CLASSIFICATION OF

SOIL
OBJECTIVES:

✓ Recognize the different methods used

in the classification of soil.

✓ Identify the type of soil using the

different classification system.

✓ Know how to classify soil

✓ Solved problems involving the

Classification of soil.
Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL: INTRODUCTION
Classification systems
provide a common language SOIL
to concisely express the
general characteristics of CLASSIFICATION
soils, which are infinitely
varied, without detailed
descriptions.

Classification
Textural
by Engineering
Classification
behavior

U.S Department of AASHTO Unified Soil

agriculture (USDA) Classification Classification
Classification System System (USCS)
System

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
 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
CLASSIFICATION Sand size:
USDA
2.0 to 0.05 mm in diameter
METHOD
Silt size:
TEXTURAL

0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter

Clay size:
smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter

In the textural classification system, the

soils are named after their principal
components, such as sandy clay, silty clay,
and so forth.

Textural classification systems developed

by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA). This classification method is
based on the particle-size limits as 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒: 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔, 4𝑡ℎ 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑗𝑎 𝑀. 𝐷𝑎𝑠
described under the USDA system Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
Classify the following soils according SOIL A:
to USDA textural classification system.
Particle-size SOIL Gravelly clay loam
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Gravel 10 21 0 12
Sand 20 12 18 22
Silt 41 35 24 26
Clay 29 32 58 40

Modified % of sand, silt and clay

Particle-size SOIL
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Sand 22.2 15.2 18 25
Silt 45.6 44.3 24 29.5
Clay 32.2 40.5 58 45.5
%sand
Modified % sand = x 100
100 − %gravel
%silt
Modified % silt = x 100
100 − %gravel
%clay
Modified % clay = x 100
100 − %gravel

USDA
SAMPLE PROBLEM SOLVING:
Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
method
Classify the following soils according SOIL B:
to USDA textural classification system.
Particle-size SOIL
Gravelly Silty Clay
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Gravel 10 21 0 12
Sand 20 12 18 22
Silt 41 35 24 26
Clay 29 32 58 40

Modified % of sand, silt and clay

Particle-size SOIL
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Sand 22.2 15.2 18 25
Silt 45.6 44.3 24 29.5
Clay 32.2 40.5 58 45.5
%sand
Modified % sand = x 100
100 − %gravel
%silt
Modified % silt = x 100
100 − %gravel
%clay
Modified % clay = x 100
100 − %gravel

USDA
SAMPLE PROBLEM SOLVING:
Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
method
Classify the following soils according SOIL C:
to USDA textural classification system.
Particle-size SOIL
Clay
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Gravel 10 21 0 12
Sand 20 12 18 22
Silt 41 35 24 26
Clay 29 32 58 40

Modified % of sand, silt and clay

Particle-size SOIL
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Sand 22.2 15.2 18 25
Silt 45.6 44.3 24 29.5
Clay 32.2 40.5 58 45.5
%sand
Modified % sand = x 100
100 − %gravel
%silt
Modified % silt = x 100
100 − %gravel
%clay
Modified % clay = x 100
100 − %gravel

USDA
SAMPLE PROBLEM SOLVING: Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT) method
Classify the following soils according SOIL D:
to USDA textural classification system.
Particle-size SOIL
Gravelly Clay
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Gravel 10 21 0 12
Sand 20 12 18 22
Silt 41 35 24 26
Clay 29 32 58 40

Modified % of sand, silt and clay

Particle-size SOIL
distribution
A B C D
(%)
Sand 22.2 15.2 18 25
Silt 45.6 44.3 24 29.5
Clay 32.2 40.5 58 45.5
%sand
Modified % sand = x 100
100 − %gravel
%silt
Modified % silt = x 100
100 − %gravel
%clay
Modified % clay = x 100
100 − %gravel

USDA
SAMPLE PROBLEM SOLVING:
Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
method
Classify the soil according to USDA textural
classification system.
PROBLEM 1 Opening (mm) % Finer
4.75 100
2 94.51
0.850 86.28
0.150 9.33
0.050 1.00
0.002 0.65
USDA
STUDENT ACTIVITY method
Classify the soil according to USDA textural
classification system.
PROBLEM 2 Opening (mm) % Finer
2.00 100
0.075 70
0.050 65
0.005 32
0.002 15
USDA
STUDENT ACTIVITY method
Classify the soil according to USDA textural
classification system.
PROBLEM 3
Particle-size distribution SOIL
(% Finer) A B
Gravel 20 0
Sand 8 17
Silt 48 57
Clay 24 26
USDA
STUDENT ACTIVITY method
 AASHTO
CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM
AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM The AASHTO system of soil classification was developed
in 1929.

