ATTERBERG’S LIMIT

OBJEVTIVE

To determine the liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil.

Scope

This test method covers the determination of the liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index of soils. The
liquid and plastic limits of soils are often referred the as the Atterberg limits.

PURPOSE:

This lab is performed to determine the plastic and liquid limits of a finegrained soil. The liquid limit (LL) is arbitrarily
defined as the water content, in percent, at which a pat of soil in a standard cup and cut by a groove of standard
dimensions will flow together at the base of the groove for a distance of 12 mm . when subjected to 25 shocks
from the cup being dropped 10 mm in a standard liquid limit apparatus operated at a rate of two shocks per
second. The plastic limit (PL) is the water content, in percent, at which a soil can no longer be deformed by
rolling into 3 mm diameter threads without crumbling.

INTRODUCTION

The atterberg’s limits are a basic measure of the nature of a fine- grained soil. Depending on the water content
of the soil, it may appear in four states:

 Solid
 Semi solid
 Plastic
 Liquid

In each state of consistency and behavior of a soil is different and thus so are its engineering properties. Thus, the
boundry between each estate can be defined based on a change in the soil’s behavior. The atterbeg limits can be used to
distinguish between silt and clay, and it can distinguish between different types of silts and clays.

Definitios

Liquid limit(LL): the liquid limit is the water content where a soil changes from plastic to liquid behavior.
Casagrande subsequently standardized the apparatus and the procedure to make the measurement more repeatable.

Plastic limit (PL): is the water content where soil starts to exhibit plastic behavior. A thread of soil is at its plastic
limits when it is rolled to a diameter of 2mm or begins to crumble.
 PLASTICTY INDEX(PI): The plasticity index is a measure of the plasticity of a soil. The plasticity index is the size of
the range of water contents where the soil exhibits plastic properties. The PI is the difference between the liquid limit and
plastic limit.

Apparatus

1. Liquid Limit Device - a mechanical device consisting of a brass cup suspended from a carriage designed to
control its drop onto a hard rubber base. The device may be operated by either a hand crank or electric motor.

2. Cup - brass with mass (including cup hanger).

3. Cam - designed to raise the cup smoothly and continuously to its maximum height, over a distance of at least
180o of cam rotation, without developing an upward or downward velocity of the cup when the cam follower
leaves the cam
4. Flat Grooving Tool - a tool made of plastic or non-corroding metal having specified dimensions.
5. balance
6. Gage - A metal gage block for adjusting the height of the drop of the cup to 10 mm
7. Ground Glass Plate - used for rolling plastic limit threads.
 Casagrande’s limit device

LIQUID LIMIT

Procedures

1. Take roughly ¾ of the soil and place it into the porcelain dish. Assume that the soil was previously passed though
No.40 sieve,air dried,and then pulverized. Thoroughly mix the soil with small amount of distilled water until it
appears as a smooth uniform paste.
2. Weigh four of the empty moisture cans with their lid, and record the respective weights and can numbers on the
data sheet.
3. Adjust the liquid limit apparatus by checking the height of drop of the cup.
4. Place a portion of the previously mixed soil into the cup of the liquid limit apparatus at the point where the cup
rests on the base. Squeeze the soil down to eliminate air pockets and spread it into the cup to a depth of about
10mm at its deepest point. The soil pat should form an approximately horizontal surfaces.
5. Use the grooving tool carefully cut a clean straight groove down the centerof the cup. The tool should remain
perpendicular to the surface of the cup as groove is being made. Use extreme care to prevent sliding the soil
relative to the surface of the cup
6. Make sure that the base of apparatus below the cup and the underside of the cup is clean of soil. Turn the crank of
the apparatus at the rate of approximately two drops per second and count the number of drops, N it takes to
make the two halves of the soil pat come into contact at the bottom of the groove along a distance of 12mm. then
record the number of drops on the data sheet.
7. Take a sample, using the capsula, from edge to egde of the soil pat. The sample should include the soil on the both
sides of where the groove came into contact. Place the soil on the moisture can cover it. Immidiatly weigh the
moisture can containing the soil , record its mass and then place the can into the oven. Leave the moisture can in
the oven for 24 hours.
8. Remix the entire soil specimen in the porclain dish. Add a small amount of distiiled water to increase the water
content to that the number of drops required to close the groove decrease.
9. Repeate steps six, seven,and eight at least two addiyional trials producing successively lower numbers of drops to
close the groove. Determine the water content from each trial by using the same method used in the first
laboratory. Remember to use the same balance for all weighing.

Calculations
 1. Calculate the water content of each of the liquid limit moisture cans after they have been in the oven for 24 hours
2. Plot the water content versus number of drops on the log scale. Draw the best fit straight line through the plotted
points and determine the liquid lomits at the water content at 25 drops.

mass of water
Water content (ω) =
mass of dried soil

Liquid limit is moisture content of soil at 25 th drops

Then by using interpolation method we can get our liquid limit

75−25 25−18 2481.5+13,615

= LL = LL = 282.4
354.5−¿ ¿−272.3 57

Determination No. 1 2 3 4
Number of drops 114 75 18 11
Can No. B3P14a B2P5a B1P12a L2
Mass of can+moist 29.82 19.70 21.32 16.32
soil(g)
Mass can + dry soil (g) 19.35 13.46 14.36 11.88
Mass of can (g) 11.85 11.70 11.90 11.83
Mass of water (g) 10.57 6.24 6.97 4.44
Mass of dry soil (g) 7.5 1.76 2.56 0.05
Moisture content (%) 142.8 354.5 272.3 8880
LL=282.4%

PLASTIC LIMIT

Procedure for Determination of the Plastic Limit

1. From the 20g sample select a 1.5 to 2 g specimen for testing.

2. Roll the test specimen between the palm or fingers on the ground glass plate to from a thread of uniform
diameter.

3. Continue rolling the thread until it reaches a uniform diameter of 3 mm or.

4. When the thread becomes a diameter of 1/8 in. reform it into a ball.

5. Knead the soil for a few minutes to reduce its water content slightly.

6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 until the thread crumbles when it reaches a uniform diameter of 1/8 in.

7. When the soil reaches the point where it will crumble, and when the thread is a uniform diameter of 1/8",
it is at its plastic limit. Determine the water content of the soil.
Note:Repeat this procedure three times to compute an average plastic limit for the sample

CALCULATIONS

PLASTIC LIMIT

Compute the average of the water contents obtained from the three plastic limit tests. The plastic limit, PL, is
the average of the three water contents.

Plasticity Index

Calculate the plasticity index as follows:

PI = LL - PL

where:

LL = liquid limit, and

PL = plastic limit.

1 2 3
Determination No.
Can No. E2 B2Pa B3P7a
Mass of can+moist soil(g) 18.33 21.03 22.87
Mass can + dry soil (g) 13.64 14.98 16.20
Mass of can (g) 11.70 4.84 11.86
Mass of water (g) 4.69 6.05 6.67
Mass of dry soil (g) 1.94 10.14 4.34
Moisture content (%) 241.6 59.7 153.7
Plastic limit =151.2

Plastic index = liquid limit –plastic limit LL - PL

PI = 282.4 - 151.2= 131.2

Conclusion
 HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SOIL TESTING LABORATORY

ATTERBERG’S LIMITS

Analayst Name __________________________________

Sample description __________________________________

Test method __________________________________

Test date __________________________________

Liquid limit-

DeterminationNo. 1 2 3 4
Number of drops 114 75 18 11
Can No. B3P14a B2P5a B1P12a L2
Mass of 29.82 19.70 21.32 16.32
can+moist soil(g)
Mass can + dry 19.25 13.46 14.36 11.88
soil (g)
Mass of can (g) 11.85 11.70 11.90 11.83
Mass of water (g) 10.57 6.24 6.97 4.44
Mass of dry soil 7.4 1.76 2.56 0.05
(g)
Moisture content 142.8 354.5 272.3 8880
(%)
LL=282.4%
 Plastic limit

1 2 3
Determination No.
Can No. E2 B2Pa B3P7a
Mass of can+moist soil(g) 18.33 21.0 22.87
3
Mass of can + dry soil (g) 13.64 14.9 16.20
8
Mass of can (g) 11.70 4.84 11.86
Mass of water (g) 4.69 6.05 6.67
Mass of dry soil (g) 1.94 10.1 4.34
4
Moisture content (%) 241.6 59.7 153.7
Plastic limit =151.2

Liquid index ___ 282.4____________%

Plastic limit ______151.2____________%

Plasticity index _____ 131.2_____________