GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

ACTIVITY 5: ATTERBERG LIMITS

Determination of Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit

Background/Theory of the Experiment

One of the most critical natural resources on Earth is soil. It serves as the
foundation for various engineering and construction project. The behavior of soil
under different moisture condition is a key consideration on the field of geotechnical
engineering. Understanding its consistency and plasticity characteristics is vital in
making informed engineering decisions. The Atterberg limit, developed by the
scientist Albert Atterberg, provides a standardized method for assessing the
moisture-dependent properties of fine-grained soils.
The Atterberg Limits consists of three primary indices: first is the liquid limit
defined as the moisture content of soil at which it changes from a liquid-like state to a
plastic state. In other terms, the liquid limit of soil is defined as the lower limit at
which a soil can be considered as saturated and free-flowing. Liquid limit is
determined using the Casagrande cup and involves repeated rolling of soil sample
into a thread until it crumbles. The moisture at which the thread breaks in the liquid
limit of the soil samples. Second Atterberg limit is the plastic limit which is the
moisture content at which the soil transforms from plastic state to semi-solid state. It
is determined by rolling a soil sample into a ball and noting the moisture content at
which the ball begins to crumble. The plastic limit of soil indicates the minimum
moisture content the soil can be molded. Lastly, the moisture content below which a
soil will not sink when it dries is called the Shrinkage limit. It is primarily used in
engineering application to prevent excessive soil volume changes. The Atterberg
limits provide valuable information about a soil’s characteristics such as consistency,
plasticity, etc. Engineers, especially Geotechnical Engineers, use these limits to
classify soils according to various soil classification systems such as UCSC and
AASHTO. These classification helps engineers to make informed decision.
In conclusion, the Atterberg limit plays a pivotal role in geotechnical
engineering and soil science by providing insights and knowledge about the physical
properties if fine-grained soils. Understanding these limits is essential for ensuring
the safety and stability of construction projects that rely on soil as a foundation
material. In this activity, the students aim to determine the Atterberg limits,
specifically the liquid and plastic limit, of the soil sample that attained in the previous
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

laboratory activity.
Purpose of the experiment
This laboratory experiment is significant in a sense that it provides
engineering students a practical experience in soil analysis and classification,
preparing them for real word application in geotechnical engineering. It equips the
students with valuable skills, enhance their problem-solving abilities, and ensures
that they are job-ready, making them a good competitor in the engineering field.
Specifically, this activity aims to:
a. let the student know the characteristics of the soil sample they’ve collected
a. liquid limit
b. plastic limit
b. allow the student to classify the soil they have collected
c. make them understand and determine the complexity of soil

Equipment/Apparatus Used
This activity uses soil as its primary material and focuses on determining the
Atterberg limits of soil sample, which is a crucial indicator to engineering properties
such as soil’s classification. The apparatus and materials in these activities is divided
and categorized into two distinct groups: one set dedicated in assessing the liquid
limit of the soil sample and the other one is to asses the soils plastic limit.

Liquid Limit Testing Apparatus

 Casagrande Apparatus: Main material used for liquid limit test, contains brass
cup, carriage, and a crank mechanism that facilitates the application of blows
to the soil.
 Spatula: A spatula used to mix the soil sample with water.
 Plate: The tool where the soil is spread and manipulated.
 Grooving Tool: Creates the groove in the soil.
 Ruler/Tape Measure: Measures the soil that made contact after a number of
blows.

Plastic Limit Testing Apparatus

 Mixing Plate: Where the soil is mixed with water and turned into threads.
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

 Spatula: Used to mix soil and water.

Common Apparatus Used for Both Tests
 Distilled Water: Serves as the standard liquid to use for both liquid and plastic
limits.
 Weighing Scale: Used to accurately measure the weight of samples and other
materials before and after oven.
 Tin Can: Used for soil sampling and keeping the soil used for the tests.
 Oven: Utilized to put heat and dry the soil sample.

