Engineering Classification

of Soil
Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe the soil classification

systems in general.
2. Determine and classify the soils
using USCS and AASHTO soil
classification systems.
 Engineering Classification of
Soil

Textural
Classification - USDA
USCS Geotechnical engineers
AASHTO Classification state highway
dept.
Engineering Classification of
Soil
USDA ex. Silty clay, Sandy clay loam

USCS ex. SP-SC poorly graded sand

with clay, CL-ML sandy silty clay

AASHTO ex. A-1-b(0), A-7-5(33)

Engineering Classification of Soil
USDA

Textural Classification
Point A (60% clay,
30% silt and 10%
sand)
Engineering Classification of Soil
USCS (Unified Soil Classification
System)
To use this system, few parameters must be
known:
Grain size distribution (to know % of gravel, sand,
silt, and clay)
Liquid limit, LL
Plasticity Index, Ip
Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of
gradation (Cc)
With these info, we use table/flow chart and
graph to classify soil sample
Engineering Classification of Soil -
USCS

Experimental results from soils tested

from different parts of the world were
plotted on a graph of plasticity index vs
liquid limit Fig 4.2.
The A-line is defined by the equation:
Ip = 0.73 (WLL 20)%
It is a boundary between clay and silt
Engineering Classification of Soil -
USCS
Engineering Classification of Soil -
USCS

The U-line is defined by the equation:

Ip = 0.9 (WLL 8)%
It defines the upper limit of correlation
between plasticity index and liquid limit
If the results of soil test fall above the U-
line, tests should be repeated.
 USCS
The classification will first produce Group
Symbol (GW, GP etc.) and is based on:
Gravel fraction = % passing the 76.2mm
sieve and retained above No 4 (4.75mm)
sieve = R4
Coarse fraction = % passing No 4 and
retained above no 200 (0.075mm) sieve =
100 F200= R200
Fine fraction = % passing No 200 = F200
Cu and Cc
Liquid Limit and Plasticity Index
 USCS
ASTM designates Group Name in
addition to the Group Symbol.
Classification is based on the amount of:
Fine fraction = % passing No 200 = F200
Coarse fraction = % retained on no 200
(0.075mm) sieve = R200
Gravel fraction = % retained on No 4
(4.75mm) sieve = R4
Sand Fraction = (% retained on No. 200
sieve) (% retained on No. 4 sieve)
Engineering Classification of Soil -
USCS
USCS uses symbols for particle size
groups
Particle Size Gradation
Plasticity Others
Group Characteristics
G Gravel O
W Well graded H High Organic
S Sand material
M Silt
P Poorly Graded L - Low PT - Peat
C - Clay
 USCS
Coarse grained soils gravelly and
sandy in nature
> 50% retained No 200 (0.075) sieve
Group symbols G or S
G gravel or gravelly soil
S sand or sandy soil
 USCS
Fine grained soils 50% or more
passing No 200 sieve
Group symbols M, C or O, Pt
M inorganic silt
C inorganic clay
O organic silt and clay
Pt peat, muck, other highly organic
soils
 USCS
Additional symbols used for the USCS
classification:
W well-graded
P poorly graded
L low plasticity (liquid limit < 50)
H high plasticity (liquid limit > 50)
USCS
USCS
USCS
USCS
 Example-USCS
Soil A Soil B

LL 30 26
PL 22 20

Determine the group

symbols and group
name according to
USCS
Example-USCS

Soil Soil
A B
LL 30 26
PL 22 20
Engineering Classification of Soil -
AASHTO
American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
Classification (Table 5.1)
The classification system is based on these
criteria:
Grain size
Plasticity Index BS 60-200 mm BS >200 mm
ASTM 75-350 mm ASTM >350 mm
Liquid Limit
For cobbles and boulders excluded from
classification
Engineering Classification of Soil-
AASHTO

American Association of State Highway

and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
Classification (Table 5.1, Das 2010)
Soil is classified into 7 major groups:
A1-A7.
35% or < passing No. 200 sieve: A1-A3:
Granular materials
35% or > passing No. 200 sieve: A4-A7:
silt and clay type materials.
 Engineering Classification of Soil-
AASHTO
Grain size
1. Granular materials
Less than 35% passes No 200
sieve
Gravel (A1-A3)
Passes 75mm(2 in)
sieve
Retained on
No.10(2mm) sieve
Sand (A1-A3)
Retained on No
200(0.075mm) sieve
Passes No 10 (2mm)
sieve
2. Silt & Clay (A4-A7)
More than 35% passes
No 200 (0.075mm) sieve
 Engineering Classification of Soil-
AASHTO

Plasticity
For fractions passing No 40 (0.425mm)
sieve with plasticity index, Ip:
Ip= 10 or less silty
Ip = 11 or more clayey
Cobbles or boulders excluded from
classification percentage is recorded.
Engineering Classification of Soil-
AASHTO

To classify a soil using Table 5.1 test

data is applied from left to right
By elimination, the first group from left
which the data fits is the correct
classification.
Figure 5.1 shows a plot of range of the
liquid limit and plasticity index for soils
of group A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6 and A-7
 Engineering Classification of Soil-
AASHTO

Classification is conclude in Group Index, GI

= (F200-35)[0.2+0.005(LL-40)] +
0.01(F200-15)(PI-10)
F200 - % passing No 200 sieve
(F200-35)[0.2+0.005(LL-40)] partial GI
determine from LL
0.01(F200-15)(PI-10) partial GI determine from
PI
Engineering Classification of Soil-
AASHTO

Rules in determining the group index:

If the eq gives a ve value for GI, we use 0
Value for GI is rounded to the nearest
whole number
The is no upper limit for GI
GI for soils in groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4,
A-2-5 and A-3 is always 0
When calculating the GI for groups A-2-6 &
A-2-7, use the partial group index for PI
GI = 0.01(F200-15)(PI-10)
Example - AASHTO