AASTHO

Classification
System
Group ni Popat HAHA
 Developed in 1929 as Public Road Administration
Classification System
The present version is proposed by the Committee on
Classification of Materials for Subgrades and Granular
Type Roads of the Highway Research Board in 1945
(ASTM Test Designation D-3282;AASTHO Method
M145)

AASTHO Classification
System
 According to AASTHO, SOIL is classified into 7 major
groups:

A-1, A-2, A-3

granular materials
where 35% or less of the particle passed through sieve no. 200
A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7
soils where more than 35% pass through sieve no. 200
Mostly silt and clay-type materials
1. GRAIN SIZE

GRAVEL: fraction passing the 75 mm sieve and retained on

the no. 10 (2 mm) U.S. sieve

SAND: fraction passing the no. 10 (2 mm) U.S. sieve and

retained o the no. 200 (0.075 mm) U.S. sieve

SAND & CLAY: fraction passing no. 200 (0.075 mm) U.S.
sieve

The classification system

is based on the ff. criteria:
 3. If the pebbles 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,
percentage of such material is recorded.

The classification system

is based on the ff. criteria:
2. PLASTICITY

The term SILTY is applied when the fine fractions

of soil have a plasticity index of 10 or less. The term
CLAYEY is applied when the plasticity index is 11 or more.

The classification system

is based on the ff. criteria:
For the evaluation of the quality of a soil as a highway subgrade
material, a number called GROUP INDEX is also incorporated
with the groups and subgroups of the soil. This number is written
in parentheses after the group or subgroup designation.
 = 35 .2 + .005 LL 40 + .01 F 15 (PI 10)

Where:
F = percent passing the no. 200 sieve
LL = liquid limit
PI = plasticity index

FORMULA FOR GROUP

INDEX:
 = 35 .2 + .005 LL 40 + .01 F 15 (PI 10)

Partial group index Partial group index

determined from LL determined from
Plastic index
1. If the eq. yield negative value for GI, it is taken as 0.
2. The group index calculated from the eq. is rounded off
to the nearest whole number
3. There is no upper limit for the group index
4. The group index of soil belonging to A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-
4, A-2-5, and A-3 is always 0.
5. When calculating for the group index for soils that
belong to a-2-6 and a-2-7, use the partial group index
for Pl.

Rules for determining GI:

In general, the quality of performance
of soil as a subgrade material is
inversely proportional to the group
index.