University of Gondar

Institutes of Technology
Department of Civil Engineering

Soil Mechanics-I (CEng 2131)

By Genanaw M. (Msc)
E-mail: mengiegenanaw02@gmail.com
 Consistency of Soil
2

 When clay minerals are present in fine-grained soil,

the soil can be remolded in the presence of some
moisture without crumbling.
 This cohesive nature is caused by the adsorbed
water surrounding the clay particles. Swedish
scientist named Atterberg developed a method to
describe the consistency of fine-grained soils with
varying moisture contents.
 …Cont.
3

 Consistency is a term used to indicate the degree of

firmness of the cohesive soils.

 The physical properties of the clays greatly differ at

different water contents. A soil which is very soft at
a higher percentage of water content becomes very
hard with a decrease in water content.
 …cont.
4

 However, it has been found that at the same water

content, two samples of clay of different origins may
possess different consistency. One clay may be
relatively soft while the other may be hard. Further, a
decrease in water content may have little effect on one
sample of clay but may transform the other sample
from almost a liquid to a very firm condition.
 Consistency
5

 Consistency is an important characteristic in the

case of fine soil, the term consistency describing
the ability of a soil to undergo unrecoverable
deformation without cracking or crumbing.

 The consistency of clays and other cohesive soils

is usually described as soft, medium, stiff, or
hard.
 ….Cont.
6

 Water Content Significantly affects properties of

Silty and Clayey soils (unlike sand and gravel)
1. Strength decreases as water content increases

2. Soils swell-up when water content increases

3. Fine-grained soils at very high water content

possess properties similar to liquids
 …cont.
7

4. As the water content is reduced, the volume of

the soil decreases and the soils become plastic

5. If the water content is further reduced, the soil

becomes semi-solid when the volume does not
change
 …Cont.
8

 The knowledge of the soil consistency is important in

defining or classifying a soil type or predicting soil
performance when used a construction material

 A fine-grained soil usually exists with its particles

surrounded by water.

 The amount of water in the soil determines its state or

consistency
 Atterburg Limits
9

 At a very low moisture content, soil behaves more

like a 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 behavior of soil can be
divided into 4 basic states: solid, semisolid, plastic,
and liquid.
  Atterberg limits are the limits of water content used
to define soil behavior. The consistency of soils
10

according to Atterberg limits gives the following

diagram.
 The three limits are known as the shrinkage limit
(SL), plastic limit (PL), and liquid limit (LL) as
11

shown. The values of these limits can be obtained

from laboratory tests.
 Importance of Atterburg Limits
12

 The Atterberg limits may be used for the

following:
1. To obtain general information about a soil and its
strength, compressibility, and permeability
properties.

2. Empirical correlations for some engineering

properties.

3. 3. Soil classification
 Atterberg Limits & Consistency indices
13

 Liquid Limit
 The liquid limit is defined as the water content at
which the soil changes from a liquid state to a plastic
state.

 Liquid limit of soil is generally determined by the

Standard Casagrande device.

 The procedure for the liquid limit test is given by

ASTM D-4318
14

Liquid Limit
 Casagrande- defined the liquid limit as a
water content at which a standard groove cut
in the remolded soil sample by a grooving tool
will close over a distance of 13 mm (1/2”) at
25 blows of the L.L cup falling 10 mm on a
hard rubber base. (See the next slide).
 .
15
16
17
 …Cont.
18
 …Cont.
19

Liquid Limit(LL)

 The moisture content of the soil, in percent, and the

corresponding number of blows are plotted on
semi-logarithmic graph paper.

 The relationship between moisture content and log

N is approximated as a straight line.
20
 Liquid Limit(LL)
21
 Liquid Limit
22

Fall-Cone Method (British Standard – BS1377)

 Another method of determining liquid limit that is
popular in Europe and Asia is the fall cone method .
 In this test the liquid limit is defined as the moisture
content at which a standard cone of apex angle 30° and
weight of 0.78 N (80 gf) will penetrate a distance d =
20 mm in 5 seconds when allowed to drop from a
position of point contact with the soil surface.
 …Cont
23
 Fall-Cone Method (British Standard –
BS1377)
24
 Fall-Cone Method (British Standard –
BS1377)
25
26
27

 Casagrande defined the plastic limit as water at

which a thread of soil just crumbles when it is
carefully rolled out to a diameter of 3 mm(1/8”). It
should break up into segments about 3 – 10 mm
(1/8 – 3/8 inch) long. If the thread crumbles at
diameter smaller than 3 mm, the soil is too wet. If
the thread crumbles at diameter grater than 3 mm,
the soil past the P.L
28
 Plastic Limit
29

 As in the case of liquid limit determination, the fall

cone method can be used to obtain the plastic limit.

