below A - <15% gravel Sandy silt
ML
line % sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy silt with gravel
≥30% plus no. 200 <15 sand Gravelly silt
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly silt with sand

Organic
( ¿−oven dried
¿−not dried
<0.75 ) OL See figure 3.6

LL ≥ 50 Inorganic <15% plus No. 200 Fat clay

<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Fat clay with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Fat clay with gravel
PI plots on or above A <15% gravel Sandy fat clay
CH
- line % sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy fat clay with gravel
>30% plus no. 200
<15 sand Gravelly fat clay
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly fat clay with sand
PI plots on or below A - MH <15% plus No. 200 Elastic Silt
line <30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Elastic silt with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Elastic silt with gravel
>30% plus no. 200 <15% gravel Sandy elastic silt
% sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy elastic silt with gravel
%sand < % gravel <15 sand Gravelly elastic silt
 ≥15% sand Gravelly elastic silt with sand

Organic
( ¿−oven dried
¿−not dried
<0.75 ) OH See figure 3.6

Figure 3.6: Flowchart Group Names for Organic Silty and Clayey Soils (after ASTM, 1986)
Group Symbols Group Names
<15% plus No. 200 Organic clay
<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Organic clay with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Organic clay with gravel
PI > 4 and plot on or above A <15% gravel Sandy organic clay
- line % sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy organic clay with gravel
≥30% plus no. 200 <15 sand Gravelly organic clay
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly organic clay with sand
OL
<15% plus No. 200 Organic silt
<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Organic silt with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Organic silt with gravel
PI < 4 and plots below A - line <15% gravel Sandy organic silt
% sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy organic silt with gravel
≥30% plus no. 200 <15 sand Gravelly organic silt
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly organic silt with sand
<15% plus No. 200 Organic clay
<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Organic clay with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Organic clay with gravel
PI plots on or above A - line <15% gravel Sandy organic clay
% sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy organic clay with gravel
≥30% plus no. 200 <15 sand Gravelly organic clay
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly organic clay with sand
OL
<15% plus No. 200 Organic silt
<30% plus no. 200 % sand >%gravel Organic silt with sand
15-29% plus No. 200
% sand <%gravel Organic silt with gravel
PI plots on or below A - line <15% gravel Sandy organic silt
% sand ≥%gravel ≥15% gravel Sandy organic silt with gravel
≥30% plus no. 200 <15 sand Gravelly organic silt
%sand < % gravel
≥15% sand Gravelly organic silt with sand
Classification of Soil

Methods:

1. USCS: Unified Soil Classification System

2. AASHTO: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official
Classification System

Things to be known for proper classification

1. Atterberg Limits
a. Liquid Limit
b. Plastic Limit
c. Plasticity Index

2. Grain Size Distribution

a. Passing 3inch Sieve
b. Passing #4 (USCS), # 10(AASHTO)
c. Passing #200

3. Uniformity Coefficient, Cu

D 60
CU=
D 10

4. Coefficient of Gradation: Cc

D230
CU=
D 60 x D10

Where: D60, D30, & D10 are particle size corresponding to 60%, 30% and 10%
passing respectively

U. S. Standard Sieves

60
% Passing

50
40

30

20

10

D6 D3 D1
0 0 0
Particle Size Diameter (mm)

A. AASHTO Classification System

 = developed in 1929
= formerly known as the public road administration classification
system

Seven Major Groups

A1
A2 granular materials ( sand∧gravel ) passing 200≤ 35 %
A3

A4
A5
silt∧clay materials passing 200>35 %
A6
A7

Criteria for AASHTO Classification System

1. Grain Size
a. Gravel = fraction passing 3” sieve, retained on #10sieve
b. Sand = fraction passing #10 sieve, retained on #200 sieve
c. Silt and Clay = fraction passing # 200 sieve

2. Plasticity
a. Silty: PI ≤ 10 %
b. Clayey: PI ≥ 11%

3. Cobbles and Boulders = excluded from the portion of sample on which

classification is made but their percentage are recorded.

4. Group Index: GI
GI =( F−35 ) [ 0.20+ 0.005 ( ¿−40 ) ] + ( 0.01 )( F−15 )( PI −10 )

Term 1 term 2

Where:
F = percent passing #200
LL = liquid limit in %
PI = Plasticity index in %

Term 1 = partial group index based on LL

Term 2 = partial group index based on PI

Rules in Determining the Group Index

1. If GI becomes negative, GI is taken as 0
2. GI is rounded off to the nearest whole number
3. GI has no upper limit
4. GI for soils A-1a, A-1b, A-2-4, A-2-5 and A-3 will always be 0
5. For soils A-2-6 and A – 2-7, the partial group index based on PI should
be used, that is
GI =0.01 ( F−15 )( PI −10 )
Note: using table 8-1, Classification is done from left to right
AASHTO
Illustrative Problem 1: For a soil data given below classify the soil according
to AASHTO Classification System
Sieve Analysis Result: Percent Passing
No. 10 sieve = 100%
No. 40 sieve = 92%
No. 200 sieve = 86%

