Soil Classification Standard

Systems

By
Mohammad T. Alsayyed
Association of Engineers
 Soil Classification Standard Systems

a.) USCS - unified soil classification system.

 used by U.S. Army Corps of Engs, US Bureau of Recl.,
and most consulting firms, (most popular all over the
world)
 it is almost identical to ASTM-2487.
 developed by A. Casagrande 1948 for airfield construction.
 modified in 1952 by Casagrande with US Army Corps of
Eng. Bureau of Recl.
 Soil Classification Standard Systems

Basic Principles
 1) The behaviour of fine grained soil is controlled by the
plasticity.
 2) Behaviour of coarse grained soil is controlled by the
grain size distribution.
 Soil Classification Standard Systems

b.) AASHTO Classification System

 1929 by Hogentogler and Terzaghi for local and
secondary road projects
 AASHTO (1978) Last major revision.
 Primary use : to determine the relative quality of a soil for
embankments, subgrades, subbases, bases
Soil Classification Standard Systems

ers >3"
3” > Gravel >#10
#10 > Coarse Sand >#40
#40 >Fine Sand >#200
#200 >Silt and clay
A-l thru A-4 Coarse Grained
A-5 thru A-7 Fine Grained
A-8 Peat or Muck
A-3 (GI) from eqn. or
nomograph
Soil Classification Standard Systems

c) Field Identification
visual - Manual Method - Ref. ASTM 2488
clay: - passes the #200 sieve
- can not be seen with the unaided eye.
- exhibits considerable dry strength
-PI > 4
- Plots above or on the A-line on the plasticity
chart.

Silts - pass the #200 sieve

- Little or no plasticity
- Little or no dry strength
- Plot below the A-line
SOIL TESTING

SOILS ARE TESTED TO PROVIDE DESIGN ENGINEERS

WITH THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE THEIR
DESIGN COMPLETE, THOROUGH AND APPLICABLE

LAB TESTS:
LAB RESULTS ARE EXPECTED TO ANSWER MOST IF NOT ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING :
1. SOIL CLASSIFICATION
2. UNIT WEIGHT AND SPECIFIC GRAVITY
3. SETTLEMENT, CONSOLIDATION, AND SWELLING PROBLEMS
4. STRENGTH OR BEARING CAPACITY
5. COMPACTION
6. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES (if applicable)
SOIL TESTING

FIELD TESTS
-STANDARD PENETRATION
TEST
-CONE PENETRATION TEST
-VANE TEST
-PRESSUREMETER
-GEOPHYSICAL METHODS
TESTS

TESTS FOR STRENGTH

-DIRECT SHEAR
- UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
- TRIAXIAL SERIES

COMPACTION TESTS
- STANDARD COMPACTION TEST 5.5 Ibs, 12-in high,
3-layers
- MODIFIED PROCTOR TEST 10 Ibs, 18-in high, 5-
layers
TESTS

MEASURING THE "PH"

- IN CASE OF ORGANIC SOILS

TESTS FOR SOIL CLASSIFICATION

-SEIVE ANALYSIS AND HYDROMETER
-ATTERBERG LIMITS (PL, LL, PI)

TESTS FOR SETTLEMENT, AND CONSOLIDATION

-DETERMINATION OF "E", THE MODULUS OF
ELASTICITY
-CONSOLIDATION AND SWELLING