Laboratory Exercise No.

9
SOIL CLASSIFICATION (ASSHTO AND USCS)

OBJECTIVES:

1. To introduce to the students the procedure of classifying soil according to AASHTO and USCS.

IMPORTANCE:

The result of the soil classification will help determine the soil application for construction as a
building material or as a foundation to build on.

DATA NEEDED:

1. Grain Size Distribution

2. Liquid Limit
3. Plastic Limit

PROCEDURE: AASHTO CLASSIFICATION (Classify each layer)

1. Record results from previous laboratory exercises.

Sieve Analysis Percent Passing No.10: ___________________
Sieve Analysis Percent Passing No.40: ___________________
Sieve Analysis Percent Passing No.200: ___________________
Plastic Limit: _____________________
Liquid Limit: _____________________
Plasticity Index, (LL-PL): _____________________

2. Classify soil using the table for classification of highway subgrade materials for granular materials
by AASHTO. Note: Go from left to right process of elimination.
 Soil Classification: ___________________________

3. Compute the group index value, GI.

GI Value: ____________________

4. Determine the general subgrade rating of the soil sample as a material for construction.
Using AASHTO Table: _________________________________
Using Group Index Value (GI): __________________________

GI Value Quality for Subgrade rating:

0 to 2  Good
2 to 5  Fair
5 to 10  Poor
10 to 20  Very Poor

PROCEDURE: USCS CLASSIFICATION

1. Record results from previous laboratory exercises.

Diameter corresponding to 10% finer in the Grain Size Distribution, D10: ___________
Diameter corresponding to 30% finer in the Grain Size Distribution, D30: ___________
Diameter corresponding to 60% finer in the Grain Size Distribution, D60: ___________
Coefficient of Unifomity, Cu = D60/D10: ___________
Coefficient of Curvature, Cc = (D30)2/D60 x D10: ___________
Liquid Limit: ___________
 Plastic Limit: ___________
Plasticity Index, (LL-PL): _____________________

2. Classify soil using the table for classification of highway subgrade materials for granular materials

PROCEDURE: USDA Classification (Add the steps)

COMPUTATION:

OBSERVATION/s: