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Plastic Limit Test PDF
Plastic Limit Test PDF
(SCE)
DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC ENGINEERING
I, hereby confess that I have prepared this report on my own effort. I also admit not
to receive or give any help during the preparation of this report and pledge
that everything mentioned in the report is true.
_________________
Student Signature
Name :
Matric No. :
Date :
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 1/7
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE 3/01/12
TEST TITLE: PLASTIC LIMIT TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT 3/01/12
DATE:
1.0 OBJECTIVE: To Determine the Lowest Moisture Content at Which the Soil Behaves Plastically.
3.0 THEORY
Plastic limit ( PL ) of soil is defined as the water content at which a soil will just begin to crumble when
rolled into a thread of approximately 3 mm in diameter. It is water content at the boundary between the
plastic and semi-solid states of consistency of the soil. Plasticity index (PI or IP) is the numerical
difference of the liquid and plastic limit, and indicates the range of water content through which the soil
remains plastic.
PI = LL PL
For fine grained soils, determining the natural water content (the water content of a soil in an
undisturbed condition in the ground) and relating it to the plastic and liquid limits can provide an
indication of the soils consistency and/or sensitivity potential. One such relationship is the liquidity
index.
w PL
IL
PI
Consistency index is defined as the ratio of the liquid limit minus the natural water
content to the plasticity index of a soil.
LL w
Cr
PI
Table 2.1 : Classification of soil according to plasticity.
4.0 APPARATUS:
1. The most important piece of apparatus for this test is the hand of operator, which should
be clean and free from grease.
2. Evaporating dish.
3. A separate glass plate reserved for rolling of threads. This should be smooth and free from
scratches, and about 300 mm square and 10mm thick. The surface condition of the plate
can affect the behaviour of rolled threads, and the use of unscratched glass reduces the
likelihood of discrepancies. An alternative is to reserve one side of the mixing plate for
thread rolling, and avoid mixing the soil on this area.
4. Two palette knives or spatulas.
5. A short length (say 100 mm) of 3mm diameter metal rod.
6. Standard moisture content apparatus (container, balance and oven)
5.0 PROCEDURES
Figure 2.3 : Rolling into ball and four equal part of soil after divide.
Figure 2.4 : The soil specimen is rolled under the fingers into a thread 3 mm diameter.
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 4/7
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE 3/01/12
TEST TITLE: PLASTIC LIMIT TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT 3/01/12
DATE:
(a) (b)
(c)
(d) (e)
i) Results Calculation
(a) Calculate the moisture content of the soil in each of the two containers. Take the average of
the two results.
(b) If they differ by more than 0.5% moisture content, the test should be repeated.
DATA SHEET
Location : Loc. No. :
Soil description: Sample No. :
Sample type : Depth of Sample :
Operator: Date Started :
8.0 CALCULATIONS
9.0 DISCUSSIONS
10.0 CONCLUSION
FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG. PAGE NO.: 7/7
DEPARTMENT: INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDITION:
GEOMATIC ENGINEERING REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE 3/01/12
TEST TITLE: PLASTIC LIMIT TEST DATE:
AMENDMENT 3/01/12
DATE:
11.0 QUESTIONS 1
(b) A sample of wet clay and its container weigh 102 g.After oven drying the sample and the
container weigh 60 g. What is the water content and plastic limit for the soil?
QUESTIONS 2
(a) What is the different between liquid limit and plastic limit?
(b) A sample of wet clay weighs 176 g. After oven drying the sample weigh 60 g and its container
is 7.32 g. What is the water content and plastic limit for the soil?