SOIL CLASSIFICATION BASICS Commonly based on grain size and soil consistency. Several classification systems exist:

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1 SOIL CLASSIFICATION BASICS Commonly based on grain size and soil consistency. Several classification systems exist: 1. Unified System (USCS) (ASTM D ). 2. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) (ASTM D ). 3. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). 4. Burmister Soil Identification System. 5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Slide 1 of 40

2 SOIL GRAIN SIZES Soil Type USCS Symbol Grain Size Range (mm) USCS AASHTO USDA MIT Gravel G 76.2 to to 2 >2 >2 Sand S 4.75 to to to to 0.06 Silt M to 0.06 to Fines < to Clay C < < < Determined by Mechanical Analysis (i.e. Sieve) and Hydrometer Analysis (ASTM D (2007) Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils) Slide 2 of 40

3 MECHANICAL SIEVE ANALYSIS (ASTM D422, D1140 AND AASHTO T88) #40 #10 3/8 in #200 Dry Clay (kaolin) Silt Medium-Coarse Sand Fine Gravel Medium Gravel Figure 7.1. from FHWA NHI Slide 3 of 40

4 COMMONLY USED STANDARD SIEVE SIZES (ASTM E11-09e1) Sieve No. Opening (mm) Opening (in) Notes 3/4 in Gravel # # # # # # # # # # # # # Course Sand (#4 to #10) Medium Sand (#10 to #40) Fine Sand (#40 to #200) # # # Silt or Clay <#200 Slide 4 of 40

5 SOIL MECHANICS PARTICLE ANGULARITY (ROUNDNESS) Definitions (from FHWA NHI ) Angular particles are those that have been freshly broken up and are characterized by jagged projections, sharp ridges, and flat surfaces. Subangular particles are those that have been weathered to the extent that the sharper points and ridges have been worn off. Subrounded particles are those that have been weathered to a further degree than subangular particles. Rounded particles are those on which all projections have been removed, with few irregularities in shape remaining. Well rounded particles are rounded particles in which the few remaining irregularities have been removed. Mitchell (1976) Fig FHWA NHI Slide 5 of 40

= soil particle density w = water density = water viscosity D = Diameter of

6 HYDROMETER ANALYSIS (ASTM D442, D1140 & AASHTO T88) Based on the principle of sedimentation of soil grains in water s w Stokes Law: v D Where: v = Velocity s = soil particle density w = water density = water viscosity D = Diameter of soil particles 18 2 ASTM D152-H hydrometer Figure 2.5. Das FGE (2005). Slide 6 of 40

7 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION RESULTS Figure 5. ASTM D Figure 2.6. Das FGE (2005). Slide 7 of 40

8 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION TERMS Key Particle Sizes (D = Diameter) D 60 = Diameter corresponding to 60% finer in the grain size distribution. D 30 = Diameter corresponding to 30% finer in the grain size distribution. D 10 = Diameter corresponding to 10% finer in the grain size distribution. Also known as Effective Size. Slide 8 of 40

9 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION TERMS Key Coefficients (C): C u = Coefficient of Uniformity (ASTM D2487) = D 60 /D 10 C c = Coefficient of Gradation = Coefficient of Curvature (ASTM D2487) = (D 30 ) 2 /(D 60 xd 10 ) Slide 9 of 40

10 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION -EXAMPLE Slide 10 of 40

11 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION -EXAMPLE Fine-Grained Soils Coarse-Grained Soils Percent Passing (by weight) CLAY SIZE SILT SIZE SAND SIZE GRAVEL Silica Sand Piedmont Silt Plastic Kaolin mm Grain Size (mm) Figure 7.2. from FHWA NHI Notice Axis Shift! Slide 11 of 40

12 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION -EXAMPLE Multiple Samples of Same Soil from one site. Percent (%) Finer by Weight SAND GRAVEL Coarse Medium Fine #4 #10 #30 #40 #60 #100 #200 SILT & CLAY 0 #4 #10 #30 #40 #60 #100 # Particle Diameter (mm) Slide 12 of 40

13 GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION -EXAMPLE (from Hajduk et al., 2004) Slide 13 of 40

14 SOIL PLASTICITY ATTERBERG LIMITS (a.k.a. w s ) (a.k.a. w p ) (a.k.a. w L ) Plasticity Index (PI) PI = LL - PL Range of water content over which soil remains plastic. Figure 2-5. FHWA NHI Slide 14 of 40

