Geotechnical Engineering 1

(SOIL MECHANICS)
Chapter 2: Engineering Soil Classification

TOPIC OUTLINE
1. Grain size classification
2. USDA
3. M.I.T
4. USCS
5. AASHTO
6. ASTM
 Intended Learning Outcomes

• Familiarized the different grain size soil

classification systems
• Demonstrated the use of AASHTO, USDA,
USCS, M.I.T and ASTM in soil classification.
Soil Classification

4
 Basis for Classification

Classification is based on the following physical properties

uGrain Size Distribution (GSD)

uLiquid limit (LL)

uPlasticity Index (PI)

n Classification gives some idea about the general behaviour of soil

n However to predict true behaviour additional information based on
geotechnical properties are yet required.

5
 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.

Communicate
between
engineers

Simple indices Classification Estimate Achieve

system engineering engineering
GSD, LL, PI (Language) properties purposes
Use the
accumulated
experience
6
Purpose

· Main soil types are; Clay, Silt, Sand, Gravels, Boulders etc.
· Above types seldom exist separately in nature
· Natural soil deposits comprise mixture of above types in varying
proportions
· Soil classification means to arrange soil in groups and label them
based on their properties and behaviour.
· Soil Classification Systems have been developed by different
organizations

7
Classification Systems

Two commonly used systems (engineering based

soil classification):

• Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).

• American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) System

8
USDA classification system

Sand Size: 2.0 to 0.05 mm in diameter

Silt Size: 0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter
Clay Size: smaller than 0.002 mm in
diameter

Example: 35% clay

40% silt
26% sand

Answer: clay loam

9
 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) Soil Classification System
• The classification system devised by Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, the USA for dividing soil into
different classes.
• In this classification, the particles larger than 200 mm
will be considered as boulders and larger 200 is cobble.
The gravel range from (60 mm to 2 mm) and sand
between (2.0 mm to 0.06) and silt range from (0.06 mm
to 0.002 mm). smaller than this is clay.
• Also, each type of soil subdivided to coarse, medium
and fine).
Unified Soil Classification System
(USCS) - ASTM D 2487
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 construction (Holtz and Kovacs, 1981).
Four major divisions:
(1) Coarse-grained
(2) Fine-grained
(3) Organic soils
(4) Peat
11
 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
19 mm No.10 No.40 mm
2.0 mm 0.425 mm

12
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
13
Symbols

Soil symbols: Liquid limit symbols:

G: Gravel H: High LL (LL>50)
S: Sand L: Low LL (LL<50)
M: Silt Gradation symbols:
C: Clay W: Well-graded
O: Organic P: Poorly-graded
Pt: Peat Well  graded soil
Example: SW, Well-graded sand 1  C c  3 and C u  4
(for gravels)
SC, Clayey sand
1  C c  3 and C u  6
SM, Silty sand,
(for sands )
MH, Elastic silt
14
 Plasticity Chart
L H
• The A-line generally
separates the more
claylike materials
from silty materials,
PI
and the organics
from the inorganics.
• The U-line indicates
the upper bound for
general soils.

Note: If the measured

limits of soils are on
the left of U-line,
LL they should be
rechecked.
(Holtz and Kovacs, 1981)

15
Procedures for Classification

Coarse-grained
material
Grain size
distribution

Fine-grained
material
LL, PI

Highly

(Santamarina et al., 2001)

16
 Passing No.200 sieve 30 % LL= 33
Example Passing No.4 sieve 70 % PI= 12

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
(15% gravel)
Clayey sand with Highly
gravel
(Santamarina et al., 2001)
17
Organic Soils

• Highly organic soils- Peat (Group symbol PT)

 A sample composed primarily of vegetable tissue in various stages of
decomposition and has a fibrous to amorphous texture, a dark-brown
to black color, and an organic odor should be designated as a highly
organic soil and shall be classified as peat, PT.

