COLEGIO DE STA.ANA DE VICTORIAS, INC.

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Registration. No 39Q16728

CEGE 411 - Geotechnical Engineering 1 (Soil Mechanics)

Laboratory Exercise No. 4

Liquid Limit Test

Submitted by:

Ma. Fernanda E. Braña

Group II Members:

David Filbert Somogat

John Benedict Canabal
Andrelyn Moreno

November 29, 2023

Date Submitted
Table of Contents

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Osmeñ a Avenue, Victorias City Negros Occidental
Registration. No 39Q16728

Cover Page 1
Table of Contents 2
Introduction 3
Essential Materials and Apparatus 4
Testing Procedure 4
Test Result 5
Discussion 6
Appendix A – Determination of Water Content Test Results 7
Appendix B – Calculations 8
Documentation (Pictures) 9

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Introduction:

When an excessive amount of water is mixed with cohesive soil, it transforms into a somewhat
liquid state, resembling the flow of a viscous liquid. As this viscous liquid undergoes a gradual drying
process and experiences moisture loss, it transitions into a plastic state. With a further reduction in
moisture content, the soil progresses from a plastic state to a semisolid state and eventually to a solid
state. This progression is illustrated in Figure 6-1.

The moisture content, measured in percentage, at which cohesive soil shifts from a liquid state
to a plastic state is known as the liquid limit of the soil. Likewise, the moisture contents, also measured
in percentage, at which the soil transforms from a plastic to a semisolid state and from a semisolid state
to a solid state are referred to as the plastic limit and the shrinkage limit, respectively. These specific
points are collectively referred to as the Atterberg limits (1911).

The objective of this experiment is to determine the liquid limit of a given soil sample using the
Casagrande method.

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Essential Materials and Apparatus:

1. Casagrande liquid limit device

2. Grooving tool
3. Moisture cans
4. Porcelain evaporating dish
5. Spatula
6. Oven
7. Balance sensitive up to 0.01 g
8. Plastic squeeze bottle
9. Distilled water
10. Paper towels

Testing Procedure:

1. Weigh three empty moisture cans and record their masses as W1.
2. Place approximately 250 g of air-dry soil, which has passed through a No. 40 sieve, into an
evaporating dish.
3. Add water from the plastic squeeze bottle and blend the soil to achieve a uniform paste.
4. Transfer a portion of the paste into the brass cup of the liquid limit device.
5. Use a spatula to smooth the soil's surface in the cup, ensuring a maximum depth of about 8 mm.
6. Utilize a grooving tool to cut a groove along the soil pat's center line in the cup.
7. Rotate the crank of the liquid limit device at a rate of approximately 2 revolutions per second.
As a result, the liquid limit cup will rise and drop through a vertical distance of 10 mm for each
revolution. Soil from the two sides of the cup will start flowing towards the center. Count the
number of blows, denoted as N, required for the groove in the soil to close over a distance of
1/2 inch (12.7 mm).
a. If N is approximately between 25 to 35, gather a moisture sample from the soil in the
cup in a moisture can. Determine the mass of the can with the moist soil and indicate it
as W2. Remove the remaining soil paste from the cup to the evaporating dish, and
thoroughly clean the cup with paper towels.
b. If the soil is too dry (N exceeding about 35), transfer the soil to the evaporating dish
using a spatula. Clean the liquid limit cup thoroughly using paper towels. Mix the soil
in the evaporating dish with additional water and repeat the process.
c. If the soil is too wet (N less than about 25), move the soil from the cup to the
evaporating dish. Carefully clean the liquid limit cup using paper towels. Stir the soil
paste with a spatula to facilitate drying. Optionally, place the evaporating dish in the
oven for a few minutes for further drying. Avoid adding dry soil to the wet-soil paste to
adjust moisture content for achieving proper consistency. Retry the process in the liquid
limit device to attain a groove closure of 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) within 25 to 35 blows.
8. Supplement more water to the soil paste in the evaporating dish and mix well. Repeat Steps 3,
4, and 5 to attain a groove closure of 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) in the liquid limit device with a blow
count N of 20 to 25. Extract a moisture sample from the cup, dispose of the remaining soil

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Osmeñ a Avenue, Victorias City Negros Occidental
Registration. No 39Q16728

paste into the evaporating dish, and clean the cup using paper towels.
9. Put more water to the soil paste in the evaporating dish and mix thoroughly. Repeat Steps 3, 4,
and 5 to achieve a blow count N between 15 and 20 for a groove closure of 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) in
the liquid limit device. Collect the moisture sample from the cup.
10. Place the three moisture cans in the oven to dry until constant masses are attained and record
their masses as W3.

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Test Result:

The liquid limit of the soil sample was determined to be %.

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Discussion:

Lach

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Appendix A – Liquid Limit Test Results

Test No. 1 2 3

Can No. 1 2 3

Mass of can, W1 (g) 15.8 15.8 15.8

Mass of can + moist soil, W2 (g) 47.1 72.0 63.0

Mass of can + dry soil, W3 (g) 40.2 54.4 53.4

Moisture content,
28.3 45.6 25.5

Number of blows, N 34 23 20

Appendix B – Plot of Moisture Content (%) vs. Number of Blows for the Liquid Limit Test
Results reported in Appendix A.

35

30 28.6
Moisture Content, w (%)

f(x) = − 0.423091133004926
24.9 x + 34.8219827586207
25

LL = 24.225 20.1
20

15

10
10
Number of Blows (N)

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Osmeñ a Avenue, Victorias City Negros Occidental
Registration. No 39Q16728

Appendix B – Calculations

 Calculate the mass of moisture, mass of dry soil, and water content of the soil sample in Test No.
1:

mass of moisture =W 2 − W 3=234.1−177.9=56.2 g

mass of dry soil=W 3 −W 1 =177.9− 16.0=161.9 g

W 2 −W 3 56.2
moisture content , w1 (%)= × 100 %= ×100 %=34.7 %
W 3 −W 1 161.9

 Calculate the mass of moisture, mass of dry soil, and water content of the soil sample in Test No.
2:

mass of moisture =W 2 − W 3=222.3− 167.3=55.0 g

mass of dry soil=W 3 −W 1 =167.3− 15.8=151.5 g

W 2 −W 3 55.0
moisture content , w2 (%)= × 100 %= ×100 %=36.3 %
W 3 −W 1 151.5

 Calculate the mass of moisture, mass of dry soil, and water content of the soil sample in Test No.
3:

mass of moisture =W 2 − W 3=232.7− 176.1=56.6 g

mass of dry soil=W 3 −W 1 =176.1− 15.6=160.5 g

W 2 −W 3 56.6
moisture content , w3 (%)= × 100 %= ×100 %=35.3 %
W 3 −W 1 160.5

 Calculate the average water content of the soil samples in Tests No. 1, 2 and 3:

w 1+ w2 +w 3 34.7 %+36.3 % +35.3 %

average moisture content , w(%)= = =35.4 %
n 3

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Osmeñ a Avenue, Victorias City Negros Occidental
Registration. No 39Q16728

Documentation

Fig. 1:

Fig. 2:

Fig. 3:

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