1. Soils in Construction (Engineering)
Douglas Kowalewski

2. Particle Size Distribution
SOIL PROPERTIES
Particle Size Distribution
Gravel, Sand, Silt, Clay
Fi = (Ms-ΣMi) / Ms
Fi = Fraction of particles with diameter finer than “i”
ΣMi = summation of mass of particles with diameter finer than “i”

3. Atterberg Limits: Soil Plasticity Measure the Following Water Content
SOIL PROPERTIES
Atterberg Limits: Soil Plasticity
Characterize the fine-grained fraction of soils
Measure the Following Water Content
Plastic Limit (PL)
Liquid Limit (LL)
Plastic Index (PI)
Plastic Index = LL – PL
0: Nonplastic
1-5: Slightly Plastic
5-10: Low Plasticity
10-20: Medium Plasticity
20-40: High Plasticity
>40: Very High Plasticity

4. Grain Size Analysis: FINES
GEOTECHNICAL – Unified Soil Classification System
Grain Size Analysis: FINES
CLAY
SILT
M = Silt (Plots below the A-line)
C = Clay (Plots above the A-line)

5. >40: Very High Plasticity
GEOTECHNICAL – Unified Soil Classification System
Fine Soil
Plasticity: FINES
LOW
HIGH
Plastic Index = LL – PL
0: Nonplastic
1-5: Slightly Plastic
5-10: Low Plasticity
10-20: Medium Plasticity
20-40: High Plasticity
>40: Very High Plasticity
H = High Liquid Limit
L = Low Liquid Limit

6. GEOTECHNICAL – Unified Soil Classification System

7. Reading: Appendix B USCS: pg 1-22

8. SOIL REPORTS

9. Site Map

10. GEOTECHNICAL