• Organic clay or silt( group symbol OL or OH):

 “The soil’s liquid limit (LL) after oven drying is less than 75 % of its
liquid limit before oven drying.” If the above statement is true, then
the first symbol is O.
 The second symbol is obtained by locating the values of PI and LL
(not oven dried) in the plasticity chart.

18
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-grainedsoils 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

19
Borderline Cases (Summary)

(Holtz and Kovacs, 1981)

20
 Group Symbols for Gravelly Soil
Major Division Laboratory Classification Criteria Group Symbol Typical Names

1 2 3 4 5
- No.200 < 5%; Cu ≥ 4 and 1 ≤ Cc ≤ GW Well-graded gravels, gravel-
3 sand mixtures with little or no
fines.
- No.200 > 5%; and not meeting GP Poorly-graded gravels, gravel-
both criteria for GW. sand mixtures with little or no
fines.
Coarse soil- Gravel-- - No.200 > 12%; Atterberg’s limits GM
Silty gravels, gravel-sand-silt
-More than More than plot below “A” line and plasticity
mixtures.
half of soil half of index less than 4.
is retained coarse soil
- No.200 > 12%; Atterberg’s limits GC
on No.200 is retained Clayey gravels, gravel-sand-clay
plot above “A” line and plasticity
sieve. on No.4 mixtures.
index greater than 7.
sieve
- No.200 > 12%; Atterberg’s limits GC-GM
Clayey-silty gravels, Gravel-silt-
fall in hatched area marked CL-ML.
clay mixtures.

- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets the GW-GM Well-graded gravels with silt,
criteria for GW and GM. Gravel-sand-silt mixtures.
- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets the GW-GC Well-graded gravels with clay
criteria for GW and GC. binder, Gravel-sand silt clay
mixtures.
- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets the GP-GM Poorly-graded gravels with silt,
criteria for GP and GM. Gravel-silt mixtures
- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets the GP-GC Poorly-graded gravels with clay,
criteria for GP and GC. Gravel-clay mixtures.
- No.200, means passing No.200 sieve
21
 Table: Group Symbols for Sandy Soil
Group
Major Division Criteria for Classification Typical Names
Symbol
1 2 3 4 5
Coarse soil-- Sand-- - No.200 < 5%; Cu ≥ 6,and 1 ≤ Well-graded sands, gravelly
SW
More than More than Cc ≤ 3 sands with little or no fines.
half of soil is half of
- No.200 < 5%; and not meeting Poorly-graded sands, gravelly
retained on coarse soil SP
both criteria for SW. sands with little or no fines.
No.200 sieve. passes
No.4 sieve. - No.200 > 12%; Atterberg’s
limits plot below “A” line in the
SM Silty sands, sand-silt mixtures.
plasticity chart or plasticity index
less than 4.
- No.200 > 12%; Atterberg’s
limits plot above “A” line in the Clayey sands, sand-clay
SC
plasticity chart or plasticity index mixtures.
greater than 7.
- No.200 > 12%; Atterberg’s
limits fall in hatched area Clayey-silty sand, sand-silt-clay
SC-SM
marked CL-ML on the plasticity mixtures.
chart.
- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets Well-graded sand with silt,
SW-SM
the criteria for SW and SM. sand-silt mixtures.
- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets Well-graded sand with clay,
SW-SC
the criteria for SW and SC. sand-silt-clay mixtures.
- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets Poorly-graded sand with silt,
SP-SM
the criteria for SP and SM. sand-silt mixtures.
- No.200 is 5-12%; and meets Poorly-graded sand with clay,
SP-SC
the criteria for SP and SC. sand-clay mixtures.

