GEOLOGY FOR CIVIL
ENGINEERS
Module 7
SOIL CLASSIFICATION
07
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.
● We arrange the soils into different groups such that the soils in a
particular group have similar behavior. This arranging of soils is called
classification system of soils.
● Generally, we classify soils as cohesionless and cohesive or coarse-
grained and fine-grained. But these terms are too general and they
certainly do not classify a soil when it is a mixture of different soil grains
in different proportions.
● Soil grain has a great influence on the behavior of soils. So, most
classification methods use particle size as basis to classify the soils in the
group.
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. In this
chapter, we will discuss the textural classification system developed by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
2. The other major category is based on the engineering behavior of soil
and takes into consideration the particle-size distribution and the
plasticity (i.e., liquid limit and plasticity index). Under this category, there
are two major classification systems in extensive use now:
a. The AASHTO classification system, and
b. The Unified classification system.
SOIL CASSIFICATION
SYSTEMS
USDA Soil Classification Chart
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
USDA SOIL
Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly hot—even hotter than
Mercury—and its atmosphere is extremely
poisonous. It’s the second-brightest natural object in
the night sky after the Moon
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
A soil has the following particle-size distribution:
Gravel = 12%, Sand = 18%, Silt = 35%, Clay = 35%
Classify the soil according to the USDA’s Textural Classification.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
A soil has the following particle-size distribution:
Gravel = 20%, Sand = 8%, Silt = 48%, Clay = 24%
Classify the soil according to the USDA’s Textural Classification.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
A soil has the following particle-size distribution:
Gravel = 0%, Sand = 23%, Silt = 42%, Clay = 35%
Classify the soil according to the USDA’s Textural Classification.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
A soil has the following particle-size distribution:
Gravel = 10%, Sand = 30%, Silt = 40%, Clay = 20%
Classify the soil according to the USDA’s Textural Classification.
AASHTO Soil Classification Chart
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
AASHTO SOIL
Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly hot—even hotter than
Mercury—and its atmosphere is extremely
poisonous. It’s the second-brightest natural object in
the night sky after the Moon
AASHTO Soil Classification Chart
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
AASHTO SOIL
Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly hot—even hotter than
Mercury—and its atmosphere is extremely
poisonous. It’s the second-brightest natural object in
the night sky after the Moon
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5 - 8
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Let’s classify these soils according to AASHTO’s Classification System.
Description Soil A Soil B Soil C Soil D
Percent finer than No. 10 Sieve 100 95 88 94
Percent finer than No. 40 Sieve 80 - 75 89
Percent finer than No. 200 Sieve 58 - 34 60
Liquid Limit 30 60 39 45
Plasticity Index 10 40 12 23
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5 - 8
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Let’s classify these soils according to AASHTO’s Classification System.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 5 - 8
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Let’s classify these soils according to AASHTO’s Classification System.
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
USCS SOIL
This system classifies soils into two broad categories:
● Coarse-grained soils - gravelly and sandy in nature; less than 50% passing
through the No. 200 Sieve
● Fine-grained soils - soils with 50% or more passing through the No. 200 Sieve
Other symbols are used for this classification:
W – well graded
P – poorly graded
L – low plasticity (LL<50)
H – high plasticity (LL>50)
Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly hot—even hotter than
Mercury—and its atmosphere is extremely
poisonous. It’s the second-brightest natural object in
the night sky after the Moon
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
USCS SOIL
Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly hot—even hotter than
Mercury—and its atmosphere is extremely
poisonous. It’s the second-brightest natural object in
the night sky after the Moon
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
USCS SOIL
Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly hot—even hotter than
Mercury—and its atmosphere is extremely
poisonous. It’s the second-brightest natural object in
the night sky after the Moon
USCS Soil Classification Chart
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
USCS SOIL
Venus has a beautiful name and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly hot—even hotter than
Mercury—and its atmosphere is extremely
poisonous. It’s the second-brightest natural object in
the night sky after the Moon
SAMPLE PROBLEM 9
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Classify the soil according to the USCS.
Percent passing No. 10 Sieve = 100
Percent passing No. 40 Sieve = 80
Percent passing No. 200 Sieve = 58
Liquid Limit = 30
Plasticity Index = 10
SAMPLE PROBLEM 10
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Classify the soil according to the USCS.
Percent passing No. 4 Sieve = 70
Percent passing No. 200 Sieve = 30
Liquid Limit = 33
Plasticity Index = 12
SAMPLE PROBLEM 11
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Classify the soil according to the USCS.
Percent passing No. 10 Sieve = 42
Percent passing No. 40 Sieve = 35
Percent passing No. 200 Sieve = 20
Liquid Limit = 35
Plasticity Index = 10
THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING!!!
