ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Geotechnical Engineering 1 Laboratory

Experiment No. 3

Determination of Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit of Soil

Date of Experiment: 09-25-2022

Date of Submission: 10-01-2022

Submitted by:

Angulo, Carla Jane C.

BSCE/201811294

Submitted to:

Engr. Vuangh Erick B. Barrantes, MSc

Instructor

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 Exercise No. 3
DETERMINATION OF LIQUID LIMIT AND PLASTIC LIMIT OF SOIL

COURSE OUTCOMES
CO1 Explain the origin and process of formation of soils and classify soils accordingly
COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOME
Analyze the different test for soil and how to describe soil according to its grain
CILO 3
size and other basic soil parameters such as Atterberg limits.

I. ASTM DESIGNATION
ASTM D 4318 – Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index
of Soils

II. OBJECTIVE
 To determine the liquid limit, plastic limit, and the plasticity index of the soils.

III. APPARATUS
 Liquid Limit
o Liquid limit device
o Grooving tool
o Balance, 0.01 g accuracy
o Moisture cans
o Sieve No. 40
o Distilled water
o Oven
o Porcelain dish
o Mortar and pestle

 Plastic Limit
o Glass plate
o Balance
o Spatula
o Plastic limit-rolling device (optional)
o Sieve no. 40/Sieve no. 200 or both
o Wash bottle
o Distilled water
o Oven
o Mortar and pestle

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IV. TEST PROCEDURE

1. Preparation of Test Specimen (Dry Preparation Method)
a. Obtain a representative portion from the total sample sufficient to provide 150 to 200 g
of material passing the No. 40 sieve.
b. Dry the specimen at room temperature or in an oven not exceeding 60 ˚C until the soil
clods will pulverize readily.
c. Pulverize the material in a way that does not cause breakdown of individual particles.
d. Separate the material on a No. 40 sieve, shaking the sieve by hand to assure thorough
separation of the finer fraction.

2. Liquid Limit (MultiPoint)

a. Mix the sample thoroughly with some distilled water to form a uniform paste.
b. Calibrate the liquid limit apparatus by setting the drop of the cup so that the point on
the cup that comes in contact with the base rises to a height of 10 ± 0.2 mm.

Fig. 3.1 Drop Setting of Liquid Limit Apparatus

c. Using a spatula, place a portion of the prepared paste in the cup of the liquid limit
device. Keep the unused soil in the mixing dish. Cover the dish with a wet towel (or use
other means) to retain the moisture in the soil.
d. Draw the grooving tool through the sample along the symmetrical axis of the cup,
holding the tool perpendicular to the cup.
e. Lift and drop the cup by turning the crank at a rate of 1.9 to 2.1 drops per second until
the two halves of the soil pat come in contact at the bottom of the groove along a
distance of 13 mm (0.5 in). Record the number of drops, N, required to close the groove.

(d) (e)

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f. Remove a slice of soil approximately the width of the spatula, place in a container of
known mass, and cover.
g. Transfer the remaining soil in the cup to the main soil sample in the dish and remix
thoroughly after adding a small amount of water.
h. Repeat the steps and obtain at least four sets of readings in the range of 15 to 35 blows.
i. If, after several trials at successively higher water contents, the soil pat continues to
slide in the cup or if the number of blows required to close the groove is always less
than 25, record that the liquid limit could not be determined, and report the soil as
nonplastic without performing the plastic limit test.

