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1C) Soil Classification
1C) Soil Classification
WEEK 2-ii
Physical properties and classification of soils;
1C) Soil Classification
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND CLASSIFICATION
OF SOILS
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this lecture/week the students would
be able to:
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
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SOIL MECHANICS ARMA/RFBMI/FFBAI
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Methods of Classification
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Coarse grain analysis
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Sieving
Apparatus
Particle size
distribution apparatus
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
RIFFLE BOX
Notes :
Maksimum mass retained for each sieve size
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Procedures of Sieving
Method 1 : WET SIEVING
Wet sieving is carried out to remove fine-grained particles and to
determine the combined clay/silt fraction percentage given in BS
1377: 1990: Part 2: Test 9.2.
• A sub sample is first oven dried and sieved to separate the
coarsest particle (>20 mm).
The sub sample is then immersed in water containing dispersing
agent of sodium hexametaphosphate of about 2 g/litre solution and
is allowed to stand before being washed away in a 63 m mesh
sieve.
• The retained fraction is again oven dried and passed into a
nest of sieves.
The cumulative percentage passing is calculated and the combined
clay/silt fraction is determined from the weight difference expressed
as a percentage of the total sub sample from hydrometer test.
• The coarsest fraction (>20 mm) is sieved and the result is
combined to complete the grading curve.
Note : Details procedure of wet sieving can be referred in BS1377-2:1990 Clause 9.2.4
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Procedures of
Sieving
METHOD 2 : DRY SIEVING
Dry sieving is carried out on
particles bigger than 63 m to
determine the coarse material in the
sub sample in accordance to BS
1377: 1990: Part 2: Test 9.3.
The sub sample is first oven dried.
Fit the largest size test sieve
appropriate to the max size of the
material present to the receiver and
placed
The neston the
is nest
then ofagitated
sieves. on the
shaker shown and the
weight
retained in each percentage
The cumulative sieve is determined.
passing
is calculated to plot the grading
curve. BS Test Sieve
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Analysis of Test Results
Grading Characteristics
Based on the plot, the following characteristics
are determined in order to classify the
soil :-
Percentage Composition
Effective size = D10
D
Uniformity Coefficient, C u D6010
D30 2
Coefficient of Gradation, C g
D10 x D60
Grading characteristic is then categorised by following grade:
Cu > 5 is well graded
C u < 3 is poorly graded
Cg ranging between 0.5 to 2.0 to confirm as well graded soil
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Cg < 0.1 indicates a possible gap-graded (confirm the plotting
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Analysis of Test Results
100
Grading Curve
Percentage Finer
60
30
10
0
d10 d30 d60
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SOIL MECHANICS (CEG461) ARM/FBI/FAI 2017
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Plotting of Graph
Well graded very sandy GRAVEL
PSD Graph
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Analysis of Test Results
Determination
of the
grading
characteristics
of the sample
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SOIL MECHANICS (CEG461) Thus the soil is classified as well gardedAvRerMy
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Tabulation of Test Data
EXAMPLE 2 : PSD
ANALYSIS ~ TABLE OF
CALCULATION
Data shown is
obtained from a
a typical three
stage sieving
PSD Graph
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SOIL MECHANICS ARMA/RFBMI/FFBAI
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Fine Grain
Analysis
2. Grading of Fine Soil
METHOD 3 : Hydrometer Test (Sedimentation
Test)
Hydrometer test is based on the
principles of sedimentation of soil
grained in water.
This is based on Stoke’s law
which
-
expressed that: Hydrometer
18 s w
D2
test bulb
where
v is the velocity
s is the unit weight of soil particles,
w is the unit weight of water,
is the viscosity of water, and
D is the diameter of soil
2
particles. 2
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Hydrometer Test
Hydrometer Test (Sedimentation Test) – cont…
In the laboratory, hydrometer test is conducted on a sedimentation
cylinder of 1000 ml using 50 g of oven dried sub sample in
accordance to BS 1377-2:1990 Clause 9.5
A dispersing solution is a mixture of 33 g of sodium
hexametaphosphate combined with 7 g of sodium carbonate is mixed
with water of 1000 ml and allowed to stand for 24 hrs. This solution
only last for ONE MONTH only. Always recorded the date
prepared.