- No.200, means passing No.200 sieve. 22

 Table: Group Symbols for Silty and Clayey Soil
Group
Major Division Criteria for Classification Typical Names
Symbol
1 2 3 4 5
Inorganic; LL < 50; PI> 7; and plots Inorganic clays of low to
on or above “A” line (see CL zone CL medium plasticity, gravelly clay,
in plasticity chart) sandy clay, silty clay, lean clays.
Inorganic silts and very fine
Inorganic; LL < 50; PI < 4, or plots
sands, rock flour, silty or clayey
below “A” line ML
fine sands or clayey silts with
Silt & Clay, (see ML zone in plasticity chart)
slight plasticity.
LL <50
Inorganic; (LL for oven dried
sample)/(LL for non dried sample) Organic silts and organic silty
OL
< 0.75; and LL < 50 clays of low plasticity.
Fine grained soil-- (see OL zone in plasticity chart)
More than half of
Inorganic; plot in the hatched zone
the soil passes CL-ML Silty clay of low plasticity
in the plasticity chart.
No.200 sieve.
Inorganic; LL ≥ 50; and PI plots
Inorganic clays of high plasticity,
above “A” line CH
fat clays.
(see CH zone in plasticity chart)
Inorganic; LL ≥ 50; and PI plots Inorganic silts, micaceous or
Silt & Clay, below “A” line MH diatomaceous fine sandy or
LL >50 (see MH zone in plasticity chart) silty soils, elastic silts.
Organic;(LL-oven-dried)/(LL-not
dried) < .75 Organic clays of medium to
OH
And LL ≥ 50 ( see OH zone in high plasticity, organic silts.
plasticity chart)
Peat, muck, and other highly Peat and other highly organic
Highly Organic Soils Pt
organic soils soils.
23
Range of material % for coarse grained soil (ASTM-1986)

Group Symbols % Limits Group Names

< 15% sand Well-graded gravel
GW
≥ 15% sand Well-graded gravel with sand
< 15% sand Poorly graded gravel
GP
≥ 15% sand Poorly graded gravel with sand
< 15% sand Well-graded gravel with silt
GW-GM
≥ 15% sand Well-graded gravel with silt and sand
<15% sand Well-graded gravel with clay (or silty clay)
GW-GC ≥ 15% sand Well-graded gravel with clay and sand
(or with silty clay and sand)
< 15% sand Poorly graded gravel with silt
GP-GM
≥ 15% sand Poorly graded gravel with silt and sand
< 15% sand Poorly graded gravel with clay (or silty clay)
GP-GC ≥ 15% sand Poorly graded gravel with clay and sand
(or with silty clay and sand)
< 15% sand Silty gravel
GM
≥ 15% sand Silty gravel with sand
< 15% sand Clayey gravel
GC
≥ 15% sand Clayey gravel with sand
< 15% sand Silty clayey gravel
GC-GM
≥ 15% sand Silty clayey gravel with sand
24
Range of material %-age for coarse grained soil (ASTM-1986)

Group Symbols % Limits Group Names

< 15% gravel Well-graded sand
SW
≥ 15% gravel Well-graded sand with gravel
< 15% gravel Poorly graded sand
SP
≥ 15% gravel Poorly graded sand with gravel
< 15% gravel Well-graded sand with silt
SW-SM
≥ 15% gravel Well-graded sand with silt and gravel
< 15% gravel Well-graded sand with clay (or silty clay)
SW-SC ≥ 15% gravel Well-graded sand with clay and gravel
(or with silty clay and gravel)
< 15% gravel Poorly graded sand with silt
SP-SM
≥ 15% gravel Poorly graded sand with silt and gravel
< 15% gravel Poorly graded sand with clay (or silty clay)
SP-SC ≥ 15% gravel Poorly graded sand with clay and gravel
(or with silty clay and gravel))
< 15% gravel Silty sand
SM
≥ 15% gravel Silty sand with gravel
< 15% gravel Clayey sand
SC
≥ 15% gravel Clayey sand with gravel
< 15% gravel Silty clayey sand
SC-SM
≥ 15% gravel Silty clayey sand with gravel
25
 Range of plasticity & material % for low plastic inorganic silty & clayey soil (ASTM-1986)
Range of Nature of Group
Range of plasticity Range of material %age Group Names
LL soil symbol
P1>7 and lies on or CL + No. 200<30% + No. 200<15% Lean clay
above
A-line + No. 200 15- %sand %gravel Lean clay with sand
29%
%sand <%gravel Lean clay with gravel

