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Soil Classification
Soil Classification
The classification must use core samples obtained from the ground.
This information is often supplemented by in-situ tests such as cone
penetration tests.
Classification based on Particle Size
Particle size is used because it is related to mineralogy
– e.g. very small particles usually contain clay minerals
Broad Classification
Broad Classification
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
W Well graded
Grading curves
100
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
W Well graded
U Uniform
Grading curves
100
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
W Well graded
U Uniform
P Poorly graded
Grading curves
100
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
W Well graded
U Uniform
P Poorly graded
C Well graded with some clay
Grading curves
100
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
W Well graded
U Uniform
P Poorly graded
C Well graded with some clay
F Well graded with an excess of fines
Simple Classification
In general soils contain a wide range of particle sizes
0
1
00
1
0
9
0
2
0
8
0
3
0
7
0
4
0 C
la
y
6
0
5
0
5
0
6
0
S
and
yCla
y S
iltyC
la
y 4
0
7
0
3
0
8
0 C
la
y -S
and C
la
y -S
ilt
2
0
9
0
S
iltyS
and S
and
ySilt 1
0
1
00
Note the importance of clay - Finest 20% control 0
S
and
behaviour
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
0 5 0 60 7
0 8
0 9
0 1
00
SiltS
ize
s(%
)
L
OWE
R M
ISSIS
SIP
PIVAL
LEY DIV
ISIO
N,
U.S
.EN G
INE
ER DE
PT.
Example: equal amounts sand/silt/clay
Example: equal amounts sand/silt/clay
Example: equal amounts sand/silt/clay
Atterberg Limits
Particle size is not that useful for fine grained soils
Atterberg Limits
Particle size is not that useful for fine grained soils
Volume
40
30
20
10
0
SL PL LL
0 20 Moisture
40 60
Content (%)
Figure 4 Moisture content versus volume relation during drying
Atterberg Limits
Particle size is not that useful for fine grained soils
Volume
40
30
20
10
0
SL PL LL
0 20 Moisture
40 60
Content (%)
Plasticity Index = LL - PL = PI or Ip
Atterberg Limits
SL - Shrinkage Limit
PL - Plastic Limit
LL - Liquid limit
Plasticity Index = LL - PL = PI or Ip
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
Unified Soil Classification
To determine W or P, calculate Cu and Cc
D60
Cu
D10 x% of the soil has particles
D302 smaller than Dx
Cc
( D60 D10 )
100
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
Unified Soil Classification
To determine W or P, calculate Cu and Cc
D60
Cu
D10 x% of the soil has particles
D302 smaller than Dx
Cc
( D60 D10 )
100
80
% F ine r
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
D90 = 3
mm
Unified Soil Classification
To determine W or P, calculate Cu and Cc
D60
Cu
D10
D302
Cc
( D60 D10 )
60
Comparing soils at equal liquid limit
50 Toughness and dry strength increase
with increasing plasticity index
40
Plasticity index
CH
30
20 OH
CL or
10 CL OL
or MH
ML
0 ML
Below A-line0 use suffix M30- Silt
10
40 20
50 60
Liquid limit
70 80 90 100
Plasticity chart
Above A-line use suffix C - Clay for laboratory classification of fine grained soils
Unified Soil Classification
– Fine grained soils (> 50% finer than 75 m)
– Both letters determined from plasticity chart
60
Comparing soils at equal liquid limit
50 Toughness and dry strength increase
with increasing plasticity index
40
Plasticity index
CH
30
20 OH
CL or
10 CL OL
or MH
ML
0 ML
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Liquid limit
Plasticity chart
for laboratory classification of fine grained soils
Unified soil classification (including identification and description)
amounts of all intermediate particle sand mixtures, little or no proximate percentages of sand D 10
2
fines)
Predominantly one size or a range of GP Poorly graded gravels, gravel- angularity, surface condition, D10 x D60
missing fines grains: local or geological name Not meeting all gradation requirements for GW
2.36mm
Gravels
Use grain size curve in identifying the fractions as given under field identification
Non-plastic fines (for identification GM Silty gravels, poorly
Gravels with
procedures see ML below) graded gravel-sand-silt mixtures parentheses. Atterberg limits below Above "A" line with
fines
PI between 4 and 7
The .075mm sieve size is about the smallest particle visible to the naked eye
Plastic fines (for identification pro- GC Clayey gravels, poorly graded For undisturbed soils add infor- are borderline cases
cedures see CL below) gravel-sand-clay mixtures mation on stratification, degree Atterberg limits above "A" requiring use of dual
(D30 )2
fraction is smaller than
Example:
Predominantely one size or a range of SP Poorly graded sands, gravelly C c = --------------------- Between 1 and 3
Silty sand, gravelly; about 20% D 10 x D60
sizes with some intermediate sizes missing sands, little or no fines hard angular gravel particles
2.36mm
12.5mm maximum size; rounded Not meeting all gradation requirements for SW
Sands
Non-plastic fines (for identification pro- SM Silty sands, poorly graded and subangular sand grains
(appreciable
Less than 5%
Sands with
cedures, see ML below) sand-silt mixtures coarse to fine, about 15% non- Atterberg limits below Above "A" line with
5% to 12%
plastic lines with low dry "A" line or PI less than 4 PI between 4 and 7
fines
Plastic fines (for identification pro- SC Clayey sands, poorly graded strength; well compacted and are borderline cases
cedures, see CL below) sand-clay mixtures moist in places; alluvial sand; Atterberg limits above "A" requiring use of dual
(SM) line with PI greater than 7 symbols
Identification procedure on fraction smaller than .425mm
sieve size
Dry strength Toughness
Dilatency (consistency
More than half of material is smaller than
crushing
Silts and clays
(reaction
less than 50
liquid limit
Plasticity index
medium Slow Slight OL clays of low plasticity symbol in parentheses CH
30 CI
inorganic silts, micaceous or
Silts and clays
medium none medium silty soils, elastic silts mation on structure, stratif- 20 OH
ication, consistency and undis-
50
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)
80
% Finer
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
80
% Finer
60
40
20
0
0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
Particle size (mm)
CH
30
20 OH
CL or
10 CL OL
or MH
ML
0 ML
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Liquid limit
Plasticity chart
for laboratory classification of fine grained soils
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