Soil Mechanics Series - Description and Classification

Yun Zhou, Ph.D., P.E.

Course Outline

In this course, you need to review Chapter 4 – Engineering Description, Classification and Characteristics of Soils and Rocks from “Reference Manual Volume I, SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS”, Publication No. FHWA NHI-06-088, by Federal Highway Administration of U.S. Department of Transportation. 

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end of each of the five lectures, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course material.

Learning Objective

Upon completion of this course, the student will gain the following specific knowledge: 

• Basic terminologies in soil description;
• Basics and commonly used standards in soil classification;
• The major engineering characteristics of the main soil groups;
• Soil types;
• Soil visual description;
• Unified Soil Classification System (USCS);
• Plasticity chart for USCS;
• AASHTO Soil Classification System;
• Comparison of the USCS with the AASHTO soil classification system;
• Engineering characteristics of coarse and fine soils;
• Engineering characteristics of organic soils; and
• Subsurface profile development.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for geotechnical, civil, mining, structural, and environmental engineers, as well as design and construction personnel involved with the planning, design, and construction of building structures on, in, and with soils.

Benefit to Attendees

Attendee of this course will be able to understand and deal with issues associated with soil description and classification.

Course Introduction

This course explains and provides procedures for soil description and classification. Soil description/identification is the systematic naming of individual soils in both written and spoken forms. Soil classification is the grouping of soils with similar engineering properties into a category by using the results of laboratory-based index tests.

Course Content

The associated course materials are contained in an Adobe Acrobat pdf format of Chapter 4 – Engineering Description, Classification and Characteristics of Soils and Rocks from “Reference Manual Volume I, SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS”, Publication No. FHWA NHI-06-088, by Federal Highway Administration of U.S. Department of Transportation.

Chapter 4 – Engineering Description, Classification and Characteristics of Soils and Rocks

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

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Course Summary

This course, as a part of soil mechanics series, covers basics and standards in soil description and classification. 

Related Links

For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

PDHonline Course C518 - Soil Mechanics Series - Stress and Strain
PDHonline Course C519 - Soil Mechanics Series - Deformation
PDHonline Course C521 - Soil Mechanics Series - Subsurface Exploration
PDHonline Course C522 - Soil Mechanics Series - Laboratory Testing

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

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DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.

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