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SOLARES, FIEL ERICSON R.

BSCE 5A

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 2 (LEC) – ASSIGNMENT 1

5.1 Classify the following soil using the U.S. Department of Agriculture textural classification chart.

Particle-Size distribution (%)

Soil Sand Silt Clay
A 20 20 60
B 55 5 40
C 45 35 20
D 50 15 35
E 70 15 15

SOLUTION:

5.1.A
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5.1.B

5.1.C
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5.1.D

5.1.E
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5.2 Classify the following soils by the AASHTO classification system. Give the group index for each
soil.

Sieve analysis-Percent finer

Soil No. 10 No. 40 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity
Limit index
A 90 74 32 28 9
B 86 56 8 NP
C 42 28 12 18 13
D 92 68 30 42 18
E 90 48 22 31 5

Referring to Table 5.1

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SOLUTIONS:

5.2.A Since 32% is less than 35% of soil passing No. 200 sieve, it is granular soil. Referring to Table 5.1,
The soil falls under A-2-4. The group index of the soil is always 0. So, the soil is A-2-4(0).

Parameter Specifications in Table 5.1 Parameters of the given Soil

Percent passing sieve
No. 10 ---
No. 40 ---
No. 200 35 max. 32
Liquid limit 40 max. 28
Plasticity index (PI) 10 max. 9

5.2.B Since 8% is less than 35% of soil passing No. 200 sieve, it is granular soil. Referring to Table 5.1,
The soil falls under A-3. The group index of the soil is always 0. So, the soil is A-3(0).

Parameter Specifications in Table 5.1 Parameters of the given Soil

Percent passing sieve
No. 10 ---
No. 40 51 min. 56
No. 200 10 max. 8
Liquid limit NP
Plasticity index (PI) NP

5.2.C Since 12% is less than 35% of soil passing No. 200 sieve, it is granular soil. Referring to Table 5.1,
The soil falls under A-2-6. The group index of the soil is always 0. So, the soil is A-2-6(0).

Parameter Specifications in Table 5.1 Parameters of the given Soil

Percent passing sieve
No. 10 ---
No. 40 ---
No. 200 35 max. 12
Liquid limit 40 max. 18
Plasticity index (PI) 11 min. 13

5.2.D Since 30% is less than 35% of soil passing No. 200 sieve, it is granular soil. Referring to Table 5.1,
The soil falls under A-2-7.

Parameter Specifications in Table 5.1 Parameters of the given Soil

Percent passing sieve
No. 10 ---
No. 40 ---
No. 200 35 max. 30
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Liquid limit 41 min. 42
Plasticity index (PI) 11 min. 18

The group index (GI) of the soil is:

𝐺𝐼 = 0.01(𝐹200 − 15)(𝑃𝐼 − 10) = 0.01(30 − 15)(18 − 10) = 1.2 ≈ 𝟏

So, the soil is A-2-7(1).

5.2.E Since 22% is less than 35% of soil passing No. 200 sieve, it is granular soil. Referring to Table 5.1,
The soil falls under A-1-b. The group index of the soil is always 0. So, the soil is A-1-b(0).

Parameter Specifications in Table 5.1 Parameters of the given Soil

Percent passing sieve
No. 10 ---
No. 40 50 max. 48
No. 200 25 max. 22
Liquid limit
Plasticity index (PI) 6 5

5.4 Classify the following soils using by using the Unified soil classification system. Give the group
symbols and the group names.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
1 70 30 33 21
2 48 20 41 22
3 95 70 52 28
4 100 82 30 19
5 100 74 35 21
6 87 26 38 18
7 88 78 69 38
8 99 57 54 26
9 71 11 32 16 4.8 2.9
10 100 2 NP 7.2 2.2
11 89 65 44 21
12 90 8 39 31 3.9 2.1
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Referring to Table 5.2

Referring to Table 5.3

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Referring to Table 5.4

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Referring to Table 5.5

Referring to Table 5.6

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SOLUTION:

5.4.1 Since 30% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and less than 50%, it is coarse-grained
soil.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
1 70 30 33 21

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 30 = 𝟕𝟎%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 70 = 𝟑𝟎%
More than 50% of the coarse fraction is passing No. 4 sieve. Thus, it is a sandy soil. Since more
than 12% is passing No. 200 sieve, it is SM or SC. PI = 21 is greater than 7, the group symbol is SC.

Since the percentage of gravel is more than 15%, it is clayey sand with gravel.

5.4.2 Since 20% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and less than 50%, it is coarse-grained
soil.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
2 48 20 41 22
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𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 20 = 𝟖𝟎%
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 48 = 𝟓𝟐%
More than 50% of the coarse fraction is retaining No. 4 sieve. Thus, it is a gravelly soil. Since more
than 12% is passing No. 200 sieve, it is GM or GC. PI = 22 is greater than 7, the group symbol is
GC.

𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 80 − 52 = 𝟐𝟖%

Since the percentage of gravel is more than 15%, it is clayey gravel with sand.

5.4.3 Since 70% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and greater than 50%, it is fine-grained
soil. Referring to table 5.2 & figure 5.3, it can be classified as CH.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
3 95 70 52 28

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 70 = 𝟐𝟎%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 95 = 𝟓%
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 20 − 5 = 𝟏𝟓%
Referring to table 5.5, it is Sandy fat clay.
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5.4.4 Since 82% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and greater than 50%, it is fine-grained
soil. Referring to table 5.2 & figure 5.3, it can be classified as CL.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
4 100 82 30 19

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 82 = 𝟏𝟖%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 100 = 𝟎%
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 18 − 0 = 𝟏𝟖%
Referring to table 5.5, it is Sandy lean clay.
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5.4.5 Since 74% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and greater than 50%, it is fine-grained
soil. Referring to table 5.2 & figure 5.3, it can be classified as CL.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
5 100 74 35 21

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 74 = 𝟐𝟔%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 100 = 𝟎%
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 26 − 0 = 𝟐𝟔%
Referring to table 5.5, it is Sandy lean clay.

5.4.6 Since 26% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and less than 50%, it is coarse-grained
soil.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
6 87 26 38 18

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 26 = 𝟕𝟒%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 87 = 𝟏𝟑%
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More than 50% of the coarse fraction is passing No. 4 sieve. Thus, it is a sandy soil. Since more
than 12% is passing No. 200 sieve, it is SM or SC. PI = 18 is greater than 7, the group symbol is SC.

Since the percentage of gravel is less than 15%, it is clayey sand.

5.4.7 Since 78% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and greater than 50%, it is fine-grained
soil. Referring to table 5.2 & figure 5.3, it can be classified as CH.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
7 88 78 69 38

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 78 = 𝟐𝟐%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 88 = 𝟏𝟐%
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 22 − 12 = 𝟏𝟎%
Referring to table 5.5, it is Gravelly fat clay.
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5.4.8 Since 57% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and greater than 50%, it is fine-grained
soil. Referring to table 5.2 & figure 5.3, it can be classified as CH.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
8 99 57 54 26
𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 57 = 𝟒𝟑%
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 99 = 𝟏%
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 43 − 1 = 𝟒𝟐%
Referring to table 5.5, it is Sandy fat clay.

5.4.9 Since 11% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and less than 50%, it is coarse-grained
soil. Also, since 71% of the soil passes through the No. 4 sieve, it is fine-grained soil.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
9 71 11 32 16 4.8 2.9

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 11 = 𝟖𝟗%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 71 = 𝟐𝟗%
More than 50% of the coarse fraction is passing No. 4 sieve. Thus, it is a sandy soil. Referring to
table 5.2, PI = 18 is greater than 7, 𝑪𝒖 = 4.8 < 6. So, the group symbol is SP-SC.
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Since the percentage of gravel is greater than 15%, it is clayey sand.

5.4.10 Since 2% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and less than 50%, it is coarse-grained soil.
Also, since 100% of the soil passes through the No. 4 sieve, it is fine-grained soil.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
10 100 2 NP 7.2 2.2

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 2 = 𝟗𝟖%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 100 = 𝟎%
More than 50% of the coarse fraction is passing No. 4 sieve. Thus, it is a sandy soil. Referring to
table 5.2, 𝑪𝒖 = 7.2 > 6 and 1 < 𝑪𝒄 = 2.2 < 3. So, the group symbol is SW.

Since the percentage of gravel is less than 15%, it is Well-graded sand.

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5.4.11 Since 65% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and greater than 50%, it is fine-grained
soil. Referring to table 5.2 & figure 5.3, it can be classified as CL.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
11 89 65 44 21

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 65 = 𝟑𝟓%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 89 = 𝟏𝟏%
𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 35 − 11 = 𝟐𝟒%
Referring to table 5.5, it is Sandy lean clay.

5.4.12 Since 8% of the soil passes through the No. 200 sieve and less than 50%, it is coarse-grained soil.
Also, since 90% of the soil passes through the No. 4 sieve, it is fine-grained soil.

Sieve analysis-
Percent finer
Soil No. 4 No. 200 Liquid Plasticity 𝑪𝒖 𝑪𝒄
limit index
12 90 8 39 31 3.9 2.1

𝐶𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 100 − 8 = 𝟗𝟐%

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑁𝑜. 4 𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 = 100 − 90 = 𝟏𝟎%
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More than 50% of the coarse fraction is passing No. 4 sieve. Thus, it is a sandy soil. Referring to
table 5.2, PI = 31 is greater than 7, 𝑪𝒖 = 3.9 < 6. So, the group symbol is SP-SC.

Since the percentage of gravel is less than 15%, it is Poorly graded sand with clay (or silty clay).