+ No. 20030% %sand% Gravel <15% Sandy lean clay

gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy lean clay with
gravel
%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly lean clay
gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly lean clay with
sand

4PI7 and lies on or CL-ML + No. 200<30% + No. 200<15% Silty clay
above
A-line + No. 200 15- %sand %gravel Silty clay with sand
29%
%sand <%gravel Silty clay with gravel
Liquid Limit
< 50 INORGANIC + No. 20030% %sand% Gravel <15% Sandy Silty clay
gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy Silty clay with
gravel
%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly Silty clay
gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly Silty clay with
sand
PI<4 ML + No. 200<30% + No. 200<15% Silt
or lies below
A-Line + No. 200 15- %sand %gravel Silt with sand
29%
%sand <%gravel Silt with gravel

+ No. 20030% %sand% Gravel <15% Sandy silt

gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy Silt with gravel
%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly Silt
gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly Silt with sand
LL(oven dried)
Organic  .75 OL Refer plasticity chart
LL( notdried )
26
 Range of plasticity & material %-age for highly plastic silty & clayey soil (ASTM-1986)
Range of Nature of Group
Range of plasticity Range of material %age Group Names
LL soil symbol
P1lies on or above CH + No. + No.
Fat clay
A-line 200<30% 200<15%
+ No. 200 15- %sand
Fat clay with sand
29% %gravel
%sand
Fat clay with gravel
<%gravel
+ No. %sand% Gravel <15% Sandy fat clay
20030% gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy fat clay with
gravel
%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly fat clay
gravel
iquid Limit Sand 15% Gravelly fat clay with
INORGANIC sand
 50
PI lies below MH + No. + No.
Plastic silt
A-line 200<30% 200<15%
+ No. 200 15- %sand
Plastic silt with sand
29% %gravel
%sand
Plastic silt with gravel
<%gravel
+ No. %sand% Gravel <15% Sandy plastic silt
20030% gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy plastic silt with
gravel
%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly plastic silt
gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly plastic silt
with sand
Organic LL(oven dried) OH Refer plasticity chart
 .75
LL( notdried )

27
 Range of plasticity & material %-age for organic soil (ASTM-1986)
Nature of Range of
Group symbol Range of material %age Group names
soil plasticity

ORGANIC P1<4 or lies + No. 20030% + No. 200<30% + No. 200<15% Organic clay
SOIL above
A-line + No. 200 15-29% %sand %gravel Organic clay with sand

%sand <%gravel Organic clay with gravel

+ No. 20030% %sand% Gravel <15% Sandy organic clay

gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy organic clay with gravel

%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly organic clay

gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly organic clay with sand

P1<4 or lies %sand <%gravel + No. 200<15% Organic Silt

below
A-line %sand %gravel Organic silt with sand

Organic silty with gravel

%sand% Gravel <15% Sandy Organic Silt

gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy Organic Silt with gravel

%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly Organic Silt

gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly Organic Silt with sand

Lies on or + No. 20030% + No. 200<30% + No. 200<15% Organic clay

above
A-Line + No. 200 15-29% %sand %gravel Organic clay with sand

%sand <%gravel Organic clay with gravel

+ No. 20030% %sand% Gravel <15% Sandy Organic clay

gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy Organic clay with gravel

%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly Organic clay

gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly Organic clay with sand

Lies below %sand <%gravel + No. 200<15% Organic Silt

A-Line
%sand %gravel Organic Silt with sand

Organic Silt with gravel

%sand% Gravel <15% Sandy Organic silt

gravel
Gravel 15% Sandy Organic Silt with gravel

%sand<% Sand <15% Gravelly Organic Silt

gravel
Sand 15% Gravelly Organic Silt with sand 28
 Group symbols & their characteristics related to Roads & Airfields

