Determination of Liquid Limit

of Soil using Casagrande

Experiment 5
Candelaria, Harley O.
3CE-1
Date Presented: March 28, 2022
Date Submitted: March 28, 2022

Introduction
In the Casagrande cup method, the soil paste is placed in
the Casagrande cup, and a groove is made at the center of it
The limit is defined as the moisture content, in percent,
required to close a distance of 0.5 inches along the bottom
of a groove after 25 blows in a liquid limit device. It is difficult
to adjust the moisture content in the soil to meet the
required 12.5 mm (0.5 in.) closure of the groove in the soil
pat at 25 blows. Hence, at least three tests for the same soil
are conducted at varying moisture contents, with the
number of blows, N, varying between 15 and 35.
Equipments and Tools

Casagrande Spatula Digital Balance Oven

Apparatus

Container Grooving Tool

Materials

Moist Soil Samples

Personal Protective Equipment

Safety glasses Safety shoes Hardhat Hearing Protection

Disposable Rubber
Gloves
Procedure Overview:
For the Determination of Plastic Limit of Soil, it is helpful to break down the separate stages of the test.
This applies regardless of which test standard is being followed.

1. Preparation 2. Test Procedure 3.Determination 4. Calculations and Results

Detailed Procedure:
1. Preparation
Place a soil paste in the cup.
Detailed Procedure:
2. Test Procedure
Cut a groove at the center of the soil paste with the
standard grooving tool. Lift the cup and drop it from a
height of 10mm, using the crank-operated cam. Measure
the water content required to close a distance of 12.7mm
along the bottom of the groove and note down the number
of blows.
Detailed Procedure:
3. Determination
Repeat the procedure at least three times for the same soil
at varying moisture contents.
Detailed Procedure:
4. Calculations and Results
Plot the moisture content of the soil, in percent, and the
corresponding number of blows on semi-logarithmic graph.
Draw the best-fit straight line through the plotted points.
The moisture content corresponding to N 25, determined
from the curve, is the liquid limit of the soil.
Purpose and Conclusions
The liquid limit of the soil depends upon the clay mineral present in it. Some clay minerals
have larger surface area and clay particles have negatively charged surface. So greater the
surface area, stronger the surface charge and greater will be the amount of absorbed water,
therefore higher will be the liquid limit.

We can determine liquid limit by two laboratory methods.

1. Casagrande Method
2. Cone penetration Method
Thankyou!