1、Designation: D 2488 09Standard Practice forDescription and Identification of Soils (Visual-ManualProcedure)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2488; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of las
2、t revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.1. Scope*1.1 This practice covers procedures for the
3、 description ofsoils for engineering purposes.1.2 This practice also describes a procedure for identifyingsoils, at the option of the user, based on the classificationsystem described in Test Method D 2487. The identification isbased on visual examination and manual tests. It must beclearly stated i
4、n reporting an identification that it is based onvisual-manual procedures.1.2.1 When precise classification of soils for engineeringpurposes is required, the procedures prescribed in Test MethodD 2487 shall be used.1.2.2 In this practice, the identification portion assigning agroup symbol and name i
5、s limited to soil particles smaller than3 in. (75 mm).1.2.3 The identification portion of this practice is limited tonaturally occurring soils (disturbed and undisturbed).NOTE 1This practice may be used as a descriptive system applied tosuch materials as shale, claystone, shells, crushed rock, etc.
6、(seeAppendixX2).1.3 The descriptive information in this practice may be usedwith other soil classification systems or for materials other thannaturally occurring soils.1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions
7、 to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and
8、determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specificprecautionary statements see Section 8.1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performingone or more specific operations. This document cannot replaceeducation or experience and should be used in conjunctionw
9、ith professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice maybe applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is notintended to represent or replace the standard of care by whichthe adequacy of a given professional service must be judged,nor should this document be applied without considerat
10、ion ofa projects many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in thetitle of this document means only that the document has beenapproved through the ASTM consensus process.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and ContainedFluidsD 1452 Practice for Soil Exp
11、loration and Sampling byAuger BoringsD 1586 Test Method for Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of SoilsD 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soilsfor Geotechnical PurposesD2113 Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling ofRock for Site InvestigationD 2487 Practice for Clas
12、sification of Soils for EngineeringPurposes (Unified Soil Classification System)D 3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for AgenciesEngaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock asUsed in Engineering Design and ConstructionD 4083 Practice for Description of Frozen Soils (Visual-Manual Proce
13、dure)3. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsExcept as listed below, all definitions arein accordance with Terminology D 653.NOTE 2For particles retained on a 3-in. (75-mm) US standard sieve,the following definitions are suggested:Cobblesparticles of rock that will pass a 12-in. (300-mm) squareopening and be r
14、etained on a 3-in. (75-mm) sieve, and1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil andRock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.07 on Identification andClassification of Soils.Current edition approved May 15, 2009. Published June 2009. Originallyapproved in 1
15、966. Last previous edition approved in 2006 as D 2488 06.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.1*A
16、Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.Bouldersparticles of rock that will not pass a 12-in. (300-mm) squareopening.3.1.1 claysoil passing a No. 200 (75-m) sieve
17、that can bemade to exhibit plasticity (putty-like properties) within a rangeof water contents, and that exhibits considerable strength whenair-dry. For classification, a clay is a fine-grained soil, or thefine-grained portion of a soil, with a plasticity index equal to orgreater than 4, and the plot
18、 of plasticity index versus liquidlimit falls on or above the “A” line (see Fig. 3 of Test MethodD 2487).3.1.2 gravelparticles of rock that will pass a 3-in. (75-mm) sieve and be retained on a No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve with thefollowing subdivisions:coarsepasses a 3-in. (75-mm) sieve and is retained on
