CCIL / LABORATORY INSPECTION CHEKLIST

Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D4318 -10
LIQUID LIMIT
APPARATUS:
1. Liquid Limit Device: A mechanical device consisting of a brass cup suspended from a
carriage? ____
-

Carriage: For adjusting the height-of-drop of the cup to 10 mm? ____

Rubber Base: Base having Type D Durometer hardness of 80 to 90 and a
resilience rebound between 77% and 90%? . ____
Rubber Feet: Supporting the base having a Type A Durometer hardness no greater
than 60? . ____
Brass Cup with hanger: 185 to 215 g? . ____
Motor Drive (Optional) Refer to clause 6.1.6. for details? ____
(Liquid Limit Device: Reference Clause 6.1 to 6.1.6 & Fig. 1)

2. Flat Grooving Tool: Made of plastic or non-corroding- metal Refer to

Figure 3 for dimensional requirements? ____
3. Gauge: Metal block for adjusting the height-of-drop of cup Refer to Figure 4? .... ____
4. Moisture Containers / for liquid and plastic specimens: Small corrosion-resistant
containers with tight fitting Lids to determine water content of specimens? .. ____
5. Balance: Conforming to D4753, Class GP1, readable to 0.01 gm? ____
6. Spatula: 2 cm wide and 10 to 13 cm long? ____
7. Drying Oven: Thermostatically controlled at 110 5.0C (230 9.0F)? .. ____
IMPORTANT
Calibration of Apparatus - As per ASTM D4318-05 / Section 9.0? . ____
Adjustment of Height-of-Drop - As per ASTM D4318-05 / Clause 9.2? ........ ____
PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMEN / Section 10.0
1. Wet Preparation Method:
-

As per clause 10.1.1.1 to 10.1.3 / Material passing the 425-m (No. 40) sieve?
____
As per clause 10.1.2.1 to 10.1.2.4 / Material containing particles Retained on a
425-m (No. 40) sieve? ____

2. Dry Preparation Method:

-

As per clause 10.2.1 to 10.2.5? .............. ____

3. Moistened prepared test sample to the water content required for testing if
necessary? .. ____

Page 2
CCIL / LABORATORY INSPECTION CHEKLIST
Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D4318-10
PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMEN (continued)
4. Distilled or demineralized water used to moistened sample to the required
water content? ____
Note 1: Tap water can be used provided cations as described under clause
10.1.2.1 (Note 7) are not present
5. Test sample mixed, covered to prevent moisture loss and allowed to stand for at
least 16 h? ....... ____
PROCEDURE
Multipoint Liquid Limit Method A / Refer to Section 13 for Method B
a. Test sample remixed, with additional water added if necessary, to produce a
mixture that will result in 25 to 35 blows using the liquid limit device to close the
groove? ____
b. Spread portion of sample horizontally across brass cup to a depth of 10 mm
at its deepest point? . ____
c. Ensured no air bubbles occur by forming pat with as few strokes as
possible? . ____
d. Prevent remaining material from loosing moisture by suitable means? ... ____
f. Formed a straight groove starting from the top of soil pat to the lowest point
on the cup rim grooving tool with beveled edge forward? .. ____
g. Straight line (groove) drawn in an arc perpendicular to the surface of cup in
one movement? ............... ____
Note 2: Refer to clause 11.2 for other alternatives depending on soil conditions.
h. Turned crank at a rate that lifts and drops the cup at 1.9 to 2.1 drops per
Second until the 2 halves of soil pat come in contact along a distance of
13 mm (0.5 in.)? . ____
i. If performed successfully, recorded the number of drops to close the soil
pat? .. ____
Note 3: Refer to clause 11.4 for conditional requirements if test does not
perform as expected.
j. Obtained a sample to determine moisture content from soil pat include that
portion of the groove where the soil flowed together? ... ____
Note 4: Refer to clause 11.5 for procedure.
k. Place moisture sample in container of known mass, cover and weigh? . ____
nd
L. Repeat procedure for 2 additional trials with increase moisture content. The 2
rd
closure requiring 20 to 30 blows and the 3 requiring15 to 25 blows. Cup to be
clean for each procedure?.......................................................................................... ____
m. Plot the relationship between the number of drops and the moisture content of all
3 tests on a semilogarithmic graph and determine liquid limit? ____

Page 3
CCIL / LABORATORY INSPECTION CHEKLIST
Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D4318-10
PLASTIC LIMIT
APPARATUS
1. Ground Glass Plate: 30 cm (12 in.) square by 1 cm (3/8 in.) thick? ____
2. Plastic Limit-Rolling Device (optional)? . ____
PREPARATION OF TEST SPECIMEN

1. Obtain test sample (20 g or more) from liquid limit test following the second
mixing before the test or from the sample remaining after completion of the
liquid limit test? . ____
PROCEDURE:
a. Reduced the water content of sample by continuous mixing until sample reaches
a consistency by which it can be rolled on the glass plate without sticking? ____
b. Formed an ellipsoidal mass (approximately 1.5 to 2.0 g) from the plastic limit
specimen? ____
c. Rolled specimen on glass plate using fingers or palm into a thread? . ____
-

Thread of uniform diameter throughout its length? . ____

Thread further reduced in thickness until it reaches 3.2 mm (1/8 in.) in
diameter? .. ____
Note 5: Should not take longer than 2 minutes.
Rolling rate approximately 80 to 90 strokes per minute? .. ____
Note 6: Decrease rate and pressure for very fragile soils.

d. When the diameter of thread reaches 3.2 mm, break thread into several pieces, and
reform into an ellipsoidal mass? ____
e. Repeat procedure until soil cannot be rolled down to 3.2 mm? ____
f. Sample has reached plastic limit physical state depends on the nature of the soil?____
g. Gather the fragmented portions and place in a moisture container and cover
immediately? . ____
h. Repeat b to g until moisture container contains approximately 6 g? .. ____
nd
i. Repeat b to h to obtain a 2 container? . ____

Page 4
CCIL / LABORATORY INSPECTION CHEKLIST
Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D4318-10
CALCULATIONS:
a. Determine the average water content of the 2 moisture containers (plastic limit) to
the nearest whole number? .. ____
b. Calculate the plasticity index as follows:
PI = LL - PL
Where:
LL = Liqud limit (whole number)
PL = Plastic limit (whole number)
Note 7: Report the soil as non-plastic (NP) if the following occurs.
a. If either the liquid or plastic limit cannot be determined? ____
b. If the plastic limit is equal to or greater than the liquid limit? . ____

REPORTING / As per Section 19.0

COMMENTS:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________