  Fuzzy rule-based model is a powerful tool for imitating the human way of
thinking and solving uncertainty-related problems as it allows for
understandable and interpretable rule bases. The objective of this paper is to
study the applicability of fuzzy rule-based modelling to quantify soil
classification for engineering purposes by qualitatively considering soil index
properties. The classification system of the Highway Research Board is
considered to illustrate a fuzzy rule-based model. The soil's index properties
are fuzzified using triangular functions, and the fuzzy membership values are
calculated. Fuzzy arithmetical operators are then applied to the membership
values obtained for classification. Fuzzy decision tree classification
algorithm is used to derive fuzzy if-then rules to quantify qualitative soil
classification. The proposed system is implemented in MATLAB. The results
obtained are checked and the implementation of the proposed model is measured
against the outcomes of the laboratory tests.
