Thi_ Qar University

College of Engineering/Civil Engineering

Department
Highway Lectures
Four th Class
Par t #2: - Subgr ade Soil

Lecture #2
Soil Classification
DAS, Chapter 4, Engineering Classification of Soil
Prepared By
Dr. Haider Habeeb Aodah
Slide 2 of 42 Purpose
• Classifying soils into groups or sub-groups with similar engineering
behavior.
• Classification systems were developed in terms of simple indices (Grain
Size Distribution (GSD) and plasticity (LL, PL, PI)).
• These classifications can provide geotechnical engineers with general
guidance about engineering properties of the soils through the
accumulated experience.
Communicate
between
engineers
Classification Estimate Achieve
Simple indices
system engineering engineering
GSD, LL, PI (Language) properties purposes
Use the
accumulated
experience
Slide 3 of 42 Purpose

Typical section in Typical section in

rigid pavement flexible pavement
Slide 4 of 42 Classification Systems
Two commonly classification system used are:

1. American Association of State Highway and Transportation

Officials (AASHTO) System (preferred by Transportation
engineers).

2. Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) (preferred by

geotechnical engineers).
Slide 5 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

This system was originally developed by Hogentogler and

Terzaghiin 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)

The system is based on the following three soil properties:

i. Particle-size distribution (AASHTO T-11 and AASHTO T-27 test)
ii. Liquid Limit (AASHTO T-89 test).
iii. Plasticity Index (AASHTO T-90 test).
Slide 6 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Definition of Grain Size No specific

grain size-use
Atterberg limits

Boulders Sand Silt and Clay

Cobbles Gravel
Coarse Medium Fine Coarse Fine

300 mm 75 mm No.10 No.200

2.0 mm 0.075
19 mm No.4 No.40 mm
4.75 mm 0.425 mm
Slide 7 of 42 Grain Size Distribution Curve

7
Slide 8 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Key Elements:-
1.Grain Size:
Gr avel: Fraction passing 75mm sieve and retained on #10 (2mm) US sieve
Sand : Fraction passing #10 sieve and retained #200 sieve
Silt and Clay: Fraction passing #200 sieve.

2.Plasticity:
Term silty is applied when fine fractions have a PI ≤ 10
Term clayey is applied when fine fractions have PI > 10

3.Groups: (see Tables)

Soils are classified into eight groups, A-1 through A-8.
The major groupsA-1,A-2, and A-3 represent the coarse grained soils.
The A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7 represent fine grained soils.
The A-8 are identified by visual inspection.
Slide 9 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Table:-

Classification starts from left to right

Slide 10 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Table:-
Slide 11 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Table:-
Slide 12 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM
Slide 13 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Group Index (GI):-

Slide 14 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Group Index (GI):-

i. A soil having GI of zero is considered as the best.
ii. The group index of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-
4, A-2-5, and A-3 is always 0. The higher the value of GI the
weaker will be the soil and vice versa. Thus, quality of
performance of a soil as a subgrade material is inversely
proportional to GI.
iii. If Eq. (1) yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.
iv. The group index is rounded off to the nearest whole number
(for example, GI 3.4 is rounded off to 3; GI 3.5 is rounded off
to 4).
v. There is no upper limit for the group index.
Slide 15 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Procedure:-
Determine the percentage of soil passing the #200 sieve
Determine the subgroups
i. For coarse-grained soils (gravel and sand), determine the
percent passing the #10, 40, and 200 sieves.
ii. Determine the liquid limit and plasticity index
iii. THEN, determine soil group or subgroup from Table.
iv. Determine the Group Index (usually reflects the relative
strength of the material, where low values have the greatest
shear strength).
Slide 16 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Example #1:-
Slide 17 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Example #1:-

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Slide 18 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Example #2:-
Slide 19 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Example #2:-
Slide 20 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

Homewor k:-
• Classify the following soil Using AASHTO System.
• Given:
• % passing No. 10 = 100;
• % passing No. 40 = 80;
• '% passing No.200 = 58
• LL = 30; PI = 10.
Slide 21 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION OF GROUPS & SUBGROUPS

Group A-1: Well-graded mixtures of stone fragments or gravel

ranging from coarse to fine with a non-plastic or slightly plastic soil
binder. However, this group also includes coarse materials without
soil binder.

