APPENDIX C.

SOIL AND ROCK CLASSIFICATION, SIMPLE TESTS, AND CORRELATIONS

Contents


Page

1. Unified Soil Classification System................................................................................C-2

2. Gradation Chart for Soils...............................................................................................C-3

3. Naval Facilities Design Manuals 7.1 and 7.2 excerpts

- Visual Identification of Soil Samples ......................................................................C-4
- Relationships Between Atterberg Limits and Compressibility, Permeability,
Toughness, and Dry Strength...................................................................................C-5
- Guide for Consistency of Fine-Grained (Cohesive) Soils .......................................C-6
- Correlations of Standard Penetration Resistance Blow Counts (N Values) and
Unconfined Compressive Strength of Clays............................................................C-7
- Hardness Classification of Intact Rock....................................................................C-8
- Typical Properties of Compacted Soils....................................................................C-9
- Identification and Characteristics of Special Materials .........................................C-10
- Ultimate Friction Factors and Adhesion for Dissimilar Materials.........................C-11

4. Other Correlations and Tests

- Qualitative and Quantitative Expressions for Consistency of Soils ......................C-12
- Relation of Consistency of Clay, Number of Blows N on Sampling Spoon, ........C-13
and Unconfined Compressive Strength
- Relative Density of Sands According to Results of Standard Penetration Test Blow
Counts (N Values)..................................................................................................C-14
- Field Determination of Soil Components ..............................................................C-15
- Identification of Fine-Grained Soil Fractions from Manual Tests.........................C-16
- Identification of Composite Clay Soils on an Overall Plasticity Basis .................C-17
- Representative Values of Friction Angle,
d
for Sands and Silts ..........................C-18
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VISUAL IDENTIFICATION OF SOIL SAMPLES (NAVFAC DM 7.1, Table2, p7.1-8)
Definitions of Soil Components and Fractions
1. Grain Size
Material Fraction Sieve Size
Boulders 12"+
Cobbles 3"-12"
Gravel coarse 3/4"-3"
Gravel fine No. 4 to 3/4"
Sand coarse No. 10 to No. 4
Sand medium No. 40 to No. 10
Sand fine No. 200 to No. 40
Fines Passing No. 200
(Silt & Clay)

2. Coarse- and Fine-Grained Soils
Descriptive Adjective Percentage Requirements
trace 1-10%
little 10-20%
some 20-35%
and 35-50%

3. Fine-Grained Soils. Identify in accordance with plasticity characteristics,
dry strength, and toughness as described in Table 3.

Descriptive
Term Thickness
alternating
thick
Stratified thin
Soils with
parting 0 to 1/12" thickness
seam 1/16 to 1/2" thickness
layer 1/2 to 12" thickness
stratum greater than 12" thickness
varved clay alternating seams or layers of sand,
silt and clay
pocket small, erratic deposit, usually less
than 1 foot
lens lenticular deposit
occasional one or less per foot of thickness
frequent more than one per foot of thickness

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GUIDE FOR CONSISTENCY OF FINE-GRAINED (COHESIVE) SOILS
(NAVFAC DM 7.1, Table 4, p7.1-17)
SPT Estimated Range of
Penetration N Value Unconfined Compressive
(blows/foot) Estimated Consistency Strength (tons/sq ft)

< 2 Very soft Less than 0.25

(extruded between fingers when
squeezed)

2 - 4 Soft 0.25 - 0.50
(molded by light finger pressure)

4 - 8 Medium 0.50 - 1.00
(molded by strong finger pressure)

8 - 15 Stiff 1.00 - 2.00

(readily indented by thumb but
penetrated with great effort)

15 - 30 Very stiff 2.00 - 4.00
(readily indented by thumbnail)

> 30 Hard > 4.00
(indented with difficulty by thumbnail)


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HARDNESS CLASSIFICATION OF INTACT ROCK
(NAVFAC DM 7.1, Table 9, p 7.1-27)
Class Hardness Field Test
Approximate
Range of
Uniaxial
Compression
Strength, kg/cm
2

(tons/ft
2
)