Liquid Limit

Water Soil Plate and Spatula

Weighing Scale Tin can Casagrande

Oven Grooving Tool

Plastic Limit

Water Soil Plate and Spatula

Oven Weighing Scale Tin can

GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

Procedure
The initial phase of soil analysis requires meticulous preparation of the soil
that will be used for the two Atterberg limit. After undergoing air-drying and
subsequent pounding to eliminate the soil clumps, the soil is sieved through a
number 40 sieve. The fraction of soil passing through sieve 40 is collected and
precisely weighed to obtain three 175g of representative sample for liquid limit test
and 25grams sample for plastic limit test.
For liquid limit test, the soil sample collected is mixed with distilled water until
it achieves a pastry-like consistency. The prepared soil-water mixture is carefully
placed and spread into the Casagrande brass cup, and a central canal is created
using a grooving tool. The Casagrande apparatus is then operated to create blows,
the number of blows is tallied until the soil closes the grooved canal by a length of
13mm. The soil sample is placed in a tin can of known weight and weighing it to
determine the soil’s moist weight. This process if conducted thrice for precise results
with required 3 different number of blows per soil sample.
Simultaneously, the plastic limit test follows a different set of steps. After the
soil is prepared, the soil is mixed on the plate until it reaches a plastic state, where it
can be molded and played just like a clay-go. The soil is then rolled into threads of
uniform diameter of about 3.2mm. Rolling continues until the threads start to crack,
indicating the soils plastic limit. The soil is then weighed to a minimum of 6 grams
and then put in the oven. This procedure is done 3 repetitive times to ensure precise
results.
Once the representative sample of the liquid and plastic limit test is obtained,
it is then placed in the oven for a period of 24 hours. After the drying period is done,
the soil is extracted from the oven and weighed once again. The disparity between
the initial weighed of the soil and the dry weight of the soil determines the soils water
content which when interconnected with the number of blows determines the soils
liquid and plastic limit.
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

Results
Table 1. Liquid Limit Data Sheet
Tested by: Cortel and Lazim Group Date Tested: 11/07/2023 – 11/08/2023
Temperature: 110 degrees Celsius Recovery Depth: 2 meters
Recovery Date: 09/23/2023 Recovery Method: Digging and shoveling
Soil Description:
Moisture Content Can Number 1 2 3
Weight of Tin Can, W1 (g) 10 11 11
Weight of Tin Can + Wet Soil, W2 (g) 46 70 59
Weight of Tin Can + Dry Soil, W3 (g) 35 50 43
Moisture Content, W% = [(W2 - W3) / (W3 - W1)] x 44% 51.282% 50%
100
No. of Blows 35 22 27
Liquid Limit 50.161%

Figure 1. Liquid Limit Graph

The table above presents the results from the liquid limit test for three soil

Liquid Limit Chart

52
f(x) = − 0.577813953488372 x + 64.6061240310077
50
Water Content, w%

48

46

44

42

40
15 20 25 30 35 40
No of Blows, N

samples. The weights of the samples, including a 10, 11, and 11-grams container,
are 46, 70, and 59 respectively. After oven-drying, the weight of the soils reduced to
35, 50, and 43 respectively. Utilizing the provided formula, the calculated moisture
content for the samples is 44% for sample 1, 51.282% for sample 2, and 50% for
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

sample three.
Determining the liquid limit involves using the Casagrande apparatus. Sample
one required 35 blows to close to a minimum length of 13mm, sample two needed
22 blows, and sample three took 27 blows. Plotting a graph of the moisture content
against the number of blows shows that the liquid limit, derived from the moisture
content at the 25th blow using a regression formula, is 50.161%.

Table 2. Plastic Limit Data Sheet

Tested by: Cortel and Lazim Group Date Tested: 11/07/2023 – 11/09/2023
Temperature: 110 degrees Celsius Recovery Depth: 2 meters
Recovery Date: 09/23/2023 Recovery Method: Digging and shoveling
Soil Description:
Moisture Content Can Number 1 2 3
Weight of Tin Can, W1 (g) 11 11 10
Weight of Tin Can + Wet of Crumbled Thread, (g) 17.2 17 16.4
Weight of Crumbled Thread, Wa (g) 6.2 6 6.4
Weight of Tin Can + Weight of Oven-dried 15.8 15.4 14.8
Crumbled Soil Thread, (g)
Weight of Oven-dried Crumbled Soil Thread, W b 4.8 4.4 4.8
(g)
Moisture Content, W% = [(W2 - W3) / (W3 - W1)] x 29.167% 36.364% 33.333%
100
Plastic Limit 32.955%