Subgroup A-1-a: Materials consisting predominantly of stone

fragments or gravel, either with or without a well graded soil binder.

Subgroup A-1-b: Materials consisting predominantly of coarse sand

either with or without a well-graded soil binder.
Slide 22 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION OF GROUPS & SUBGROUPS

Group A-3: Material consisting of sands deficient in coarse material and
soil binder. Typical is fine beach sand or fine desert blow sand, without silt
or clay fines or with a very small amount of non-plastic silt. This group also
includes stream deposited mixtures of poorly graded fine sand and limited
amounts of coarse sand and gravel. These soils make suitable subgrades for
all types of pavements when confined and damp. They are subject to
erosion and have been known to pump and blow under rigid pavements.
(Information: They can be compacted by vibratory, pneumatic-tired, and
steel-wheeled rollers but not with a sheeps foot roller.)

Group A-2: This group includes a wide variety of “granular” materials that
are borderline between the materials falling in Groups A-1 and A-3 and silt-
clay materials of Groups A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7. It includes all materials
containing 35 percent or less passing the 75-μm (No. 200) sieve that cannot
be classified as A-1 or A-3.
Slide 23 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION OF GROUPS & SUBGROUPS

Group A-4: The typical material of this group is a non-plastic or
moderately plastic silty soil usually having 75 percent or more passing the
75 μm (No. 200) sieve. The group includes also mixtures of fine silty soil
and up to 64 percent of sand and gravel retained on the 75-μm (No. 200)
sieve
Group A-5: The typical material of this group is similar to that described
under Group A-4, except that it is usually of diatomaceous or micaceous
character and may be highly elastic as indicated by the high liquid limit
.
Group A-6: The typical material of this group is plastic clay soil usually
having 75 percent or more passing the 75-μm (No. 200) sieve. The group
includes also mixtures of fine clayey soil and up to 64 percent of sand and
gravel retained on the 75-μm (No. 200) sieve.
Slide 24 of 42 AASHTO SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION OF GROUPS & SUBGROUPS

Group A-7: The typical materials and problems of this group are similar to
those described under Group A-6, except that they have the high liquid
limits characteristic of the A-5 group and may be elastic as well as subject to
high volume change.
Subgroup A-7-5: Includes those materials with moderate Plasticity Indexes
in relation to Liquid Limit and which may be highly elastic as well as
subject to considerable volume change.
Subgroup A-7-6: Includes those materials with high Plasticity Indexes in
relation to Liquid Limit and which are subject to extremely high volume
change.
Subgroup A-8: Highly organic soils such as peat or muck are not included
in this classification. Because of their many undesirable properties, their use
should be avoided, if possible, in all types of construction.
Slide 25 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Soil symbols: Liquid limit symbols:

G: Gravel H: High LL (LL>50)
S: Sand L: Low LL (LL<50)
M: Silt
C: Clay Gradation symbols:
O: Organic W: Well-graded
Pt: Peat P : Poorly-graded
Well − graded soil
Example: SW, Well-graded sand
1 < C c < 3 and C u ≥ 4
SC, Clayey sand
(for gravels)
SM, Silty sand, 1 < C c < 3 and C u ≥ 6
MH, Elastic silt (for sands)
Slide 26 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Definition of Grain Size No specific

grain size-use
Atterberg limits

Boulders Sand Silt and Clay

Cobbles Gravel

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
Slide 27 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
% Passing sieve No. 200 (0.075 mm)

< 50% > 50%

Coarse-grained soils Fine-grained soils
Silt (M)
Clay (C)

•Grain size distribution •Use Plasticity chart

•LL, PL
•Use Plasticity chart
ML, MH, CL, CH

Required tests: Sieve analysis

Atterberg limit
Slide 28 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
60
Comparing soils at equal liquid limit
50 Toughness and dry strength increase
l ine
with increasing plasticity index "
"A
40
Plasticity index

