Introduction to geotechnics. Soils and rocks.

Description and fundamental parameters-

Properties and classification of soils

5. AASHTO SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

5.1 Introduction

This section is the last one dedicated to the study of soils in this first module of the Master of
Geotechnics. Throughout these initial nine sections, the concept and definition of soil and its
differences with rock were studied, in addition to the processes that result in the formation of
soils and the different types of sedimentary deposits. Subsequently, the characteristics of
coarse or granular soils (sand and gravel) and fine or cohesive soils (silt and clays) were
analyzed, with greater emphasis on the structure, types and attributes of clays. Next, the (basic)
index properties were presented, which establish relationships between volumes and weights of
the different phases that make up the soil (solid, liquid and gas) and which are also applicable
to rocks. After that, the specific, basic properties of coarse or granular soils (sand and gravel)
and of fine or cohesive soils (silt and clay) were described, which served as a starting point for
studying the soil classification systems, the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) being the
first of these systems studied.

Following the topic related to soil classification systems, this section will present another of the
most well-known soil classification systems, which is the AASHTO Soil Classification System
(American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials). The AASHTO system
was initially developed in 1929 as a soil classification system for the United States Public Road
Administration. Since then, it has undergone revisions and modifications. It is a classification
system most used in road works. In general, geotechnical engineers and professionals resort
more frequently to using USCS. Despite this, the AASHTO system is very internationally
recognized for what is essential.

5.2 Basics of the AASHTO system

The AASHTO system is based fundamentally, like the USCS, on the distinction of coarse-
grained or granular soils (gravel and sand) and fine-grained or cohesive soils (silt and clay). In
this way, the soils are classified into seven groups (with several subgroups), from A-1 to A-7.
Groups A-1, A-2 and A-3 correspond to granular soils and groups A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7
correspond to fine soils.

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 Introduction to geotechnics. Soils and rocks. Description and fundamental parameters-
Properties and classification of soils

As a fundamental difference between the AASHTO system and the USCS, it should be noted
that in the AASHTO system a soil is considered coarse if its content that passes through sieve
No. 200 (opening of 75 µm) is less than or equal to 35% of the total content by weight. On the
contrary, it is considered to be a fine soil if its content that passes through sieve No. 200
(opening of 75 µm) is greater than 35% of the total content by weight. Another difference from
the USCS is that the AASHTO system does not take into account the organic fraction of the soil
in its classification and description.

The AASHTO classification system is based on the following aspects:

§ Particle size:

Gravels: The fraction of the soil that passes through the 75 mm opening sieve and is
retained by sieve No. 10 (2.00 mm aperture).

Sands: The fraction of the soil that passes through sieve No. 10 (2.00 mm opening)
and is retained by sieve No. 200 (0.075 mm opening).

Clays and silts: The fraction of the soil that passes through sieve No. 200 (0.075 mm
opening).

Particle size of soil according to the AASHTO system

Soil Size (mm)

Gravels Fine 2 – 9.5
Medium 9.5 - 25
Coarse 25 - 75
Sands Fine 0.075 – 0.425
Medium -
Coarse 0.425 – 2.00
Silts - 0.002 – 0.075
Clays - 0.001 – 0.002

Figure 39: Particle size for the different basic soils according to the AASHTO system

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Properties and classification of soils

§ The AASHTO system, like the USCS, takes into account the plasticity of fine soils by
means of the plasticity index (IP) and the liquid limit (wL). To do this, it uses a plasticity
letter similar to Casagrande's, which will be explained below. This chart allows fine
soil to be classified in groups A-4 to A-7 (and their respective subgroups). The term
"silty" applies when the fine fraction of the soil has a plasticity index of 10 or less. The
term "clayey” is used when the fine fraction of the soil has a plasticity index of 11 or
more.

§ If the soil includes boulders or cobbles, in other words, particles larger than 75 mm,
these should be excluded from the soil content that is being classified. However, the
weight percentage of these materials must be recorded.

5.3 Soil classification according to the AASHTO system

Below is the table by which the soil classification is based according to the AASHTO system.

