CESM0414

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING 1
(Soil Mechanics)

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 Chapter 3:

SOIL CLASSIFICATION

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 SOIL PARTICLE SIZE
CLASSIFICATION

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 SOIL PARTICLE SIZE
CLASSIFICATION

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology
AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
ASTM American Society of Testing and Materials
USCS Unified Soil Classification System

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering
 SOIL PARTICLE SIZE
CLASSIFICATION

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVE (Sieve Analysis) can be

used to define the relative amount of soil particle (by mass) according
to size.

PSD Curve can determine the following:

1. Grain size to a corresponding percent finer.

Dx → grain size corresponding to “x” percent finer (use interpolation)
D10 → Effective Size or the grain size corresponding to 10% finer

2. Percentage of soil types (Gravel, Sand, Fines)

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 SOIL PARTICLE SIZE
CLASSIFICATION

PSD Curve can determine the following:

3. Soil Gradation
➢ Poorly Graded - represents a type of soil in which most of the
soil grains are the same size
➢ Well Graded - a soil in which the particle sizes are distributed
over a wide range.

A soil is considered as Well Graded, if

𝑪𝒖 > 𝟒 (gravel)
𝑪𝒖 > 𝟔 (sand)
and 𝟏 < 𝑪𝒄 < 𝟑 (both sand and gravel)

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 SOIL PARTICLE SIZE
CLASSIFICATION

Coefficient of Uniformity, Cu

𝑫𝟔𝟎
𝑪𝒖 = Coefficient of Gradation or
𝑫𝟏𝟎
Curvature, Cc

𝑫𝟑𝟎 𝟐
Sorting Coefficient, So 𝑪𝒄 =
𝑫𝟔𝟎 ∙ 𝑫𝟏𝟎

𝑫𝟕𝟓
𝑺𝒐 =
𝑫𝟐𝟓

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 SOIL PARTICLE SIZE
CLASSIFICATION

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

A sieve analysis is performed and the following results were obtained.

Sieve Opening Mass CMR CMP

% Finer
No. (mm) Retained (g) (g) (g)
CMR Cumulative Mass Retained
4 4.75 - CMP Cumulative Mass Passing
10 2.00 109 TM Total Mass
20 0.850 158
40 0.425 98 Calculate the following:
60 0.250 150 1. D10 5. D75
80 0.180 125 2. D25 6. Cu
100 0.150 183 3. D30 7. Cc
4. D60 8. So
200 0.075 132
Pan - 54

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 A sieve analysis is performed and the following results were obtained.

Sieve Opening Mass CMR CMP 𝑪𝑴𝑷

% Finer
No. (mm) Retained (g) (g) (g) %𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 %𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝑻𝑴
4 4.75 - - 1009 100.00
10 2.00 109 109 900 89.197
20 0.850 158 267 742 73.538 Calculate the following:
40 0.425 98 365 644 63.826
1. D10 = 0.102 mm
60 0.250 150 515 494 48.959
2. D25 = 0.161 mm
80 0.180 125 640 369 36.571 3. D30 = 0.169 mm
100 0.150 183 823 186 18.434 4. D60 = 0.380 mm
200 0.075 132 955 54 5.352 5. D75 = 2.107 mm
Pan - 54 1009 - - 6. Cu = 3.725
7. Cc = 0.737
1009
8. So = 3.618
CMR Cumulative Mass Retained
CMP Cumulative Mass Passing
𝑫𝟔𝟎 𝑫𝟑𝟎 𝟐 𝑫𝟕𝟓
𝑪𝒖 = 𝑪𝒄 = 𝑺𝒐 =
TM Total Mass 𝑫𝟏𝟎 𝑫𝟔𝟎 ∙ 𝑫𝟏𝟎 𝑫𝟐𝟓

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

A sieve analysis is performed and the following results were obtained.

Soil Sample For soil A, calculate the

Sieve
No.
Diameter
A B C
following:
1. Cc
Percent Passing
2. Cu
4 4.75 90 100 100
10 2.00 64 90 100 Solution:
20 0.850 54 77 98 D10 = 0.154 mm
40 0.425 34 59 92 D30 = 0.367 mm
60 0.250 22 51 84 D60 = 1.540 mm
80 0.180 17 42 79
Cc = 0.568
100 0.150 9 35 70
Cu = 10.000
200 0.075 5 33 63

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 EXAMPLE

Classify the sizes of the soil particles in the first example and determine
the corresponding percentages using the following methods.

