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AASHTO
The AASHTO classification system identifies two general classifications: (1) granular materials
having 35 percent or less by weight smaller than 0.074 mm and (2) silt-clay materials having more
than 35 percent by weight smaller than 0.074 mm.
Allowable Entries:
Enter up to four classes. Acceptable entries are:
A-1, A-1-A, A-1-B, A-2, A-2-4, A-2-5, A-2-6, A-2-7, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, A-7-5, A-7-6, and A-8.
Determination:
- Use (NSSH Exhibit 618-4)
Classification of soils and soil-aggregate mixtures for AASHTO system. Or use comparable
reference Guide Sheet 1, (see below) to estimate the AASHTO classification.
- The classification may be further modified by addition of a group index. The group index is
calculated from an empirical formula. [See
NSSH 618.20(b)(3)]
Guide Sheet 1 - General relationship of systems used for classifying soil samples
[This table may be used as a guide in classifying soils for which no engineering test data
are available. The symbol > means "greater than;" the symbol < means "less than."]
| USDA texture class and symbol |
Unified symbol |
AASHTO symbol |
Soil properties related to classifications |
|
Clay; silty clay
c; "sic"
|
CH |
A-7 |
High shrink-swell clays. |
| MH |
A-7 |
Mica, iron oxide, kaolinitic clays. |
| CL |
A-7 |
Low LL. Generally < 45 pct clay. |
|
Silty clay loam
"sicl"
|
CL |
A-7 |
Low LL. Plastic. (A-6 if clay < 30 pct). |
| CL-ML |
A-7 |
Low LL. Mod. plastic. (A-6 if clay < 30 pct). |
| CH |
A-7 |
High LL. High shrink-swell clays. |
| MH |
A-7 |
High LL. Mica, iron oxide, kaolinitic. |
|
Clay loam
"cl"
|
CL |
A-6 or A-7 |
Low LL. Plastic. |
| CL-ML |
A-6 |
Low LL. Moderately plastic. |
| CH |
A-7 |
High LL. High shrink-swell clays. |
| MH |
A-7 |
High LL. Mica, iron oxide, kaolinitic. |
|
Loam
"l"
|
CL-ML |
A-4 |
Moderately plastic (A-6 if clay > 21 pct). |
| CL |
A-6 |
Plastic (A-4 if clay < 22 pct). |
| ML |
A-4 |
Low plasticity (A-7 if clay > 21 pct). |
|
Silt loam
"sil"
|
CL-ML |
A-4 |
Moderately plastic (A-6 if clay > 21 pct). |
| ML |
A-6 |
Low plasticity (A-7 if clay > 21 pct). |
| CL |
A-6 |
Plastic. |
| Silt "si" |
ML |
A-4 |
Low plasticity. |
|
Sandy clay loam
"scl"
|
CL |
A-7 |
Fines > 50 pct. |
| SC |
A-7 |
Fines 50 pct or less. |
|
Sandy loam
"sl"
|
SM |
A-2-4orA-4 |
Low plasticity. |
| SC |
A-2=4 |
Plastic. |
| SM-SC |
A-2-4 |
Moderately plastic. |
|
Fine sandy loam
"fsl"
|
SM |
A-4 |
Nonplastic. Fines 50 pct or less. |
| ML |
A-4 |
Nonplastic. Fines > 50 pct. |
| CL-ML |
A-4 |
Moderately plastic. Fines > 50 pct. |
| SM-SC |
A-4 |
Moderately plastic. Fines 50 pct or less. |
|
Very fine sandy
loam "vfsl"
|
CL-ML |
A-4 |
Moderately plastic. |
| ML |
A-4 |
Low plasticity. |
|
Loamy sands
ls; "lfs"
"lvfs"
|
SM |
A-2-4 |
Nonplastic. Fines 35 pct or less. |
| SM-SC |
A-2-4 |
Moderately plastic. Fines 35 pct or less. |
| SM |
A-4 |
Low plasticity. Fines > 35 pct. |
| ML |
A-4 |
Little or no plasticity. |
|
Sand; fine sand
"s"; "fs"
|
SP-SM |
A-3 |
Fines approx. 5-10 pct. |
| SM |
A-2-4 |
Fines approx. > 10 pct. |
| SP |
A-3 |
Fines < 5 pct. |
|
Very fine sand
"vfs"
|
SM |
A-4 |
Low plasticity. |
| ML |
A-4 |
Little or no plasticity. |
|
Coarse sand
"cos"
|
SP; GW |
A-1 |
Fines < 5 pct. |
| SP-SM |
A-1 |
Fines 5-12 pct. |
| SM |
A-1 |
Fines 13-25 pct. |
| SM |
A-2-4 |
Fines > 25 pct. |
|
Gravel, "G"
50 pct passes #200
50 pct of coarse
passes #4 sieve
|
GP; GW |
A-1 |
Fines < 5 pct. |
| GMorGC |
A-1 |
Fines 5-25 pct. |
| GMorGC |
A-2 |
Fines 26-35 pct. |
| GC |
A-6 |
Fines > 35 pct. |
Contact Mike Walker for additional assistance.
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