CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL

INTRODUCTION:

Soils are widely varied in their grain-size distribution. Also, depending on the type and quantity
of clay minerals present, the plastic properties of soils may be very different. Various types of
engineering work require the identification and classification of soil in the field. In the design of
foundations and earth-retaining structures, construction of highways, and so on, it is necessary
for soils to be arranged in specific groups and/or subgroups based on their grain-size
distribution, and plasticity. The process of placing soils into various groups and/or subgroups is
called soil classification.

The major systems that are presently used in the United States are: (i) the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), (ii) the Unified Soil
Classification System (USCS), and (iii) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These
three systems will be used in this experiment.

DISCUSSION OF THE WORK:

● Nagbigay ng data si Sir tas yun yung ginamit sa experiment
● Discuss mo rin ano ginagawa sa classification of soil
● Anong benefit ng soil classification (USCS, USDA, AASHTO), bat importante na
iconduct ‘to

EQUIPMENT:
● No equipment was used in this task since the experiment was conducted online.

PROCEDURE:

FOR USDA (GROUP 2)

1. Plot the given particle-size distribution (%) value of sand, silt and clay in the USDA triangular
Textural Classification Chart.
2. After plotting the values, determine the type of soil based on the chart
FOR AASHTO

FOR USCS
TABLE AND CALCULATION

CALCULATION: (GROUP 2)
Note: Use one USDA Triangular Classification Chart para isang chart nalang ang gawin.
See below the designated color, if color is not available use an alternative one.

SOIL TYPE OF SOIL

Soil A (RED) CLAY

Soil B (BLUE) SANDY CLAY

Soil C (GREEN) LOAM

Soil D (ORANGE) SANDY CLAY

Soil E (PURPLE) SANDY LOAM

 C ALCULATION: (GROUP 3)

SOIL LIQUID PLASTICITY GENERAL GROUP GI

LIMIT INDEX CLASSIFICATION CLASSIFICATION

SOIL A 40 max 10 max F200 = 32 A-2-4 0

32 < 35 %
Granular Material

SOIL B 0 None F200 = 8 A-3 0

8 < 35 %
Granular Material

SOIL C 40 max 11 min F200 = 12 A-2-6 0.01 (12 - 15)(13 - 10)

12 < 35 % = -0.09 ≈ 0
Granular Material

SOIL D 41 min 11 min F200 = 30 A-2-7 0.01 (30 - 15)(18 - 10)

30 < 35 % = 1.2 ≈ 1
Granular Material

SOIL E 31 6 max F200 = 22 A-1-b 0

22 < 35 %
Granular Material
 CALCULATION: (GROUP 5)

SOIL LIQUID PLASTICITY GENERAL GROUP GI

LIMIT INDEX CLASSIFICATION CLASSIFICATION

SOIL A 41 min. 11 min. F200 = 72 A-7-5 (72-35) [0.2+ 0.005(52-40)]

72 > 35 % + 0.01 (72 - 15)(21 -10)
Silt-clay Materials = 15.89 ≈ 16

SOIL B 40 max. 11 min. F200 = 58 A-6 (58-35) [0.2+ 0.005(38-40)]

58 > 35 % + 0.01 (58 - 15)(12 -10)
Silt-clay Materials = 5.23 ≈ 5

SOIL C 4 1 min. 11 min. F200 = 64 A-7-6 (64-35)[0.2+0.005(41-40)]+0

64 > 35 % .01 (64-15)(14-10)
Silt-clay Materials = 7.905 ≈ 8

SOIL D 40 max. 11 min. F200 = 82 A-6 (82-35) [0.2+0.005(32-40)] +

82 > 35 % 0.01 (82-15)(12-10)
Silt-clay Materials = 8.86 ≈ 9

SOIL E 40 max. 11 min. F200 = 48 A-6 (48-35) [0.2+0.005(30-40)] +

48 > 35 % 0.01 (48-15)(11-10)
Silt-clay Materials = 2.28 ≈ 2
CALCULATION: (GROUP 1 AND 4)

SOIL 1) F4=70, F200=30, LL=30, PI=21

a. F200=30 <50% : COARSE-GRAINED SOIL
b. %FINES = F200= 30
%GRAVEL= R4= 100-F4= 100-70= 30
%SAND= F4-F200= 70-30= 40
c. % FINES = 30 > 12, NO NEED TO COMPUTE Cu AND Cc.
d. % FINES = 30 > 5%, PI>0.73(LL-20%): 21>7.3 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE
e. %SAND>%GRAVEL: 40 > 30
% FINES= 30 > 12, PI>0.73(LL-20%): 21>7.3 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE: CL OR CH: SC
SC: %GRAVEL = 30 > 15%: CLAYEY SAND WITH GRAVEL
f. SC: CLAYEY SAND WITH GRAVEL
SOIL 2) F4=48, F200=20, LL=41, PI=22
a. F200=20 <50% : COARSE-GRAINED SOIL
b. %FINES = F200= 20
%GRAVEL= R4= 100-F4= 100-48=52
%SAND= F4-F200= 70-30= 28
c. % FINES = 20 > 12, NO NEED TO COMPUTE Cu AND Cc.
d. % FINES = 20 > 5%
PI>0.73(LL-20%): 22>15.33 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE
e. %GRAVEL>%SAND: 52 > 28
% FINES > 12, PI>0.73(LL-20%): 22>15.33 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE: CL OR CH: GC
GC: %SAND = 28 > 15% : CLAYEY GRAVEL WITH SAND
f. GC: CLAYEY GRAVEL WITH SAND