1. AASHTO
2. USCS/ASTM
3. UDSA
4. MIT

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 EXAMPLE 1:
A sieve analysis is performed and the following results were obtained.

Sieve Opening Mass CMR CMP

% Finer
No. (mm) Retained (g) (g) (g)
4 4.75 - - 1009 100.00
10 2.00 109 109 900 89.197
20 0.850 158 267 742 73.538
40 0.425 98 365 644 63.826
60 0.250 150 515 494 48.959
80 0.180 125 640 369 36.571
100 0.150 183 823 186 18.434
200 0.075 132 955 54 5.352
Pan - 54 1009 - -
1009

CMR Cumulative Mass Retained USDA MIT AASHTO USCS

2.052 2.062
CMP Cumulative Mass Passing
TM Total Mass

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 Sieve No. Opening (mm) % Finer
4 4.75 100.00
10 2.00 89.197
20 0.850 73.538
40 0.425 63.826
60 0.250 48.959
80 0.180 36.571
100 0.150 18.434
200 0.075 5.352 USDA MIT AASHTO USCS
2.052 2.062
Pan - -

USDA MIT AASHTO USCS/ASTM

Gravel (G)

Sand (S)

Silt (M)

Clay (C)

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 QUESTION?

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 EXAMPLE

The size characteristics of the soil particles are shown in the table below.

Size (mm) Percent finer

0.4250 100
Determine the
0.0330 90 percentages of gravel,
0.0180 80 sand, silt and clay using:
0.0100 70
(a) USDA
0.0062 60 (b) MIT
0.0035 50 (c) AASHTO
(d) USCS
0.0018 40
0.0010 35

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 Size (mm) Percent finer
0.4250 100
0.0330 90
0.0180 80
0.0100 70
0.0062 60
0.0035 50
0.0018 40 USDA MIT AASHTO USCS
2.052 2.062
0.0010 35

USDA MIT AASHTO USCS/ASTM

Gravel (G) - - - -

Sand (S) 8.374 7.661 6.788 6.788

Silt (M) 50.042 50.755 51.628

93.212
Clay (C) 41.584 41.584 41.584

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

✓ Different soils with similar properties may be classified into groups and
subgroups according to their engineering behavior.

✓ Classification systems provide a common language to concisely express

the general characteristics of soils, which are infinitely varied, without
detailed descriptions. Most of the soil classification systems that have
been developed for engineering purposes are based on simple index
properties such as particle-size distribution and plasticity.

✓ Although several classification systems are now in use, none is totally

definitive of any soil for all possible applications because of the wide
diversity of soil properties.

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 SOIL CLASSIFICATION

In general, there are two major categories into which the classification
systems developed in the past can be grouped.

1. The textural classification is based on the particle-size distribution of the

percent of sand, silt, and clay-size fractions present in a given soil. We
will discuss the textural classification system developed by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA).

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

✓ In a general sense, texture of soil refers to its surface appearance.

✓ Soil texture is influenced by the size of the individual particles present in

it. Soils are divided into gravel, sand, silt, and clay categories on the
basis of particle size.

✓ In most cases, natural soils are mixtures of particles from several size
groups. In the textural classification system, the soils are named after
their principal components, such as sandy clay, silty clay, and so forth.

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

A number of textural classification

systems were developed in the past
by different organizations to serve
their needs, and several of those are
in use today. Figure 3-1 shows the
textural classification systems
developed by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA).

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

This classification method is based on the particle-size limits

as described under the USDA system in Table 1-3; that is
➢ 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

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

How to use the USDA textural classification system?

For example, if the particle size distribution of soil A shows

30% sand, 40% silt, and 30% clay-size particles, its textural
classification can be determined by proceeding in the manner:

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 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

Soil A particle-size distribution:

30% sand
40% silt
30% clay

This soil falls into the zone of

clay loam.

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 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

Note that this chart is based on only the fraction of soil that passes
through the No. 10 sieve. Hence, if the particle-size distribution of a soil is
such that a certain percentage of the soil particles is larger than 2 mm in
diameter, a correction will be necessary.

