Classification of Soils

1
 Particle size distribution or Mechanical Analysis
Mechanical Analysis

Sieve analysis (Dry analysis) Sedimentation analysis(Wet analysis)

It is meant for coarse graied It is meant for Fine graied

soils(particle size greater than soils(particle size smaller than
75 micron) 75 micron)

Hydrometer Pipette
Coarse sieve Fine sieve method method
analysis analysis
 Mechanical Analysis

Sieve analysis (Dry analysis)

Coarse sieve Fine sieve

analysis analysis

It is done for gravel fraction It is done for sand

(size > 4.75 mm) (75 u < size < 4.75mm)

A set of coarse sieves consists of, A set of fine sieves consists of,
100mm 2 mm,
63 mm, 1 mm,
20 mm, 600 micron ,
10mm, 425 micron,
4.75 mm 300micron,
212 micron,
150 micron,
75 micron.
 Sieve designation as per I. S. code
In I. S. 460 - 1962, the sieves are designated by the size of
the aperture in mm
I .S. 4.75 mm sieve, means size of one opening
(aperture) is 4.75 mm x 4.75 mm
I. S. 600 u sieve, means size of one opening is 0.6 mm x
0.6 mm.
1 µ = 1 micron = 10-3 mm = 10-6 m

While, in BS (British Standard) and ASTM (American

Society for Testing of Materials) standards the sieve sizes
are given in terms of the number of openings per inch. The
number of openings per square inch is equal to the square of
the number of the sieve.
 Classification Group
Symbols
Main Soil Classification
Prefix Subgroup Suffix
Type Group symbols
Well-graded W GW
Poorly- P GP
Gravel G
graded Silty
Clayey M GM
C GC
Well-graded W SW
Poorly- P SP
Sand S
graded Silty
Clayey M SM
C SC
LL < 50% L ML
Silt M
LL > 50% H M
H
LL < 50% L CL
Clay C
LL > 50% H CH
LL < 50% L OL
Organic O
LL > 50% H OH
rabo2r
Peat Pt t5y
PPrtanamesh
Chak
Thank
You

Pranamesh
Chakrabo3rt8y