Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
CIVT 3601K
SOIL MECHANICS AND FOUNDATIONS DESIGN
LAB # 6
LIQUID LIMIT
ASTM D4318
SUBMITTED BY:
ROSSMERY ALVA
LABORATORY PARTNERS:
SHAMICE JAMES
PETER GLENN
ABDEL KOUNDABA
SUBMITTED TO:
DR. MOHAMAD MUSTAFA
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….
3
.....
Apparatus…………………………………………………………………………………
4
…..
Procedure…………………………………………………………………………………
5
…..
Data
6
Sheet…………………………………………………………………………………….
Calculations………………………………………………………………………………
7
…..
Tabulated
8
Results…………………………………………………………………………….
Errors………………………………………………………………………………………
9
…
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………
10
…
References…………………………………………………………………………………
11
…
Appendix
12
A…………………………………………………………………………………..
2
INTRODUCTION:
The liquid limit is the water content, in percent, of a soil at the arbitrarily defined
boundary between the semi-liquid and plastic states [2]. It is also known as the water content at
which the groove closes at exactly 25 cranks. The liquid limit is taken as the water content at
which the soil “flows” [1]. Special equipment and procedures defined in the ASTM Test
Designation D-4318, are required for determining the liquid limit [1]. These test procedure
involves placing the soil sample in the liquid limit device cup, creating a thin groove in the
center of the sample with a special tool, and then subjecting the cup-sample to a series of small
drops to create vibrations that will cause the soil to “flow” and close the groove [1]. The test
procedure to obtain the liquid limit value consists of performing a series of trials, with the soil at
a different water content for each trial. Therefore to determine the water content where the
groove will “close” when the tap count is 25 [1]. After performing the liquid limit test we found
3
APPARATUS:
• Distilled water
• Frosting knife
• Grooving tool
• spoon
4
PROCEDURE:
• Add distilled water to about 60g of soil until it looks like peanut butter
• Check that the drop height of the cup in the liquid limit device is 1.0-cm and adjust as
necessary (grooving tools have a tab with a dimension of exactly 1.0-cm that you can
use)
• Spread a flat layer of soil in the cup with the frosting knife
• Use the grooving tool to cut a groove right down the middle of the soil
• Turn the crank on the liquid limit device at a rate of 2 cranks per second and closely
observe the groove. Count and record the number of cranks that are required to close the
groove over a length of 0.5-in ( the grooving tool have a dimension of 0.5-in that you can
use)
• Remove a slice of soil approximately the width of the spatula, extending from edge to
edge of the soil cake at right angles to the groove and including that portion of the groove
in which the soil flowed together, place in a container of known mass, and cover.
• Return the soil remaining in the cup to the dish. Wash and dry the cup and grooving tool
and reattach the cup to the carriage in preparation for the next trial.
• Remix the entire soil specimen in the dish adding distilled water to increase the water
content of the soil and decrease the number of blows required to close the groove.
• Repeat steps 4-9 for at least two additional trials producing successively lower numbers
of blows to close the groove. One of the trials shall be for a closure requiring 25 to 35
blows, one for closure between 20 and 30 blows, and one trial for a closure requiring 15
to 25 blows
• Determine the water content in accordance with Test Method D 2216 (Lab 1).
5
Data Sheet:
I. General Information
Trial Number 1 2 3
Container ID Abdel Peter1 Peter3
Mass of container (Mc) 21.76 20.87 21.12
Mass of moist soil + container (M1) 47.80 46.99 47.64
Mass of dry soil + container (M2) 39.44 37.33 37.71
Mass of moisture (Mw) 8.36 9.26 9.93
Mass of dry soil (Ms) 17.68 16.86 16.59
Moisture Content (w) 47% 54% 59%
Number of Cranks 35 20 19
Liquid Limit (LL) 44%
Corresponding Plastic Limit (PL) 54%
Plasticity Index (PI) -9%
6
CALCULATIONS:
Mw = M1 – M2
Mw = 47.80 – 39.44 = 8.36 g
Mw = 46.99 – 37.73 = 9.26 g
Mw = 47.64 – 37.71 = 9.93 g
Ms = M2 - Mc
ω=M1-M2M2-Mc x 100
ω=47.80-39.4439.44-21.76 x 100=47%
ω=46.99-37.7337.73-20.87 x 100=54%
ω=47.64-37.7137.71-21.12 x 100=59%
LL= ωN250.121
LL= 4735250.121=48.953%
LL= 5520250.121=53.535%
LL= 3019250.121=29.022%
∑ LL = 48.953+53.535+29.022 = 44%
PL = 47 + 54 + 59 = 54%
PI = LL -PL
PI = 44 – 53 = -9%
7
TABULATED RESULTS:
Trial Number 1 2 3
Container ID Peter 1 Peter 2 Abdel 2
Mass of moisture (Mw) 8.36 9.26 9.93
Mass of dry soil (Ms) 17.68 16.86 16.59
Moisture Content (w) 47% 54% 59%
Average Plastic Limit (PL) 44%
Corresponding Liquid Limit (LL) 54%
Plasticity Index (PI) -9%
8
ERRORS:
9
CONCLUSION:
The liquid limit test is used to determine the water content of a sample of soil when the
groove is “closed” at 25 cranks [1]. The liquid limit is the boundary between the semi-liquid and
plastic state [2]. After obtaining a liquid limit of 44% the soil can be classified as inorganic clay,
10
REFERENCES
[1] McCarthy, David F (2007). Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations: Basic
[2] ASTM International. Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity
11