% 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅
𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒊𝒛𝒆 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝟏𝟎𝟎% − % 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍

% 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒕
𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝑺𝒊𝒛𝒆 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝟏𝟎𝟎% − % 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍

% 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒚
𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝑺𝒊𝒛𝒆 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝟏𝟎𝟎% − % 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

For example, if soil B has a particle-size distribution of 20%

gravel, 10% sand, 30% silt, and 40% clay, the modified textural
compositions are:

% 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝟏𝟎
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = × 100% = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟓%
100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐𝟎

% 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝟑𝟎
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = × 100% = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟑𝟕. 𝟓%
100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐𝟎

% 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝟒𝟎
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = × 100% = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎% = 𝟓𝟎. 𝟎%
100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙 𝟏𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐𝟎

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

Soil B particle-size distribution:

12.5% sand
37.5% silt 37.5%
50% clay

This soil falls into the zone of clay.

However, because of the large

percentage of gravel, it may be
called gravelly clay.

12.5%

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE 1

Classify the following soils according to the USDA textural

classification system

Particle-Size Soil
Distribution (%) A B C D
Gravel 12 0 18 12
Sand 22 15 31 25
Silt 26 30 30 32
Clay 40 55 21 31

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 Particle-Size Soil % 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = × 100%
Distribution (%) A B C D 100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙

Gravel 12 0 18 12 % 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑆𝑖𝑙𝑡 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = × 100%
Sand 22 15 31 25 100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙
Silt 26 30 30 32 % 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑆𝑖𝑧𝑒 = × 100%
Clay 40 55 21 31 100% − % 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑙

Modified Particle-Size Distribution Table

Particle-Size Soil
Distribution (%) A B C D
Sand 25 15 37.80 28.41
Silt 29.55 30 36.59 36.36
Clay 45.45 55 25.61 35.23

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 Modified Particle-Size Distribution Table
Particle-Size Soil
Distribution (%) A B C D
Sand 25 15 37.80 28.41
Silt 29.55 30 36.59 36.36
Clay 45.45 55 25.61 35.23

Answers:
Soil A is Gravelly Clay
Soil B is Clay
Soil C is Gravelly Loam
Soil D is Gravelly Clay Loam

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

✓ Although the textural classification of soil is relatively simple, it

is based entirely on the particle-size distribution. The
amount and type of clay minerals present in fine-grained soils
dictate to a great extent their physical properties.

✓ Hence, the soils engineer must consider plasticity, which

results from the presence of clay minerals, to interpret soil
characteristics properly. Because textural classification
systems do not take plasticity into account and are not totally
indicative of many important soil properties, they are
inadequate for most engineering purposes.

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TEXTURAL
CLASSIFICATION

✓ Currently, two more elaborate classification systems are

commonly used by soils engineers. Both systems take into
consideration the particle-size distribution and Atterberg
limits.

✓ They are the American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials (AASHTO) classification system
and the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS).

✓ The AASHTO classification system is used mostly by state and

country highway departments. Geotechnical engineers
generally prefer the Unified system.

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 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

The AASHTO system of soil

classification was developed in 1929 as
the Public Road Administration
classification system. It has
undergone several revisions, with the
present version proposed by the
Committee on Classification of Materials
for Subgrades and Granular Type
Roads of the Highway Research Board
in 1945 (ASTM designation D-3282;
AASHTO method M145).

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 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

✓ According to this system, soil is classified into seven major

groups: A-1 through A-7.

✓ Soils classified under groups A-1, A-2, and A-3 are granular
materials of which 35% or less of the particles pass through
the No. 200 sieve.

✓ Soils of which more than 35% pass through the No. 200
sieve are classified under groups A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7.
These soils are mostly silt and clay-type materials.

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 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

This classification system is based on the following criteria:

1. GRAIN SIZE
a. Gravel: fraction passing the 75-mm (3-in.) sieve and
retained on the No. 10 (2-mm) sieve
b. Sand: fraction passing the No. 10 (2-mm) sieve and
retained on the No. 200 (0.075-mm) sieve
c. Silt and clay: fraction passing the No. 200 sieve

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 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

This classification system is based on the following criteria:

2. PLASTICITY. The term silty is applied when the fine fractions

of the soil have a plasticity index of 10 or less. The term
clayey is applied when the fine fractions have a plasticity
index of 11 or more.

3. EXCLUSION OF COURSE GRAINS. If cobbles and boulders

(size larger than 75 mm) are encountered, they are excluded
from the portion of the soil sample from which classification is
made. However, the percentage of such material is recorded.

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 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

To classify a soil according to the

table, one must apply the test data
from left to right. By process of
elimination, the first group from the
left into which the test data fit is
the correct classification.

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 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

This figure shows a plot of

the range of the liquid limit
and the plasticity index for
soils that fall into groups A-
2, A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7.