I Extremely hard
Many blows with geologic hammer required
to break intact specimen. > 2000

II Very hard
Hand held specimen breaks with hammer end
of pick under more than one blow. 2000 - 1000

III Hard
Cannot be scraped or peeled with knife, hand
held specimen can be broken with single
moderate blow with pick. 1000 - 500

IV Soft
Can just be scraped or peeled with knife.
Indentations 1mm to 3mm show in specimen
with moderate blow with pick. 500 - 250

V Very soft
Material crumbles under moderate blow with
sharp end of pick and can be peeled with
knife, but is too hard to hand-trim for triaxial
test specimen. 250 - 10

Note: 1 tsf = 1.02 x kg/cm
2
1 psi = 13.88 x tsf
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TYPICAL PROPERTIES OF COMPACTED SOILS (NAVFAC DM 7.2, Table 1, p7.2-39)
Typical Value of
Compression
Typical Strength Characteristics
At 1.4 tsf
(20 psi)
At 3.6 tsf
(50 psi)
Group
Symbol
Soil Type
Range of
Maximum
Dry Unit
Weight, pcf
Range of
Optimum
Moisture,
Percent
Percent of Original
Height
Cohesion
(as com-
pacted) psf
Cohesion
(saturated)
psf
PHI
(Effective
Stress
Friction
Angle
Degrees)
Tan PHI
Typical
Coefficient of
Permeability
ft/miin.
Range of
CBR Values
Range of
Subgrade
Modulus k
lbs/cu in
GW Well-graded clean gravels, gravel-sand mixture 125 - 135 11 - 8 0.3 0.6 0 0 >38 >0.79 5 x 10
-2
40 - 80 300 - 500
GP Poorly graded clean gravels, gravel-sand mix 115 - 125 14 - 11 0.4 0.9 0 0 >37 >0.74 10
-1
30 - 60 250 - 400
GM Silty gravels, poorly graded gravel-sand-silt 120 - 135 12 - 8 0.5 1.1 -- -- >34 >0.67 >10
-6
20 - 60 100 - 400
GC Clayey gravels, poorly graded gravel-sand-clay 115 - 130 14 - 9 0.7 1.6 -- -- >31 >0.60 >10
-7
20 - 40 100 - 300
SW Well graded clean sands, gravelly sands 110 - 130 16 - 9 0.6 1.2 0 0 38 0.79 >10
-3
20 - 40 200 - 300
SP Poorly graded clean sands, sand-gravel mix 100 - 120 21 - 12 0.8 1.4 0 0 37 0.74 >10
-3
10 - 40 200 - 300
SM Silty sands, poorly graded sand-silt mix 110 - 125 16 - 11 0.8 1.6 1050 420 34 0.67 5 x 10
-5
10 - 40 100 - 300
SM-SC Sand-silt clay mix with slightly plastic fines. 110 - 130 15 - 11 0.8 1.4 1050 300 33 0.66 2 x 10
-6
5 - 30 100 - 300
SC Clayey sands, poorly graded sand-clay-mix 105 - 125 19 - 11 1.1 2.2 1550 230 31 0.60 5 x 10
-7
5 - 20 100 - 300
ML Inorganic silts and clayey silts 95 - 120 24 - 12 0.9 1.7 1400 190 32 0.62 >10
-5
15 or less 100 - 200
ML-CL Mixture of inorganic silt and clay 100 - 120 22 - 12 1.0 2.2 1350 460 32 0.62 5 x 10
-7
-- --
CL Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity 95 - 120 24 - 12 1.3 2.5 1800 270 28 0.54 >10
-7
15 or less 50 - 200
OL Organic silts and silt-clays, low plasticity 80 - 100 33 - 21 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5 or less 50 - 100
MH Inorganic clayey silts, plastic silts 70 - 95 40 - 24 2.0 3.8 1500 420 25 0.47 5 x 10
-7
10 or less 50 - 100
CH Inorganic clays of high plasticity 75 - 105 36 - 19 2.6 3.9 2150 230 19 0.35 >10
-7
15 or less 50 - 150
OH Organic clays and silty clays 65 - 100 45 - 21 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 5 or less 25 - 100
Notes: All properties are for Conditions of Standard Proctor maximum density, except values of k and CBR, which are for Modified Proctor maximum density.
Typical strength values are effective strengths from USBR data. Compression values are for vertical loading with complete lateral confinement.
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IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERISTICS
OF SPECIAL MATERIALS
(NAVFAC DM 7.1, Table 12, p7.1-35)
Material
Geographic/Geomorphic
Features Engineering Conditions

