Soil and Rock Classification and Logging
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GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN MANUAL CHAPTER 5 SOIL AND ROCK CLASSIFICATION AND LOGGING NYSDOT Geotechnical Page 5-1 June 17, 2013 Design Manual (Intentionally left blank) NYSDOT Geotechnical Page 5-2 June 17, 2013 Design Manual Table of Contents 5.1 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 5-4 5.2 SOIL CLASSIFICATION ................................................................................................ 5-6 5.2.1 Brief Description of Terms .................................................................................. 5-6 5.2.2 Coarse-Grained Soils ........................................................................................... 5-6 5.2.3 Fine-Grained Inorganic Soils ............................................................................... 5-7 5.2.4 Organic Fine-Grained Soils ................................................................................. 5-8 5.2.5 Highly Organic Soils ............................................................................................ 5-9 5.2.6 Particle Shape ....................................................................................................... 5-9 5.2.7 Color .................................................................................................................. 5-10 5.2.8 Moisture ............................................................................................................. 5-10 5.2.9 Plasticity ............................................................................................................. 5-10 5.2.10 Soil Structure ..................................................................................................... 5-11 5.2.11 HCI Reaction...................................................................................................... 5-11 5.2.12 Subsurface Exploration Logging........................................................................ 5-12 5.2.12.1 NYSDOT Soil Description ................................................................. 5-12 5.2.12.1.1 Use of NYSDOT Soil Identification System on Subsurface Exploration Log ................................................................... 5-14 5.2.12.2 Unified Soil Classification System ...................................................... 5-16 5.2.12.3 AASHTO Soil Classification System ................................................. 5-23 5.3 ROCK CLASSIFICATION ........................................................................................... 5-26 5.3.1 Rock Type .......................................................................................................... 5-26 5.3.1.1 Igneous Rocks ........................................................................................ 5-26 5.3.1.2 Sedimentary Rocks ................................................................................ 5-26 5.3.1.3 Metamorphic Rocks ............................................................................... 5-27 5.3.2 Rock Properties .................................................................................................. 5-27 5.3.2.1 Rock Color ............................................................................................. 5-27 5.3.2.2 Mineralogy ............................................................................................. 5-27 5.3.2.3 Weathered State of Rock ....................................................................... 5-27 5.3.2.4 Relative Rock Strength and Hardness .................................................... 5-28 5.3.2.5 Fractures ................................................................................................. 5-28 5.3.2.6 Core Recovery (CR) ............................................................................... 5-28 5.3.2.7 Rock Quality Designation (RQD) .......................................................... 5-28 5.3.2.8 Additional Rock Properties .................................................................... 5-28 5.3.3 Rock Core Logging ............................................................................................ 5-28 5.3.3.1 NYSDOT Rock Core .......................................................................... 5-28 5.4 BRIEF GLOSSARY OF GEOLOGIC TERMS ............................................................. 5-33 5.5 REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 5-33 NYSDOT Geotechnical Page 5-3 June 17, 2013 Design Manual CHAPTER 5 Soil and Rock Classification and Logging 5.1 OVERVIEW The detailed description and classification of soil and rock are an essential part of the geologic interpretation process and the geotechnical information developed to support design and construction. The description and classification of soil and rock includes consideration of the physical characteristics and engineering properties of the material. The soil and rock descriptions that are contained on the field logs should be based on factual information. Interpretive information may be included on the field logs if a description is provided on the reason for the interpretive information. This chapter provides standards for describing and logging soil and rock. The NYSDOT Soil Classification System is outlined in the Geotechnical Engineering Bureau’s An Engineering Description of Soils Visual-Manual Procedure (GTP-2). This manual presents a procedure for describing soil samples obtained for foundation engineering and earthwork purposes by the New York State Department of Transportation. The procedure involves visually and manually examining soil samples with respect to texture, plasticity and color. The classification method establishes a “word picture” on the moisture and relative percentages of types of soil particles which can be entered onto official documents such as a subsurface exploration log or other appropriate data sheet. Another classification system, the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) as outlined in ASTM 2487 – “Standard Practices for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)”, provides a conventional system for classifying soils which is a precise classification system based on laboratory determination of particle-size characteristics, liquid limit, and plasticity index. As an option, ASTM 2488 – “Standard Practices for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual – Manual Procedure)” identifies a procedure for the description of soils for engineering purposes. This practice describes a procedure for identifying soils based on visual examination and manual tests. The NYSDOT Rock Classification System is outlined in the Geotechnical Engineering Bureau’s Rock Core Evaluation Manual (GEM-23). It presents a procedure for describing rock core samples obtained for the New York State Department of Transportation by State work forces, and/or private drilling companies, for foundation, rockslope, and other engineering purposes. The evaluation is intended to provide a comprehensive word description of the core samples to those involved in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance processes. There are numerous other rock classification systems, but none of these is universally used. This chapter provides a composite of those classification systems that incorporates the significant descriptive terminology relevant to geotechnical design and construction. An important facet of soil and rock classification is the determination of what constitutes “rock”, as opposed to extremely weathered, partially cemented, or altered material that approaches soil in its character and engineering characteristics. Extremely soft or decomposed rock that is friable (easily crumbled), and can be reduced to gravel size or smaller by normal hand pressure, should be classified as a soil. NYSDOT Geotechnical Page 5-4 June 17, 2013 Design Manual CHAPTER 5 Soil and Rock Classification and Logging COARSE-GRAINED SOILS (Identify by Size of Particles) BOULDERS COBBLES GRAVEL SAND Greater Than 12” 12” to 3” 3” to No.10 No.10 to No. 200 (305 mm) (305 mm to 75 COARSE COARSE mm) 3” to 1” No. 10 to No. 40 (75 mm to 25 mm) (2.0 mm to 0.425 mm) FINE FINE 1” to No. 10 No. 40 to No. 200 (25 mm to 2.0 mm) (0.425 mm to 0.075 mm) FINE-GRAINED SOILS Identify by Behavior (Individual Particles Not Visible) SILT CLAY 1. Nonplastic. 1. Plastic, acts like putty when moist and 2. Powders easily when dry. w et. 3. Dries rapidly. 2. High dry strength. 4. Free w ater appears w hen shaken. 3. Dries slow ly – sticky. 5. Wire cut surface – rough. 4. No free w ater w hen shaken. 5. Wire cut surface – smooth. MIXED-GRAINED SOILS Significant proportions of coarse-grained and fine-grained sizes. Make judgment on whether fine-grained or coarse- grained dominates behavior. ORGANIC SOILS (Identify by Appearance, Behavior, Color, etc.) PEAT MUCK MARL ORGANIC ORGANIC SILT CLAY Figure 5-1 NYSDOT Identification Procedure Chart NYSDOT Geotechnical Page 5-5 June 17, 2013 Design Manual CHAPTER 5 Soil and Rock Classification and Logging 5.2 SOIL CLASSIFICATION Soils are divided into four broad categories. These soil categories are coarse-grained soils, fine- grained inorganic soils, organic soils, and peat. The first step in identifying soil is to register the soil into one of the four broad categories. The definitions for these broad categories are as follows: • Coarse-Grained Soils: Soils that contain 50 % or less of soil particles passing a 0.0030 in. (0.075 mm)