ASTM D2487-11
Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
- Standard No.
- ASTM D2487-11
- Release Date
- 2011
- Published By
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
- Status
- Replace By
- ASTM D2487-17
- Latest
- ASTM D2487-17e1
- Scope
This standard classifies soils from any geographic location into categories representing the results of prescribed laboratory tests to determine the particle-size characteristics, the liquid limit, and the plasticity index.
The assigning of a group name and symbol(s) along with the descriptive information required in Practice D2488 can be used to describe a soil to aid in the evaluation of its significant properties for engineering use.
The various groupings of this classification system have been devised to correlate in a general way with the engineering behavior of soils. This standard provides a useful first step in any field or laboratory investigation for geotechnical engineering purposes.
This standard may also be used as an aid in training personnel in the use of Practice D2488.
This standard may be used in combination with Practice D4083 when working with frozen soils.
Note 58212;Notwithstanding the statements on precision and bias contained in this standard: The precision of this test method is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing. Users of this test method are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable testing. Reliable testing depends on several factors; Practice D3740 provides a means for evaluating some of those factors.
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 18212;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 28212;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......
ASTM D2487-11 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*， 2024-04-19 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 D420 Standard Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes
- ASTM D422 Standard Test Method for Particle-Size Analysis of Soils
- 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 D2487-11 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