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. Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM This classification system is based on the ff. criteria:
Gravel: fraction passing the 75-mm (3-in.) sieve and
retained on the No. 10 (2-mm) U.S. sieve

GRAIN SIZE Sand: fraction passing the No. 10 (2-mm) U.S. sieve and
retained on the No. 200 (0.075-mm) U.S. sieve

Silt and clay: fraction passing the No. 200 U.S. sieve

The term silty is applied when the fine fractions of the soil
PLASTICITY 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
(size larger than 75 mm) are encountered, they are excluded
BOULDERS
& from the portion of the soil sample from which classification
COBBLES is made. However, the percentage of such material is
recorded. Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒: 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔, 4𝑡ℎ 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑗𝑎 𝑀. 𝐷𝑎𝑠

AASHTO CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Plot of the range of the liquid limit and the plasticity index or
soil that fall into group A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-
𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒: 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔, 4𝑡ℎ 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑗𝑎 𝑀. 𝐷𝑎𝑠 CEIT)
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)
𝐆𝐈 = (𝐅₂₀₀ − 𝟑𝟓)[𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝐋𝐋 − 𝟒𝟎)] + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝐅₂₀₀ − 𝟏𝟓)(𝐏𝐈 − 𝟏𝟎)

✓A negative value for GI is taken as 0.

✓The group index calculated is rounded off to the nearest whole
number
Ex: GI =3.4 then GI=3; GI =3.5 then GI=4
✓The group index of soil/s belonging to group/s 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
use equation:
𝐆𝐈 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝐅₂₀₀ − 𝟏𝟓)(𝐏𝐈 − 𝟏𝟎) Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-
CEIT)
 Sample Problem:
Classify the following soils according to AASHTO
SOIL % passing
Sieve No. Dia. (mm)
A B
10 2 100
40 0.425 80
200 0.075 58 95
Liquid Limit 0.250 30 60
Plasticity index 0.150 10 40

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
 Sample Problem Solution:
SOIL A: Since 58% passed No. 200, it falls under Silt-Clay materials

𝐆𝐈 = (𝐅^𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓)[𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝐋𝐋 − 𝟒𝟎)] + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝐅^𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓)(𝐏𝐈 − 𝟏𝟎)

𝐆𝐈 = (𝟓𝟖 − 𝟑𝟓)[𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝟑𝟎 − 𝟒𝟎)] + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝟓𝟖 − 𝟏𝟓)(𝟏𝟎 − 𝟏𝟎) 𝐀 − 𝟒 (𝟑)
𝐆𝐈 = 𝟑. 𝟒𝟓 ≃ 𝟑
Prepared by:
 Sample Problem Solution:
SOIL B: Since 95% passed No. 200, it falls under Silt-Clay materials

PI = 40 > LL - 30

𝐆𝐈 = (𝐅^𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟑𝟓)[𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝐋𝐋 − 𝟒𝟎)] + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝐅^𝟐𝟎𝟎 − 𝟏𝟓)(𝐏𝐈 − 𝟏𝟎)

𝐆𝐈 = (𝟗𝟓 − 𝟑𝟓)[𝟎. 𝟐 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟓(𝟔𝟎 − 𝟒𝟎)] + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏(𝟗𝟓 − 𝟏𝟓)(𝟒𝟎 − 𝟏𝟎)
𝐆𝐈 = 𝟒𝟐
Prepared by:
𝐀 − 𝟕 − 𝟔 (𝟒𝟐)
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
EXERCISE: Classify the following soils according to AASHTO
SOIL % passing
Sieve No. Dia. (mm)
A B
4 4.75 100 100
10 2 92 98
20 0.850 87 92
40 0.425 53 84
60 0.250 42 79
100 0.150 26 70
200 0.075 17 63
LL 35 47
PL 20 24
Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
 ASSESSMENT:
Classify the following soils according to AASHTO
ATTERBERG LIMITS SIEVE NUMBER ( % passing) SOIL CLASSIFICATION
SOIL
W (%) LL PL #4 #10 #20 #40 #60 #200 PI GROUP Classification GI