LL = 70
PI = 32

F= passing #200 sieve

= 86%>35%
∴soil is silt and clay material
A4
A5
A6
A7

a. From Table 8 -1: determine group symbol

Group A-4 - A-7-6
A -7-5

LL – 30 = 70-30=40>PI=32
∴soil is A-7-5

GI =( F−35 ) [0.20+ 0.005 ( ¿−40 ) ] + ( 0.01 )( F−15 )( PI −10 )

GI =( 86−35 ) [ 0.20+ 0.005 (70−40 ) ]+ ( 0.01 )( 86−15 ) ( 32−10 ) =17.85+ 15.62=33.47 ≈ 33.5 ≈ 34
∴soil is A-7-5(34)

Illustrative Problem 2: For the data shown, classify the soil according to
AASHTO:
Sieve Analysis Result: Percent Finer
No. 10 sieve = 95%
No. 40 sieve = 69%
No. 200 sieve = 30%

Atterberg Limit Test Results

LL = 42%
PL = 24%
PI = 42-24 = 18%

F=30 %< 35 %
∴Soil is granular material
A-1
A-2
A-3

From table 8-1

Group Symbol: A-2-7

GI =( 0.01 )( F−15 )( PI −10 )=0.01 ( 30−15 )( 18−10 )=1.20 ≈ 1

∴Soil is A2-7(1)

Illustrative Problem 3: Classify the soil according to AASHTO

Sieve Analysis Result: Percent Finer
No. 10 sieve = 40%
No. 40 sieve = 23%
No. 200 sieve = 12%

Atterberg Limit Test Results

NP

F=12 %<35 %
∴Soil is granular material
A-1
A-2
A-3

From table 8-1

Group Symbol: A-1a

GI =0
∴Soil is A1-a(0)

NP = not plastic

Unified Soil Classification System

2 Broad Categories
1. Fine – Grained Soils
= silt and clay soils
= passing no. 200 sieve≥50%
Symbols:
C = inorganic clays
M = Inorganic Silts
O = organic silts and clay
Pt = peat muck

2. Coarse – grained Soils

= sand and gravel
= passing no 200 < 50%

Symbols:
S = sand
G = gravel

Other symbols:
W = well graded
P = poorly graded
L = low plasticity
H = high plasticity

Symbols for Coarse Grained Soils

GW GC – GM
GP GW – GM
GM GW – GC
GC GP – GM
GP - GC
Symbols for Fine Grained Soils
CL
ML
GL
CH
MH
OH
CL – ML
Pt

Steps/ Procedure for USCS

1. Determine F – percent passing #200 sieve

If F < 50 = coarse – grained soil

= gravel or sand
= go to step 2

If F ≥ 50% = fine – grained soil

=silt or clay or peat muck
= go to step 3

2. For coarse grained soil, 100 – F is the coarse fraction

FI = % soil passing no. 4 and retained on # 200 sieve

= sand fraction

100−F
If FI < =gravelly
2
= go to table 3.2 and figure 3.13 for the group symbol
= go to figure 3.4 for group name

100−F
If FI ≥ =sandy
2
= go to table 3.3 and figure 3.13 for group symbol
= go to figure 3.4 for group name

3. For fine – grained soils, go to table 3.4 and figure 3.13 for group
symbol and figure 3.5 and 3.6 for group name

Illustrative Problem 1: For soil data shown, classify the soil according to
USCS.
Grain size analysis: percent passing
#4 sieve = 100%
#200 sieve = 61%

Atterberg Limits test results

LL = 26%
PL = 20%
PI = 6%

a. F = 61>50 soil is fine grained soil

 b. Using Figure 3.13: plasticity chart
LL = 26% plots above A line
PI = 6% plots on the hatched zone
Using table 3.4
Group symbol CL – ML

Using Figure 3.5

% sand = 100 – 61% = 39%

Gravel = 0%

%sand > % gravel

Group name: sandy silt clay

CL – ML (sandy silty clay)

Illustrative Problem 2: Classify the soil according to USCS

% gravel = 29%
% sand = 67%
% M/C = 4%

LL & PL = NP

Cu = 3.4
Cc = 3.6

F = 4% < 50% soil is coarse – grained soil

FI = 67%

100−F=100−4=96 %

100−F 96
= =48 % < FI =67 % soil is sandy
2 2

From table 3.3: group symbol is SP

Using figure 3.4:

%G = 29%>15%
Group name: poorly graded sand with gravel

Soil is SP (poorly graded sand with gravel)

Illustrative Problem 3: Classify the soil according to USCS

Sieve Analysis: % passing

#4 = 90%
#200 = 8%

Atterberg limit test results

LL = 39%
PL = 31%

Cu = 3.9
Cc = 2.1
F% = 8%<50% soil is coarse grained soil

100−F 100−8 92
FI = = = =46 % < FI =82 % soil is sandy
2 2 2

From figure 3.13:

