IRC:75-2015

ANNEXURE 2.1

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADEQUATE SOIL DESCRIPTION

Sand and gravel

Modified Loess

Organic Clay
Inorganic silt

Organic silt
Glacial Till

Lake Marl
Hardpan

Loess

Peat
Clay

Marl
Color 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
from field examination

Odour2 0 0 0
General Information

Texture and structure3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Dilatancy4 0 0 0 0 0 0
Grain Properties5 0 0 0 0
Plasticity 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dry Strength6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Natural water content, w 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Intact Samples1

Natural void ratio7, e 0 0 0 0

Unconfined Compressive 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Strength,
qu
Results of classification tests

Sensitivity8, St 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unit weight of solid constituents, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
γs
Maximum void ratio9, emax 0 0 0 0
Representative samples

Minimum void ratio9, emin 0 0 0 0

Liquid Limit, Lw 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Plastic Limit10, Pw 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shrinkage Limit, Sw 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mechanical Analysis11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Carbonate Content 12
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Organic Matter Content13 0 0 0 0

1. If no undisturbed or tube samples were obtained, use the spoon samples.

2. If the odour is faint, heat the sample slightly. This intensifies the odour.
3. Describe appearance of fresh fracture of intact sample (granular, dull, smooth,
and glossy). Then rub small quantity of soil between the fingers, and describe
sensation (floury, smooth, gritty, and sharp). If large specimens break up readily
into smaller fragments, describe appearance of walls of cracks (dull, slicken sided)
and average spacing of cracks.

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4. Perform shaking test. Describe results (conspicuous, week, none), depending on

intensity of phenomenon observed.
5. Describe shape (angular, sub angular, sub rounded, rounded, well rounded) and
mineralogical characteristics of macroscopic soil particles only. Mineralogical
characteristics include type of rocks and minerals represented among the grains
so far as they can be discerned by inspection under the hand lens. Describe rock
fragments (fresh, slightly weathered, or thoroughly decomposed; hard or friable).
If a sand contains mica flakes, indicate mica content (slightly, moderately, or very
micaceous). In connection with peat, the term grain properties refer to the type
and state of preservation of the predominant visible remnants of plants such as
fibres, twigs or leaves.
6. Crush dry fragment between fingers, and indicate hardness (very low, low, medium,
high, and very high).
7. If no undisturbed samples have been obtained, substitute results of standard
penetration test or equivalent.
8. Applies only to clay and fine silt at a water content above the plastic limit.
9. e min is the void ratio of the soil in its densest state, usually achieved by packing
the soil into a container by means of a combination of static pressure and vibration.
10. In addition to numerical value of Pw state whether threads were tough, firm,
medium, or weak.
11. Present results either in from of semi-logarithmic graph, or else by numerical
values of D10 and U= D60/D10 accompanied by adjectives indicating the type of
grain-size grading.
12. Calcium carbonate content can be detected by moistening the dry material with
dilute HCI. Describe results of test (strong, weak, or no effervescence).
13. To determine presence of organic matter, determine, Lw first in fresh state and then
after drying in over at 108ºC. describe results of test (highly or slightly organic).
14. Add to data on texture a description of general appearance, structure, and degree
of cohesiveness of chunks in fresh state and after soaking in water.
15. Add to data on texture a description of the macroscopic features of the loess, such
as diameter and spacing of root holes.
Notes:
1. Table borrowed from “Foundation Engineering” by peck, Hanson and Thornburn.
2. The symbol “0” indicates the particular property that is relevant to the particular
type of soil.

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5. Leonards, G. (1962)- Foundation Engineering .McGraw Hill Book Company, Inc.

6. Murthy, V.N.S. Principles and Practices of Soil Mechanics and Foundation
Engineering
7. Nayak N. V. Foundation Design Manual.
8. Ranjan, G. and Rao, A.S.R. (2004). Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics. Second
Edition, New Age International (P) Ltd., New Delhi.
9. Taylor D. W. (1948), Fundamentals of Soil mechanics.
10. Venkatramaiah C. (2006) Geotechnical Engineering

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