SOIL PLASTICITY ATTERBERG LIMITS Liquid Limit Device

ASTM D4318-10 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit,

Liquid Limit (LL or w L ) Test LL and PL photographs

15 SOIL PLASTICITY ATTERBERG LIMITS Liquid Limit Device Plastic Limit Device Figure 24. from FHWA IF ASTM D Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils. Liquid Limit (LL or w L ) Test LL and PL photographs courtesy Prof. Reddy, UIC. Plastic Limit (PL or w P ) Test Slide 15 of 40

ATTERBERG LIMITS LIQUID LIMIT ASTM D4318-10 Standard Test

of Soils. Assemble components & soil. Mix soil & water.

Count number of blows to close groove ½ inch.

16 ATTERBERG LIMITS LIQUID LIMIT ASTM D Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils. Assemble components & soil. Mix soil & water. Fill LL Device ~2/3 high with wet soil. Cut groove with tool. Mix soil with more water. Repeat. Lift LL Device with constant rate. Count number of blows to close groove ½ inch. Photographs courtesy of Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory Testing Manual, Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC, Slide 16 of 40

17 ATTERBERG LIMITS LIQUID LIMIT Run 4 Tests 2 > 25 blows 2 < 25 blows. Plot Number of Blows (N) on Log Scale. LL is N=25 (Round to 1%) Example of Liquid Limit Data Plot Slide 17 of 40

ATTERBERG LIMITS PLASTIC LIMIT ASTM D4318-10 Standard Test Methods for

Assemble components & soil. Mix soil & water. Run 4 Tests.

Photographs courtesy of Engineering Properties of Soils Based on

18 ATTERBERG LIMITS PLASTIC LIMIT ASTM D Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils. Assemble components & soil. Mix soil & water. Run 4 Tests. Average water content for 4 tests = w P = PL Roll wet soil to ellipsoidal mass with hands. Roll on PL Device until 1/8 inch diameter roll is achieved. Photographs courtesy of Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory Testing Manual, Prof. Krishna Reddy, UIC, When soil crumbles when 1/8 inch diameter is achieved, you are at PL. Take water content. Slide 18 of 40

19 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS) Divided into two broad categories: Coarse Grained Soils Gravels (G) and Sands (S) < 50% passing through #200 sieve (i.e. >50% retained on #200 sieve) Fine Grained Soils Silts (M) and Clays (C) 50% passing through #200 sieve Slide 19 of 40

20 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS) Uses 2 or 4 letter Group Symbols and Group Names Primary soil component first symbol 4 letter symbols either sands and gravels with 5% % Fines 12% or CL-ML on Casagrande Chart Need to know the following: Grain Size Distribution Percent Fines (i.e. particles finer than #200 sieve) Percent Sand Percent Gravel #4 and #200 sieves C c and C u from grain size analysis using D 10, D 30, D 60 Atterberg Limit Results (LL, PI) Slide 20 of 40

21 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS) Example of 2 Group Symbol: SM Primary Component (Sand = S) Secondary Description (M = Silty) Primary Components G = Gravel S = Sand M = Silt C = Clay O = Organic Secondary Descriptions (Coarse Grained) M = Silty C = Clayey P = Poorly Graded (same relative grain size) W = Well Graded (different grain sizes) Secondary Descriptions (Fine Grained) L = Low Plasticity (Lean for Clay) H = High Plasticity (Fat for Clay, Elastic for Silt) Slide 21 of 40

22 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS) Secondary Descriptions (Coarse Grained) M = Silty: > 12% fines, PI<4 or plots below A Line C = Clayey: > 12% fines, PI>7 and plots on or above A line P = Poorly Graded: < 5% fines, C u < 6 and/or 1>C c >3 W = Well Graded: < 5% fines, C u 6 and 1 C c 3 Slide 22 of 40

23 PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CURVES Three Types of Curves: Poorly Graded (P) Gap Graded Well Graded (W) Gap Graded Figure 2-3. from FHWA NHI Slide 23 of 40

24 UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (USCS) Secondary Descriptions (Fine Grained) L = Low Plasticity (Lean for Clay) (LL <50%) H = High Plasticity (Fat for Clay, Elastic for Silt) (LL 50%) (e.g. high quality pottery clay) Slide 24 of 40