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 Introduction to geotechnics. Soils and rocks. Description and fundamental parameters-
Properties and classification of soils

Figure 40: Table for the classification of soils according to the AASHTO system

The AASHTO soil classification system is simpler than the USCS. To classify a soil according to
the previous table, the results of the laboratory tests (particle size distribution analysis, plasticity
index and liquid limit) from the left of the table to the right must be applied. By a process of
elimination, the first group from the left of the table in which the results of the laboratory tests fit
is the group in which the soil must be classified. The figure shown below shows the plasticity
chart used by the AASHTO system.

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 Introduction to geotechnics. Soils and rocks. Description and fundamental parameters-
Properties and classification of soils

Figure 41: Chart of plasticity of the AASHTO system

As can be seen, the chart is divided into sections by the following lines:

§ Horizontal line from the ordinate IP = 10.

§ Vertical line from the abscissa wL = 40.

§ Diagonal line starting from the point (40 ; 10) with equation IP = wL -30.

To assess the quality of the soil as a foundation for roads, as well as to differentiate between
soils with an appreciable amount of fine fraction, the Group Index GI was introduced. The Group
Index GI is calculated by using the following expression:

:e = 0.2 ∙ L + 0.005 ∙ L ∙ s + 0.01 ∙  ∙ O

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 Introduction to geotechnics. Soils and rocks. Description and fundamental parameters-
Properties and classification of soils

Where:

§ a: It is equal to (F200 - 35), where F200 is the percentage that passes through sieve No.
200 (0.075 mm). This parameter represents the portion of soil that passes through sieve
No. 200 (0.075 mm) above 35%.

§ b: It is equal to (F200 - 15), where F200 is the percentage that passes through sieve No.
200 (0.075 mm). This parameter represents the portion of soil that passes through sieve
No. 200 (0.075 mm) above 15%.

§ c: It is equal to (wL - 40), where wL is the liquid limit. This parameter represents the
portion of the liquid limit above 40%.

§ d: It is equal to (IP - 10), where IP is the plasticity index. This parameter represents the
portion of the plasticity index above 10%.

In the expression that defines the group index, we can distinguish two terms:

§ The partial group index determined by the liquid limit: 0,2 ∙ L + 0,005 ∙ L ∙ s

§ The partial group index determined by the plasticity index: 0,01 ∙  ∙ O

Thus, it can be concluded that the group index is a function of the percentage of material that
passes through sieve No. 200 (0.075 mm), the liquid limit and the plasticity index.

Some rules regarding the use of the previous expression are:

§ If the value of GI obtained with the previous expression is less than 0 (GI < 0), use GI
= 0.

§ The GI value calculated by the previous expression should be rounded to the nearest
integer (for example, a value of 3.4 is rounded to 3.0 and 3.5 to 4.0).

§ There is no maximum limit for the value of GI.

§ If the value of parameters a, b, c and d are less than 0, 0 is used as the value of the
parameter, so that the effect of this on the equation is excluded.

§ The group index for soils A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5 and A-3 is always 0 (GI = 0). This
is due to the coarse nature of these soils (all the above parameters would be equal to
0).

§ When calculating the group index for soils belonging to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7, the
following expression should be used:

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 Introduction to geotechnics. Soils and rocks. Description and fundamental parameters-
Properties and classification of soils

:e = 0.01 ∙  ∙ O

It is important to highlight that the group index serves to classify the quality of the soil as a
foundation within its group. That is, the group index is not used to classify a soil within a
certain group, since this is carried out through the study of particle size, liquid limit and plasticity
index. The group index indicates – once the soil has been classified within a group by using the
three parameters mentioned (particle size, liquid limit and plasticity index) – how appropriate it
is for use as a foundation. The value of the group index is, in general, inversely proportional to
the value of the soil used as a foundation. In other words, the higher the value of the group
index (higher presence of fines and higher plasticity), the lower the quality of the soil for its use
as a foundation.

The value of the group index must be shown in parentheses after the symbol of the group in
which the soil has been classified. For example, A-6 (12).

5.4 References
[1] Braja M. Das y Khaled Sobhan, Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 9th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2018.

[2] V.N.S Murthy, Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering,
1st Edition, CRC Press, 2002.

[3] Jesús Ayuso muñoz et al, Cimentaciones y estructuras de contención de tierras, Primer Edición, Bellisco
Ediciones Técnicas y Científicas, 2010.

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