Note: After determining the

soil group, then determine the
group index (GI).

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 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

✓ To evaluate the quality of a soil as a highway subgrade material, one must

also incorporate a number called the group index (GI) with the groups and
subgroups of the soil.
✓ This index is written in parentheses after the group or subgroup designation.
✓ The group index is given by the equation:

𝑮𝑰 = 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓 𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎

where:
𝐹200 = Percentage passing through the No. 200 sieve
𝐿𝐿 = Liquid Limit
𝑃𝐼 = Plasticity Index

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 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Following are some rules for determining the group index:

✓ If the previous equation yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.

✓ The group index calculated from the previous equation 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).
✓ There is no upper limit for the group index.
✓ 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.
✓ When calculating the group index for soils that belong to groups A-2-6
and A-2-7, use the partial group index for PI, or 𝑮𝑰 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏ሺ𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 −
𝟏𝟓ሻ 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎 .

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil are as follows:

Percent passing the No. 10 sieve = 42

Percent passing the No. 40 sieve = 35
Percent passing the No. 200 sieve = 20

The liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil are 25 and 20,
respectively. Classify the soil by the AASHTO system.

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 Given:
%Passing No. 10 = 42%
%Passing No. 40 = 35%
%Passing No. 200 = 20%
LL = 25%
PI = 20%

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 GROUP INDEX

𝑮𝑰 = 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓 𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎

Following are some rules for determining the group index:

✓ If the previous equation yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.

✓ The group index calculated from the previous equation 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).
✓ There is no upper limit for the group index.
✓ 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.
✓ When calculating the group index for soils that belong to groups A-2-6
and A-2-7, use the partial group index for PI, or 𝑮𝑰 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏ሺ𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 −
𝟏𝟓ሻ 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎 .

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil are as follows:

Percent passing the No. 10 sieve = 42

Percent passing the No. 40 sieve = 35
Percent passing the No. 200 sieve = 20

The liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil are 25 and 20,
respectively. Classify the soil by the AASHTO system.

ANSWER:
A-1-b (0)

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 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

Ninety-five percent of a soil passes through the No. 200 sieve

and has a liquid limit of 60 and plasticity index of 40. Classify
the soil by the AASHTO system.

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 Given:
%Passing No. 200 = 95%
LL = 60%
PI = 40%

LL – 30 = 30
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 GROUP INDEX

𝑮𝑰 = 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓 𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎

Following are some rules for determining the group index:

✓ If the previous equation yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.

✓ The group index calculated from the previous equation 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).
✓ There is no upper limit for the group index.
✓ 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.
✓ When calculating the group index for soils that belong to groups A-2-6
and A-2-7, use the partial group index for PI, or 𝑮𝑰 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏ሺ𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 −
𝟏𝟓ሻ 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎 .

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 GROUP INDEX

𝑮𝑰 = 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓 𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎

Given:
%Passing No. 200 = 95%
LL = 60%
PI = 40%

𝐺𝐼 = 95 − 35 0.2 + 0.005 60 − 40 + 0.01 95 − 15 40 − 10

𝑮𝑰 = 𝟒𝟐

ANSWER:
A-7-6 (42)

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 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

Classify the soil given below according to the AASHTO

Classification System. The results of the particle-size analysis
of a soil are as follows:

Percent passing through the No. 10 sieve = 100

Percent passing through the No. 40 sieve = 80
Percent passing through the No. 200 sieve = 58

The soil has liquid limit of 30% and plasticity index of 10%.

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 Given:
%Passing No. 200 = 58%
LL = 30%
PI = 10%

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 GROUP INDEX

𝑮𝑰 = 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓 𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎

Following are some rules for determining the group index:

✓ If the previous equation yields a negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.

✓ The group index calculated from the previous equation 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).
✓ There is no upper limit for the group index.
✓ 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.
✓ When calculating the group index for soils that belong to groups A-2-6
and A-2-7, use the partial group index for PI, or 𝑮𝑰 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏ሺ𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 −
𝟏𝟓ሻ 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎 .

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 GROUP INDEX

𝑮𝑰 = 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓 𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝑳𝑳 − 𝟒𝟎 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝑭𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓 𝑷𝑰 − 𝟏𝟎

Given:
%Passing No. 200 = 58%
LL = 30%
PI = 10%

𝐺𝐼 = 58 − 35 0.2 + 0.005 30 − 40 + 0.01 58 − 15 10 − 10

𝑮𝑰 = 𝟑. 𝟒𝟓

ANSWER:
A-4 (4)

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 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 UNIFIED SOIL
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

✓ The original form of this system was proposed by Casagrande

in 1942 for use in the airfield construction works undertaken by
the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. In
cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, this system
was revised in 1952.