Value as Value as
Value as
Subbase Base When
Subgrade When Potential Compressibility and Drainage
Symbol When Not Not Subject
Not Subject to Frost Action Expansion Characteristics
Subject to to Frost
Frost Action
Frost Action Action
None to very
GW Excellent Excellent Good Almost none Excellent
slight
Good to None to very
GP Good Fair to good Almost none Excellent
excellent slight
Good to Slight to
D Good Fair to good Very slight Fair to poor
excellent medium
GM
Poor to not Slight to Poor to practically
U Good Fair Slight
suitable medium impervious

Poor to not Slight to Poor to practically

GC Good Fair Slight
suitable medium impervious

None to very
SW Good Fair to good Poor Almost none Excellent
slight
Poor to not None to very
SP Fair to good Fair Almost none Excellent
suitable slight

29
Group symbols & their characteristics related to Roads & Airfields

Value as Value as Value as

Subgrade Subbase Base When Potential Compressibility
Drainage
Symbol When Not When Not Not Subject Frost and
Characteristics
Subject to Subject to to Frost Action Expansion
Frost Action Frost Action Action

Fair to Slight to
D Fair to good Poor Very slight Fair to poor
good high
SM
Slight to Poor to practically
U Fair Poor to fair Not suitable Slight to medium
high impervious
Slight to Poor to practically
SC Poor to fair Poor Not suitable Slight to medium
high impervious
Medium to
ML Poor to fair Not suitable Not suitable Slight to medium Fair to poor
very high
Medium to Practically
CL Poor to fair Not suitable Not suitable Medium
high impervious
Medium to
OL Poor Not suitable Not suitable Medium to high Poor
high
Medium to
MH Poor Not suitable Not suitable High Fair to poor
very high
Practically
CH Poor to fair Not suitable Not suitable Medium High
impervious
Poor to very Practically
OH Not suitable Not suitable Medium High
poor impervious
Pt Not suitable Not suitable Not suitable Slight Very high Fair to poor

30
DESCRIPTION OF USC-GROUPS
COARSE GRAINED SOIL
1. GW and SW groups:
• Well-graded gravelly and sandy soils with little or no fines (≤ 5%).
• Fines must not change the strength & free-draining characteristics
• In areas prone to frost action, they should not contain  3% of grains smaller than
0.02 mm.
2. GP and SP groups:
• Poorly graded gravels and sands with little or no fines.
• Poorly or Gap-graded materials are non-uniform mixtures of very
coarse material and very fine sands with intermediate sizes lacking.
3. GM and SM groups:
• Silty gravel & silty sand with fines (12%) of low or no plasticity.
• These lie below the “A” line on the plasticity chart.
• Both well and poorly-graded materials are included in these groups.
GMd and SMu groups:
Suffices “d” and “u” mean desirable and undesirable base materials
• This subdivision applies to roads and airfields only
• Subdivision is based on the liquid limit and plasticity index
• Suffix “d” is used when LL is 25 or less and the PI is 5 or less;
• Suffix “u” is used otherwise.
31
4. GC and SC groups:
• Gravelly or sandy soils with fines ( 12 %) that are more clay-like.
• The fines range in plasticity from low to high.
• The LL and PI of these groups plot above “A” line on plasticity chart.
• Both, well and poorly-graded soils are included in these groups.

1. ML and MH groups:
• Sandy silts, clayey silts, or inorganic silts with relatively low plasticity.
• Loess-type soils, rock flours, micaceous and diatomaceous soils are also included.
• Some types of kaolinite and illite clays also fall under these groups.
• Suffices L & M means low and high
• Micaceous and diatomaceous soils generally fall within the MH group but may extend
into the ML group when their LL is less than 50.

2. CL and CH groups:
• The CL and CH groups include clays with low and high liquid limits
• They are primarily inorganic clays.
• The medium and high plasticity clays are classified as CH and include fat clays, gumbo
clays, bentonite, and some volcanic clays.
• The low plasticity clays are classified as CL and usually include lean clays, sandy clays,
or silty clays.
32
3. OL and OH groups:
• These groups are characterized by the presence of organic matter.
• Organic silts and clays are included in these two groups, and they have a
plasticity range corresponding to the ML, and MH groups.

Highly Organic Soils

• These soils are designated by group symbol (Pt).