"Quick
Clay"
Marine or brackish water clay
composed of glacial rock flour that
is elevated above sea level.
Severe loss of strength when disturbed by
construction activities or seismic ground
shaking.

Generally confined to far north
areas; Eastern Canada, Alaska,
Scandinavia.
Replacement of formation water
containing dissolved salt with fresh water
results in strength loss.

Produces landslide prone areas
(Anchorage, Alaska).

Hydraulic
Fills
Coastal facilities, levees, dikes,
tailings dams.
High void ratio.
Uniform gradation but variable grain sizes
within same fill.

High liquefaction potential.

Lateral spreading

Easily eroded.

Collapsing
Soil
Desert arid and semi-arid
environment.
Loss of strength when wetted.
Differential settlement.
Alluvial valleys, playas, loess.
Low density.

Moisture sensitive.

Gypsum/Anhydrite often present.

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ULTIMATE FRICTION FACTORS AND
ADHESION FOR DISSIMILAR MATERIALS
(NAVFAC DM 7.2, Table 1, p7.2-63)
Interface Materials
Friction
factor
Friction
angle,
degrees

Mass concrete on the following foundation materials:
Clean sound rock 0.70 35
Clean gravel, gravel-sand mixtures, coarse sand 0.55 to 0.60 29 to 31
Clean fine to medium sand, silty medium to coarse sand, silty or clayey gravel 0.45 to 0.55 24 to 29
Clean fine sand, silty or clayey fine to medium sand 0.35 to .045 19 to 24
Fine sandy silt, non-plastic silt 0.30 to 0.35 17 to 19
Very stiff and hard residual or pre-consolidated clay 0.40 to 0.50 22 to 26
Medium stiff and stiff clay and silty clay 0.30 to 0.35 17 to 19
(Masonry on foundation materials has same friction factors.)
Steel sheet piles against the following soils:
Clean gravel, gravel-sand mixtures, well-graded rock fill with spalls 0.40 22
Clean sand, silty sand-gravel mixture, single size hard rock fill 0.30 17
Silty sand, gravel or sand mixed with silt or clay 0.25 14
Fine sandy silt, non-plastic silt 0.20 11
Formed concrete or concrete sheet piling against the following soils:
Clean gravel, gravel-sand mixtures, well-graded rock fill with spalls 0.40 to 0.50 22 to 26
Clean sand, silty sand-gravel mixture, single size hard rock fill 0.30 to 0.40 17 to 22
Silty sand, gravel or sand mixed with silt or clay 0.30 17
Fine sandy silt, non-plastic silt 0.25 14
Various structural materials:
Masonry on masonry, igneous and metamorphic rocks:
Dressed soft rock on dressed soft rock 0.70 35
Dressed hard rock on dressed soft rock 0.65 33
Dressed hard rock on dressed hard rock 0.55 29
Masonry on wood (cross grain) 0.50 26
Steel on steel at sheet pile interlocks 0.30 17

Interface Materials (Cohesion) Adhesion C
a
(psf)
Very soft cohesive soil (0 - 250 psf) 0 - 250
Soft cohesive soil (250 - 500 psf) 250 - 500
Medium stiff cohesive soil (500 - 1000 psf) 500 - 750
Stiff cohesive soil (1000 - 2000 psf) 750 - 950
Very stiff cohesive soil (2000 - 4000 psf) 950 - 1,300
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QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE EXPRESSIONS FOR CONSISTENCY
Unconfined Compressive
Consistency Field Identification Strength q
u

