Liquid Limit Test

Liquid limit test
Introduction:
When a cohesive soil is mixed with an excessive amount of water it will be in a
somewhat liquid stare and flow like a viscous liquid. However when this viscous liquid is
dried gradually, with the loss of moisture it will pass into a plastic stale. With further
reduction of moisture, the soil will pass into a semisolid and then into a solid state. This
is shown in the Figure. The moisture content (in percent) at which the cohesive soil will
pass from a liquid state to a plastic state is called the liquid limit of the soil. Similarly, the
moisture contents (in percent) at which the soil changes from a plastic to a semisolid
sate and from a semisolid state to a solid state are referred to as plastic limit and
shrinkage limit, respectively. These limits are referred to as the Atterberg limits. This
procedure to determine the liquid limit of a cohesive soil will be discussed.
Solid state semisolid state plastic solid liquid state Moisture content
0 (increasing)
SL
Pl
Ll
Sl = shrinkage limit
Pl = plastic limit
Ll = liquid limit
Objective:
The objective of this experiment is to measure the liquid limit LL of a given
soil sample for engineering purposes.
Equipment:
1. Casagrande liquid limit device
2. Grooving tool
3. Moisture cans
4. Porcelain evaporating dish
5. Oven
6. Balance sensitive to 0.01g
7. Spatula
8. Paper towels
9. Plastic squeeze bottle
Figure: Liquid limit vs. Number of blows

Procedure:
1. Determine the mass M1 of three moisture cans
2. Put about 250 g of air-dry soil, passed through a No 40 sieve, into an
evaporating dish. Add water from the plastic squeeze bottle and mix the
soil to the form of a uniform paste.
3. Place a portion of the paste in the brass cup of the liquid limit device .using
the spatula smooth the surface of the soil in the cup such that the maximum
depth of the soil is about 8 mm
4. Using the grooving tool , cut a groove along the centerline of the soil pat in
the cup
5. Turn the crank of the liquid limit device at the rate of about 2 revolutions
per second .by this, the liquid limit cup will rise and drop through a vertical
distance of 10 mm once for each revolution. the soil from the two sides of
the cup will begin to flow toward the center .count the number of blows N
for the groove in the soil to close through a distance of ½ inch .(13mm) .If
N equals about 25 to 35 ,collect a moisture sample from the soil in the cup
in a moisture can . Close the cover of the can and determine the mass of the
can plus the moist soil M2.
Remove the rest of the soil paste from the cup to the evaporating dish. Use
paper towels to clean the cup thoroughly. If the soil is too dry, N will be
more than about 35. In that case transfer the soil to the evaporating dish
using the spatula. Clean the liquid limit cup thoroughly with paper towels.
Mix the soil in the evaporating dish with more water, and try again
If the soil is too wet, N will be less than about 25. In that case transfer the
soil in the cup to the evaporating dish. Clean the liquid limit cup carefully
with paper towels. Stir the soil paste with the spatula for some time to dry it
up. The evaporating dish may be placed in the oven for a few minutes for
drying also. Do not add dry soil to the wet-soil paste to reduce the moisture
content in order to bring it to the proper consistency. Now try again with
the liquid limit device to get a groove closure of ½ inch between 25 and 35
blows.
6. Add more water to the soil paste in the evaporating dish and mix
thoroughly .Repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 to get a groove closure of ½ in in the
liquid limit device at a blow count N= 20 𝑡𝑜 25 . Take a moisture sample
from the cup. Transfer the rest of the soil paste to the evaporating dish.
Clean the cup with paper towels.
7. Add more water to the soil paste in the evaporating dish and mix well.
Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 to get a blow count N of between 15 and 20 for a
groove closure of ½ in. The liquid limit device. Take a moisture sample
from the cup.
8. Put the three moisture cans in the oven to dry to constant masses, M3. (The
caps of the moisture cans should be removed from the top and placed at the
bottom of the respective cans in the oven.)
Calculations:
Determine the moisture content for each of three trials
M2−M3
W (%) = M3−M1×100
Graphs:
The graph will be for moisture content versus number of blows N . this will
approximate a straight line, which is called the flow curve. From the straight line,
determine the moisture content corresponding to 25 blows. This is the liquid limit
of the soil. The magnitude of the slope of the flow line is called the flow index F1
𝑊1(%)−𝑊2(%)
F1= =-88.24
𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑁2−𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑁1
Formula:
The liquid limit of a soil can be approximately given by:
𝑁
Ll = 𝑊𝑛(%)(25)0,121
Results:
Test No. 1 2 3
Mass of can, M1(g) 20 20
Mass of can + moist soil, M2(g) 30 35
Mass of can + dry soil,M3(g) 26.5 28.5
Moisture Content
𝑀2 − 𝑀3 38.88% 76.47%
𝑤(%) = 𝑥100
𝑀3 − 𝑀1
Number of Blows 32 12
Result for LL Test
We just did two test but this would be the curve
40
38
Moisture Content
36
34
32
30
10 20 30 40
N

Liquid Limit Test

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Liquid limit test

Figure: Liquid limit vs. Number of blows

We just did two test but this would be the curve

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