CE 240 Soil Mechanics & Foundations Lecture 3.

Engineering Classification of Soil (AASHTO and USCS) (Das, Ch. 4)

Outline of this Lecture

1. Particle distribution and Atterberg Limits 2. Soil classification systems based on particle distribution and Atterberg Limits 3. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials System (AASHTO) 4. The Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Objective
Classifying soils into groups with similar behavior, in terms of simple indices, can provide geotechnical engineers a general guidance about engineering properties of the soils through the accumulated experience.
Communicate between engineers

Simple indices GSD, LL, PI

Classification system (Language)

Use the accumulated experience

Estimate engineering properties

Achieve engineering purposes

Classification Systems
Two commonly used systems for soil engineers based on particle distribution and Atterberg limits: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) System (for state/county highway dept.) Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) (preferred by geotechnical engineers).

Soil particles The description of the grain size distribution of soil particles according to their texture (particle size, shape, and gradation). Major textural classes include, very roughly: gravel (>2 mm); sand (0.1 2 mm); silt (0.01 0.1 mm); clay (< 0.01 mm). Furthermore, gravel and sand can be roughly classified as coarse textured soils, wile silt and clay can be classified as fine textures soils.

Grain Size Distribution Curves

Cobbles or Boulders

GRAVEL

SAND

FINES

Atterberg limits
Atterberg limits are the limits of water content used to define soil behavior. The consistency of soils according to Atterberg limits gives the following diagram.

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials system (AASHTO)

Origin of AASHTO: (For road construction) 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 1945. (Holtz and Kovacs, 1981)

Definition of Grain Size

No specific grain size-use Atterberg limits

Boulders

Gravel
Coarse 75 mm No.4 4.75 mm

Sand
Fine

Silt-Clay

No.200 No.40 0.425 mm 0.075 mm

Classification

(Proceeding from left to right against the columns)

Das, Table 4.1, 2006

Classification (Cont.)

Note: The first group from the left to fit the test data is the correct AASHTO classification. Das, Table 4.1, 2006

Group Index GI
The first term is determined by the LL

GI = ( F200 35) [ 0.2 + 0.005( LL 40)] +0.01( F200 15)( PI 10) (4.1)
The second term is determined by the PI

For Group A-2-6 and A-2-7 GI = 0.01( F200 15)( PI 10)

(4.2) use the second term only

F200: percentage passing through the No.200 sieve In general, the rating for a pavement subgrade is inversely proportional to the group index, GI.

Some Explanations of Group Index GI

1, if Eq. 4.1 gives a negative value then GI=0; 2, round up the value calculated by Eq. 4.1 to an integer; 3, there is no upper limit for GI; 4, the GIs for soil groups A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 are always zero (0).

(PI)

(LL)

Das, Figure 4.1

General Guidance

8 major groups: A1~ A7 (with several subgroups) and organic soils A8 The required tests are sieve analysis and Atterberg limits. The group index, an empirical formula, is used to further evaluate soils within a group (subgroups). A1 ~ A3
Granular Materials 35% pass No. 200 sieve

A4 ~ A7
Silt-clay Materials 36% pass No. 200 sieve
Using LL and PI separates silty materials from clayey materials

Using LL and PI separates silty materials from clayey materials (only for A2 group)

The original purpose of this classification system is used for road construction (subgrade rating).

Example 4.1, Soil B

Passing No.200 86% LL=70, PI=32 LL-30=40 > PI=32

GI = (F200 35)[0.2 + 0.005(LL 40)] + 0.01(F200 15)(PI 10) = 33.47 33 Round off

A-7-5(33)

This is the example of Das, Example 4.1 for the AASHTO system classification

USCS Classification System

Originally developed for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) The method is standardized in ASTM D 2487 as Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) USCS is the most common soil classification system among geotechnical engineers

Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)

Origin of USCS: This system was first developed by Professor A. Casagrande (1948) for the purpose of airfield construction during World War II. Afterwards, it was modified by Professor Casagrande, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enable the system to be applicable to dams, foundations, and other construction. Four major divisions: (1) Coarse-grained (2) Fine-grained (3) Organic soils (4) Peat

Definition of Grain Size

No specific grain sizeuse Atterberg limits

Gravel Boulders Cobbles

Coarse 300 mm 75 mm 19 mm Fine Coarse No.4 4.75 mm

Sand
Medium Fine

Silt and Clay

No.200

No.10 2.0 mm

No.40 0.425 mm

0.075 mm

(Das, Table 4.2)

The Symbols
Soil symbols: G: Gravel S: Sand M: Silt C: Clay O: Organic Pt: Peat
SC, Clayey sand SM, Silty sand, MH, Elastic silt

Liquid limit symbols: H: High LL (LL>50) L: Low LL (LL<50) Gradation symbols: W: Well-graded P: Poorly-graded
Well graded soil 1 < C c < 3 and C u 4 (for gravels) 1 < C c < 3 and C u 6 (for sands)

Example: SW, Well-graded sand

USCS System (cont.)