SOIL 3) F4= 95 , F200= 70 , LL= 52 , PI= 28

a. F200= 70>50% : FINED-GRAINED SOIL
b. %FINES= F200= 70
c. LL = 52>50%, THEN THE SOIL IS EITHER CH OR MH
d. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 28>23.36 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE: CH
CH: R200= 100-F200= 100-70= 30: 30=30%
%SAND= F4-F200= 95-70= 25, %GRAVEL= R4= 100-F4=100-95= 5
%SAND > %GRAVEL : 25>5
%GRAVEL< 15%: 5 <15% : SANDY FAT CLAY
e. CH: SANDY FAT CLAY

SOIL 4) F4= 100 , F200= 82 , LL= 30 , PI= 19

a. F200= 82>50% : FINED-GRAINED SOIL
b. %FINES= F200= 82
c. LL = 30<50%, THEN THE SOIL IS EITHER CL, ML, or CL-ML
d. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 19>7.3 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE: CL
CL: R200= 100-F200= 100-82= 18: 15%<18<30%
%SAND= F4-F200= 100-82= 18, %GRAVEL= R4= 100-F4=100-100= 0
%SAND > %GRAVEL : 18>0 : LEAN CLAY WITH SAND
e. CL: LEAN CLAY WITH SAND

SOIL 5) F4= 100 , F200= 74 , LL= 35 , PI= 21

a. F200= 74>50% : FINED-GRAINED SOIL
b. %FINES= F200= 74
c. LL = 35<50%, THEN THE SOIL IS EITHER CL, ML, or CL-ML
d. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 21>10.95 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE: CL
CL: R200= 100-F200= 100-74= 16: 15%<26<30%
%SAND= F4-F200= 100-74= 26, %GRAVEL= R4= 100-F4=100-100= 0
%SAND > %GRAVEL : 26>0 : LEAN CLAY WITH SAND
e. CL: LEAN CLAY WITH SAND

SOIL 6)F4=87%,F200=26%, LL=38, PI=18

a. F200=26%<50% : COARSE-GRAINED SOIL
b. %FINES = F200= 26
%GRAVEL= R4= 100-F4= 100-87= 13
%SAND= F4-F200= 87-26= 61
c. % FINES = 26 > 12, NO NEED TO COMPUTE Cu AND Cc.
d. % FINES = 26 > 5%, PI>0.73(LL-20%): 18>13.14 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE
 e. %SAND>%GRAVEL: 61 > 13
% FINES= 26> 12, PI>0.73(LL-20%): 21>7.3 PLOTS ABOVE A-LINE: CL OR CH: SC
SC: %GRAVEL = 13 < 15%: CLAYEY SAND
f. SC: CLAYEY SAND

SOIL 7) F4=88%,F200=78%, LL=69, PI=38,

a. F200 = 78%>50% : FINED-GRAINED SOIL
b. LL = 68 > 50 SILT AND CLAYS : INORGANIC
c. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 38 > 35.77 PLOT ABOVE A-LINE : CH
d. R200 = 22% < 30%
e. R200 = 22% IN BETWEEN 15%-19%
f. %SAND = F4 - F200 = 88 - 78 = 10
g. %GRAVEL = R4 = 100-88 = 12
h. %GRAVEL > %SAND : 12 > 10 : FAT CLAY WITH GRAVEL
i. CH : FAT CLAY WITH GRAVEL

SOIL 8) F4=99%,F200=5%7, LL=54, PI=26,

a. F200 = 57% > 50% : FINED-GRAINED SOIL
b. LL = 54 > 50 : SILTS AND CLAYS : INORGANIC
c. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 26 > 24.82 : PLOT ABOVE A-LINE : CH
d. R200 = 100% - F200 = 100% - 57% = 43% > 30%
e. %SAND = F4 - F200 = 99 - 57 = 42
f. %GRAVEL = R4 = 100 - 99 = 1
g. %SAND > %GRAVEL : 42 > 1
h. %GRAVEL = 1 < 15 : SANDY FAT CLAY
i. MH : SANDY FAT CLAY

SOIL 9) F4=71%,F200=11%, LL=32, PI=16, Cu=4.8, Cc=2.9

a. F200 = 11% < 50% : COARSE-GRAINED SOIL
b. %SAND = F4 - F200 = 71 - 11 = 60
c. %GRAVEL = R4 = 100 - 71 = 29
d. %SAND > %GRAVEL : 60 > 29 : USE SAND
e. %SAND = 60 > 12
f. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 16 > 8.76 : PLOT ABOVE A-LINE : SC
g. %GRAVEL = 29 > 15 : CLAYEY SAND WITH GRAVEL
h. SC : CLAYEY SAND WITH GRAVEL

