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AUSTRALIAN STANDARD
The Australian soil classication method is described in AS
17263. AS 1726 also classies the primary soil type based on
proportion (>50% by mass). The classication of soils with a
majority of nes material (silt or clay) is based generally by
plotting the results of Atterberg limits test results against the
A-Line on the plasticity index:liquid limit chart (where this
information is available).
Descriptive terms for secondary and less fractions are provided using a dened set of percentages, which vary for coarseand ne-grained soil components.
AS 1726 is the only system discussed in this article which
quantifies a medium plasticity nomenclature for clay materials (liquid limit of 35% to 50%), in addition to a low and
high plasticity.
The consistency of cohesive soils is based on the
undrained shear strength. This nomenclature differs from
the South African guidelines classification. For instance, a
very stiff clay (AS 1726) approximately correlates with a stiff
clay (South African guidelines) and a very high strength clay
(BS EN ISO 14668-24).
The consistency of non-cohesive soils is based on density
index (%), which, whilst dierent to the South African guidelines1, generally correlates similarly.
EUROPEAN STANDARD
The European (including British) standard description of soil
and rock is presented in BS EN ISO 14688-15 and BS EN ISO
14688-24. Notwithstanding the comments below, the standard
indicates that, in general, the interpreted geotechnical engineering behaviour of the soil is used to classify the soil type.
Thus, for instance, where the material is considered to behave
as a clay, it should be named a clay.
The soil type is named after the majority (>50% by mass)
principal fraction where the soil has a majority of very coarse
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The American Standard uses ASTM D2488 6 for identification of soils from a field or tactile assessment, and ASTM
D2487 7 for classification of soils using laboratory test data.
These standards use a proportional-based (>50% by mass)
classification system, with the primary soil type based on the
majority fraction.
Proportions of soil fractions based on dened percentages
are provided for secondary or less material descriptors. The
classication of nes dominant soils (silt or clay) is based on the
A-Line, as well as tactile assessments of dry strength, toughness
and dilatancy.
The standard denes a medium plasticity based on a tactile
assessment, but does not provide a quantitative classication of
this. Likewise, there is a qualitative assessment on the consistency of cohesive soils, but there is no comment on the consistency of granular soils.
DISCUSSION
NOTES
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