Determination of Atterberg Limits

Theory
The properties of fine grains soils are largely dependent on their consistency, which is itself related to the
moister content of a dry sample of such a soil is increased is its state gradually changes from that of a solid,
through semi-solid, through plastic and finally into a liquid form. The arbitrary boundaries between these
phases are called the "consistency limits" and the Atterberg limits provide a means of measuring and
describing the plasticity range in numerical terms. If sufficient water is mixed with clay, it can be made into
slurry, which behaves as a viscous liquid. This is known as the liquid state. If the moisture content is
gradually reduced by allowing it to dry out slowly, the clay eventually begins to hold together and to offer
some resistance to deformation; this is the plastic state. With further loss of water, the clay shrinks and the
stiffness increases until there is little plasticity left, and the clay becomes brittle; this is the semi solid
state. As drying continues, the clay continues to shrink in proportion to the amount of water lost, until it
reaches the minimum volume attainable by this process. Beyond that point further drying results in no further
decrease in volume, and this is called the solid state.
The change from one phase to the next is not observable as a precise boundary, but takes place as a gradual
transition. Nevertheless, three arbitrary but specific boundaries have been established empirically, and are
universally recognized. The moisture contents at these boundaries are known as the:
Liquid limit (LL) (symbol wL)
Plastic limit (PL) (symbol wp)
Shrinkage limit (SL) (symbol w5)
The "liquid limit" (LL) is the minimum moisture content at which a soil is assumed to flow under its own
weight, which corresponds to 25 blows in the Casagrande test or 20mm penetration in the Penetrometer test
The "shrinkage limit" (SL) is the water content at which further decrease in moisture does not cause a
decrease in volume of the soil. The "plasticity index" (PI) is the range of moisture content over which the
soil is plastic and is given by the expression,
PI = LL PL
The moisture content range between the PL and LL is known as the plasticity index(P1) (symbol IP), and is
a measure of the plasticity of the clay. Cohesionless soils have no plasticity phase, so their PT is zero.

Materials
Special
1. Liquid limit device and grooving tool (Standard casgrande apparatus).
2. Large glass plate.
3. Spatula.
General
1. Motor and pestle.
2. Sieve No. 22 (0.71mm).
3. Distilled water in a wash bottle.
4. Technical balance.
5. Drying oven.

Methodology
a. Liquid limit determination
1. 200g of air dry soil was taken and they were cleaned out of roots, rocks and other particles.
2. The soil was grinded and was sent through 0.71mm sieve.
3. This was repeated until the whole sample passed through the sieve.
4. The soil was mixed thoroughly with distilled water to form a uniform paste.
5. A portion of the paste was placed in the cup of liquid limit device, the surface was smoothed off to a
maximum depth of 1.25cm and the grooving tool was drawn through the sample along the
symmetrical axis of the cup by holding the tool perpendicular to the cup at the point of contact.

6. Thee crank was turned at the rate of 2 revolutions per second and the blows were counted which were
necessary to close the groove in the soil for the distance of 1.25cm.
7. The sample in the cup was mixed and the steps 5 and 6 were repeated until the number of blows
required to close the gap is approximately same.
8. When a consistent value in the range of 10 to 40 blows had been obtained, 10g of the soil was taken
from the near the closed groove for water content determination.
9. The water content was altered and the steps 5 to 8 were repeated and 4 water content determinations
were obtained in the range of 10 40 blows.
10. A plot of water content against log of blows was made.
b. Plastic limit determination
1. A sample of moist soil was mixed thoroughly.
2. The soil was rolled on a glass plate with the hand until it is 3mm in diameter.

3. The step 2 was repeated until a 3mm diameter thread shows signs of crumbling.

4. Some of the crumbling material obtained in step 3 ware taken for a water content determination.
5. Steps 2 4 were repeated to obtain 3 determinations which was averaged to give the plastic limit.

Results
Location : Construction site Sabaragamuwa University

Soil description : Medium Plastic soil

Test method

PLASTIC LIMIT
Container No.
Mass of wet soil + container
Mass of dry soil + container
Mass of container
Mass of moisture
Mass of dry soil
Moisture content

LIQUID LIMIT
Number of bumps
Mass of wet soil + container
Mass of dry soil + container
Mass of container
Mass of moisture
Mass of dry soil
Moisture content

BS 1377 : Part 2 : 1990 :

Test No.
g
g
g
g
g
%

Test No.
g
g
g
g
g
%

1
37
42.78
39.29
31.34
3.49
7.95
43.90

1
P1
27.92
26.86
22.40
1.06
4.46
23.77

2
30
34.93
31.05
22.47
3.88
8.58
45.22

Job ref.
Borehole/
Pit no.
Sample no.
Depth
Date

2
P2
27.4
26.46
22.39
0.94
4.07
23.1

m
23-06-2016

3
P3
27.86
26.79
22.27
1.07
4.52
23.67

Average

3
4
5
27
24
20
35.53
154.82
51.16
31.05
147.34
42.84
22.94
131.55
27.31
3.88
7.48
8.32
8.59
15.79
15.53
46.57
47.37
53.58
Sample preparation
As received
Washed on 425 m sieve
Air dried at . C
Oven dried at C
Not known
Proportion retained
On 425 m sieve %
Liquid limit
%
Plastic limit
%
Plastic index
Operator

Checked

Approved

Calculation
Liquid Limit (LL)

= 48%

Plastic Limit(PL)

= (23.77 +23.1 + 23.67) /3

= 23.51%

Plastic Index (PI)

= LL - PL
= 48% - 23.51%
= 24.49%

This soil Plastic index is between 15 30. So this soil includes under medium plastic soil.

Conclusion
The conclusion is, another method for measuring the liquid limit is the fall cone test. It is based on the
measurement of penetration into the soil of a standardized cone of specific mass. Although the Casagrande
test is widely used across North America, the fall cone test is much more prevalent in Europe due to being
less dependent on the operator in determining the Liquid Limit.
The importance of the liquid limit test is to classify soils. Different soils have varying liquid limits. Also to
find the plasticity index of a soil you need to know the liquid limit and the plastic limit.

Discussion
The importance of the liquid limit test is to classify soils. Different soils have varying liquid limits. Also to
find the plasticity index of a soil you need to know the liquid limit and the plastic limit.
The values of these limits are used in a number of ways. There is also a close relationship between the limits
and properties of a soil such as compressibility, permeability, and strength. This is thought to be very useful
because as limit determination is relatively simple, it is more difficult to determine these other properties.
Thus the Atterberg limits are not only used to identify the soil's classification, but it allows for the use of
empirical correlations for some other engineering properties.
Different types of clays have different specific surface areas which controls how much wetting is required
to move a soil from one phase to another such as across the liquid limit or the plastic limit. From this activity,
it can predict the dominant clay type present in a soil sample. High activity signifies large volume change
when wetted and large shrinkage when dried. Soils with high activity are very reactive chemically. Normally
the activity of clay is between 0. 75 and 1.25, and in this range clay is called normal. It is assumed that the

plasticity index is approximately equal to the clay fraction (A= 1). When A is less than 0.75, it is considered
inactive. When it is greater than 1.25, it is considered active.

Errors
1. Didnt mix the soil properly, causing the soil to be no uniform soil.
2. Using hand when mixing causes some of the water absorbed by our hand.
3. The dish didnt clean properly when measurement taken.
4. The rolling done in smaller scale in diameter.
5. Doesnt maintain a uniform rolling pressure throughout.
6. Penetration needle didnt fall freely when released.

References
1. http://www.slideshare.net/NurulAdha2/atterberg
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atterberg_limits
3. http://goo.gl/Ey2Lcu