CE12

GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING
(SOIL MECHANICS)
Soil Classification and Soil Taxonomy
CLASSSIFICATION OF SOIL
| 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.

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CLASSSIFICATION OF SOIL
| In general, there are two major categories into
which the classification systems developed in the
past can be grouped.
| 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. (USDA)

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CLASSSIFICATION OF SOIL
| In general, there are two major categories into which the
classification systems developed in the past can be grouped.
| 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
B. The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
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CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
ACCORDING TO USCS
Unified Soil Classification System
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM |
USCS
| 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).

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UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM |
USCS
| This system classifies soils into two broad
| USCS is a soil classification system categories:
used in engineering and geology to
1. Coarse-grained soils that are gravelly and
describe the texture and grain size sandy in nature with less than 50% passing
of soil. The classification system through the No. 200 sieve. The group symbols
can be applied to most start with a prefix of G or S. G stands for gravel
unconsolidated materials, and is or gravelly soil, and S for sand or sandy soil.
represented by a two letter symbol 2. 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.
The group symbols for coarse-grained gravely soils
are GW, GP, GM, GC, GC_GM, GW-GM, SW, SP, SC.
Similarly, the group symbols for fine-grained soils
are CL, ML, OL, CH, MH, OH, CL-ML.
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USCS | UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
For proper classification according to this
system, some or all of the following information
must be known:
1. Percent of gravel—that is, the fraction
passing the 76.2-mm sieve and retained on
the No. 4 sieve (4.75-mm opening)
2. 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)
3. Percent of silt and clay—that is, the fraction
finer than the No. 200 sieve (0.075-mm
opening)
4. Uniformity coefficient (Cu) and the
coefficient of gradation (Cc)
5. Liquid limit and plasticity index of the
portion of soil passing the No. 40 sieve

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Fine fraction = percent passing No. 200
sieve
Coarse fraction = percent retained on No.
200 sieve (Gravel and/or Sand)

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USCS | UNIFIED SOIL
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
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. In
using these figures, one needs to
remember that, in a given soil,
Fine fraction = percent passing No. 200
sieve
Coarse fraction = percent retained on No.
200 sieve
Gravel fraction = percent retained on No. 4
sieve
Sand fraction = (percent retained on No.
200 sieve) - (percent retained on No. 4
sieve)

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Percent retained on No. 200
Sieve = plus No. 200
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| The results of the particle-size analysis of 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 liquid limit and plasticity index of the minus No. 40
fraction of the soil are 30 and 10, respectively. Classify
the soil by the Unified classification system.
SOLUTION:

Refer to Table
5.2. Since 58% of
the soil passes
through the No.
200 sieve, it is
fine-grained soil.
SOLUTION:

Refer to Table
5.2. Since 58% of
the soil passes
through the No.
200 sieve, it is
fine-grained soil.

Referring to the
plasticity chart in
Figure 5.3, for LL
= 30
SOLUTION:

Refer to Table
5.2. Since 58% of
the soil passes
through the No.
200 sieve, it is
fine-grained soil.

Referring to the
plasticity chart in
Figure 5.3, for LL
= 30
and PI = 10,
SOLUTION:

Refer to Table
5.2. Since 58% of
the soil passes
through the No.
200 sieve, it is
fine-grained soil.

Referring to the
plasticity chart in
Figure 5.3, for LL
= 30
and PI = 10,
it can be
classified (group
symbol) as CL.
SOLUTION:

In order to determine the group

name, we refer to Figure 5.5 and
Figure 5.7, which are taken from
Figure 5.5.

percent of sand = (100 - 58) = 42.

The percent retained on the No. 200

sieve is more than 30%.
SOLUTION:

In order to determine the group

name, we refer to Figure 5.5 and
Figure 5.7, which are taken from
Figure 5.5.

percent of sand = (100 - 58) = 42.

The percent retained on the No. 200

sieve is more than 30%.

Percent of gravel = 0;
SOLUTION:

In order to determine the group

name, we refer to Figure 5.5 and
Figure 5.7, which are taken from
Figure 5.5.

percent of sand = (100 - 58) = 42.

The percent retained on the No. 200

sieve is more than 30%.

Percent of gravel = 0;

Hence, percent sand > percent

gravel. Also, the percent gravel is
less than 15%.

Therefore, the group name is sandy

lean clay.
| 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.
SOLUTION:
Refer to Table 5.2.
The percentage
passing No. 200
sieve is 30%, which
is less
than 50%. So it is a
coarse-grained soil.
Thus,
SOLUTION:
Refer to Table 5.2.
The percentage
passing No. 200
sieve is 30%, which
is less
than 50%. So it is a
coarse-grained soil.
Thus,

Coarse fraction =
100 - 30 = 70%
(retaind No.200)
%gravel = 100-
70=30
%sand=70-30=40

Hence, more than

50% of the coarse
fraction is passing
No. 4 sieve. Thus, it
is SANDS.
SOLUTION:
Refer to Table 5.2.
The percentage
passing No. 200
sieve is 30%, which
is less
than 50%. So it is a
coarse-grained soil.
Thus,

Coarse fraction =
100 - 30 = 70%
(retaind No.200)
%gravel = 100-
70=30
%sand=70-30=40

Hence, more than

50% of the coarse
fraction is passing
No. 4 sieve. Thus, it
is SANDS.

Since more than

12% is passing No.
200 sieve, it is SM
or SC.
SOLUTION:
Refer to Table 5.2.
The percentage
passing No. 200
sieve is 30%, which
is less
than 50%. So it is a
coarse-grained soil.
Thus,

Coarse fraction =
100 - 30 = 70%
(retaind No.200)
%gravel = 100-
70=30
%sand=70-30=40

Hence, more than

50% of the coarse
fraction is passing
No. 4 sieve. Thus, it
is SANDS.

Since more than

12% is passing No.
200 sieve, it is SM
or SC. For this soil,
PI = 33 - 12 = 21
(which is greater
than 7). With LL =
33 and PI = 21, it
plots above the A-
line in Figure 5.3.
Thus the group
symbol is SC.
SOLUTION:

For the group name, refer to Figure 5.4

and Figure 5.8 (which are taken from
Figure 5.4).
SOLUTION:

For the group name, refer to Figure 5.4

and Figure 5.8 (which are taken from
Figure 5.4).

% gravel = % retained on Sieve No. 4 = 30

SOLUTION:

For the group name, refer to Figure 5.4

and Figure 5.8 (which are taken from
Figure 5.4).

% gravel = % retained on Sieve No. 4 = 30

Since the percentage of gravel is more

than 15%, it is clayey sand with gravel.
THANK YOU.

20XX Pitch Deck 41