SOIL 10) F4=100%, F200=2%, PI=NP, Cu=7.2, Cc=2.2

a. F200 = 2% < 50% : COARSE-GRAINED SOIL
b. %SAND = 100 - 2 = 98
c. %GRAVEL = 100 - 100 = 0
d. %SAND > %GRAVEL : 98 > 0 : USE SAND
e. %SAND = 98 > 12
f. PI = NP means PI = 0 < 4 : SM
g. %GRAVEL = 0 < 15 : SILTY SAND
h. SM : SILTY SAND

SOIL 11) F4=89%,F200=65%, LL=44, PI=21

a. F200 = 65% > 50% : FINE-GRAINED SOIL
b. LL = 44 < 50 : SILTS AND CLAYS : INORGANIC
c. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 21 > 17.52 : PLOT ABOVE A-LINE : CL
 d. R200 = 100%-F200 = 100% - 65% = 35% > 30%
e. %SAND = 89 - 65 = 24
f. %GRAVEL = 100-89 = 11
g. %SAND > %GRAVEL = 24 > 11
h. %GRAVEL = 11 < 15 : SANDY LEAN CLAY
i. CL : SANDY LEAN CLAY

SOIL 12) F4=90%, F200=8%, LL=39, PI=31, Cu=3.9, Cc=2.1

a. F200 = 8% < 50% : COARSE-GRAINED SOIL
b. %SAND = 90-8 = 82
c. %GRAVEL = 100-90 = 10
d. %SAND > %GRAVEL : 82 > 10 : USE SAND
e. %SAND = 82 > 12
f. PI>0.73(LL-20%): 31 > 13.87 : PLOT ABOVE A-LINE : SC
g. %GRAVEL = 10 < 15 : CLAYEY SAND
h. SC : CLAYEY SAND

SOIL SIEVE LIQUID PLASTIC CU CC TYPE OF SOIL

ANALYSIS-PERCENT LIMIT(LL) INDEX(PI)
FINER

NO. 4 NO.200

1 70 30 33 21 SC: CLAYEY SAND WITH

GRAVEL

2 48 20 41 22 GC: CLAYEY GRAVEL

WITH SAND
CH: SANDY FAT CLAY
3 95 70 52 28

4 100 82 30 19 CL: LEAN CLAY WITH

SAND

5 100 74 35 21 CL: LEAN CLAY WITH

SAND

6 87 26 38 18 SC: CLAYEY SAND

7 88 78 69 38 CH : FAT CLAY WITH

GRAVEL

8 99 57 54 26 CH : SANDY FAT CLAY

9 71 11 32 16 4.8 2.9 SC : CLAYEY SAND WITH

GRAVEL
10 100 2 NP 7.2 2.2 SM : SILTY SAND

11 89 65 44 21 CL : SANDY LEAN CLAY

12 90 8 39 31 3.9 2.1 SC : CLAYEY SAND

CONCLUSION: (USE THIS ONLY AS A GUIDE, MAKE YOUR OWN CONCLUSION)

5.1 For USDA - Soil texture is influenced by the size of the individual soil particles. With that
being said, soils are classified into gravel, sand, silt, and clay. Therefore, using the U.S
Department of Agriculture textural classification chart to classify soils. With the given data, the
classification of the soil of A, B, C, D, and E are clay, sandy clay, loam, sandy clay, and sandy
loam respectively.

5.2 For AASHTO - Soil particles are classified by AASHTO according to their grain size and
plasticity. The corresponding group index may be measured to assess a soil's expected
performance within a group. It is concluded that using the AASHTO Soil Classification System
for classifying the soil and aggregate mixture, it results in the following Group Index such as: 0
for both Soil A, B, C and E. Then the GI of Soil D is 1. Their Soil Classifications are A-2-4 (Soil
A), A-3 (Soil B), A-2-6 (Soil C), A-2-7 (Soil D),and A-1-b (Soil E).

5.3 For AASHTO - As a result, we concluded that using the AASHTO, which divides soils into
several groups based on particle sizes and plasticity characteristics, the obtained GI value for
each soil is 16, 5, 8, 9, and 2, and the classifications are A-7-5 for SOIL A, A-6 for SOIL B, A-7-6
for SOIL C, A-6 for SOIL D, and A-6 for SOIL D.

5.4 For USCS - The soil classification data using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
reveals a diverse range of soil types, including sandy, clayey, and gravelly soils, with some
samples showing combinations of these types. Repetition of certain soil types suggests
consistent characteristics in specific areas. Gravel content is noted in multiple samples,
impacting soil stability and drainage. Variations in terms like "fat clay" and "lean clay" indicate
differences in plasticity and consistency. Overall, this analysis provides valuable insights for
engineering, land-use planning, and environmental management.