Unit 3

Classification of soils

Dr. Jitendra Singh Yadav

Assistant Professor-I
Dept of Civil Engineering
NIT Kurukshetra, Kurukshetra Haryana

1
Unified Soil Classification System
 INDIAN STANDARD CLASSIFICATION (ISC) SYSTEM OF SOIL
✓ IS: 1959-1970 describes the Indian Standard on In this classification system, the group symbol consists of
Classification and Identification of Soils for a primary and secondary descriptive letters as follows:
general engineering purposes (first revision). Group Classification Group Classification
Symbol Symbol
✓ ISC system is in many respects similar to the Coarse Soils Fine soils
GW Well-graded ML Silt of Low Plasticity
USCS system. However, there is one basic
Gravel
difference in the classification of fine grained GP Poorly-graded MI Silt of Intermediate Plasticity
Gravel
soils. The fine grained soils in ISC system are GM Silty Gravel MH Silt of High Plasticity
GC Clayey Gravel CL Clay of Low Plasticity
sub divided into three categories of low, medium
SW Well-graded CI Clay of Intermediate Plasticity
and high compressibility instead of two Sand
SP Poorly-graded CH Clay of High Plasticity
categories of low and high compressibility as Sand
SM Silty Sand OL Organic soil of Low Plasticity
adopted by USCS system. SC Clayey Sand OI Organic soil of Intermediate
✓ ISC classifies the soils into 18 groups (Fig. and Plasticity
OH Organic soil of High Plasticity
Table ). Pt Peat

3
A plasticity chart, based on the values of liquid limit (WL) and plasticity index (IP), is
provided in ISSCS to aid classification. The 'A' line in this chart is expressed as IP = 0.73 (WL - 20).

Fig. : Plasticity chart as per Indian Standard Classification (ISC) System 4

 Plasticity Chart
PI

Inorganic Inorganic Inorganic clays of

Plasticity Index
clays of low clays of high plasticity
medium
plasticity
plasticity

Inorganic silts of
cohesionless high compressib lity
soil and organici clays
LL
Inorganic silts of low Inorganic silts of medium
compressibility compressibility and organic silts
 Table : Basic Soil Components as per ISC System
Soil Soil Symbol Particle size range and description
Components
Coarse grained Boulder None Rounded to angular, bulky, hard, rock particle; average diameter more than 300 mm
components
Cobble None Rounded to angular, bulky, hard, rock particle; average diameter smaller than 300 mm
but retained on 80 mm IS sieve
Gravel G Rounded to angular, bulky, hard, rock particles; passing 80 mm IS sieve but retained
on 4.75 mm IS sieve
Coarse Gravel 80 mm to 20 mm IS sieve
Fine Gravel 20 mm to 4.75 mm IS sieve
Sand S Rounded to angular, bulky, hard, rock particle; passing 4.75 mm IS sieve, but retained
on 75 micron IS sieve
Coarse Sand 4.75 mm to 2.0 mm IS sieve
Medium Sand 2.0 mm to 425 micron IS sieve
Fine Sand 425 micron to 75 micron IS sieve
Fine-grained Silt M Particles smaller than 75 micron; identified by behavior, that is slightly plastic or non-
components plastic regardless of moisture and exhibits little or no strength when air dried

Clay C Particles smaller than 75 micron; identified by behavior that is, it can be made to
exhibit plastic properties within a certain range of moisture and exhibits considerable
strength when air dried.
Organic Matter O Organic matter in various sizes and stage of decomposition (no specific grain size)
Peat Pt Fibrous, spongy (no specific grain size) 26
Example
100

80

% Finer 60

40

20

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
Example
100

80

% Finer 60

40

20

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)

• %fines (% finer than 75 mm) = 11% - Dual symbols required

Example
100

80

% Finer 60

40

20

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)

• %fines (% finer than 75 mm) = 11% - Dual symbols required

• D10 = 0.06 mm, D30 = 0.25 mm, D60 = 0.75 mm
Example
100

80

% Finer 60

40

20

0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)

Particle size fractions: Gravel 17%

Sand 73%
Silt and Clay 10%
Of the coarse fraction about 80% is sand, hence Prefix is S
Cu = 12.5, Cc = 1.38
Suffix1 = W
From Atterberg Tests
LL = 32, PL = 26
Ip = 32 - 26 = 6
From Plasticity Chart point lies below A-line
Suffix2 = M
Of the coarse fraction about 80% is sand, hence Prefix is S
Cu = 12.5, Cc = 1.38
Suffix1 = W
From Atterberg Tests
LL = 32, PL = 26
Ip = 32 - 26 = 6
From Plasticity Chart point lies below A-line
Suffix2 = M

Dual Symbols are SW-SM

Of the coarse fraction about 80% is sand, hence Prefix is S
Cu = 12.5, Cc = 1.38
Suffix1 = W
From Atterberg Tests
LL = 32, PL = 26
Ip = 32 - 26 = 6
From Plasticity Chart point lies below A-line
Suffix2 = M

Dual Symbols are SW-SM

To complete the classification the Symbols should be accompanied
by a description
Thank You!!!