Revised Soil Classification System: Implementation and Engineering Implications

Soil classification systems help geotechnical engineers anticipate soil properties and provide early guidance for engineering analyses. Current recognize the central role of particle size inherent differences between coarse- fine-grained fractions. However, they adopt fixed boundaries irrespective a broad range fines plasticity shape, disregard distinct thresholds mechanical hydraulic properties, overlook pore-fluid chemistry effects on behavior. The Revised Classification System (RSCS) addresses these limitations benefits from published data physical insights gained during last century. By comparison, in prevailing Unified (USCS) resemble those RSCS only case angular sands gravels mixed with low-plasticity fines; all other cases, extensive sets corroborate transition adopted RSCS. complete logic tree facilitates its implementation; it is available as user-friendly Excel macro mobile application that automatically produce soil-specific charts show terms controlling fraction both properties. Multiple studies have demonstrated predictive power (e.g., compressibility, strength, conductivity, capillarity), phenomena migration bioactivity), preliminary selection solutions improvement).