Soil Classification Textural Classification

▪Different soils with similar properties may be ▪ In a general sense, texture of soil refers to its
classified into groups and subgroups according surface appearance.
to their engineering behavior.
▪ Soil texture is influenced by the size of the
▪ Classification systems provide a common individual particles present in it. Soils are
language to concisely express the general divided into gravel, sand, silt, and clay
characteristics of soils, which are infinitely categories on the basis of particle size.
varied, without detailed descriptions. Most of
▪ In most cases, natural soils are mixtures of
the soil classification systems that have been
particles from several size groups. In the
developed for engineering purposes are based
textural classification system, the soils are
on simple index properties such as particle-size
named after their principal components, such as
distribution and plasticity.
sandy clay, silty clay, and so forth.
▪Although several classification systems are now
▪A number of textural classification systems
in use, none is totally definitive of any soil for all
were developed in the past by different
possible applications because of the wide
organizations to serve their needs, and several
diversity of soil properties.
of those are in use today. Figure 3-1 shows the
In general, there are two major categories into textural classification systems developed by the
which the classification systems developed in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
the past can be grouped.
▪ This classification method is based on the
1. The textural classification is based on the particle-size limits as described under the USDA
particle-size distribution of the percent of sand, system in Table 1-3; that is
silt, and clay-size fractions present in a given
• Sand size: 2.0 to 0.05 mm in diameter
soil. We will discuss the textural classification
system developed by the U.S. Department of • Silt size: 0.05 to 0.002 mm in diameter
Agriculture (USDA).
• Clay size: smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter
2. The other major category is based on the
engineering behaviour of soil and takes into
consideration the particle-size distribution and
the plasticity (i.e., liquid limit and plasticity
index). Under this category, there are two major
classification systems in extensive use now:

a. The AASHTO classification system, and

(American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials)

b. The Unified classification system.

How to use the USDA textural classification
system?

▪ For example, if the particle size distribution of

soil A shows 30% sand, 40% silt, and 30% clay-
size particles, its textural classification can be
determined by proceeding in the manner:

▪Note that this chart is based on only the

fraction of soil that passes through the No. 10
sieve. Hence, if the particle-size distribution of a
soil is such that a certain percentage of the soil
particles is larger than 2 mm in diameter, a
correction will be necessary.

▪Although the textural classification of soil is

relatively simple, it is based entirely on the
particle-size distribution. The amount and type
of clay minerals present in fine-grained soils
dictate to a great extent their physical
properties.

▪Hence, the soils engineer must consider

plasticity, which results from the presence of
clay minerals, to interpret soil characteristics
properly. Because textural classification systems
do not take plasticity into account and are not
totally indicative of many important soil
properties, they are inadequate for most
engineering purposes.
▪ Currently, two more elaborate classification ▪ Soils classified under groups A-1, A-2, and A-3
systems are commonly used by soils engineers. are granular materials of which 35% or less of
Both systems take into consideration the the particles pass through the No. 200 sieve.

particle-size distribution and Atterberg limits. ▪ Soils of which more than 35% pass through the
No. 200 sieve are classified under groups A-4, A-
▪ They are the American Association of State
5, A-6, and A-7. These soils are mostly silt and
Highway and Transportation Officials
clay-type materials.
(AASHTO) classification system and the Unified
Soil Classification System. This classification system is based on the
following criteria:
AASHTO classification system
1. Grain Size:
▪ The AASHTO classification system is used
mostly by state and county highway a. Gravel: fraction passing the 75-mm (3-in.)
departments. Geotechnical engineers generally sieve and retained on the No. 10 (2-mm) sieve
prefer the Unified system.
b. Sand: fraction passing the No. 10 (2-mm)
▪ The AASHTO system of soil classification was sieve and retained on the No. 200 (0.075-mm)
developed in 1929 as the Public Road sieve
Administration classification system. It has
c. Silt and clay: fraction passing the No. 200
undergone several revisions, with the present
sieve.
version proposed by the Committee on
Classification of Materials for Subgrades and 2. Plasticity: The term silty is applied when the
Granular Type Roads of the Highway Research fine fractions of the soil have a plasticity index
Board in 1945 (ASTM designation D-3282; of 10 or less. The term clayey is applied when
AASHTO method M145). the fine fractions have a plasticity index of 11 or
more.

3. If cobbles and boulders (size larger than 75

mm) are encountered, they are excluded from
the portion of the soil sample from which
classification is made. However, the percentage
of such material is recorded.

▪ Figure 3-2 shows a plot of the range of the

liquid limit and the plasticity index for soils that
fall into groups A-2, A-4, A-5, A-6, and A-7.

▪According to this system, soil is classified into

seven major groups: A-1 through A-7.
The group index is given by the equation:

Following are some rules for determining the

group index:

1. If Eq. (3.4) yields a negative value for GI, it is

taken as 0.

2. The group index calculated from Eq. (3.4) is

rounded off to the nearest whole number (for
example, GI = 3.4 is rounded off to 3;GI = 3.5 is
rounded off to 4).

3. There is no upper limit for the group index.

4. The group index of soils belonging to groups

A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, and A-3 is always 0.

5. When calculating the group index for soils

that belong to groups A-2-6 and A-2-7, use the
partial group index for PI, or GI = 0. 01 F200 − 15
PI − 10 .
Unified Soil Classification System

▪ The original form of this system was proposed

by Casagrande in 1942 for use in the airfield
construction works undertaken by the Army
Corps of Engineers during World War II. In
cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, this system was revised in 1952.

▪At present, it is used widely by engineers

(ASTM Test Designation D-2487).

▪ The Unified classification system is presented

in Table 3-2.
Particle Size Distribution Curve

▪ Effective size D10 : This parameter is the

diameter in the particle- size distribution 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.

▪Uniformity coefficient Cu : A numerical

expression of the variety in particle sizes in
mixed natural soils, defined as the ratio of the
sieve size through which 60% (by weight) of the
material passes to the sieve size that allows 10%
of the material to pass.