✓ At present, it is used widely by engineers (ASTM Test

Designation D-2487).

✓ The Unified classification system is presented in the table 5-2.

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 TABLE 5-2

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TABLE 5-3

(-43.53, -46.38)

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 UNIFIED SOIL
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

This system classifies soils into two broad categories:

✓ COARSE-GRAINED SOILS that are gravelly and sandy in

nature with less than 50% passing through the No. 200
sieve. The group symbols start with a prefix of G or S. G
stands for gravel or gravelly soil, and S for sand or sandy soil.

✓ FINE-GRAINED SOILS are with 50% or more passing

through the No. 200 sieve. The group symbols start with
prefixes of M, which stands for inorganic silt, C for inorganic
clay, or O for organic silts and clays. The symbol Pt is used for
peat, muck, and other highly organic soils.

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 UNIFIED SOIL
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Other symbols used for the classification are:

W Well graded
P Poorly graded
L Low plasticity (liquid limit less than 50)
H High plasticity (liquid limit more than 50)

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 UNIFIED SOIL
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

✓ The group symbols for coarse-grained gravelly soils are GW,

GP, GM, GC, GCGM, GW-GM, GW-GC, GP-GM, and GP-GC.

✓ Similarly, the group symbols for fine-grained soils are CL, ML,
OL, CH, MH, OH, CL-ML, and Pt.

✓ More recently, ASTM designation D-2487 created an elaborate

system to assign group names to soils.

✓ These names are summarized in Figures 5-4, 5-5, and 5-6.

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 FIGURE 5-4.
Flowchart group
names for gravelly
and sandy soil

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 FIGURE 5-5. Flowchart group names for inorganic silty and clayey soils

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 FIGURE 5-6. Flowchart group names for organic silty and clayey soils

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 UNIFIED SOIL
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

In using these figures, one needs to remember COURSE

that, in a given soil, FRACTION
(No. 4)

➢ Fine fraction = %Passing No. 200 sieve

➢ Coarse fraction = %Retained on No. 200 sieve
(No. 200)
➢ Gravel fraction (%Gravel) = %Retained on No.
4 sieve
➢ Sand fraction (%Sand) = (%Retained on No.
FINE
200) – (%Retained on No. 4) FRACTION

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 EXAMPLE

The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil are as follows:

Percent passing through the No. 10 sieve = 100

Percent passing through the No. 40 sieve = 80
Percent passing through the No. 200 sieve = 58

The soil has liquid limit of 30% and plasticity index of 10%.
Classify the soil by the Unified Soil Classification System.

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TABLE 3-2

Given:
%Passing No. 200 = 58%
LL = 30%
PI = 10%

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 TABLE 3-3 (Figure 5.3)

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TABLE 3-2

Given:
%Passing No. 200 = 58%
LL = 30%
PI = 10%

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 FIGURE 5-4.
Flowchart group
names for gravelly
and sandy soil

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 FIGURE 5-5. Flowchart group names for inorganic silty and clayey soils

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 FIGURE 5-5. Flowchart group names for inorganic silty and clayey soils

Note: The term “plus No. 200 sieve” is equal to percent retained on No. 200 sieve

Given:
%passing No. 10 = 100
%passing No. 40 = 80
%passing No. 200 = 58

Plus No. 200 = 100% - 58% = 42%

%Gravel = %Retained on No. 4 sieve = 0%

%Sand = (%Retained on No. 200) – (%Retained on No. 4)
%Sand = (100% – 58%) – (0%) = 42%

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

The results of the particle-size analysis of a soil are as follows:

Percent passing through the No. 10 sieve = 100

Percent passing through the No. 40 sieve = 80
Percent passing through the No. 200 sieve = 58

The soil has liquid limit of 30% and plasticity index of 10%.
Classify the soil by the Unified Soil Classification System.

ANSWER:
Sandy lean clay

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 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

For a given soil, the following are known:

Percent passing through No. 4 sieve = 70

Percent passing through No. 200 sieve = 30
Liquid limit = 33
Plastic limit = 12

Classify the soil using the Unified Soil Classification

System. Give the group symbol and the group name.