3. Plastic Limit:
a. Select a 20 g or more portion of soil from the material prepared for the liquid limit test;
either after the second mixing, before the test, or from the soil remaining after the
completion of the liquid limit test.
b. Reduce the water content of the soil to a consistency at which it can be rolled without
sticking to the hands by spreading or mixing continuously.
c. From this plastic limit specimen, select a 1.5 to 2.0 g portion. Form the selected portion
into an ellipsoidal mass.
d. Roll the mass between the palm or fingers and glass plate with just sufficient pressure
to roll the mass into a thread of uniform diameter throughout its length.
e. The thread shall be further deformed on each stroke so that its diameter reaches 3.2
mm, taking no more than 2 min.
f. When the diameter of the thread becomes 3.2 mm, break the thread into several pieces.
Squeeze the pieces, reform into an ellipsoidal mass, and re-roll. Continue this
alternating rolling to a thread 3.2 mm diameter, gathering together, kneading and re-
rolling, until the thread crumbles under the pressure required for rolling and the soil
can no longer be rolled into a 3.2 mm diameter thread.
g. Gather the portions of the crumbled thread together and place in a container of known
mass. Immediately cover the container.
h. Select another 1.5 to 2.0 g portion of soil from the plastic limit specimen and repeat the
operations described until the container has at least 6 g of soil.
i. Repeat the procedure to make another container holding at least 6.0 g of soil. Determine
the water content.

V. CALCULATION
1. Determine the liquid limit for each water content specimen using one of the following:

𝟎.𝟏𝟐𝟏
𝑵
𝟐𝟓

Where: LLn = one point liquid limit for given trial, %

N = number of blows causing closure of the groove for given trial
Wn = water content for given trial, %
k = factor given in the table

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2. Calculate the plasticity index as follows:

𝑷𝑰 = 𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑳

Where: LL = liquid limt

PL = plastic limit
PI = plasticity index

Table 3.1. Factors for Obtaining Liquid Limit from Water Content and
Number of Drops Causing Closure of Groove

N k
(Number of Drops) (Factor for Liquid Limit)
20 0.973
21 0.979
22 0.985
23 0.990
24 0.995
25 1.000
26 1.005
27 1.009
28 1.014
29 1.018
30 1.022

VI. DATA, RESULTS, AND COMPUTATION

LIQUID LIMIT TEST

Table 3.2 Test Details for Liquid Limit Test
Project location: 17TH Avenue Cubao, Quezon City
Soil description: Brown/Gray - Silty Clayey Soil
Oven temperature: 115 Drying time: 24 HOURS
Scale type/precision/serial no.: WD100107917

Table 3.3 Measurement and Calculation for Liquid Limit Test

Test ID: TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3
Mass of container, (Mc) 9.99 10.07 9.93
Mass of moist soil + container, (M1) 29.17 23.29 21.96
Mass of dry soil + container, (M2) 23.30 18.93 18.08
Mass of moisture, (Mw) 19.18 13.22 12.03
Mass of dry soil, (Ms) 13.31 8.86 8.15
Moisture content, (w) 44.10 49.21 47.61
Number of cranks 11 21 19
Liquid Limit, (LL) 39.93 48.18 46.04
Plastic limit, (PL) 29.62 29.62 29.62
Plasticity index, (PI) 10.31 18.56 16.42

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LIQUID LIMIT FLOW CURVE

50
49
48
47
WATER CONTENT

46
45
44
43
42
41
40
5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
=
NUMBER OF BLOWS

Fig. 3.2 Liquid Limit Flow Curve

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

Table 3.4 Test Detail for Plastic Limit
Project location: 17TH Avenue Cubao, Quezon City
Soil description: Brown/Gray - Silty Clayey Soil
Oven temperature: 115 Drying time: 24 HOURS
Scale type/precision/serial no.: WD100107917

Table 3.5 Measurement and Calculations for Plastic Limit

Test ID: TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3
Mass of container, (Mc) 26.24 25.34 24.50
Mass of moist soil + container, (M1) 28.08 26.98 26.24
Mass of dry soil + container, (M2) 27.67 26.58 25.86
Mass of moisture, (Mw) 1.84 1.64 1.74
Mass of dry soil, (Ms) 1.43 1.24 1.36
Moisture content, (w) 28.67 32.26 27.94
Average plastic limit, (PL) 29.62 29.62 29.62
Corresponding liquid limit, (LL) 39.63 48.18 46.04
Plasticity index, (PI) 10.31 18.56 16.42

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VII. ILLUSTRATION

Figure 1: Preparing all necessary lab apparatus, Figure 2: Using mortar and pestle, Figure 3: Sieve the soil using
including the oven dried soil (liquid limit of soil) pulverize the oven dried soil. sieve no. 40.

