INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI

Department of Civil Engineering

CVP222 Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

Grading Rubric Sheet

Group : 2 Entry Number: 2022CE11567

Student Name: Lokesh Lodhi Teaching Assistant: Satyam Dey

Cover Memo (8): ______________________________________________

Follow the proper outline of the report

Describe the procedure and exceptions

Describe the results of the obtained data

Refer to and describe all attachments

Detailed discussions on the results obtained and conclusions

Describe major problems/sources of error with the data or laboratory

Describe a summary of the report

Ensure neatness, grammar, and spelling

Graphs & Tables (4): _________________________________________

Graphs, tables, and diagrams and their captions properly formatted

Ensuring the readability of the presented data

Axes labeled with units

Completeness of data

Sample Calculations (2): ______________________________________

Basic equations used presented with appropriate units

Data (4): ____________________________________________________

Quality of data

Accuracy of data processing

 Care in documenting all the data

Participation (2): _____________________________________________

Contributing to lab group work

Carefully log the data in your notebook

Processing preliminary data during the lab

Clean up

Comments:

Grade: ___ / 20
 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI

Department of Civil Engineering

CVP222 Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

MEMORANDUM

To: CVP222 Students Date: Jan 14, 2024

From: Satyam Dey

Subject: Visual Soil Classification

Purpose: This laboratory assignment aims to help students understand the visual classification of

different soil samples provided, like the initial classification required in the field or on a

construction site.

ASTM and IS Standard Methods:

▪ D2488-17 – Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)

▪ D2487-17 – Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification

System)

▪ IS 1498 - Classification and Identification of Soils for General Engineering Purposes

Equipment:

1. Soil Samples

2. Microscope

3. Water and Wash Bottle

4. Hand Lens / Magnifying Glass, Measuring Scale

Procedure:

To analyse the soil sample, begin by placing a representative portion in a dish. Eliminate any large
debris or organic elements present. Next, visually assess the soil particles' size range. If over half of
the particles appear coarse and are visible to the naked eye, categorize and process the sample as
coarse-grained soil, spanning from 0.075 mm to 20 mm in size. Conversely, if the majority of
particles are finer and less than 0.075 mm in size, treat the sample as fine-grained soil. Adhering to
this classification ensures appropriate testing and analysis techniques are applied based on particle
size.
Result/Observation:

Table:- Observation table for performing Visual/Manual Classification of soils. (Natural Soils)

Are most of the soil particles visible to the eye? "Yes/No". If "Yes", go to Coarse-Grained Soils, else
go to Fine-Grained Soils.
Coarse-Grained Soils
soil Sample # and 4 4 1 2 5 14
Name Fine
Aggregate
Colour Greyish Greyish White Grey Orange greyis
white h
Grain Size Range 7.5 to 20 -30 mm 0.425-2 coarse coarse coarse
20mm mm
Description under Very Angular(low Sub round Sub Angular Low
Microscope angular ,lo sphericity) and high angular low and low anhula
(Roundness and w sphere spherecity spherecit rity
Sphericity) sphericity y
Gradation of Well Poorly poorly well poorly well
Particles graded graded
Mineralogy of quartz quartz mica quartz quartz quartz
Particles
Other Soil Types no no no no no no
Present
USCS Classification SW GP SP SW GP ML
Fine-Grained Soils
Soil Sample # 8 9 7 10 6 12 11 13 15
and Name
Colour red whit grey Light grey yello brow Black grey
e brow w nish grey
n
Odour bricky gips Mud Mud Mud Mud earth Mud No order
um like like like like y like
like
Feel smoot Very smoot gritty gritty Very Very smoo smooth
(Gritty/Smoot h smo h smoo smoot th
h/Very oth th h
Smooth)
Stickiness Low Very Low medi mediu high high Non Low sticky
(Non-sticky/S sticky stick sticky um m sticky
ticky) if sticky y
mark
(Low
/Medium/
High)
Dry Strength N/A Very Hard soft Little Very hard N/A N/A
 (Low/Mediu soft but soft hard
m/High) soft
than
black
cotton
Sedimentatio fasts slow fast Very fast slow fast slow Very slow
n (Very fast
Fast/Fast/Slo
w/Very Slow)
Dilatancy Mediu low mediu medi low low low low low
(High/Mediu m m um
m/Low)
USCS MH CH MH ML CL CH CH ML ML
Classification

Result/Observation:

Table 1:- Observation table for performing Visual/Manual Classification of soils. (Natural Soils)

(coarse – grained soils)

