Soil Classification

Purpose
Classifying soils into groups with similar behavior, in terms of
simple indices, can provide geotechnical engineers a general
guidance about engineering properties of the soils through the
accumulated experience.

Why do we need to classify soils ? –

To describe various soil types encountered in the nature in a
systematic way and gathering soils that have distinct
physical properties in groups and units.

Extent and properties of the soil have to be determined. Cheap and

simple tests are required to give an indication of engineering
properties, e.g. stiffness, strength, for preliminary design

Classification systems are based on simple index properties such as

particle-size distribution and plasticity
Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Origin of USCS:
This system was first developed by Professor A. Casagrande (1948) for
the purpose of airfield construction during World War II. Afterwards, it
was modified by Professor Casagrande, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enable the system to be
applicable to dams, foundations, and other soils.
 Definition of Grain Size
No specific
grain size-use
Atterberg limits

Gravel Sand Silt and

Boulders Cobbles Clay
Coarse Fine Coarse Medium Fine

300 mm 75 mm No.4 No.200

4.75 mm 0.075 mm
19 mm No.10 No.40
2.0 mm 0.425 mm
General Guidance
50 %
Coarse-grained soils: Fine-grained soils:
Gravel Sand Silt Clay
50% NO. 4 NO.200
4.75 mm 0.075 mm

•Grain size distribution •PL, LL LL>50

LL <50
•Cu •Plasticity chart
•Cc
Required tests: Sieve analysis

Atterberg limit
 Symbols
Soil symbols: Liquid limit symbols:
G: Gravel H: High LL (LL>50)
S: Sand L: Low LL (LL<50)
Gradation symbols:
M: Silt
W: Well-graded
C: Clay P: Poorly-graded
O: Organic Well  graded soil
Pt: Peat 1  C c  3 and C u  4
(for gravels )
1  C c  3 and C u  6
Example: SW, Well-graded sand
(for sands )
SC, Clayey sand
SM, Silty sand,
6
USCS Plasticity Chart
 USCS Example
200 4
100
90
P200 = 20%
80
70
% Passing

60

P4=93%
50
40
30
20
10
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10
LL = 35 PL = 20
Grain Size, mm
 USCS Example
• P200=20%, P4=93%
• LL = 35 PL = 20 PI = 15
• Because P200<50%, Coarse Soil
• Because P4=93% > 50 Sand
• Because P200>12%, use plasticity chart
USCS Plasticity Chart
LL = 35, PI = 15
Soil fines
are Clay

Soil: SC
(clayey sand)
Borderline Cases (Dual Symbols)

For the following three conditions, a dual symbol should be used.

Coarse-grained soils with 5% - 12% fines.
About 7 % fines can change the hydraulic conductivity of
the coarse-grained media by orders of magnitude.
The first symbol indicates whether the coarse fraction is well or
poorly graded. The second symbol describe the contained
fines. For example: SP-SM, poorly graded sand with silt.
Fine-grained soils with limits within the shaded zone. (PI between
4 and 7 and LL between about 12 and 25).
It is hard to distinguish between the silty and more claylike
materials.
CL-ML: Silty clay, SC-SM: Silty, clayed sand.
Soil contain similar fines and coarse-grained fractions.
possible dual symbols GM-ML
American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials system
(AASHTO)

Origin of AASHTO: (For road construction)

This system was originally developed by Hogentogler and
Terzaghi in 1929 as the Public Roads Classification System.
Afterwards, there are several revisions. The present AASHTO
(1978) system is primarily based on the version in 1945. (Holtz
and Kovacs, 1981). Currently uses seven major groups of soils,
A1 to A7.
 General Guidance

– 8 major groups: A1~ A7 (with several subgroups) and

organic soils A8
– The required tests are sieve analysis and Atterberg limits.
– The group index, an empirical formula, is used to further
evaluate soils within a group (subgroups).
A1 ~ A3 A4 ~ A7

Granular Materials Silt-clay Materials

 35% pass No. 200 sieve  36% pass No. 200 sieve
Using LL and PI separates silty materials Using LL and PI separates silty materials
from clayey materials (only for A2 group) from clayey materials
Group Index
The first term is determined by the LL

GI  (F200  35)0.2  0.005(LL  40)

 0.01(F200  15)(PI  10)
The second term is determined by the PI

For Group A-2-6 and A-2-7

GI  0.01(F200 15)(PI 10) use the second term only
F200: percentage passing through the No.200 sieve

•GI: group index (evaluate the quality of a soil as a highway subgrade material).
•Higher values of GI means a less suitable soil.
 AASHTO Plasticity Chart
Low Compressibility, High Compressibility,
Shrink-Swell Shrink-Swell

Clays

Silts
 AASHTO Example
100
200 40 10 P10=80%
90
80 P40=52%
70
% Passing

60
50
P200 = 20%
40
30
LL = 35 PL = 20
20
10
0
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10
Grain Size, mm
 AASHTO Example
• P10=80% P40=52% P200=20%
• LL = 35 PL = 20 PI = 15
• Because P200<35%, Coarse Soil
• Because P10>50%, not A-1-a
• Because P40>50%, not A-1-b
• Because P200>10%, not A-3
• So must be A-2 soil, use plasticity chart
AASHTO Plasticity Chart
LL = 35, PI = 15

A-2-6
 AASHTO Classification
• A-2-6 Soil

GI  0.01(F200  15)(PI  10)

• GI=0.01(20-15)(15-10)=0.25=1
• So soil is A-2-6 (1)
• Clayey Sand & Gravel
 Review Passing No.200 sieve 30 %
Passing No.4 sieve 70 %
LL= 33
PI= 12
Problems

Passing No.200 sieve 30 %

Passing No.4 sieve 70 %

LL= 33
PI= 12
PI= 0.73(LL-20), A-line
PI=0.73(33-20)=9.49

SC
Clayey sand with
gravel Highly

(Santamarina et al., 2001)

 Review Problems
Classify the following soils by AASHTO classification system:

Description A B C D E
% finer than No.10 sieve 83 100 48 90 100
% finer that No.40 sieve 48 92 28 76 82
% finer that No.200 sieve 20 86 6 34 38
LL 20 70 - 37 42
PI 5 32 - 12 23

A: A-1-b(0), B: A-7-5(33), C: A-1-a(0), D: A-2-6(0), F: A-7-6(4)