Lab Report #3:

Soil Classification using USCS and AASHTO system

Abstract:
In this experiment, the soil is classified based on USCS and AASHTO system using the results
obtained in sieve analysis and determination of liquid limit and plastic limit of soil sample. Both
classifications start with determination of the percentage passing in Sieve No.200 to determine
whether the soil is coarse or fine grained, the only difference is the boundary value set by each
system with 50 % for USCS and 35% for AASHTO. From this, the soil is further classified based
on their liquid limit and plastic limit with the use of plasticity chart. The soil was found to be
well graded sand with gravel based on USCS and under the group A-2-4 based on AASHTO.
Based on the results of classification of soils, the results of both systems are in agreement that
the soil is an ideal material for foundation for buildings and bridges and is of good quality.
Submitted by: Jihan S. Pacer
Groupmates:
Renchel Bonto
Nikho Corres
Jose Vincent Cruz
Jacquelin Mendoza
Emelyn Camille Panganiban
Date Performed:
November 2, 2015
Date Submitted:
November 9, 2015

I.

Objectives
To be able to classify soil sample using its determined physical properties
To be able to determine the uses of the soil sample based on its soil classification
II.
Materials
Plot of particle size distribution of soil sample, data determined by testing the

III.

physical properties of the soil sample

Tables and charts used in AASHTO Classification system and USCS Classification
system
Methodology

Known data on the particle size

distribution, uniformity coefficient,
coefficient of gradation, liquid
limit and plastic limit of the soil
sample

Soil Classification using

USCS
SYSTEM

AASHTO
SYSTEM

USCS SYSTEM:
The percentage passing
through Sieve No.200,
F, was determined

If F <50 %

The soil is a type of

coarse grained soils
that are gravelly and
sandy in nature

Using the determined

coefficient of gradation,
uniformity coefficient,
plasticity index and liquid limit
Thesoil
percent
of soilthe
retained
of the
sample,
soil was
on
Sieve
No.4,
R4
and
classified according to the
retained specified
on Sieve No.200,
standards
by the
R
200,
was
determined.
USCS shown
R4/R200
<0.5 in table provided
in
the
book
Principles of
The soil sample
Engineering by
is Geotechnical
sandy in
Braja
Das
nature

If F> 50%

The soil is a type of

fine grained soils
that consists mostly
of silt and clay
Using the determined liquid
limits and plasticity index of
the soil sample to be used in
the plasticity chart and
particle size distribution, the
group name and group symbol
of the soil sample was
determined using the tables
and charts set by USCS

R4/R200 >0.5

The soil sample

is gravelly in
nature

AASHTO System:

The percentage passing

through Sieve No.200,
40, 10 of soil sample
was determined

Starting from left to right,

determine on what group
does the soil belong, based
from tables set by AASHTO
system, based on sieve
analysis

Determine the group

index of the soil

IV.

Also check the classification

of soil sample based on the
specified liquid limit and
plasticity index

Data and Results

From previous laboratories, the particle size distribution, coefficient of gradation,
uniformity coefficient, plasticity index, and liquid limit of the soil sample were
determined and using these soil properties, the soil is classified according to
AASHTO and USCS system. Table 1 shows the results from sieve analysis of soil
and Table 2 shows the summary of other soil properties.
Table 1. Sieve Analysis
Sieve
No.

Size
(mm)

Mass
(kg)

4
10

4.75
2

12

1.7

16

1.18

20

0.85

30

0.6

40

0.425

50

0.3

60

0.25

100

0.15

200

0.075

1.263
1.18
0.158
5
0.641
5
0.402
0.453
8
0.28
0.367
5
0.031
5
0.286
5
0.130
5
0.165