Add only 100ml of dispersing solution to the 50g of sample in conical
flask, put it on a mechanical shaker for at least 4hr or overnight.
Shake the sample until all soil is in suspension.
Transfer the suspension onto the 63m sieve that place on the
empty receiver or container. Wash the suspension retained on the
sieve using a jet of distilled water from wash bottle. The amount of
distilled water used during this operation SHALL NOT EXCEED
500ml. 23
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Hydrometer Test
Hydrometer Test (Sedimentation Test) – cont…
Transfer the suspension collected in the container to 1L measuring cylinder,
then add distilled water into that cylinder to make up to 1000ml. Use this
suspension for the sedimentation test ~ hydrometer method. Bring this
cylinder+suspension to the water bath for at least 1hr, then put a lid & shake
it for 60times in 2mins.
The hydrometer bulb is then placed in the soil suspension SLOWLY and
measurements are recorded immediately at 0.5min, 1min, 2min and 4min.
Remove the hydrometer from suspension measuring cylinder and rinse in
distilled water.
Reinsert the hydrometer at interval period, such as 8 min, 30min, 2hr, 4hr,
8hr, 16hr, 24hrs, 48hrs, or 72hrs. Do remove the hydrometer & rinse
immediately with distilled water for every measurement recorded at
initial time.
Notes: Prior to hydrometer measurement, all corrections and calibration
relevant to hydrometer test NEED TO BE carried out; such as volume
calibration of hydrometer, scale calibration of hydrometer, meniscus
correction, etc as instructed in Clause 9.5 ~ 9.5.8
Note : Details procedure for hydrometer test can be referred in BS1377-2:1990 Clause 9.5 24
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Conical flask (contains sample Hydrometer serial no.
normally is printed
+ dispersion solution) on here. It is very
rotating mechanical shaker important to record
serial no. when
performing calibration.
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
A. British Soil Classification System
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SOIL MECHANICS (CEG461) ARM/FBI/FAI 2017
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
BS Plasticity Chart for the classification of fine soils
Plasticity Chart in
accordance to
BS
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Re produce from BS 5930:1981 - This table also can be found in Whitlow, R. (2001), Table 2.2 & 2.3, pg 18~23.
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
British Soil Classification System
Superseded by
BS5930:1999
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Superseded by
BS5930:1999
SOILSOILMEMECHACHANICSNICS(ECG(ECG426)413)
Reproduced from BS5930:1981 - This table also can be found in Whitlow, R. (2001), Table 2.2 & ARM/FBIARM
2.3, pg 18~23.
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
British Soil Classification
System
The dominant
secondary
fraction comes
immediately
before the
principal soil
term.
GRADING
0.063
0.212
0.425
British Standard Sieves, (mm)
0.15
1.18
3.35
37.5
0.3
0.6
6.3
28
50
63
75
10
14
20
CHARACTERISTIC
5
100 S
% Gravel 0.0
0
90 % Sand 0.0
0
% Silt 100.0
80 0
% Clay 0.0
D
B 0
70 D90 (mm)
F C
Percentage Passing, (%)
D85(mm)
60
D60 (mm)
E D50 (mm)
50
D30 (mm)
40
D15 (mm)
30 D10 (mm)
A Cu
20
Cg
10 Soil Classification
0
0.2 0.6 2 20
0.001 0.002 0.006 0.01 0.02 0.06 0.1 6 10 60 100
1
particle diameter, (mm) Remarks :
fine medium coarse fine medium coarse fine medium coarse
CLAY 35
Cobbles
SILT SAND GRAVEL
© BBB2000
Soil Classification (PSD Curve) ~ BS
Compare the soil names obtained from PSD curves analysis for Soil A to F between BS and ASTM 36
SOIL MECHANICS ((ECCEG4661)) ARMA/FRBMI/FABI
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
B. Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
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ASTM: D 2487-06 Latest version of USCS
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ASTM: D 2487-06 Classifying Coarse Soils
Latest version of USCS
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Soil Classification
Plasticity Chart for fine soils ~ ASTM
4.76
f ine medium coarse fine medium
particle coarse
diameter, ( mm ) f ine Fine medium coarse
CLAY SILT Coarse
SILT SAND GRAVEL
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Soil Classification (PSD Curve) ~ ASTM
PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION
