A classification system for excavating in natural materials
H.A.D. Kirsten · Civil Engineering = Siviele Ingenieurswese · 1982
A classification system is proposed which is based on the relevant engineering properties of the ground and which does not allow the method of excavation to dictate the class of excavation. The system provides for the classification of the complete range of materials from the weakest soils to the hardest rocks irrespective of the size, shape or means of excavation. Provision is made to determine the excavation class quickly by means of empirical assessments. To obviate disputes, provision is further made to determine the input parameters quantitatively by standard tests. Some of the currently used classification criteria are briefly reviewed.