SOIL MECHANICS AND FOUNDATION ENGINEERING ENS6148

DETERMINATION LIQUID LIMIT, PLASTIC LIMIT AND

PLASTICITY INDEX OF A GIVEN SOIL
LABORATORY REPORT 2

APRIL 15, 2019

GROUP 1

NAME STUDENT NUMBER SIGNATURE

JAY PATEL 10475744
HUMACANTA LAMSHAL 10485108
NITISH PAHWA 10472560
JASVINDER KUMAR 10457245
SINGLA
LECKHRAJ LUCHOOMUN 10490704
KEYVAN MOHAMMADI 10400821
SHIYOUYARI
TESIMI LEWIS ATAKERE 10479835
HESAMREZA DARABI 10318206

GEOTECHNICAL & PAVEMENT ENGINEERING LABORATORY EDITH COWAN

UNIVERSITY
 Table of Contents

1 DETERMINATION OF LIQUID LIMIT – CASAGRANDE METHOD ............................ 1

1.1 Objective ........................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Concepts and Significance ......................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Apparatus and Accessories ........................................................................................................ 1
1.4 Procedure....................................................................................................................................... 2
1.5 Calculation and Test Report ..................................................................................................... 3
1.6 Precautions .................................................................................................................................... 3
1.7 Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 4
2 DETERMINATION OF PLASTIC LIMIT ................................................................................. 5
2.1 Objective ........................................................................................................................................ 5
2.2 Concepts and Significance ......................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Apparatus and Accessories ........................................................................................................ 5
2.4 Procedure....................................................................................................................................... 5
2.5 Calculation and Test Report ..................................................................................................... 6
2.6 Precautions .................................................................................................................................... 6
2.7 Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 6
3 CALCULATION OF THE PLASTICITY INDEX .................................................................... 7
3.1 Objective ........................................................................................................................................ 7
3.2 Concepts and Significance ......................................................................................................... 7
3.3 Procedure....................................................................................................................................... 7
3.4 Calculation and Test Report ..................................................................................................... 8
3.5 Precautions .................................................................................................................................... 8
3.6 Discussion ...................................................................................................................................... 8
3.7 References ...................................................................................................................................... 9
 1 DETERMINATION OF LIQUID LIMIT – CASAGRANDE METHOD

1.1 Objective

To determine the liquid limit of a given soil by the Casagrande method according to the Australian
Standard AS1289.3.1.1-2009 (Australian Standard for determination of the liquid limit of a soil – four-
point Casagrande method).

1.2 Concepts and Significance

Soils with clay minerals content can be remoulded without crumbling in the presence of humidity due
to the adsorbed water surrounding the clay particles. At a very low moisture content, soil behaves more
like a brittle solid. When the moisture content is very high, the soil and water may flow like a liquid.
Hence, on an arbitrary basis, depending on the moisture content, the nature of soil behaviour can be
broken down into four basic states: solid, semisolid, plastic, and liquid, as shown in Figure 1.1. (Das,
2013). Moisture content corresponding to the points of transition from one state to another is known
as Atterberg limits.

The liquid limit is defined as the point of transition from a plastic state to a liquid state. Its importance
is that knowing this value and the plastic limit it is possible to determine the plasticity index of a given
soil, which with its grain size distribution are used to classify the soil under the AASHTO and Unified
soil classification systems.

Figure 1.1 Atterberg limits (Das, 2013)

1.3 Apparatus and Accessories

The following apparatus and accessories were used during the test:

a) Mixing plate.
b) Mixing bowl.
c) Palette knives.
d) Liquid limit apparatus (see Figure 1.2).
e) Grooving tool (see Figure 1.2).
f) Wash bottle with potable water.
g) Digital weighing scale with ±0.01 g tolerance.
h) Heat resistant containers.
i) Oven.

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 Figure 1.2 (a) liquid limit apparatus (b) grooving tool (Das, 2013)

1.4 Procedure

By AS1289.3.1.1-2009 the procedure of the test was as follow:

a) A sample of approximately 250g was taken from the material disposed of by the laboratory
instructor for the test, which was a fine-grained brown soil that according to the instructor passed
a 425 µm sieve.

b) This sample was placed in a mixing bowl and thoroughly mixed with water until the soil becomes
a thick homogeneous paste.

c) A portion of the soil paste was placed in the cup of the liquid limit apparatus, with the cup resting
on the base and using a palette knife the mixture was levelled parallel to the base, applying
sufficient downward pressure to prevent voids formation, until reaching a depth of soil of about 10
mm. Then, the soil in the cup was divided by drawing the grooving tool along the diameter of the
cup.

d) The crank was turned at a rate of 2 revolutions per second so that the cup was lifted and dropped
until the two parts of the soil come into contact along the bottom of the groove for a distance of 10
mm. As the number of blows at the first test was between 30 and 40 (40 blows) was unnecessary
to add water or to dry the sample and repeat the procedure, and therefore that was the first point of
the test.

e) In order to determine its moisture content, a quantity of soil about 30 g was removed using the
spatula from the two portions in the cup, then it was placed in a container with a known weight
(W1) and weighed together to obtain the weight of the moist sample and the container (W2).
Finally, the container and the sample were placed in the oven and dried at 105°C to 110°C for 24
hours, after which the sample was removed from the oven and weighed to obtain the weight of the
dry sample and the container (W3).

f) The steps (c) to (e) were repeated further four times, using the same sample and increasing the
water content by adding water and mixing for at least 1 minute after each addition of water, so that
the results were evenly distributed over a range between 40 and 15 blows. The respective weights
and number of blows for each test are shown in Table 1.1.

