5. Examples of Soil Classification. A few examples are provided here in order to illustrate the classification of
soils based on the USCS.
a. Example 1.
Given:
(1) The percent of material retained on the Number 200 sieve: 60 percent
(2) The percent of coarse material retained on the Number 4 sieve: 30 percent
(3) The material passing the Number 200 sieve is mostly clay, as evidenced by a settling tube analysis or
by plotting the relatively fine fraction on ENG Form 4334.
Soil Type: SC
b. Example 2.
Given:
(1) The percent of material retained on the Number 200 sieve: 20 percent
(2) The LL of material passing the Number 40 sieve: 70
(3) The PI of material passing the Number 40 sieve: 10
(4) Inorganic soil
Soil Type: MH
c. Example 3.
Given:
(1) The percent of material retained on the Number 200 sieve: 90 percent
(2) The percent of coarse material retained on the Number 4 sieve: 75 percent
(3) The well-graded coarse fraction
(4) The LL of material passing the Number 40 sieve: 40
(5) The PI of material passing the Number 40 sieve: 4
Soil Type: GW-GM
6. Conversion of Soils Classified Under Alternate Systems to the USCS. As previously mentioned,
numerous soil classification systems exist. Therefore, military engineers often encounter data relating to soils that
have been classified according to schemes other than the USCS. Under these circumstances, it is necessary to
convert soil names from the alternate classification system to the USCS. The procedures involved in various
conversions are outlined in FM 5-410 and Engineering Technical Letter (ETL)-0254.
PART C - REMOTE INTERPRETATION OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Materials Quality Specialists (MOS 51G) are responsible for the collection as well as field and laboratory
identification of soils. A complete description of the testing procedures used by 51Gs for soil identification is
given in TM 5-330. The Terrain Analyst (MOS 81Q) is responsible for the remote interpretation of soils through
the use of maps, aerial photography, and/or soil
EN5341
3-16
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