Determining Moisture-Unit Weight Relations of Soil (Compaction Test) - Soil Properties: Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation - page 182

Table 12-3 General Guide to Selection of Soils on Basis of Anticipated Embankment Performance [4, 5]

Maximum
Dry Unit
Weight Range lb/ft 3

Anticipated
Embankment
Performance

HBR
Classification

Optimum
Moisture Range (%)

Visual Description

A-1-a Granular material 115-142 7-15 Good to excellent

A-1-b
A-2-4

Granular material with soil 110-135 9-18 Fair to excellent

A-2-5
A-2-6
A-2-7
A-3

Fine sand and sand 110-115 9-15 Fair to good

A-4 Sandy silts and silts 95-130 10-20 Poor to good

A-5 Elastic silts and clays 85-100 20-35 Unsatisfactory

A-6 Silt-clay 95-120 10-30 Poor to good

A-7-5 Elastic silty clay 85-100 20-35 Unsatisfactory

A-7-6 Clay 90-115 15-30 Poor to fair

REFERENCES

[1] T. William Lambe, Soil Testing for Engineers , John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,

New York, 1951.

[2] ASTM, 2007 Annual Book of ASTM Standards , West Conshohocken, PA,

2007. Copyright, American Society for Testing and Materials, 100
Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. Reprinted with
permission.

[3] B. K. Hough, Basic Soils Engineering , 2d ed., The Ronald Press Company,

New York, 1969. Copyright © 1969 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

[4] Robert D. Krebs and Richard D. Walker, Highway Materials , McGraw-Hill

Book Company, New York, 1971.

[5] L.E. Gregg, “Earthwork,” in K. B. Woods, ed., Highway Engineering Hand-

book , McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, 1960.

[6] U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, The Unified Soil Classification System ,

Waterways Exp. Sta. Tech. Mem. 3-357 (including Appendix A, 1953, and
Appendix B, 1957), Vicksburg, Miss., 1953.