1. Soil Classification for Pavement Engineering
Understanding soil classification is pivotal in pavement engineering, affecting the performance and stability of road infrastructure. Various systems, such as the AASHTO and Unified Soil Classification System (USCS), are employed to assess soil suitability based on grain size, plasticity, and load-bearing capacity. The chapter highlights the importance of soil properties, identification methods, challenges in classification, and stabilization requirements.
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What we have learnt
- Soil classification is essential for determining the suitability of soil for subgrade support and material selection.
- The AASHTO and USCS systems categorize soils based on their physical and mechanical properties.
- Challenges in soil classification include heterogeneity, seasonal variability, and soil expansion issues.
Key Concepts
- -- AASHTO Soil Classification System
- A system that categorizes soils into groups A-1 to A-7 based on grain size distribution and Atterberg limits.
- -- Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
- A classification method that divides soils into coarse-grained and fine-grained based on particle size and plasticity characteristics.
- -- Plasticity Index
- A measure of the plasticity of a soil, indicating how much moisture is required to change it from a solid to a plastic state.
- -- Group Index
- An empirical value used in the AASHTO system representing the quality of subgrade materials, calculated using the percentage passing the No. 200 sieve and Atterberg limits.
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