ATTERBERG LIMITS

BETHANIA JIMENEZ / DIEGO MUNOZ

 A
The Atterberg limits are a basic measure of the critical

T water contents of a fine-grained soil: its shrinkage

limit, plastic limit, and liquid limit.

T
E In each state, the consistency and behavior of a soil is
different and consequently so are its engineering

R properties.

L
B The Atterberg limits can be used to distinguish
I
E
between silt and clay, and to distinguish between
different types of silts and clays
M
R
I
G • Liquid Limit (LL)

T • Plastic Limit (PL)

S
• Plasticity Inde

• Shrinkage Limit (SL) 

 A Liquid Limit (LL)

Is the water content at which soil
T changes from a plastic to a liquid
state when the soil specimen is

T
just fluid.

E
R
L
B
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E
M Plastic Limit (PL)
R Is the water content at the change

I from a plastic to a semi-solid

G state.

T
S

 A Plasticity Inde

Plasticity Index (PI or IP) is calculated as the Plastic Limit

T subtracted from the Liquid Limit and is an important value when
classifying soil types
T PI = LL - P

E Shrinkage Limit (SL)

R
Is the water content where the further loss of moisture does
not cause a decrease in specimen volume
L
B
I
E
M
R The shrinkage limit is calculated from

I
G SL = ((M1 - M2) - (V1 - V2) * ρw) / M

T WHER

S M1 = initial wet mass of soi

M2 = final dry mass of soi

V1 = initial volume of soi

V2 = final volume of dry soil

 A Equipment needed for Atterberg Limit Test:

T Sample Preparation Soil Grinder is Shrinkage Limit Test

and Processing optional for
Shrinkage Limit Test
T
efficient particle
Evaporating Apparatus includes
size reductio
Dishes are used to items needed for
mix specimens to the Digital Lab Scale or shrinkage limit tes
E desired moisture
conten
Balance with 0.01g
readabilit
Shrinkage Dish is a
unique Monel metal

R Spatula for mixing,
forming, and
Drying Laboratory
Oven for moisture
container as a
required in the test

L smoothing soil content test metho

B specime
Liquid Limit Test Microcrystalline

I
Wash Bottle to Wax to coat
Liquid Limit Machine,
dispense mixing wate specimens, supplied
E Aluminum
motor-driven or
manually operate
in 5lb (2.3kg)

M
quantitie
Containers for soil
R
AASHTO or ASTM
moisture sample Petroleum Jelly to
(Casagrande) Grooving
coat Shrinkage Dis
I Mortar and Pestle for Tool

G particle size
reductio
Plastic Limit Test
Fine Thread for
suspending weighing

T Washing Pan for
convenient clean-up
Glass Plate used to
roll out threads of
of the specime

Glass Plate for
soi
of bowls and spatula calibration of the
S Liquid Limit /
Plastic Limit dis
Apparatus an optional
Plastic Limit Test Wax Melting
plastic limit roller
Accessory Pot prepares wax for
apparatus for fast
Set includes items sample immersio
and consistent
needed to run most
rolling of sample
Atterberg limits
test

 A
Why are Atterberg Limits Tests Important?
T
T Atterberg limit tests accurately define the boundaries between these
states using moisture contents at the points where the physical

E changes occur. The test values and derived indexes have direct
applications in the foundation design of structures and in predicting

R the behavior of soils infills, embankments, and pavements

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B
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