soil Sample # and 4 5 3 1 2

Name Fine Aggregate Coarse White Yamuna Red
Aggregate Badarpur sand Badarpu
r
Sand
Colour Greyish white Greyish White Grey Orange
Grain Size Range 7.5 to 20mm 20 -30 mm 0.425-2 coarse coarse
mm
Description under Very angular(low) Angular(low) Subangular Sub- Sub-
Microscope. (low) graded(hig angular(
Roundness h) high)
(Sphericity)
Gradation of Gap graded Uniform Well Poorly well
Particles graded graded graded
Mineralogy of quartz quartz Quartz Mica quartz
Particles
Other Soil Types no no no no no
Present
USCS Classification GP GP GW SP SW
Fine-graded soils
Soil Sample # 12 7 8 6 10 9 11
and Name Bentonit Jhajjar Red Dhanon Delhi Kaolini Black
e Soil oury te cotto
n soil
Colour Brown Grey Red Greyish White Cream Blacki
brown brown sh
grey
Odour Odourles Odourle Earth Earthy Earthy None Earth
 s ss y y
Feel Very very Very gritty gritty Very Smoo
(Gritty/Smoot smooth smooth smoo smoot th
h/Very th h
Smooth)
Stickiness Sticky(m Sticky(h Low Sticky(m Low Mediu Medi
(Non-sticky/Sti ed) igh) ed) m um
cky) if sticky
mark (Low
/Medium/
High)
Dry Strength N/A Very Hard soft Little Very hard
(Low/Medium soft but soft hard
/High) soft
than
Sedimentation Very Very Slow Fast Fast Very Very
(Very slow slow fast fast
Fast/Fast/Slow
/Very Slow)
Dilatancy low High High High Mediu Low Low
(High/Medium m
/Low)
USCS Ch Ch Sl Ch Ml Ch Ch
Classification
Result/Observation:

Table2- Observation table for performing Visual/Manual Classification of soils. (Natural Soils)

soil Sample # and Name 14

Land fest deposit
Colour Grey
Grain Size Range 0.425-4.75 mm
Description under Subrounded/high
Microscope. Roundness sphericity
(Sphericity)
Gradation of Particles Well graded
Mineralogy of Particles Quartz
Other Soil Types Present no
USCS Classification ML
Soil Sample # and
Name
Colour
Odour
Feel
(Gritty/Smooth/Ver
y Smooth)
Stickiness (Non-
sticky/Sticky) if
sticky mark (Low
/Medium/ High)
Dry Strength
 (Low/Medium/High)
Sedimentation (Very
Fast/Fast/Slow/Very
Slow)
Dilatancy
(High/Medium/Low)
USCS Classification

Observation:

Coarse-Grained Soils:

Observe and determine the properties of the given soil sample by visual inspection using the
observation table 1 and classify them using USCS classification.

1. Colour: Begin by observing and describing the overall colour of the soil. Note whether it appears
dark, light, reddish, brown, grey, or any other distinctive colouration. This initial observation provides
valuable information about the soil's general composition.

2. Grain Size Range: Use a magnifying glass or a microscope to examine the range of the particle
sizes. The grain size range provides information about the composition of the soil.

3. Description under microscope: Use a magnifying glass or a microscope to examine the roundness
and angularity of the soil (see Figure 2). Are the particles mostly rounded or angular in shape? This
assessment can help in understanding the degree of weathering and erosion the soil has undergone.
4. Gradation of Particles: Observe the range of particle size in the soil sample. If most of the particles
are observed to be of the same size then soil is classified as Uniformly/Poorly Graded (P) otherwise if
various size ranges are observed in the sample, it’s classified as Well Graded (W). Refer to Figure 3 for
describing the gradation of the particles.

5. Dominant Mineral Types: Identify the dominant mineral types present in the soil. Common
minerals in soil include quartz, feldspar, mica, and clay minerals.

6. Other Soil Types: While analysing the soil, keep an eye out for the presence of any other soil types
within the sample. These might include layers or pockets of different soil textures, such as silty (M),
or clayey soils (C).

7. USCS Classification: Based on the previously assessed properties, employ the USCS classification
chart, as depicted in Figure 4, to classify the fine-grained soil accordingly as
GW/GP/GM/GC/SW/SP/SM/SC.

Fine-Grained Soils:

1. Overall Colour: Begin by visually assessing and describing the overall colour of the soil.

Note whether it appears dark, light, reddish, brown, Gray, or any other distinctive

colouration. This initial observation provides valuable information about the soil's general

composition and potential indicators of its properties.

2. Odour Assessment: Sniff the soil sample to detect any unusual or characteristic odours.

This step can provide insights into the presence of organic matter or contaminants, which
might be indicated by earthy, musty, or chemical odours.

3. Texture Feel: Rub a small amount of soil between your fingers to determine its texture.

Pay attention to whether it feels gritty or smooth. The texture can give clues about the

soil's composition, with grittiness often indicating the presence of sand and smoothness

suggesting a higher clay content.

4. Stickiness Test: Attempt to mould a small portion of the soil into a ball. Observe whether

it holds its shape (sticky, classified as C(Clay)) or crumbles (non-sticky, classified as

M(Silt)).

5. Dry Strength: Take a small, oven-dried soil clump and attempt to break it. Note whether

it exhibits low strength (crumbles easily) or high strength (holds together). Low strength

may suggest a presence of high silt content, while high strength could indicate a compacted

or dense soil with high clay content.

6. Sedimentation: Mix a portion of the soil with water in a transparent container and observe

the settling rate. Note whether it's fast or slow. A rapid settling rate can indicate the

presence of coarse particles, while a slow settling rate suggests finer particles or colloids

in the soil.

7. Dilatancy: Gently press the moistened soil with your palm and observe whether water

oozes out (indicating high dilatancy) or if the soil remains relatively unchanged in volume

(indicating low dilatancy).

8. USCS Classification: Based on the previously assessed properties, employ the USCS

classification chart, as depicted in Figure 4, to classify the fine-grained soil accordingly as

ML/CL/OL/MH/CH/OH/PT.