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Module III

The document outlines various soil classification systems including the USDA textural classification, Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), and AASHTO classification system. It details the particle size limits for different soil types, methods for sieve analysis, and parameters such as effective size, uniformity coefficient, and group index for evaluating soil quality. Additionally, it explains the significance of grading in soil classification and provides equations for calculating group index based on soil properties.

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Barosa Dexter
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4 views

Module III

The document outlines various soil classification systems including the USDA textural classification, Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), and AASHTO classification system. It details the particle size limits for different soil types, methods for sieve analysis, and parameters such as effective size, uniformity coefficient, and group index for evaluating soil quality. Additionally, it explains the significance of grading in soil classification and provides equations for calculating group index based on soil properties.

Uploaded by

Barosa Dexter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE III

CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL:

 TEXTURAL CLASSIFICATION: USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture)


In this classification system, the soils are named after their principal components, such as sandy
clay, silty clay, silty loam, and so on. There are a number of classification system developed by
different organizations. This method is based on the following limits of particle size:

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

 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS)


This system classifies soils into two broad categories:
1. 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 prefixes of either G or S. G for Grave or gravelly
soil, and S for sand or sandy soil.

2. Fine-grained soil with 50% or more passing through the No. 200 sieve. The groups symbol
start with prefixes of M, which stands for inorganic silt, C for inorganic clay, and O for organic
silts and clays. The symbol Pt is used for peat, muck, and other highly organic soils.
Other symbols used:
W – well-graded L – low plasticity (LL<50)
P – poorly graded H –high plasticity (LL>50)
 PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVE (SIEVE ANALYSIS)
Sieve analysis consists of shaking the soil sample through a set of sieves that have
progressively smaller openings. These sieves are generally 200 mm in diameter.

To conduct a sieve analysis, the soil is first oven-dried and then all lumps must be
broken into small particles. The soil is then shaken through s stack of sieves with
openings decreasing size from top to bottom. A pan is placed below the stack.

The particle-size distribution curve can be used to determine the following four
parameters for a given soil:

1. Effective Size D10 – is the diameter in the curve corresponding to 10% finer. The
effective size of a granular soil is a good measure to estimate the hydraulic conductivity
and drainage through soil.
2. Uniformity Coefficient, Cu

CU = D60/D10

Where: D60= diameter corresponding to 60% finer.


3. Coefficient of Gradation or Coefficient of Curvature, CC

CC = (D30)2/ (D60XD10)

Where: D30 = diameter corresponding to 30% finer.


4. Sorting Coefficient, So

So = √D75/D25

Where: D75 = diameter corresponding to 75% finer


D25 = diameter corresponding to 25% finer

The particle-size distribution curve shows not only the range of particle sizes present in the soil,
but also the type of distribution of various-size particles.

Poorly graded soil is one where most of the soil grains are the same size.

Well graded soil is one in which the particle sizes are distributed over a wide range. A well
graded soil has CU greater than about 4 for gravels and 6 for sands, and CC between 1 and 3 for
gravels and sands.

Gap graded soil is characterized by two or more humps in the grading curve.

The average grain size of the soil is D50.


 AASHTO (American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials)
CLASSIFICATION 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 are mostly silt and clay-type materials.
- To evaluate the quality of a soil as a highway subgrade material, one must also incorporate a
number called the group index with the groups and subgroup designation, example, A-7-
5(35)

GI = (F200 – 35)[(0.2+0.005(LL – 40)] + 0.01(F200 – 15)(PI – 10)

Where:
F200 = percentage passing No. 200 sieve
LL = Liquid Limit
PI = Plasticity Index
The first group of the equation is the partial group index determined from liquid
limit. The second term is the partial group index determined from plasticity index.

 If the equation yields negative value for GI, it is taken as Zero (0).
 GI calculated from the equation is rounded-off to the nearest whole number.
 There is no upper limit for GI.
 The GI of soils belonging to groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is always
zero.
 When calculating the GI for soils that belong to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7 use the
partial GI for PI, or
GI = 0.01(F200 – 15)(PI – 10)
±

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