(tons/sq ft)
Very Soft Easily pentrated several inches by fist Less than 0.25

Soft Easily pentrated several inches by thumb 0.25-0.5

Medium
Can be penetrated several inches by thumb
with moderate effort 0.5-1.0

Stiff
Readily indented by thumb but penetrated
only with great effort 1.0-2.0

Very Stiff Readily indented by thumbnail 2.0-4.0

Hard Indented with difficulty by thumbnail Over 4.0


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RELATION OF CONSISTENCY OF CLAY, NUMBER
OF BLOWS (N VALUE), AND
UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
Very Very
Consistency Soft Soft Medium Stiff Stiff Hard

N < 2 2-4 4-8 8-15 15-30 > 30

q
u
< 0.25 0.25-0.50 0.50-1.00 1.00-2.00 2.00-4.00 > 4.0


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RELATIVE DENSITY OF SANDS ACCORDING TO
RESULTS OF STANDARD PENETRATION TEST

No. of Blows N Relative Density


0-4 Very loose

4-10 Loose

10-30 Medium

30-50 Dense

Over 50 Very dense


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FIELD DETERMINATION OF SOIL COMPONENTS (SEE ALSO ASTM D2488)
Component Characteristic Determination

Gravel Dia. 5-76 mm Measurable.

Sand

Coarse Dia. 2-5 mm Visible to eye, measurable.

Medium Dia. 0.4-2.0 mm Visible to eye.

Fine Dia. 0.074-0.4 mm Barely discernible to unaided eye.

Silt coarse Dia. 0.02 - 0.074 mm Distinguishable with hand lens.

Sand-silt mixtures Apparent cohesion Measured by ball test (Burmister, 1949)


Form ball in hand by compacting moist soil to
diameter 1 1/2 in (37 mm).


Medium to fine sand forms weak ball with
difficulty; cannot be picked up between thumb
and forefinger without crushing.

Ball can be picked up with difficulty: 20% silt.

Ball readily picked up: 30 to 50% silt.

Silt vs. clay Dia. <0.074 mm

Silt Strength Low when air-dried, crumbles easily.


Dilantency test
Mixed with water to thick past consistency.
Appears wet and shiny when shaken in palm of
hand, but when palm is cupped and sample
squeezed, surface immediately dulls and dries.


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IDENTIFICATION OF FINE-GRAINED SOIL FRACTIONS FROM MANUAL TESTS

Dry Dilantancy Toughness of Time to Settle in
Soil Classification Strength Reaction Plastic Thread Dispersion Test
(Crush in Hand) (Wet Shake) (Ribbon Test) (Hydrometer)


Sandy silt None to very low Rapid Weak to friable 30 sec to 60 min

Silt Very low to low Rapid Weak to friable 15 to 60 min

Clayey silt Low to medium Rapid to slow Medium 15 min to several hours

Sandy clay Low to high Slow to none Medium 30 sec to several hours

Silty clay Medium to high Slow to none Medium 15 min to several hours

Clay High to very high None Tough Several hours to days

Organic silt Low to medium Slow Weak to friable 15 min to several hours

Organic clay Medium to very high None Tough Several hours to days


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IDENTIFICATION OF COMPOSITE CLAY SOILS ON AN
OVERALL PLASTICITY BASIS*

Degree of Overall Identification Smallest Diameter of
Plasticity PI (Burmister system) Rolled Threads, mm


Non-plastic 0 SILT None

Slight 1-5 CLAYEY SILT 6

Low 5-10 SILT and CLAY 3

Medium 10-20 CLAY and SILT 1.5

High 20-40 SILTY CLAY 0.8

Very high > 40 CLAY 0.4

*After Burmister (1951a), Reprinted with permission from the Annual Book of ASTM
Standards, Part 19, copyright, American Society for Testing and Materials.

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REPRESENTATIVE VALUES OF
d
FOR SANDS AND SILTS


d
- Degrees
Material Loose Dense
N < 10 N > 30


Sand, round grains, uniform 27.5 34

Sand, angular grains, well-graded 33 45

Sandy gravel 35 50

Silty sand 27-33 30-35

Inorganic silt 27-30 30-34


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