A typical USCS classification would be:

SM - Silty sand with gravel

Group Symbol Group Name

Classification of Soils
From sieve analysis and the grain-size distribution curve determine the percent passing as the following:
> 3 inch Cobble or Boulders 3 inch - # 4 (76.2 4.75 mm) : Gravel # 4 - # 200 (4.75 - 0.075 mm) : Sand < # 200: Fines

First, Find % passing # 200 If 5% or more of the soil passes the # 200 sieve, then conduct Atterberg Limits (LL & PL)

Classification of Soils
If the soil is fine-grained ( 50% passes #200) follow the guidelines for fine-grained soils If the soil is coarse-grained (<50% passes #200) follow the guidelines for coarsegrained soils
Find % Gravel & Sand Calculate Cu & Cc Calculate LL, PL and PI

General Guidance
50 % Coarse-grained soils: Gravel 50% Sand
NO.200 0.075 mm

Fine-grained soils: Silt Clay

NO. 4 4.75 mm

Grain size distribution Cu Cc

PL, LL Plasticity chart

LL>50 LL <50

Required tests: Sieve analysis Atterberg limit

Coarse-grained Soils

Fine-grained Soils

Example Soil A
gravel sand fines

Gravel
98-62 = 36%

Sand
62-8 = 54%

Fines = 8%

Soil A: D60 = 4.2 mm , D30 = 0.6 mm, D10 = 0.09 mm

Cu = 46.67 Cc = 0.95

Example Soil A (Cont.)

Grave = 36% Sand = 54% Fines = 8% Cu = 46.7 Cc = 0.95

LL = 42 PL = 31 PI = 42-31 = 11

GO TO Plasticity Chart

Example Soil A (Cont.)

Soil A is then classified as SP-SM Poorly-grades sand with silt and gravel

Example Soil A (Cont.)

LL = 42 PL = 31 PI = 42-31 = 11

ML

The Plasticity Chart

L H

PI

The A-line generally separates the more claylike materials from silty materials, and the organics from the inorganics. The U-line indicates the upper bound for general soils. Note: If the measured limits of soils are on the left of U-line, they should be rechecked.
(Holtz and Kovacs, 1981)

LL

Procedures for Classification

Coarse-grained material Grain size distribution

Fine-grained material LL, PI

Highly

(Santamarina et al., 2001)

Example

Passing No.200 sieve 30 % Passing No.4 sieve 70 %

LL= 33 PI= 12

Passing No.200 sieve 30 % Passing No.4 sieve 70 % LL= 33 PI= 12 PI= 0.73(LL-20), A-line PI=0.73(33-20)=9.49 SC (15% gravel) Clayey sand with gravel

Highly

(Santamarina et al., 2001)

Organic Soils
Highly organic soils- Peat (Group symbol PT)
A sample composed primarily of vegetable tissue in various stages of decomposition and has a fibrous to amorphous texture, a dark-brown to black color, and an organic odor should be designated as a highly organic soil and shall be classified as peat, PT.

Organic clay or silt( group symbol OL or OH):

The soils liquid limit (LL) after oven drying is less than 75 % of its liquid limit before oven drying. If the above statement is true, then the first symbol is O. The second symbol is obtained by locating the values of PI and LL (not oven dried) in the plasticity chart.

This is the Figure 4.7 of Das textbook, the scanning electron micrographs (SEM) for 4 peat samples.

Borderline Cases (Dual Symbols)

For the following three conditions, a dual symbol should be used. Coarse-grained soils with 5% - 12% fines.
About 7 % fines can change the hydraulic conductivity of the coarse-grained media by orders of magnitude. The first symbol indicates whether the coarse fraction is well or poorly graded. The second symbol describe the contained fines. For example: SP-SM, poorly graded sand with silt.

Borderline Cases (Dual Symbols, cont.)

Fine-grained

soils with limits within the shaded zone. (PI between 4 and 7 and LL between about 12 and 25).
It is hard to distinguish between the silty and more claylike materials. CL-ML: Silty clay, SC-SM: Silty, clayed sand.

Soil

contain similar fines and coarse-grained fractions.

possible dual symbols GM-ML

Borderline Cases (Summary)

(Holtz and Kovacs, 1981)

Reading Assignment: Das, Ch. 4 Homework: Problem 4.3