19、a34-in. (19-mm) sieve.finepasses a34-in. (19-mm) sieve and is retained on a No.4 (4.75-mm) sieve.3.1.3 organic claya clay with sufficient organic content toinfluence the soil properties. For classification, an organic clayis a soil that would be classified as a clay, except that its liquidlimit valu
20、e after oven drying is less than 75 % of its liquid limitvalue before oven drying.3.1.4 organic silta silt with sufficient organic content toinfluence the soil properties. For classification, an organic siltis a soil that would be classified as a silt except that its liquidlimit value after oven dry
21、ing is less than 75 % of its liquid limitvalue before oven drying.3.1.5 peata soil composed primarily of vegetable tissue invarious stages of decomposition usually with an organic odor,a dark brown to black color, a spongy consistency, and atexture ranging from fibrous to amorphous.3.1.6 sandparticl
22、es of rock that will pass a No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve and be retained on a No. 200 (75-m) sieve with thefollowing subdivisions:coarsepasses a No. 4 (4.75-mm) sieve and is retained ona No. 10 (2.00-mm) sieve.mediumpasses a No. 10 (2.00-mm) sieve and is retainedon a No. 40 (425-m) sieve.finepasses a No. 4
23、0 (425-m) sieve and is retained on aNo. 200 (75-m) sieve.3.1.7 siltsoil passing a No. 200 (75-m) sieve that isnonplastic or very slightly plastic and that exhibits little or nostrength when air dry. For classification, a silt is a fine-grainedsoil, or the fine-grained portion of a soil, with a plast
24、icity indexless than 4, or the plot of plasticity index versus liquid limitfalls below the “A” line (see Fig. 3 of Test Method D 2487).4. Summary of Practice4.1 Using visual examination and simple manual tests, thispractice gives standardized criteria and procedures for describ-ing and identifying s
25、oils.4.2 The soil can be given an identification by assigning agroup symbol(s) and name. The flow charts, Fig. 1a and Fig. 1bfor fine-grained soils, and Fig. 2, for coarse-grained soils, canbe used to assign the appropriate group symbol(s) and name. Ifthe soil has properties which do not distinctly
26、place it into aspecific group, borderline symbols may be used, see AppendixX3.NOTE 3It is suggested that a distinction be made between dualsymbols and borderline symbols.Dual SymbolA dual symbol is two symbols separated by a hyphen,for example, GP-GM, SW-SC, CL-ML used to indicate that the soil hasb
27、een identified as having the properties of a classification in accordancewith Test Method D 2487 where two symbols are required. Two symbolsare required when the soil has between 5 and 12 % fines or when the liquidlimit and plasticity index values plot in the CL-ML area of the plasticitychart.Border
28、line SymbolA borderline symbol is two symbols separated by aslash, for example, CL/CH, GM/SM, CL/ML.Aborderline symbol shouldbe used to indicate that the soil has been identified as having propertiesthat do not distinctly place the soil into a specific group (see AppendixX3).5. Significance and Use5
29、.1 The descriptive information required in this practice canbe used to describe a soil to aid in the evaluation of itssignificant properties for engineering use.5.2 The descriptive information required in this practiceshould be used to supplement the classification of a soil asdetermined by Test Met
30、hod D 2487.5.3 This practice may be used in identifying soils using theclassification group symbols and names as prescribed in TestMethod D 2487. Since the names and symbols used in thispractice to identify the soils are the same as those used in TestMethod D 2487, it shall be clearly stated in repo
31、rts and allother appropriate documents, that the classification symbol andname are based on visual-manual procedures.5.4 This practice is to be used not only for identification ofsoils in the field, but also in the office, laboratory, or whereversoil samples are inspected and described.5.5 This prac
32、tice has particular value in grouping similarsoil samples so that only a minimum number of laboratory testsneed be run for positive soil classification.NOTE 4The ability to describe and identify soils correctly is learnedmore readily under the guidance of experienced personnel, but it may alsobe acq
33、uired systematically by comparing numerical laboratory test resultsfor typical soils of each type with their visual and manual characteristics.5.6 When describing and identifying soil samples from agiven boring, test pit, or group of borings or pits, it is notnecessary to follow all of the procedure
34、s in this practice forevery sample. Soils which appear to be similar can be groupedtogether; one sample completely described and identified withthe others referred to as similar based on performing only a fewof the descriptive and identification procedures described inthis practice.5.7 This practice