Pan

%Cumulat
ive
Retained

%Cumulat
ive
Passing

23.49
45.43

76.51
54.57

48.38

51.62

60.31

39.69

67.79

32.21

76.23

23.77

81.44

18.56

88.27

11.73

88.86

11.14

94.18

5.82

96.61

3.39

Table 2. Summary of Soil Properties

Coefficient of
gradation
Uniformity
Coefficient
Liquid Limit
Plasticity Index

11.05
8
1.085
3
40.43
9.005

The soil was first classified according to USCS system. From Table 1, the percentage of soil
passing the No.200 Sieve was determined and was found to be equal to 3.39%. This value is less
than 50% which means that the soil is a type of coarse grained soil that is gravelly or sandy in
nature. To determine whether the soil is gravelly or sandy, the percentage retained in Sieve No.4
which represents the portion of soil that is gravel, is divided to the percentage retained in Sieve
No.200 and compared to 0.5. If the value obtained is less than 0.5 then, the soil is sandy
otherwise, it is gravelly. The calculation below shows that the soil sample is sandy in nature,
R4 23.49
=
=0.241<0.5
R 200 96.61
Under the sands group in the table of USCS, the soil sample is further classified based on its
coefficient of gradation and uniformity coefficient. From Table 2 above, the coefficient of
gradation is 1.0583 and uniformity coefficient is 11.058. These values are then compared to the
values in the tables of USCS classification. In the SW group, the soils coefficient of gradation
and uniformity coefficient satisfied the criteria, that shows that the coefficient of gradation must
be greater than or equal to 1 but less than or equal to 3 and uniformity coefficient that must be
greater than or equal to 6, so the soil belong in this group. Then, the group name of the soil is
determined by the percentage of gravel present in the soil sample and this is represented by R4 or
the percentage retained in Sieve No.4. If this is less than 15%, the soil is well graded sand
otherwise; the soil is well graded sand with gravel. The soil sample has R4= 23.49 % > 15%,
therefore, the soil is well graded sand with gravel.
The soil is also classified based on AASHTO system, first the percentages of soil retained on
Sieve No. 10, 40 and 200 was determined. These values can be obtained from Table 1 and these
are equal to 54.57%, 18.56% and 3.39% correspondingly. These values are then compared to the
values under sieve analysis in the table set by AASHTO system. By comparing, the soil sample
satisfied the criteria under all groups in A-2 and only A-1-b under A-1. The soil is further

classified by using the liquid limit and plasticity index of the soil from which, the soil only
satisfied the criteria under A-2-4. Following the rules for determining the group index of soils,
the group index was found to be equal to 0.
V.

Analysis and Discussion

From the process of classifying soils, one can observed that both classification systems,
USCS and AASHTO are based on particle size distribution obtained from sieve analysis or
the relative amounts of gravels, sand, clay and silt present in the soil sample and plasticity of
soil which is represented by Atterberg Limits. One of the differences between these two
systems is the boundary value set by each system in distinguishing between coarse and fine
grained soils. In the USCS system, the soil is considered fine-grained if more than 50 % of
the soil passes the No. 200 Sieve while in the AASHTO system, this value is only 35%. A
coarse-grained soil that has about 35% fine grains will behave like a fine-grained material.
This is because enough fine grains exist in the soil that can fill the voids in between its
particles. From this point of view, it would seem that AASHTO system is more accurate.
Moreover in AASHTO system, Sieve No.10 is used to separate gravel from sands which is
more accepted as the upper limit for sands in viewpoint of soil separate sizes. However, this
limit is only used in concrete and highway base-course technology (Engineering
Classification of Soil, n.d.). But if one wants to be more specific of the soil properties, the
USCS system is preferable. In USCS system, the soil groups are more descriptive of soil
properties with symbols like GW, SM, CH unlike the A groups in AASHTO system.
Moreover, USCS system includes organic soils such as OL, OH and Pt in their classification
unlike the AASHTO system.
After classifying the soil, it was found that the soil is well graded sand with gravel based on
USCS system which means that the soil has minimum voids and when compacted will result
to a high density material which provides good loading support. Therefore, this material is
ideal as foundation for buildings and bridges. Moreover, after classification of soil based on
AASHTO system, the soil was found to be under A-2-4 from which the group index is zero.
Group index is indicative of the quality of soil. The higher group index, the lower the quality
of soil and vice versa. Since the group index of this soil is zero, this soil is of good quality
which is in agreement to the results of the USCS classification.

VI.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The results from classifying the soil under USCS and AASHTO are in agreement that the
soil is ideal for foundation for buildings and bridges since it is a well graded sand with
gravel under the USCS classification which means that it has minimum void content which
provides a good loading support and it is under group A-2-4 based on AASHTO system
from which the group index is zero and proves that the soil is indeed of good quality.
VII.

References
Das, B. M. (1990). Principles of Geotechnical Engineering. Massachussets, USA:
PWS-Kent Publishing Company.
Engineering Classification of Soil. (n.d.). California, United States of America.