• They are usually very compressible and have undesirable engineering
characteristics.
• These includes peat, humus, and swamp soils with a high organic texture.
• Common components of these soils are particles of leaves, grass, branches, or other
fibrous vegetable matter.

33
 Table: Engineering use chart

IMPORTANT PROPERTIES

TYPICAL NAMES OF SOIL GROUP SHEARING COMPRESS-IBILITY

PERMEABILITY
GROUPS SYMBOLS STRENGTH WHEN WHEN COMPACTED WORKABILITY AS A
WHEN
COMPACTED AND AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
COMPACTED
SATURATED SATURATED

WELL-GRADED GRAVELS, GW PERVIOUS EXCELLENT NEGLIGIBLE EXCELLENT

GRAVEL-SAND MIXTURES,
LITTLE OR NO FINES

POORLY GRADED GRAVELS, GP VERY PERVIOUS GOOD NEGLIGIBLE GOOD

GRAVEL-SAND MIXTURES,
LITTLE OR NO FINES

SILTY GRAVELS, POORLY GM SEMIPERVIOUS TO GOOD NEGLIGIBLE GOOD

GRADED GRAVEL-SAND-SILT IMPERVIOUS
MIXTURES

CLAYEY GRAVELS, POORLY GC IMPERVIOUS GOOD TO FAIR VERY LOW GOOD

GRADED GRAVEL-SAND- CLAY
MIXTURES

WELL-GRADED SANDS, SW PERVIOUS EXCELLENT NEGLIGIBLE EXCELLENT

GRAVELLY SANDS, LITTLE OR
NO FINES

POORLY GRADED SANDS, SP PERVIOUS GOOD VERY LOW FAIR

GRAVELLY SANDS, LITTLE OR
NO FINES.

SILTY SANDS, POORLY SM SEMIPERVIOUS TO GOOD LOW FAIR

GRADED SAND-SILT MIXTURES IMPERVIOUS

34
 Table: Engineering use chart
CLAYEY SANDS, SC IMPERVIOUS GOOD TO FAIR LOW GOOD
POORLY GRADED
SAND-CLAY MIXTURES
INORGANIC SILTS AND ML SEMIPERVIOU FAIR MEDIUM FAIR
VERY FINE SANDS, S TO
ROCK FLOUR, SILTY OR IMPERVIOUS
CLAYEY FINE SANDS
WITH SLIGHT
PLASTICITY
INORGANIC CLAYS OF CL IMPERVIOUS FAIR MEDIUM GOOD TO FAIR
LOW TO MEDIUM CLAYS,
SANDY CLAYS SILTY
CLAYS, LEAN CLAYS

ORGANIC SILTS AND OL SEMIPERVIOU POOR MEDIUM FAIR

ORGANIC SILT-CLAY OF S TO
LOW PLASTICITY IMPERVIOUS
INORGANIC SILTS, MH SEMPERVIOU FAIR TO POOR HIGH POOR
MICACEOUS OR S TO
DIATOMACEOUS FINE IMPERVIOUS
SANDY OR SILTY SOILS,
ELASTIC SILTS
INORGANIC CLAYS OF CH IMPERVIOUS POOR HIGH POOR
HIGH PLASTICITY, FAT
CLAYS
ORGANIC CLAYS OF OH IMPERVIOUS POOR HIGH POOR
MEDIUM TO HIGH
PLASTICITY
PEAT AND OTHER PT -- -- -- --
HIGHLY ORGANIC SOILS

35
 Table: Engineering use chart

RELATIVE DESIRABILITY FOR VARIOUS USES

GROUP
SYMBOL ROLLED EARTH DAMS CANAL SECTIONS FOUNDATIONS ROADWAYS
S
HOMOGENEOUS CORE SHELL EROSION COMPACTED SEEPAGE SEEPAGE FROST FROST HEAVE SURFACING
EMBANKMENT RESISTANCE EARTH LINING IMPORTANT NOT HEAVE NOT POSSIBLE
IMPORTANT POSSIBLE

