ME 420L/ME 506L: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Lab No. 5: Atterberg Limits

ASTM D4318

Introduction: The moisture content (%) at which the cohesive soil will pass from a liquid state
to a plastic state is called the liquid limit of the soil while the plastic limit is the moisture content
at which the soil changes from the plastic to a semisolid state or the moisture content (%) at
which a thread of soil will just crumble when rolled to a diameter of 1/8 in (3.18 mm) and
similarly changing from the semisolid state to a solid state is referred to as the shrinkage limit.

Liquid Limit

1. Determine the mass of three moisture cans (M1) (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Moisture can

2. Put about 250 g of dry soil passing No. 40 sieve into an evaporating dish adding water
and mixing the soil to form a uniform paste.
3. Place a portion of the paste in the brass cup of the liquid limit (Casagrande) device
(Figure 2). Use a spatula to smoothen the surface of the soil in the cup such that the
maximum depth of the soil is about 8 mm.

Figure 2: Liquid limit device

4. Cut a groove along the center line of the soil pat in the cup using a grooving tool.
5. Turn the crank at a rate of about 2 revolutions per second. Count the number of blows
(N), for the groove in the soil to close through a distance of ½ in (≈ 13 mm) between 25
and 35 blows. Collect a moisture sample from the soil in the cup in a moisture can. Close
the cover of moisture can and determine the mass of the can plus the moist soil (M2).
Clean cup with paper towels.
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 (≈ 13 mm) between 20 and 25 blows.
7. 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 (≈ 13 mm) between 15 and 20 blows.
Note: This lab instruction has been prepared by using the following Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual:
Das, B. M. (2009). Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual. 7th Edition, Oxford University Press Inc, New York.
 ME 420L/ME 506L: Soil Mechanics Laboratory
Lab No. 5: Atterberg Limits
ASTM D4318

8. Put the three moisture cans in the oven to dry to constant masses (M3).

Calculations

Determine the moisture content for each of the three trials as:
𝑀𝑀2 −𝑀𝑀3
𝑤𝑤(%) = × 100 (1)
𝑀𝑀3 −𝑀𝑀1

Plot flow curve. Find liquid limit and flow index. Compare the results with one-point liquid limit
test.

Plastic Limit

1. Put approximately 20 g of dry soil sample passing through sieve No. 40 into a porcelain-
evaporating dish, then mix with water thoroughly.
2. Determine the mass of moisture can in grams as (M1).
3. Prepare several ellipsoidal-shaped soil masses by squeezing the soil with your fingers
from step 2.
4. Roll one of the ellipsoidal-shaped soil masses on a glass plate (Figure 3) using your palm
of your hand at one complete backward and one complete forward motion making 80
strokes per minute

Figure 3: Glass plate

5. When the rolling thread reaches ⅛ in (3.18 mm), break it up into several small pieces and
squeeze it with the fingers to form an ellipsoidal mass again
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the thread crumbles into several pieces when it reaches a
diameter of ⅛ in (3.18 mm).
7. Collect the small crumbled pieces in the moisture can and cover the can.
8. Take the other ellipsoidal soil masses formed in step 3 and repeat step 4 through 7.
9. Determine the mass of the can plus the wet soil (M2) in grams and then place the can in
the oven (remove the cover) for about 24 hours (Figure 4).
10. Remove the can from the oven and determine the mass of the can plus the dry soil (M3) in
grams.
Note: This lab instruction has been prepared by using the following Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual:
Das, B. M. (2009). Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual. 7th Edition, Oxford University Press Inc, New York.
 ME 420L/ME 506L: Soil Mechanics Laboratory
Lab No. 5: Atterberg Limits
ASTM D4318

Figure 4: Moisture cans in the oven

Calculations

𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚

𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 =
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠
𝑀𝑀2 − 𝑀𝑀3
= × 100 (2)
𝑀𝑀3 − 𝑀𝑀1

PI = LL-PL (3)

Note

Your lab report should include:

1. A complete description of the soil

2. Applications of Atterberg limits
3. Different methods used to determine Atterberg Limits
4. Application(s) of liquidity index
5. The relationship between PI and volume change
6. Sources of errors and the effect of them on Atterberg limits
7. Comparison of the obtained results with the typical values
8. Type of the clay mineral based on the Atterberg limits
9. Relationship between the liquid limit and specific surface

Note: This lab instruction has been prepared by using the following Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual:
Das, B. M. (2009). Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual. 7th Edition, Oxford University Press Inc, New York.