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1.5 Calculation and Test Report
The water content w for each test is shown in Table 1.1; it was calculated using the following
equation and the recorded weights:

W2− W3
Moisture content, w(%) = × 100
W3− W1

Table 1.1 Number of blows (N) and moisture content (w) obtained on each test

Test No. 1 2 3 4 5
Mass of can, W1 (g) 23.76 23.28 23.72 23.16 23.74
Mass of can + moist soil, W2 (g) 44.62 45.22 49.18 50.80 51.20
Mass of can + dry soil, W3 (g) 40.23 39.94 42.15 42.80 42.78
Moisture content, w (%) 26.65 31.69 38.14 40.73 44.22
Number of blows, N 35 31 21 17 15

50.00

45.00
Moisture Content, w (%)

40.00
LL=36 %
35.00

30.00

25.00

20.00

15.00

10.00
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Number of Blows, N

Figure 1.3 Plot of moisture content (%) vs the number of blows for the liquid limit test results
reported in Table 1.1

1.6 Precautions

a) Initially add little water to the soil and slowly increase the quantity of water in the soil.

b) After performing each test, the cup and grooving tool was cleaned.

c) The rate of revolution was not more than 2 revolutions per second.

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 d) Wet soil taken in the container for moisture content determination was not left open in the air, the
container with soil sample was immediately weighed.

1.7 Discussion

This experiment uses a trial and error method. In order to obtain a soil sample with adequate moisture,
it took multiple tries and repetitive work. The first couple of experiments were not satisfying, and it
was necessary to repeat it a couple of times. Some precautions were taken while experimenting.

First of all, distilled water was used to minimise the possible ion exchange between the soil and any
impurities in the water. Moisture content results obtained from the calculation and its corresponding
number of blows were plotted with the former as ordinates on the linear scale and the latter as
abscissae on the logarithmic scale. Then, a line of best fit was drawn to obtain the flow curve shown
in Figure 1.3. The water content corresponding to the intersection of the said line with the
intersection of the point corresponding to 25 blows on the abscissa is the liquid limit of the soil,
which in this case resulted being LL = 36 % (see Figure 1.3).

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 2 DETERMINATION OF PLASTIC LIMIT

2.1 Objective

To determine the plastic limit of a given soil according to the Australian Standard AS1289.3.2.1-
2009 (Australian Standard for determination of the plastic limit of a soil).

2.2 Concepts and Significance

The plastic limit is defined as the moisture content, in percentage, at which the soil when rolled into
threads of 3.2 mm in diameter, crumbles (Das, 2013). Which represents the lower limit of the plastic
stage of the soil and therefore the point of transition from semisolid to plastic state (see Figure 1.1). Its
importance is that knowing this value and the liquid limit it is possible to determine the plasticity index
of a given soil, which with its grain size distribution are used to classify the soil under the AASHTO
and Unified soil classification systems.

2.3 Apparatus and Accessories

The following apparatus and accessories were used during the test:

a) Flat area made of glass.

b) Mixing bowl.
c) Palette knives.
d) A rod 3 mm in diameter.
e) Digital weighing scale with ±0.01 g tolerance.
f) Heat resistant container.
g) Oven.

2.4 Procedure

a) Three different samples of about 8g each was taken from the paste used in the liquid limit test,
then it was roundly shaped by the fingers and rolled on the flat glass area until the whole sample
reached an equal diameter in comparison to the rod. The amount of rolling between the hand and
the flat area was 80 to 90 times rolling per minute, where every rolling time is the total movement
forward and backwards. Since the thread became to 3 mm diameter without crumbling, the sample
was successively kneaded and re-rolled between the hands and the flat area until the thread
crumbled at 3 mm diameter (see Figure 2.1), whose moisture content corresponds to the plastic
limit.

b) That sample was placed in a container with a known weight (W1) and weighed together to obtain
the weight of the moist sample and the container (W2). Finally, the container and the sample were
placed in the oven and dried at 105°C to 110°C for 24 hours, after which the sample was removed
from the oven and weighed to obtain the weight of the dry sample and the container (W 3). The
respective values are shown in Table 2.1.

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 Figure 2.1 Crumbled sample during the plastic limit test

2.5 Calculation and Test Report

The recorded weights corresponding to the plastic limit test are shown in Table 2.1, and it was
calculated using the following equation:

Mass of Moisture W2− W3

Plastic Limit = = × 100
Mass of dry soil W3− W1

Test No. 1 2 3
Mass of can, W1 (g) 23.90 22.93 23.35
Mass of can + moist soil, W2 (g) 26.90 26.51 27.72
Mass of can + dry soil, W3 (g) 26.41 26.07 26.96
Plastic Limit 19.52 14.01 21.05

19.52 + 14.01 + 21.05

𝑃𝐿 = = 18%
3

The resultant plastic limit of the soil under analysis was PL = 18%.