Figure 4: Transfer some soil into the Figure 5: Add water and mix it thoroughly Figure 6: Apply a portion of wet
small bowl for water mixing until you reach the expected consistency soil in the liquid limit device.

Figure 7: By using the apparatus, separate Figure 8: Crank the apparatus and stop
two sides of the wet soil by slicing it in the until the two sides of the soil collides. Do it
middle part. for three samples and record the data. P a g e 5|9
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Figure 11: Put the samples in the oven and

Figure 9: Transfer half of each Figure 10: Weigh each can with
leave it for about one day. Record the
sample in to the weighed empty can. soil samples. weight after drying.

Figure 12: For plasticity of soil, mix Figure 13: Get a portion of soil and mold it Figure 14: Shown is the comparison of
another soil and water until it reaches the until it’s long and it reaches approximately 3mm nail to the molded soil sample. Do it
right consistency. 3 mm in diameter. for 3 samples.

Figure 15: Put each of the soil sample in to Figure 16: Leave it in the oven for about
the moisture can. one day. Record the weight after drying.

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VIII. CONCLUSION
In actuality, the distinction between liquid limits and plastic limits—the former being the moisture content
at which a soil can no longer flow, the latter being the moisture content at which the soil can no longer be
remolded without cracking—plays a significant part in determining a soil's suitability. After conducting our
experiment on this subject, we collected all the data and solved for the liquid limits and plasticity index.
The results were positive, and I therefore concluded that our experiment was successful because the
plasticity index result was not negative. I also came to the conclusion that the soil we used in our
experiment was not the problem. Because the value of our liquid limitations is higher than the plastic limits,
they are regarded as non-plastic.

IX. RECOMMENDATION
It takes a lot of time for us to complete the second trial of this experiment because the two halves of the soil
pat don't touch each other no matter how we turn the handle. Therefore, I advise you to add enough
distilled water to the soil so that it will easily touch each other when you turn the handle and that you don't
go over the allotted 25 blows.

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X. SOLUTION

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XI. RUBRICS

SO (k) Ability to use techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice
Demonstrate skills in the use of modern engineering tools and techniques necessary for engineering
PI (1)
practice.
CO Demonstrate the use of different soil laboratory apparatus/equipment.
Exemplary Capable Developing Beginning
Criteria Rating
(4) (3) (2) (1)
Observes good
Observes best Practices unsafe,
Lab Safety laboratory Unsafe lab procedures
laboratory safety risky behaviors
safety observed infrequently.
procedures. in lab.
procedures.
Experimental
procedures most often
Develops and followed, but
Experimental Implements
implements occasional Does not follow
Procedures logical
logical oversight leads to loss experimental
experimental
experimental of experimental procedure.
procedures
procedures efficiency and/or loss
of
data
Does not operate
instrumentation
Is able to select
Is able to and
and operate
Tool operate Is tentative in process
appropriate
Operation instrumentatio operation equipment,
instrumentation
n and of instruments and does so
and
process process equipment. incorrectly or
process
equipment. requires
equipment.
frequent
supervision.
Analyzes and
Analyzes data
interprets
carefully using Applies appropriate
data carefully
appropriate theory to data when
using
Analysis and theory; if prompted to do so, but
appropriate Makes no
Theory required, misinterprets physical
theory; if attempt to
Application translates significance of theory
required, relate data to
theory into or
translates theory
practice or variable involved;
theory into
applies to makes errors in unit
practice or
process conversions.
applies to process
model(s).
model(s).
Provides
recommendation Is aware of Is aware of
Measurement on measurement measurement error but
Is unaware of
Error measurement of error and does not account for it
measurement
error and is able to statistically or does so
error
is able to account account for it at
for it statistically. a minimal level
statistically.

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