CH
30

20 OH
CL or
10 CL OL
CL-ML or MH
ML
0 ML
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Liquid limit
Below A-line is silt – use symbol M
Above A-line is clay – use symbol C Plasticity chart
28
f l b l ifi i f fi i d il
Slide 29 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
% Passing sieve No. 200 (0.075 mm)

< 50% > 50%

Coarse-grained soils Fine-grained soils
Silt (M)
% Coarse soil (Co) = 100 - % Passing # 200 Clay (C)
% Gravel (G) = 100 - % Passing # 4

G > 1/2 Co G < 1/2 Co •Use Plasticity chart

Gravel (G) Sand (S) •LL, PL

% Passing sieve No. 200

< 5% GW, GP, SW or SP Use  Cu, Cc W : well graded P: poorly graded

5% -12 % GW-GM, GW-GC, GP-GM, GP-GC, SW-SM, SW-SC, SP-SM, SP-SC
> 12% GM, GC, SM, SC Use  plasticity charts
Slide 30 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
To determine if well graded (W) or poorly graded (P), calculate Cu and
Cc
D60
Coefficient of uniformity Cu =
D10

D302
Coefficient of gradation Cc =
( D60 × D10 )
Slide 31 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

D60
Coefficient of uniformity Cu =
D10

D302
Coefficient of gradation Cc =
( D60 × D10 )

Conditions for Well-graded soils

For gravels  Cu > 4 and Cc is between 1 and 3
For Sand  W if Cu > 6 and Cc is between 1 and 3
1. Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

32
Slide 33 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

33
 Slide 34 of 42
Unified soil classification (including identification and description)

Field identification procedures Group Information required for Laboratory classification

(Excluding particles larger than 75mm and basing fractions on symbols Typical names
1 describing soils criteria
estimated weights)

Depending on percentages of fines (fraction smaller than .075mm

D

Bordeline case requiring use of dual symbols

Wide range of grain size and substantial GW Well graded gravels, gravel-
Gravels with Clean gravels

C U = --- 60 Greater than 4

Determine percentages of gravel and sand from grain size curve

Give typical names: indicate ap-
(little or no

amounts of all intermediate particle sand mixtures, little or no proximate percentages of sand D 10
fines)

sizes fines 2
and gravel: maximum size: (D30 )
More than half of coarse

C c = ---------------------
fraction is larger than

Predominantly one size or a range of angularity, surface condition, Between 1 and 3

GP Poorly graded gravels, gravel- D10 x D60

sieve size) coarse grained soils are classified as follows

sizes with some intermediate sizes sand mixtures, little or no and hardness of the coarse
More than half of material is larger than

missing fines grains: local or geological name Not meeting all gradation requirements for GW
2.36mm
Gravels

and other pertinent descriptive

amount of fines)

Use grain size curve in identifying the fractions as given under field identification
Non-plastic fines (for identification GM Silty gravels, poorly information and symbol in
(apreciable

procedures see ML below) graded gravel-sand-silt mixtures parentheses. Atterberg limits below Above "A" line with
fines
The .075mm sieve size is about the smallest particle visible to the naked eye
Coarse grained soils

"A" line or PI less than 4 PI between 4 and 7

.075mm sieve size

Plastic fines (for identification pro- GC Clayey gravels, poorly graded For undisturbed soils add infor- are borderline cases
Atterberg limits above "A" requiring use of dual

GM, GC, SM, SC

cedures see CL below) gravel-sand-clay mixtures mation on stratification, degree

GW, GP, SW, SP

of compactness, cementation, line with PI greater than 7 symbols
Wide range in grain sizes and sub- moisture conditions and drain- D
SW Well graded sands, gravelly
C U=--- 60 Greater than 6
Clean sands
(little or no

stantial amounts of all intermediate age characteristics.

particle sizes sands, little or no fines D 10
fines)
More than half of coarse

(D 30 )2
fraction is smaller than

Example:
Predominantely one size or a range of SP Poorly graded sands, gravelly C c = --------------------- Between 1 and 3
Silty sand, gravelly; about 20% D 10 x D60
sizes with some intermediate sizes missing sands, little or no fines hard angular gravel particles
2.36mm

Not meeting all gradation requirements for SW

Sands

12.5mm maximum size; rounded

More than 12%

amount of fines)

