The classification of a soil by his physical and chemical properties provides basic information about his mechanical behaviour. For civil engineering a soil classification according to international standards like EN, ASTM or BS is necessary to distinguish soil parameter and to calculate values of bearing capacity.

 

Different methods have been developed and standardised for the analysis and classification of soil samples in the field and laboratory. The APS GmbH provides an extensive assortment of geotechnical equipment for soil investigation and accessories for soil sampling and sample preparation with best Wille Geotechnik® quality.

 

Soil material can be divided by different criteria:

Grain size distribution, compaction, pore volume, permeability, consistence, shear strength, chemical and mineralogical composition, etc.

 

Here the main standards and methods for soil classification are listed:

 

Density:

• DIN 18125-1: Determination of soil density in the laboratory
• DIN 18125-2: Determination of soil density in the field ( f.e. with the soil densitometer according to Haas )
• ASTM D2167; AASHTO T205; CNR no 22: Determination of soil density in the fields by the Balloon density method
• DIN 18125-2; ASTM D1556; AASHTO T191; BS 1377-9, 1924-2; UNE 7371, 83109; NF P94-061-3: Determination of the density of non-cohesive soils by the Sand replacement method
• DIN 18124; DIN 12039; DIN ISO 11508; prDIN ISO 17892-3; EN 1097-6; BS 812; ASTM C127, C128: Grain density and pore volume by the Pyknometer method
• ASTM D854; AASHTO T100; BS 1377-2; NF P18 054: Specific gravity with Gay Lussac method
• DIN 18126; EN 13286-5; ASTM D4253, 4254: Relative density of non-cohesive soils

Consistance:

• DIN 18122-1; ASTM D4318; AASHTO T89; BS 1377; NF P94-051; UNE 7377, 7002: Liquid limit according to Casagrande
• prDIN ISO 17892-12; BS 1337-2; NF P94-052.1: Liquid limit with cone-penetrometer method
• DIN 18122-1; prDIN ISO 17892-12; ASTM D4318; AASHTO T90; BS 1377; NF P94-51: Plastic limit
• DIN 18122-2; ASTM D 427; AASHTO T 92; UNE 7016; NF P94-060; BS 1377: Shrinkage limit

Particle size distribution:

• DIN 18123; prEN ISO 17892-4: Sedimentation method with Aräometer
• BS 1377: Sedimentation method with (Khön/Andreasen) pipette
• DIN 4187-1; EN 933-2; ASTM E11; AASTHO T27; BS 410; NFX11-504; DIN ISO 3310-1, 2, 565: Sieves for silt, sand and pebbles
• EN 933-8, -11; ASTM D2419; AASHTO T176; NF XP 18-598 ; UNE 83131: Sand equivalent test for fine aggregates

Compression and shear strength (here only small devices for quick analysis):

• DIN 4094-4; ASTM D2573: Undrained shear strength with pocket shear vane device
• prDIN ISO 17892-6: Undrained shear strength with cone-penetrometer method
• DIN 18136; prDIN ISO 17892-7; ASTM D2573-94, D2166; BS 1377; AASHTO T208: Unconfined compression strength with pocket-penetrometer

Physical and chemical properties:

• DIN 18121-1, 2: Water content by oven drying and quick mode
• DIN 18129 - ISO 10693: Carbonate content by Scheibler method
• DIN 18132: Water absorption according to Enslin and Neff
• DIN 18128; EN 196-2, 196-21, 459-2: Loss of carbon