A 22.95 51 22 94 62 35 25 7 4
B 25.15 55 31 100 99 99 97
C 35.85 62 37 99 53 38 29 16 2
D 47.61 70 39 90 50 31 26 15 5
E 21.38 72 24 92 63 41 27 18 1
F 49.87 47 35 100 99 98 97 95
G 33.51 68 30 96 57 45 21 15 3
H 39.09 55 28 90 53 39 21 18 0
I 43.91 44 29 100 99 99 98 97
J 46.24 47 28 98 52 30 23 18 2
 UNIFIED SOIL
CLASSIFICATION
SYSTEM
 COARSE-GRAINED SOIL FINE-GRAINED SOIL
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

✓Gravelly and sandy in nature ✓Silty and Clayey in nature

✓Less than 50% passing through ✓50% or more passing through
No. 200 sieve. No. 200 sieve.
✓Group symbol : ✓Group symbol : Starts with M,
Start with G or S C, O Pt
G – gravel or gravelly soil M – Inorganic silt
S – Sand or sandy soil C – Inorganic clay
O – Organic silts and clays
Pt – peat and muck and other
highly organic soils
Other symbol for classification
W – Well graded P – Poorly graded
L – Low plasticity (LL<50) H – High plasticity (LL>50)
Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM For proper classification according to this system, some or all of
the following information must be known:

✓Percent of gravel—that is, the fraction passing the 76.2-mm sieve

and retained on the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening)

✓Percent of sand—that is, the fraction passing the No. 4 sieve

(4.75-mm opening) and retained on the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm
opening)

✓Percent of silt and clay—that is, the fraction finer than the No.
200 sieve (0.075-mm opening)

✓Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the coefficient of gradation (Cc)

✓Liquid limit and plasticity index of soil passing the No. 40 sieve
 The group symbols for coarse-grained gravelly soils:
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

➢ GW, GP, GM, GC, GC-GM, GW-GM, GW-GC, GP-GM,

and GP-GC.

The group symbols for fine-grained soils:

➢ CL, ML, OL, CH, MH, OH, CL-ML, and Pt.

❑FINE FRACTION: % passing through No. 200 sieve.

❑COARSE FRACTION: % retained on No. 200 sieve.
❑GRAVEL FRACTION: % retained on No. 4 sieve
❑SAND FRACTION: % retained on No. 200 - % passing on No. 4 sieve
Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Source: Fundamentals of
Geotechnical Engineering,
4th Edition by Braja M. Das
 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑐𝑒: 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔, 4𝑡ℎ 𝐸𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐵𝑟𝑎𝑗𝑎 𝑀. 𝐷𝑎𝑠
COMPARISON OF AASHTO AND USCS
Both soil classification systems, AASHTO and Unified, are based on the texture
and plasticity of soil. Also, both systems divide the soils into two major
categories, coarse grained and fine grained, as separated by the No. 200 sieve.

AASHTO USCS
✓ FINE GRAINED SOILS: ✓ FINE GRAINED SOILS:
More than 35% passes More than 50% passes
through the No. 200 sieve through the No. 200 sieve.
✓ No. 10 sieve is used to separate ✓ No. 4 sieve is used to separate
gravel from sand gravel from sand

✓ The gravelly and Sandy soils ✓ The gravelly and Sandy soils
are not separated. are clearly separated.
✓ Classification of organic soils is ✓ Classification of organic soils is
not provided or indicated. provided. Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
 Sample Problem:
Classify the following soils according to USCS
SOIL % passing
Sieve No. Dia. (mm)
A B
4 4.75 70
10 2 100
40 0.425 80
200 0.075 58 30
Liquid Limit 0.250 30 33
Plasticity index 0.150 10 12

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
Solution – SOIL A:

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
Solution – SOIL A:

✓GROUP SYMBOL : CL

✓GROUP NAME : SANDY LEAN CLAY

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
Solution – SOIL B:
 Solution – SOIL B:

✓GROUP SYMBOL : SC

✓GROUP NAME : CLAYEY SAND WITH GRAVEL

Prepared by:
Gine O. G. (KSU-CEIT)
 Sample Problem:
Classify the following soils according to USCS
SOIL A SOIL B
Liquid Limit 35 20
Plastic Limit 27 15
% passing No. 200 11 82
% retained No. 4 10 0
Soil A have the ff: D10 = 0.09 mm ∶ D30 = 0.12 mm ∶ D60 = 0.14 mm
Plasticity Index 8 5
Cu = D60/D10 1.556
Cc = D30^2 / (D60*D10) 1.142
SP-SC CL-ML
Soil Classification
Poorly graded sand with clay Sandy Silty Clay