GW -- -- 1 1 -- -- 1 1 1 3
GP -- -- 2 2 -- -- 3 3 3 --
GM 2 4 -- 4 4 1 4 4 9 5
GC 1 1 -- 3 1 2 6 5 5 1
SW -- -- 3 6 -- -- 2 2 2 4
IF
GRAVELLY

SP -- -- 4 7 -- -- 5 6 4 --
IF IF
GRAVELLY GRAVELLY

36
 Table: Engineering use chart

SM 4 5 -- 8 5 3 7 8 10 6
IF EROSION
GRAVELLY CRITICAL

SC 3 2 -- 5 2 4 8 7 6 2
ML 6 6 -- -- 6 6 9 10 11 --
EROSION
CRITICAL
CL 5 3 -- 9 3 5 10 9 7 7
OL 8 8 -- -- 7 7 11 11 12 --
EROSION
CRITICAL
MH 9 9 -- -- -- 8 12 12 13 --
CH 7 7 -- 10 8 9 13 13 8 --
VOLUME
CHANGE
CRITICAL
OH 10 10 -- -- -- 10 14 14 14 --
PT -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

37
 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)

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Definition of Grain Size
No specific
grain size-use
Atterberg
limits
Boulders Gravel Sand Silt-Clay

Coarse Fine

75 mm No.4 No.200
4.75 mm 0.075
No.40 mm
0.425 mm

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 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

· The original purpose of this classification system is used for road

construction (subgrade rating).

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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

In general, the rating for a pavement subgrade is

inversely proportional to the group index, GI.

41
Classification

Das, 1998

42
 Classification (Cont.)

Note:
The first group from the left to fit the test data is the Das, 1998

correct AASHTO classification.

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 Passing No.200 86%
Example LL=70, PI=32
LL-30=40 > PI=32
Passing No.200 86% GI  (F200  35)0.2  0.005(LL  40)
LL=70, PI=32  0.01(F200  15)(PI  10)
LL-30=40 > PI=32  33.47  33 Round off A-7-5(33)

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 Example Problem
Sieve no. Opening % Passing LL = 23
4 4.75 100 PL = 19
10 2.00 90
20 0.850 64
40 0.425 38
80 0.180 18
200 0.075 13

Classify the soil based on AASHTO and USCS classification

system.
AASHTO Soil Classification
Sample problem;
1.) For an organic soil, the following grain-size analysis is given;

Sieve no. %passing Diameter

4 94 4.75
10 63 2.00
20 21 .850
40 10 .425
60 7 .250
100 5 .150
200 3 .075

By USCS
D10 =.4 CU=1.75/.4=4.375
D30 =1 CC=12/(1.75)(.4)=1.429
D60=1.75
R200=100-F200=100-3=97
R4 =100-94=6
R4/R200=0.062 SP=Poorly graded sand
2.)
Percent passing Sieve no.
90 10 PL=37
76 40
34 200 PI=12

By AASHTO
Ans.A-2-6(0)

GI=(F200-15)[0.2+0.005(LL-40)]+0.01(F200 -
15)(PI-10)
=0.01(34-15)(12-10)
=0.38 or 0
By USCS
R200=100-F200=100-34=66
R4=100-F4=0
F200<50=SANDS;SC-on A line
3.)Given; LL=23
Sieve no. Opening %passing PL=19
4 4.75 100 PI=LL-PL=4
10 2.00 90
20 .850 64
40 .425 38
D10=.0275
80 .180 18 D30=0.3
200 .075 13 D60=0.75

a.) CU=D60/D10=.75/.0275=27.27
CC=(D30)2/(D60)(D10)=(0.3)2/(0.75)(0.02575)=4.364
b.) AASHTO
GI=(F200-35) [0.2+0.005(LL-40)]+0.01(F200 -15)(PI-10)
= -2.41
A-1-b(0)
c.) USCS
R200=100-13=87
R4=100-F4=100-100=0
F200 <50=SANDS;SM-SC=Silty clayey sand
Thank you!!!

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