Table of content
Introduction
Theory
Objective
Apparatus and materials
Procedure
Data Collection & Recording
Data Analysis
Discussion & Conclusion
Reference
Appendix
Introduction
The liquid limit is that moisture content at which a soil changes from the liquid state to the
plastic state. It along with the plastic limit provides a means of soil classification as well as
being useful in determining other soil properties. When a cohesive soil is mixed with an
excessive amount of water, it will be in a liquid state and flow like a viscous liquid. When the
viscous liquid dries gradually due to loss of moisture, it will pass into a plastic state. With
further loss of moisture, the soil will pass into a plastic state. With even further reduction of
moisture, the soil will pass into a semi-solid and then into a solid state.
The moisture content, w, (%) at which the cohesive soil will pass from a liquid state to a
plastic state is called the liquid limit of the soil.
Theory
The properties of fine grains soils are largely dependent on their consistency, which isitself
related to the moister content of a dry sample of such a soil is increased is its stategradually
changes from that of a solid, through semi-solid, through plastic and finallyinto a liquid form.
If sufficient water is mixed withclay, it can be made into slurry, which behaves as a viscous
liquid. This is known as theliquid’ state. If the moisture content is gradually reduced by
allowing it to dry outslowly, the clay eventually begins to hold together and to offer some
resistance to deformation; this is the ‘plastic’ state. With further loss of water the clay shrinks
and the stiffness increases until there is little plasticity left, and the clay becomes brittle;this is
the ‘semi-solid’ state. As drying continues, the clay continues to shrink in proportion to the
amount of water lost, until it reaches the minimum volume attainable by this process. Beyond
that point further drying results in no further decrease involume, and this is called the ‘solid’
state.
The "liquid limit"(LL)is the minimum moisture content at which a soil is assumed toflow
under its own weight, which corresponds to 25 blows in the Casagrande test or 20mm
penetration in the Penetrometer test The "shrinkage limit"(SL)is the water contentat which
further decrease in moisture does not cause a decrease in volume of the soil.
Objective
The objective of liquid limit are:
To prepare soil specimen as per specification.
To find the relationship between water content and number of blows.
To find out liquid limit.
Apparatus
1. Cone Penetrometer
2. Spatula
3. Container
4. Weighing Balance
5. Oven
6. Flat Glass Plate
Procedure
1.Weigh two container and record the respective weights on the data sheet.
2.Mix the soil sample with distilled water on the glass plate with the spatulas.Some soils,
especially heavy clays, may need a longer mixing time.
3.If necessary add more distilled or de-ionised water to give a cone penetration of
about15mm, and mix well in. It is essential to obtain a uniform distribution of
water throughout the sample.Keep the soil together near the middle of the glass plate, to
minimise drying out dueto exposure to air.
4.Placing the soil sample in the container.Press the soil paste against the side of the cup, to
avoid trapping air.Press more paste well into the bottom of the cup, without creating an air-
pocket.The top surface is finally smoothed off level with the rim using spatula.
5.Place the container with the soil sample under cone penetration.Lock the cone and shaft unit
near the upper end of its travel and lower the supportingassembly carefully.
6.Make sure that the tip of the cone is within a few millimeters from the surface of the soil in
the cup.Hold the cone, press the release button and adjust the height of the cone so that the
tip just touches the soil surface.A small sideways movement of the container should just mark
the surface.Alternatively, if the pointer is mounted on a friction sleeve, adjust the pointer to
readzero.
7.Allow the cone to fall by pressing the button, which must be held in the pressed position for
5 seconds, timed with a seconds timer or watch.If an auto-timer is used it is necessary only to
press the button and release itimmediately.
8.Automatic re-locking of the stem is indicated by a click. Record the dial reading tothe
nearest 0.1 mm.Record the difference between R 1and R 2as the cone penetration.range of
penetration values from about 15mm to 25mm should be covered, fairlyuniformly distributed.
9.Repeat penetration test with the next container.
Data Collection and Recording
LIQUID LIMIT 1 2
a)Initial Dial Gauge Reading(mm) 0 0
b)Final Dial Gauge Reading(mm) 19.8 23.2
c)penetration(mm) 21.5 21.5
d)Container No. MSC EE
e)Mass of Wet Soil + Container(g) 47.18 59.96
f)Mass of Dry Soil + Container(g) 37.03 46.74
g)Mass of Container(g) 18.09 22.25
h)Mass of Dry Soil(g) 18.94 24.49
i)Mass of Moisture(g) 10.15 13.22
j)Moisture Content(%) 53.59 53.98
k)Average Moisture Content(%) 53.79
l)Liquid Limit,WL(%) 52.06
Data Analysis
SAMPLE 1:
Mass of Dry Soil = 37.03g – 18.09g
=18.94g
Mass of Moisture = 47.18g – 37.03g
=10.15g
Moisture Content = ((29.09g – 18.94g) / 18.94g) x 100
= 53.59%
SAMPLE 2:
Mass of Dry Soil = 46.74g – 22.25g
=24.49g
Mass of Moisture = 59.96g – 46.74g
=13.22g
Moisture Content = ((37.71g – 24.49g) / 24.49g) x 100
= 53.98%
Average Moisture Content = (53.59% + 53 8%) / 2
=53 79%
Discussion
This testing method is used as an integral part of several engineering classifications systems
to characterize the fine-grained fractions of soils and to specifythe fine-grained fraction of
construction materials. The liquid limit, plastic limit and plasticity index of soils are also used
extensively, either individually or together, withother soil properties to correlate with
engineering behavior such as compressibility, permeability, compactibility, shrink-swell and
shear strength.The importance of the liquid limit test is to classify soils. Different soils
havevarying liquid limits. The liquid limit from this experiment that we get are 116.25 % this
liquid limit we get after plot the graph.
Conclusion
The subject of the study is the liquid limit that is an empirically determined state atwhich a
transition from a softly plastic to liquid state occurs, therefore after its achieving soilstarts to
behave as a liquid substance.The liquid limit measurement is principal especially for finding
consistency states playing a decisive role for determining the key standard characteristics of
soils representingimportant geotechnical parameters of fine-grained soils for investigations of
the so-calledfirst geotechnical category.In conclusion before realization of the tests the sample
set up for a night for the purpose of even distribution of moisture.
Reference
http://www.engineeringcivil.com/determine-the-liquid-limit-of-soil.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atterberg_limits
Appendix
