MCU16.0099.01, RAL19.0036 & OPW 19.0282.01 - Response to Information Request (final) 10.03.2020 · MCU16/0099.01

Soil Plasticity
                             Term                           Symbol               Range of              Range of
                                                                                 liquid limit          liquid limit of
                                                                                 for silt              clay
                             Low Plasticity                 L                    ≤50                   ≤35
                             Medium Plasticity              I                    Not applicable        ≤35 and ≤50


                             High Plasticity                H                    >50                   >50


Moisture Content Classification
Material                     Term                          Symbol        Field Assessment
                             Dry                           D             Non-cohesive and free-running
                             Moist                         M             Soil feels cool, darkened in colour. Soil tends to stick
        grained




                                                                         together
        Coarse




                             Wet                           W             Soil feels cool, darkened in colour. Soil tends to stick
                                                                         together, free water forms when handling.
                             Moist, dry of plastic limit   < PL          Hard and friable or powdery
                             Moist, near plastic limit     ≈ PL          Soils can be moulded at a moisture content approximately
                                                                         equal to the plastic limit
         Fine Grained




                             Moist, wet of plastic limit   > PL          Soils usually weakened and free water forms on hands when
                                                                         handling
                             Wet, near liquid limit        ≈ LL          Near liquid limit
                             Wet, wet of liquid limit      > LL          Wet of liquid limit


Consistency Terms for Cohesive Soil
Term                    Symbol         Field Assessment                    Undrained              SPT                    DCP (Blows /
                                                                           Shear                  N – Value              100mm)
                                                                           Strength
                                                                           (kPa)
                                       Exudes between fingers when
Very Soft               VS                                                 ≤12                    <2                     ≤1
                                       squeezed in hand.
                                       Can be moulded by light finger
Soft                    S                                                  >12 and ≤25            2 to 5                 1 to 2
                                       pressure.
                                       Can be moulded by strong
Firm                    F                                                  >25 and ≤50            5 to 10                2 to 3
                                       finger pressure.
Stiff                   St             Cannot be moulded by fingers.       >50 and ≤100           10 to 20               3 to 5
                                       Can be indented by thumb
Very Stiff              VSt                                                >100 and ≤200          20 to 40               5 to 10
                                       nail.
                                       Can be indented with difficulty
Hard                    H                                                  > 200                  > 40                   >10
                                       by thumb nail
                                       Can be easily crumbled or
Friable                 Fr             broken into small pieces by         -
                                       hand




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NOTES\EXPLANATORY NOTES AURECON 2018 V2 (002).DOC  26 February 2018  PAGE 2