 This can be achieved by using a cone of similar

geometry but with a mass of 2.35 N (240 gf). Three to
four tests at varying moisture contents of soil are
conducted, and the corresponding cone penetrations
(d) are determined.
30
31
 Plasticity Index (PI)
32

 A cohesionless soil has zero plasticity index. Such soils

are termed non-plastic. Fat clays are highly plastic and
possess a high plasticity index.
 Report the liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index
to the nearest whole number, omitting the percent
designation. If either the liquid limit or plastic limit
could not be determined, or if the plastic limit is equal to
or greater than the liquid limit, report the soil as non
plastic, NP.
 Plasticity Index (PI)
33

 If either the liquid limit or plastic limit could not be

determined, or if the plastic limit is equal to or greater
than the liquid limit, report the soil as non plastic, NP.

 The plasticity index is important in classifying fine

grained soils. It is fundamental to the Casagrande
plasticity chart, which is currently the basis for the
Unified Soil Classification System.
 …Cont.
34
35
36

 Report the liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity

index to the nearest whole number, omitting the
percent designation.

 If either the liquid limit or plastic limit could not be

determined, or if the plastic limit is equal to or
greater than the liquid limit, report the soil as non-
plastic, NP.
37
38
 Activity
39

 "Clayey soils" necessarily do not consist of 100%

clay size particles. The proportion of clay mineral
flakes (< 0.002 mm size) in a fine soil increases its
tendency to swell and shrink with changes in
water content. This is called the activity of the
clayey soil, and it represents the degree of
plasticity related to the clay content.
 Activity
40

 Activity of clays is the ratio of plasticity index to

the percentage of particle sizes finer than 2μm.
41
 Shrinkage Limit (SL)
42

 The moisture content, in percent, at which the volume

of the soil mass ceases to change is defined as the
shrinkage limit.

 Shrinkage limit tests [ASTM (2007)—Test Designation.

 The shrinkage limit ( SL ) is defined as the water

content at which the soil changes from a semi-solid to a
solid state.
 Shrinkage Limit (SL)
43

 The shrinkage limit is determined as follows. A mass

of wet soil, M1, is placed in a porcelain dish 44.5 mm
in diameter and 12.5 mm high and then oven-dried.
 The volume of oven-dried soil is determined by
using mercury to occupy the vacant spaces caused
by shrinkage. The mass of mercury is determined
and the volume decrease caused by shrinkage can be
calculated from the known the density of mercury.
 …Cont.
44
 Shrinkage Limit (SL)
45
 Shrinkage ratio (SR)
46

 Another parameter that can be determined from a

shrinkage limit test is the shrinkage ratio, which is
the ratio of the volume change of soil as a
percentage of the dry volume to the corresponding
change in moisture content, or
 Shrinkage ratio (SR)
47
 Plasticity Chart
48

 An A-line separates the inorganic clays from the

inorganic silts.

 Inorganic clay values lie above the A-line, and

values for inorganic silts lie below the A-line.

 Organic silts plot in the same region (below the A-

line and with LL ranging from 30 to 50) as the
inorganic silts of medium compressibility.
 Plasticity Chart
49

 Organic clays plot in the same region as inorganic silts of

high compressibility (below the A-line and LL greater
than 50).
 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
 The U-line is approximately the upper limit of the
relationship of the plasticity index to the liquid limit for
any currently known soil.
50
51
 Plasticity Chart
52

 Fine – grained soils can exist in one of four states:

solid, semisolid, plastic, and liquid.

 Water is the agent that is responsible for changing

the states of soils.

 A soil gets weaker if its water content increases.

 Three limits are defined based on the water content

that causes a change of state.
 Plasticity Chart
53

 The plasticity index defines the range of water

content for which the soil behaves like a plastic
material.

 The liquidity index gives a measure of strength.

 The soil strength is lowest at the liquid state

 and highest at the solid state.

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Thank You!!!!!!