Non-plastic fines (for identification pro- SM Silty sands, poorly graded and subangular sand grains
(appreciable

Less than 5%
Sands with

cedures, see ML below) sand-silt mixtures coarse to fine, about 15% non- Atterberg limits below Above "A" line with

5% to 12%
fines

plastic lines with low dry "A" line or PI less than 4 PI between 4 and 7
Plastic fines (for identification pro- SC Clayey sands, poorly graded strength; well compacted and are borderline cases
cedures, see CL below) sand-clay mixtures moist in places; alluvial sand; Atterberg limits above "A" requiring use of dual
(SM) line with PI greater than 7 symbols
Identification procedure on fraction smaller than .425mm
sieve size
Dry strength Toughness
Dilatency (consistency
More than half of material is smaller than

Silts and clays

crushing
less than 50

(reaction
liquid limit

character- to shaking) near plastic

istics limit)
Inorganic silts and very fine sands, Give typical name; indicate degree
None to Quick to None rock flour, silty or clayey
ML
Fine grained soils

and character of plasticity,

.075mm sieve size

slight slow fine sands with slight plasticity 60

amount and maximum size of Comparing soils at equal liquid limit
Medium to None to very Inorganic clays of low to medium coarse grains: colour in wet con- 50 Toughness and dry strength increase
high slow
Medium CL,CI plasticity, gravelly clays, sandy dition, odour if any, local or in
e
clays, silty clays, lean clays with increasing plasticity index "l
geological name, and other pert- "A
40

Plasticity index
Slight to Slow Slight Organic silts and organic silt- inent descriptive information, and
medium OL clays of low plasticity symbol in parentheses CH
30 CI
inorganic silts, micaceous or
Silts and clays

Slight to Slow to Slight to For undisturbed soils add infor-

greater than

MH dictomaceous fine sandy or

liquid limit

medium none medium silty soils, elastic silts mation on structure, stratif- 20 OH
ication, consistency and undis-
50

High to very Inorganic clays of high or

None High turbed and remoulded states, CL OL
high CH plasticity, fat clays moisture and drainage conditions 10
MH
CL-ML or
ML
Medium to None to very Slight to Organic clays of medium to Example 0
high high medium OH high plasticity Clayey silt, brown: slightly plastic: 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Liquid limit
Readily identified by colour, odour small percentage of fine sand:
Highly organic soils spongy feel and frequently by fibrous Pt Peat and other highly organic soils numerous vertical root holes: firm Plasticity chart
and dry in places; loess; (ML) for laboratory classification of fine grained soils
texture 34
Slide 35 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Example#1
Slide 36 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Example#2
Slide 37 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
Slide 38 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
Slide 39 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Example #3

39
Slide 40 of 42
Slide 41 of 42
Slide 42 of 42 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

HOMEWORK:
Classify the following soils by both the AASHTO and Unified Systems,
and give the group index for the AASHTO system.
Sieve
Analysis --
% finer than
Soil Sample #10 #40 #200 Liquid Lmt Plastic Lmt
A 95 79 53 36 21
B 100 95 78 65 26
C 100 80 62 35 20
D 90 55 45 28 20
E 90 71 60 40 26
Slide 43 of 42 Soil Fractions
AASHTO M-145:-
Boulder s and Cobbles – material retained on the 75 mm (3 in.) sieve. They
should be excluded from the portion of a sample to which the classification is
applied, but the percentage of such material should be recorded.
Gr avel – materials passing sieve with 75 mm (3 in.) and retained on the 2.0
mm (No. 10)
Coar se Sand – materials passing the 2.0 mm (No. 10) sieve and retained on
the 425-μm (No. 40) sieve.
Fine Sand – materials passing the 425-μm (No. 40) sieve and retained on the
75-μm (No. 200)
Combined Silt and Clay – material passing the 75-μm (No. 200) sieve. The
word “silty” is applied to a fine material having a Plasticity Index of 10 or less,
and the term “clayey” is applied to fine material having a PI of more than 10.
Questions - ?
 References

1) Braja M. DAS,(2006), “ Engineering Classification of Soil”,

Chapter 4,
2) Internet websites.