LL = 39 plots below A-line

PI = 8

SW – SM = I
SW – SC = I
SP – SM = II
SP – SC = I

Group Symbol
SP – SM (poorly graded sand with silt)

Comparison of USCS with AASHTO system

Comparable Soil Group in AASHTO

Soil Group
Possible but
in USCS Most Probable Possible
improbable
A-2-4, A-2-5, A-2-6,
GW A-1-a -
A-2-7
A-3, A-2-4, A-2-5,
GP A-1-a A-1-b
A-2-6, A-2-7
A-1-b, A-2-4, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7-5,
GM A-2-6
A-2-5, A-2-7 A-7-6, A-1-a
GC A -2-6, A-2-7 A-2-4, A-6 A-4, A-7-6, A-7-5
A-3, A-2-4, A-2-5,
SW A-1-b A-1-a
A-2-6, A-2-7
A-2-4, A-2-5, A-2-6,
SP A-3, A-1-b A-1-a
A-2-7
A-1-b, A-2-4, A-6, A-7-5, A-7-6,
SM A-2-6, A-4, A-5
A-2-5, A-2-7 A-1-a
A-2-4, A-6, A-4,
SC A-2-6, A-2-7 A-7-5
A-7-6
ML A-4, A-5 A-6, A-7-5 -
CL A-6, A-7-6 A-4 -
A-6, A-7-5,
OL A-4, A-5 -
A-7-6
MH A-7-5, A-5 - A-7-6
CH A-7-6 A-7-5 -
OH A-7-5, A-5 - A-7-6
Pt - - -
 Comparison of AASHTO with UCSC
Comparative Soil Groups in UCSC
Soil Group in
Possible but
AASHTO System Most Probable Possible
improbable
A-1-a GW, GP SW, SP GM, SM
A-1-b SW, SP, GM, SM GP -
A-3 SP - SW, GP
A-2-4 GM, SM GC – SC GW, GP, SW, SP
A-2-5 GM, SM - GW, GP, SW, SP
A-2-6 GC, SC GM-SM GW, GP, SW, SP
A-2-7 GM, GC, SM, SC - GW, GP, SW, SP
A-4 ML, OL CL, SM, SC GM, GC
A-5 OH, MH, ML, OL - SM, GM
A-6 CL ML, OL, SC GC, GM, SM
A-7-5 OH, MH ML, OL, CH GM, SM, GC, SC
A-7-6 CH, CL ML, OL, SC OH, MH, GC, GM

EXAMPLES:
1. Particle size analyses were carried out on two soils-Soil A and Soil B-and
the particle size distribution curves are shown in Fig. E3.8. The Atterberg
limits for the two soils are:
SOIL LL PL
A 26 19
B Non Plastic Non Plastic

Classify these soils according to the Unified Soil Classification Scheme.

Is either of the soils organic?
SOLUTION:
Step 1: Determine the percentages of each soil type from the particle size
distribution curve.
Constinuent Soil A Soil B
Percent of Particle Greater than 0.075mm 12 80
Gravel Fraction % 0 16
Sand Fraction % 12 64
Silt Fraction % 59 20
Clay Fraction % 29 0
Step 2: Use the flowchart. (Figs. 3.11.a,b)
Step Soil A Soil B
1 % < No. 200 = 59 + 29 % < No. 200 = 20%
= 88% (silt)
2 Fine grained soil Coarse grained soil
3 CL - ML sandy
4 Sandy silt clay Gravel = 16%
5 Group Symbol = SM
6 - Group Name = Silty
Sand with Gravel

Step 3: Plot the Atterberg limits on the plasticity chart.

Soil A : PI =26−19=7 %
The point (26,7) falls above the A-Line, the soil is inorganic.
Soil B: Nonplastic and inorganic.

2. Classify Soil A and B in previous example according to the AASHTO

System. Which soil is better for a subgrade?
Step 1: Make a table of values.
Soil A Soil B
No. 10 100 70
No. 40 100 40
No. 200 88 20
LL % 26 NP
PL % 19 NP

Step 2: Determine percent passing No. 200 sieve

Step Soil A Soil B
1 88% passing No. 200 20% Passing No. 200
2 > 35% passing No. 200 < 35% passing No. 200
3 Silty-Clay Granular

Step 3: Solve for Group Index

Soil A:
Group Index=GI =( F−35 ) ( 0.2+0.005 ( ¿−40 ) ) +0.01 ( F−15 ) ( PI −10 )
 GI =( 88−35 ) ( 0.2+ 0.005 ( 26−40 ) ) +0.01 ( 88−15 ) ( 7−10 )=4.7=5 . 0
Soil B:
Group Index=Non plastic=GI =0

Step 4: Use table 3.7 to classify the soils.

Soil A is A-4 (5). Note: The value in parentheses is GI.
Soil B is A-1-b (stone fragments, gravel, and sand)

Step 5: Decide which soil is better for a subgrade material.

Soil B (A-1-b) is an excellent material for a subgrade. Soil A is fair to poor.
Soil B is then the preferable material.