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 TABLE 5-2

Given:
%Passing No. 4 = 70%
%Passing No. 200 = 30%
LL = 33%
PL = 12% , PI = LL – PL = 33 – 12 = 21%

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 TABLE 3-3 (Figure 5.3)

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TABLE 5-2

Given:
%Passing No. 4 = 70%
%Passing No. 200 = 30%
LL = 33%
PL = 12% , PI = LL – PL = 33 – 12 = 21%

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 FIGURE 5-4.
Flowchart group
names for gravelly
and sandy soil

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 Given:
%Passing No. 4 = 70%
%Passing No. 200 = 30%
LL = 33%
PL = 12%
PI = LL – PL = 33 – 12 = 21%

%Gravel = %Retained on No. 4 sieve = 100% - 70% = 30%

ANSWER:
Group Symbol: SC
Group Name: Clayey sand with gravel

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 EXAMPLE

Figure 3-9 gives the grain-size distribution of

two soils. The liquid and plastic limits of minus
No. 40 sieve fraction of the soil are as follows:

Soil A Soil B
Liquid Limit 30 26
Plastic Limit 22 20

Determine the group symbols and group names

according to the Unified Soil Classification
System.
Figure 3-9. Particle-size distribution of two soils

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 Soil A Soil B
Liquid Limit 30 26
Plastic Limit 22 20

SOIL A:
%Passing No. 200 = 8%
Liquid Limit = 30%
PI = LL – PL = 8%

Figure 3-9. Particle-size distribution of two soils

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 TABLE 5-2

SOIL A:
%Passing No. 200 = 8%
Liquid Limit = 30%
PI = LL – PL = 8%
%Passing No. 4 = 100%

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 Soil A Soil B
Liquid Limit 30 26
Plastic Limit 22 20

D10 = 0.085 mm
D30 = 0.12 mm
D60 = 0.135 mm

𝑫𝟔𝟎 0.135
𝑪𝒖 = = = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟗
𝑫𝟏𝟎 0.085

𝑫𝟑𝟎 𝟐 0.12 2
𝑪𝒄 = = = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓
𝑫𝟔𝟎 ∙ 𝑫𝟏𝟎 0.135 ∙ 0.085
Figure 3-9. Particle-size distribution of two soils

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 TABLE 5-2

SOIL A:
PI = LL – PL = 8%
Liquid Limit = 30%
Cu = 1.59
Cc = 1.25

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 TABLE 3-3 (Figure 5.3)

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 TABLE 5-2

SOIL A:
PI = LL – PL = 8%
Cu = 1.59
Cc = 1.25

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 FIGURE 5-4.
Flowchart group
names for gravelly
and sandy soil

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 Given:
%Passing No. 4 = 100%
%Passing No. 200 = 8%

%Gravel = %Retained on No. 4 sieve = 100% - 100% = 0%

ANSWER:
Group Symbol: SP-SC
Group Name: Poorly graded sand with clay (or silty clay)

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 Soil A Soil B
Liquid Limit 30 26
Plastic Limit 22 20

SOIL B:
%Passing No. 200 = 61%
Liquid Limit = 26%
PI = LL – PL = 6%

Figure 3-9. Particle-size distribution of two soils

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 TABLE 5-2

SOIL B:
%Passing No. 200 = 61%
Liquid Limit = 26%
PI = LL – PL = 6%

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 TABLE 3-3 (Figure 5.3)

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 FIGURE 5-4.
Flowchart group
names for gravelly
and sandy soil

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 FIGURE 5-5. Flowchart group names for inorganic silty and clayey soils

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering

 FIGURE 5-5. Flowchart group names for inorganic silty and clayey soils

Note: The term “plus No. 200 sieve” is equal to percent retained on No. 200 sieve
Given:
%passing No. 10 = 100
%passing No. 200 = 61

Plus No. 200 = 100% - 61% = 39%

%Gravel = %Retained on No. 4 sieve = 0%

%Sand = (%Retained on No. 200) – (%Retained on No. 4)
%Sand = (100% – 61%) – (0%) = 39%

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 Soil A Soil B
Liquid Limit 30 26
Plastic Limit 22 20

SOIL A:
Group Symbol: SP-SC
Group Name: Poorly graded
sand with clay (or silty clay)

SOIL B:
Group Symbol: CL-ML
Group Name: Sandy silty clay
Figure 3-9. Particle-size distribution of two soils

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 QUESTION?

College of Engineering and Architecture Department of Civil Engineering