Page 1 Soils and their Classification Page 2 Soils and their Classification Soils - What are they? u Particulate materials - Sedimentary origins (usually) - Residual u Wide range of particle sizes - larger particles: quartz, feldspar - very small particles: clay minerals u Voids between particles Page 3 Soils and their Classification Soils - What are they? u Particulate materials - Sedimentary origins (usually) - Residual u Wide range of particle sizes - larger particles: quartz, feldspar - very small particles: clay minerals u Voids between particles Aragonite-rich soil x 2000 Page 4 Soils and their Classification Soils - What are they? u Particulate materials - Sedimentary origins (usually) - Residual u Wide range of particle sizes - larger particles: quartz, feldspar - very small particles: clay minerals u Voids between particles Aragonite-rich soil x 2000 Page 5 Soils and their Classification Soils - What are they? u Particulate materials - Sedimentary origins (usually) - Residual u Wide range of particle sizes - larger particles: quartz, feldspar - very small particles: clay minerals u Voids between particles Aragonite-rich soil x 2000 Need for Simple Classification u Usually soil on site has to be used. – Soils differ from other engineering materials in that one has little control over their properties u Extent and properties of the soil have to be determined u Cheap and simple tests are required to give an indication of engineering properties, e.g. stiffness, strength, for preliminary design The classification must use core samples obtained from the ground. This information is often supplemented by in-situ tests such as cone penetration tests.Read More