ASTM D2487-17e1
Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)

Standard No.

ASTM D2487-17e1

Release Date

2017

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM D2487-17e1

Scope

1.1 This practice describes a system for classifying mineral and organo-mineral soils for engineering purposes based on laboratory determination of particle-size characteristics, liquid limit, and plasticity index and shall be used when precise classification is required. NOTE 1—Use of this standard will result in a single classification group symbol and group name except when a soil contains 5 to 12 % fines or when the plot of the liquid limit and plasticity index values falls into the crosshatched area of the plasticity chart. In these two cases, a dual symbol is used, for example, GP-GM, CL-ML. When the laboratory test results indicate that the soil is close to another soil classification group, the borderline condition can be indicated with two symbols separated by a slash. The first symbol should be the one based on this standard, for example, CL/CH, GM/SM, SC/CL. Borderline symbols are particularly useful when the liquid limit value of clayey soils is close to 50. These soils can have expansive characteristics and the use of a borderline symbol (CL/CH, CH/CL) will alert the user of the assigned classifications of expansive potential. 1.2 The group symbol portion of this system is based on laboratory tests performed on the portion of a soil sample passing the 3-in. (75-mm) sieve (see Specification E11). 1.3 As a classification system, this standard is limited to naturally occurring soils. NOTE 2—The group names and symbols used in this test method may be used as a descriptive system applied to such materials as shale, claystone, shells, crushed rock, etc. See Appendix X2. 1.4 This standard is for qualitative application only. NOTE 3—When quantitative information is required for detailed designs of important structures, this test method must be supplemented by laboratory tests or other quantitative data to determine performance characteristics under expected field conditions. 1.5 This standard is the ASTM version of the Unified Soil Classification System. The basis for the classification scheme is the Airfield Classification System developed by A. Casagrande in the early 1940s.2 It became known as the Unified Soil Classification System when several U.S. Government Agencies adopted a modified version of the Airfield System in 1952. 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.7 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process. 1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

ASTM D2487-17e1 Referenced Document

• ASTM C117 Standard Test Method for Materials Finer than 75-181m (No. 200) Sieve in Mineral Aggregates by Washing
• ASTM C136 Standard Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates
• ASTM C702 Standard Practice for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size
• ASTM D1140 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Amount of Material Finer than 75-&x3bc;m (No. 200) Sieve in Soils by Washing*， 2024-04-22 Update
• ASTM D2216 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
• ASTM D2488 Recommended Practice for Description Of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
• ASTM D3740 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• ASTM D4083 Standard Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure)
• ASTM D4318 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
• ASTM D4427 Standard Classification of Peat Samples by Laboratory Testing
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• ASTM D6913 Standard Test Methods for Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation) of Soils Using Sieve Analysis
• ASTM E11 Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes

ASTM D2487-17e1 history

• 2017 ASTM D2487-17e1 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• 2017 ASTM D2487-17 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• 2011 ASTM D2487-11 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• 2010 ASTM D2487-10 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• 2006 ASTM D2487-06e1 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• 2006 ASTM D2487-06 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• 2000 ASTM D2487-00 Standard Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
• 1975 ASTM D2487-69(1975) Standard Test Method for Classification Of Soils For Engineering Purposes