Site Client3
6
0.075 mm 4.76
Sample no. mm Tested by 76.2 mm GRADING
0.212
0.425
British Standard Sieves, (mm)
0.15
1.18
3.35
37.5
.0
0.3
0.6
6.3
28
50
63
75
10
14
20
0 CHARACTERISTIC
5
100 Test method Soil Descrip. Depth (m) Checked by
S
% Gravel 0.0
0
90 % Sand 0.0
0
% Silt 100.0
80 0
% Clay 0.0
D
B 0
70 D90 (mm)
F C
Percentage Passing, (%)
D85(mm)
60
D60 (mm)
E D50(mm)
50
D30 (mm)
40
D15 (mm)
30 D10 (mm)
A Cu
20
Cg
10 Soil Classification
0
0.075 mm 4.76 mm 76.2 mm
0.0 0.1 2 20
0.001 0.002 0.006 0.01 0.02 0.2 1 0.6 6 10 60 100
6 particle diameter, (mm)
Remarks :
fine medium coarse fine medium coarse fine medium
CLAY coarse SILT les
SAND GRAVEL 43
CLAY b
SILT SAND
GRAVEL Cob
© BBB2000
Soil Classification (PSD Curve) ~ ASTM
Notes : Capital letters are not used to indicate principal soil types in
ASTM
Compare the soil names obtained from PSD curves analysis for Soil A to F between BS and ASTM 44
SOIL MECHANICS ((ECCEG4661)) ARMA/FRBMI/FABI
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Plasticity Classification - BS
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Plasticity Classification - BS
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Plasticity Classification - BS
Consistency relationships
Volum Ip
e
Natural water content, w
Plastic Liquid
Va Semi-
Vd plastic
Vs Solid
solid
% Water
wS wP wL Content
The two most important terms are the liquid and plastic
limits which represent respectively the upper and lower
bound of the plastic states and the range of this state is
given by their differences termed as plasticity index, IP.
Ip = wL - wP
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Plasticity Classification - BS
Plasticity Chart in
accordance to
BS
4
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Plasticity Chart - ASTM
Plasticity Chart in
accordance to ASTM
IP
Activity
% clay particles ( 2
um)
Activity of clays
Minerals Activity Soil Activity
Muscovite 0.25 Kaolin clay 0.4 – 0.5
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Consistency Limits
1. Determination of Liquid Limit
1. Cone Penetration Method
Procedure
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Consistency Limits
20 mm penetration
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Liquid Limit
Determination
of Liquid
Limit using
Cone
Penetration
Apparatus
Tabulation
and plot
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Casagrande Method
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SOIL MECHANICS (CEG461) ARM/FBI/FAI 2017
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Liquid Limit
2. Casagrande Method
Procedure
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Liquid Limit
Procedure - cont…
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Liquid Limit
25 no. of blow
Number of
Blows, N
Determination
of Liquid
Limit using
Casagrande
Apparatus
Tabulation
and plot
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Plastic Limit
2. Plastic Limit
Procedure
Approximately 20 g of the soil paste is moulded in hand
until it dries sufficiently for slight cracks to appear.
The sample is then divided into two approximately
equal portions and these are again divided
into four sub-samples.
One of the sub-samples is taken and rolled into a ball
and then it is rolled on a glass sheet to form a
thread of soil. The rolling using the palm and fingers
with light pressure is continued until the diameter of
the thread reaches 3 mm.
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Plastic Limit
Procedure - cont….
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Plastic Limit
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Linear Shrinkage
• For soils with less clay content, the liquid and plastic
limit tests may not produce reliable results.
• Therefore, an approximation of the plasticity index may
be obtained by measuring the linear shrinkage using
this expression:
I P 2.3 x LS
• The soil is prepared for the liquid limit test and a 150 g
specimen is taken for the linear shrinkage test where
the specimen is remixed thoroughly with distilled water
to form a smooth paste at approximately the liquid limit
of the soil.
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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
Determination of Linear Shrinkage
LS -
length after drying
initial length x 100
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