35、 may be used in combination with PracticeD 4083 when working with frozen soils.NOTE 5Notwithstanding the statements on precision and bias con-tained in this standard: The precision of this test method is dependent onthe competence of the personnel performing it and the suitability of theequipment an
36、d facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of PracticeD 3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objectivetesting. Users of this test method are cautioned that compliance withPractice D 3740 does not in itself assure reliable testing. Reliable testingdepends on several factors;
37、 Practice D 3740 provides a means forevaluating some of those factors.D24880926. Apparatus6.1 Required Apparatus:6.1.1 Pocket Knife or Small Spatula.6.2 Useful Auxiliary Apparatus:6.2.1 Test Tube and Stopper (or jar with a lid).6.2.2 Hand Lens.7. Reagents7.1 Purity of WaterUnless otherwise indicated
38、, referencesto water shall be understood to mean water from a city watersupply or natural source, including non-potable water.7.2 Hydrochloric AcidA small bottle of dilute hydrochlo-ric acid, HCl, one part HCl (10 N) to three parts water (Thisreagent is optional for use with this practice). See Sect
39、ion 8.8. Safety Precautions8.1 When preparing the dilute HCl solution of one partconcentrated hydrochloric acid (10 N) to three parts of distilledwater, slowly add acid into water following necessary safetyprecautions. Handle with caution and store safely. If solutioncomes into contact with the skin
40、, rinse thoroughly with water.8.2 CautionDo not add water to acid.9. Sampling9.1 The sample shall be considered to be representative ofthe stratum from which it was obtained by an appropriate,accepted, or standard procedure.NOTE 6Preferably, the sampling procedure should be identified ashaving been
41、conducted in accordance with Practices D 1452, D 1587,orD2113, or Test Method D 1586.9.2 The sample shall be carefully identified as to origin.NOTE 7Remarks as to the origin may take the form of a boringnumber and sample number in conjunction with a job number, a geologicstratum, a pedologic horizon
42、 or a location description with respect to apermanent monument, a grid system or a station number and offset withrespect to a stated centerline and a depth or elevation.NOTE 1Percentages are based on estimating amounts of fines, sand, and gravel to the nearest 5 %.FIG. 1a Flow Chart for Identifying
43、Inorganic Fine-Grained Soil (50 % or more fines)NOTE 1Percentages are based on estimating amounts of fines, sand, and gravel to the nearest 5 %.FIG. 1 b Flow Chart for Identifying Organic Fine-Grained Soil (50 % or more fines)D24880939.3 For accurate description and identification, the mini-mum amou
44、nt of the specimen to be examined shall be inaccordance with the following schedule:Maximum Particle Size,Sieve OpeningMinimum Specimen Size,Dry Weight4.75 mm (No. 4) 100 g (0.25 lb)9.5mm(38 in.) 200 g (0.5 lb)19.0mm(34 in.) 1.0kg(2.2lb)38.1mm(112 in.) 8.0 kg (18 lb)75.0 mm (3 in.) 60.0 kg (132 lb)N
45、OTE 8If random isolated particles are encountered that are signifi-cantly larger than the particles in the soil matrix, the soil matrix can beaccurately described and identified in accordance with the preceedingschedule.9.4 If the field sample or specimen being examined issmaller than the minimum re
46、commended amount, the reportshall include an appropriate remark.10. Descriptive Information for Soils10.1 AngularityDescribe the angularity of the sand(coarse sizes only), gravel, cobbles, and boulders, as angular,subangular, subrounded, or rounded in accordance with thecriteria in Table 1 and Fig.
47、3. A range of angularity may bestated, such as: subrounded to rounded.10.2 ShapeDescribe the shape of the gravel, cobbles, andboulders as flat, elongated, or flat and elongated if they meetthe criteria in Table 2 and Fig. 4. Otherwise, do not mention theshape. Indicate the fraction of the particles
48、that have the shape,such as: one-third of the gravel particles are flat.10.3 ColorDescribe the color. Color is an importantproperty in identifying organic soils, and within a givenlocality it may also be useful in identifying materials of similargeologic origin. If the sample contains layers or patc
49、hes ofvarying colors, this shall be noted and all representative colorsshall be described. The color shall be described for moistsamples. If the color represents a dry condition, this shall bestated in the report.10.4 OdorDescribe the odor if organic or unusual. Soilscontaining a significant amount of organic material usuallyhave a distinctive odor of decaying vegetation. This is espe-cially apparent in fresh samples, but if the samples are dried,the odor may often be revived by heating a moistened sample.If the odor is unusual (petroleu