2.6 Precautions

a) Rolling was stopped when the thread just starts crumbling.

b) Weights of container, wet soil and dry soil was taken accurately
c) According to AS1289.2.1.1 (Determination of the moisture content of soil) the recommended
weigh of the sample should be greater than 100 g, however, due to the homogeneity of the
sample, it is admissible for the plastic limit test using samples of about 5 to 20 g to determine the
moisture content.
d) Diameter of rolled thread was 3 mm diameter according to specification.

2.7 Discussion
The liquid and plastic limits of a soil depend on the amount and type of clay in the soil, and this forms
the bases for the soil classification system. The plastic limit, however, is defined as the water content
at which the soil just begins to crumble when rolled into a thread, approximately 3 mm in diameter.

Based on the result of our experiment, the Plastic limit of the soil sample is 18%, meaning that the
water content at which the soil crumbled when rolled is 18%. In the final discussion, the soil will be
classified based on the results of these limits (plastic and liquid limits).

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 3 CALCULATION OF THE PLASTICITY INDEX

3.1 Objective

To calculate the plasticity index of a given soil according to the Australian Standard AS1289.3.3.1-
2009 (Australian Standard for calculation of the plasticity index of a soil).

3.2 Concepts and Significance

Casagrande (1932) studied the relationship of the plasticity index to the liquid limit of a wide variety
of natural soils. Based on the test results, he proposed a plasticity chart as shown in Figure 3.1.

Figure 3.1 Plasticity chart (Das, 2013)

The important factor of this chart is the empirical A-line that is given by the equation: PI = 0.73(LL-
20). The A-line separates the inorganic clays from the inorganic silts. Plots of plasticity indexes against
liquid limits for inorganic clays lie above the A-line, and those for inorganic silts lie below the A-line.

The line which lies above the A-line is called the U-line. The U-line is approximately the upper limit
of the relationship of the plasticity index to the liquid limit for any soil found so far. The equation for
the U- line can be given as PI = 0.9(LL-8).

The information provided in the plasticity chart is of great value and is the basis for the classification
of fine-grained soils in the Unified Soil Classification System (Das, 2013).

3.3 Procedure

By AS1289.3.3.1-2009 the procedure of the test was as follow:

a) Determine the liquid limit by AS 1289.3.1.1.

b) Perform the plastic limit by AS 1289.3.1.2.

c) We ensured that the same method of preparation of soil for the liquid limit and plastic limit has
been followed.

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3.4 Calculation and Test Report

Using the obtained values of liquid limit (LL=36%) and plastic limit (PL=18%) the plasticity index PI
was calculated from the following equation:

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿

The resultant plasticity index of the soil under analysis was PI = 18%.

3.5 Precautions

By AS1289.3.3.1-2009 the following precautions should be considered during the calculation:

a) If either the liquid limit or the plastic limit cannot be determined due to the soil, the plasticity
index may be considered to be non-plastic.

b) Given the experimental nature of these results, it is possible for the plastic limit to come back as
equal to, or greater than, the liquid limit. Provided the experimental results are dependable, the
plasticity index may be taken as practically zero in this instance.

3.6 Discussion

A correlation may be found between the Atterberg limits of the air-drying modelling clay which was
tested. Looking at Figure 3.1 the properties of the soil are consistent with an inorganic clay of medium-
high plasticity. This position gives a good idea of the materials general engineering properties and
forms the basis of Casagrande’s classification method, which suggests the clay is of low to medium
compressibility and medium to high strength when the dry and minimal reaction to shaking.
These properties are the result of multiple factors such as the particle size range and distribution of the
modelling clay, as well as mineralogical properties of the sample. The nature and influence of these
factors on the soil properties may only be reached following a fuller investigation of the soil.

As stated above, the plasticity index is the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit.
From the experiment, the plasticity index of the soil sample is 18%, and this will be used to classify
the soil using the Plasticity Chart in Figure 3.1 above.

From the Plasticity Chart, the point of intersection of Plasticity index (18%) and Liquid limit (36%) is
in- between the diagonal lines, U-line and A-line and also between 30% and 50% boundary on the
Liquid limit axis. Therefore the soil is classified as INORGANIC CLAY OF MEDIUM PLASTICITY.

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 3.7 References

Das, B. M. (2002). Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual (6th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Das, B. M. (2013). Fundamentals of geotechnical engineering. Stanford: CENGAGE Learning.

Standards Australia. (2006). Australian Standard for determination of the plastic limit of a soil (AS1289.3.2.1-2009).
Sydney: Standards Australia.

Standards, A. (2009). Australian Standard for calculation of the plasticity index of a soil (AS1289.3.3.1-2009). Sydney:
Standards Australia.

Standards, A. (2009). Australian Standard for determination of the liquid limit of a soil – four-point Casagrande method
(AS1289.3.1.1-2009). Sydney: Standards Australia.