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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL

FIELD IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURE

• IS – 1498 – 1970 recommends field identification procedure through following tests.
(1) Visual examination (2) Dilatancy test
(3) Toughness (4) Dry Strength
(5) Organic Content and Colour (6) Other Identification test

(1) Visual examination

• A representative sample of the soil is selected which is spread on a flat surface or in the
palm.
• All particles larger than 80 mm are removed from the sample. Only the fraction of the
sample smaller than 80 mm is classified.
• Sample is classified as coarse-grained or fine-grained by estimating the percentage by
weight of individual particles which can be seen by the unaided eye.
• Soils containing more than 50 percent visible particles are coarse-grained soils, soils
containing less than 50 percent visible particles are fine-grained soils.

Note: If the soil is classified as fine grained soil then following test are performed.

(2) Dilatancy (Reaction to Shaking)

• Take a small representative sample of a soil pat of the size of about 5 cubic centimeters
and add enough water to just saturate it.
• Place the pat in the open palm of one hand and shake horizontally, striking vigorously
against the other hand several times.
• Squeeze the pat between fingers.
• The appearance and disappearance of the water with shaking and squeezing is referred
to as a reaction. This reaction is known as quick, if water appears and disappears rapidly;
slow, if water appears and disappears slowly; and no reaction, if the water condition
does not appear to change.
• Silt exhibits quick reaction, where as clay shows no or slow reaction.

(3) Toughness (Consistency near Plastic limit)

• Dry the pat used in the Dilatancy test by working and moulding, until it has the
consistency of putty.
• Time required to dry the pat is the indication of its plasticity.
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• The Pat is rolled on a smooth surface or between the palms into a thread about 3 mm in
diameter. Fold and reroll the thread repeatedly to 3 mm in diameter until its moisture
content is gradually reduced and 3 mm thread starts crumbling.
• The moisture content at this time is called the plastic limit and the resistance to
moulding at the plastic limit is called the toughness.
• After the thread crumbles, lump the pieces together and continue the slight kneading
action until the lump crumbles.
• If lump can still be moulded slightly drier than the plastic limit and high pressure is
required to roll the thread between the palms of the hand, the soil is described as
having high toughness.
• Medium toughness is exhibited by a medium thread and a lump formed of the thread
slightly below the plastic limit will crumble; while low toughness is exhibited by a weak
thread that breaks easily and cannot be lumped together when drier than the plastic
limit.
• Highly organic clays exhibits very weak and spongy feel at the plastic limit. Non-plastic
soils cannot be rolled into-thread of 3 mm in diameter at any moisture content.

(4) Dry Strength (Crushing resistance)

• If dry pat can be easily powdered, then dry strength of soil is designated as low, medium
if considerable finger pressure is required and high, if it cannot be powdered at all.
• Clay of high plasticity exhibits high dry strength, where as in organic silt exhibits medium
dry strength. Silty fine sand shows low dry strength.
• Completely dry the prepared soil pat and measure its resistance to crumbling and
powdering between fingers. This resistance is called as dry strength and is a measure of
the plasticity of the soil and is influenced largely by the colloidal fraction content.

(5) Organic Content and Colour.

• Fresh wet organic soils usually have a distinctive odour of decomposed organic matter.
This odour can be made more noticeable by heating the wet sample.
• Dark colour is another indication of presence of organic matter in soil.

(6) Other Identification test

(1) Acid test:
• Acid test using dilute hydrochloric acid (HCI) is basically a test for the presence of
calcium carbonate.
• Soils with high dry strength, a strong reaction indicates that the strength may be due to
calcium carbonate as cementing agent rather than colloidal clay.

(2) Shine test:

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• This is a quick additional test for determining the presence of clay.

• The test is performed by cutting a lump of dry or slightly moist soil with a knife.
• The shiny surface imparted to the soil indicates highly plastic clay; where as dull surface
indicates silt or clay of low plasticity.

Note: Presence of High strength water soluble cementing materials e.g.:- CaCO3 or Iron oxides
may cause high dry strength. Non plastic soils, eg:- Caliche, Coral, Crushed lime stone or soils
containing carbonaceous cementing agents may also have high dry strength. But this can be
detected by the effervescence caused by the application of diluted hydrochloric acid.
IMPORTANT POINTS
• Only particles of coarse grained soil can be seen by naked eye.
• Best soil for homogeneous rolled embankment dam – GC
• Best soil for core of rolled earthen dam – GC
• Best soil for shell of rolled earth dam – GW
• Best soil for foundation when seepage not important – GM
• Best soil for foundation when seepage important – GW
• Best soil for road surfacing – GC