25 CASAGRANDE PLASTICITY CHART Figure 4. (ASTM D ). Slide 25 of 40

26 CASAGRANDE PLASTICITY CHART SIGNIFICANCE OF ATTERBERG LIMITS I consider it essential that an experienced soils engineer should be able to judge the position of soils, from his territory, on a plasticity chart merely on the basis of his visual and manual examination of the soils. Arthur Casagrande (1959) Figure 2. (NAVFAC DM7.01). Slide 26 of 40

27 USCS COARSE GRAINED SOILS (>50% RETAINED ON #200 SIEVE) Figure 3. ASTM D Slide 27 of 40

28 USCS FINE GRAINED SOILS ( 50% PASSING #200 SIEVE) Figure 1. ASTM D Slide 28 of 40

29 Sieve No. Dia. (mm) % Passing ½ in # SOIL MECHANICS USCS CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLE US44 EXPANSION, CARVER, MA Table 1. Sample 1 Grain Size Results (ASTM D422). Table 2. Atterberg Limits Results (ASTM D4318). Sample LL PL # # # # # # REQUIRED: Determine the USCS based on the provided soil index testing. Slide 29 of 40

30 USCS CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLE Slide 30 of 40

31 USCS CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLE Slide 31 of 40

32 USCS CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLE Fines classify as MH Slide 32 of 40

33 USCS CLASSIFICATION EXAMPLE 88% Sand C u = 5.63 Fines = MH 3% Gravel ANSWER: SP-SM (Poorly Graded Sand with Silt) 9% Fines Figure 3. ASTM D Slide 33 of 40

34 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) ORIGIN (Holtz and Kovacs, 1981): This system was originally developed by Hogentogler and Terzaghi in 1929 as the Public Roads Classification System. Afterwards, there are several revisions. The present AASHTO (1978) system is primarily based on the version in STANDARDS: AASHTO M (2003) Standard Specifications for Classification of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction Purposes. ASTM D Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and Soil- Aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction Purposes. Slide 34 of 40

35 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) Comprised of 8 Major Groups: Required Testing: A1 through A7 (with subgroups) Sieve Analysis and Atterberg Limits A8 (Organics) Subgroups determined from Group Index (GI) A1 to A3 A4 to A7 Granular Materials ( 35% passes #200 Sieve) Using LL and PI separates silty materials from clayey materials (only for A2 group) Silt-Clay Materials ( 36% passes #200 Sieve) Using LL and PI separates silty materials from clayey materials General Notes: A-1 materials are well graded, whereas A-3 soils are clean, poorly graded sands. A4 & A5 are generally silts, A6 & A7 are generally clays. Slide 35 of 40

36 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) STEPS: 1. Determine Grain Size Distribution (AASHTO T-11 & AASHTO T-27) 2. Determine Liquid Limit (AASHTO T-89) 3. Determine Plastic Limit (AASHTO T-90) 4. Classify Soil using Table 2 ASTM 3282 (Left to Right Method, Process of Elimination) Slide 36 of 40

37 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) Go from Left to Right, Process of Elimination Table 2 from ASTM D Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction Purposes. Slide 37 of 40

38 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) Slide 38 of 40

39 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) Group Index (GI): Empirical Formula used to evaluate soils in a group (i.e. subgroup) The first term is determined by the LL GI ( LL 40) 0.01( F 15)( PI 10) ( F 35) F 200 : % Passing #200 Sieve The second term is determined by the PI For Groups A-2-6 and A-2-7 GI 0.01(F )(PI 10) use the second term only In general, the rating for a pavement subgrade is inversely proportional to the group index, GI. Slide 39 of 40

40 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS (AASHTO) Group Index (GI): Empirical Formula used to evaluate soils in a group (i.e. subgroup) Slide 40 of 40

SOIL MECHANICS Assignment #2: Soil Classification Solution.

SOIL MECHANICS Assignment #2: Soil Classification Solution. Geotechnical Engineering Research Laboratory One University Avenue Lowell, Massachusetts 01854 Edward L. Hajduk, D.Eng, PE Lecturer PA105D Tel: (978) 934 2621 Fax: (978) 934 3052 e mail: Edward_Hajduk@uml.edu