The table above displays the results of the plastic limit test, involving three soil
samples placed in a tin can weighing, 11g, 11, g and 10g, respectively. The weight of
the first, second, and third samples, including the weight of the cans, are recorded as
17.2g, 17g, and 17.4 g, respectively. Subtracting the weight of the can, the weights
of the crumbled threads for samples 1, 2, and 3 are 6.2g, 6g, and 6.4g, respectively.
Additionally, the weights of the dried crumples threads for the same samples are
4.8g, and 4.4g, and 4.8g. Calculation of the moisture content reveals percentages of
29.167% for sample 1, 36.364% for sample 2, and 33.333% for sample 3, which
serves as the plastic limit of the soil samples in different trials. The average of the
moisture content is the soils plastic limit which is 32. 955% or simply 33%.
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

Plasticity Index solution

PI =¿−PL
PI =50.161−32.955
PI =17.206
Figure 2. Plasticity Index Graph

Table 3. Description of Soil using Plasticity Index

Plasticity Index (PI) Description
0 Non-plastic
1-5 Slightly Plastic
5-10 Low Plastic
10-20 Medium Plastic
20-40 High Plastic
>40 Very High Plastic

Applying the formula to determine the plasticity index reveals that the soil sample
has a plasticity value of 17.206%. This categorizes the soil as either MH or OH when
plotting the plasticity index against liquid limit in the plasticity index graph. Moreover,
the calculated plasticity of the soil samples signifies that the soil falls under the
classification of medium plasticity.
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

Discussion
The plastic limit of the soil, determined through the process called thread-
rolling method, signifies the moisture content of the soil sample at which it can be
molded. This process represents the transition of the soil from plastic to a semi-liquid
state. The average plastic limit of the soil sample derived from the activity stands at
approximately 33%. This value indicates the specific water or moisture content at
which the soil sample attains plasticity.
The liquid limit of the soil refers to the moisture content at which the soil shifts
from plastic state to a more liquid-like state. In this activity, the determination of the
soil’s liquid limit is conducted through the apparatus Casagrande, resulting in
moisture content values of 44%, 51.282%, and 50% of each soil sample from the
same source. However, it is crucial to note that the behavior of the soil at its liquid
limit is defined by the number of blows required, typically ranging from 15 to 35
blows. Therefore, it is important to note that the amount of water added to the soil
during the activity is contingent upon reaching the specified number of blows, which
defines the liquid limit. In this activity it shows that the liquid limit of the soil at the 25 th
blow is 50.161%.
The plasticity index is the defined as the difference of liquid limit and plastic
limit. In this activity it shows that the plastic index of the soil sample is 17.206%
which can directly reflect how much the soil’s behavior changes with different
moisture levels. This specific value indicates a significant range where the soil
characteristics, like the volume, can alter as moisture content fluctuates. When
classifying the soil sample, it shows that the soil of this range of PI typically falls
within the category of OH or MH. This means that the soil sample contains a mixture
of organic clay or silt with high plasticity. However, base on the plasticity index of the
soil it suggests that the soil can be describe as medium plastic which is contrary to
the classification of the soil which indicates a high plasticity. The medium plastic
description aligns more closely with the calculated p rather than extremely high
plastic.
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

Conclusion
The two Atterberg limit test offers students vital insights on soil behavior,
serving as a cornerstone in geotechnical engineering and soil science. By
determining the liquid and plastic limits of the soil sample, the analysis provides
critical information about the soil’s characteristics, including consistency and
plasticity under varying conditions. These limits, particularly the plastic index, which
is calculated by subtracted liquid limit to plastic limit, are instrumental in classifying
the soil samples and understanding their behavior. However, discrepancies were
observed during the experiment as between the calculated PI and typical
classifications reveal the nuanced complexity within soil science. The discrepancy
underscores the intricacies and potential limitations of classification systems when
interpreting specific soil characteristics. Nonetheless, the practical knowledge and
experience gained from this experiment significantly enhances the students’ skills
preparing them for real-world applications in geotechnical engineering and planting
in their minds the importance of the soil is.
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

References
Atterberg limits. (n.d.). Geoengineer.org.
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Patel, A. (2019). Case examples of some geotechnical applications. In Elsevier
eBooks (pp. 167–191). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-817048-9.00011-1
Philip Wilson. (2021, May 25). Casagrande method - definitions of arboricultural
terms. Tree Terms - Arboricultural Definitions.
https://treeterms.co.uk/casagrande-method/#:~:text=A%20method%20for
%20determining%20the,the%20flow%20of%20the%20paste.
Tuladhar, R., Marshall, A., & Sivakugan, S. (2020). Use of recycled concrete
aggregate for pavement construction. In Elsevier eBooks (pp. 181–197).
https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-819055-5.00010-3
GEOTECHNICAL 1 – SOIL MECHANICS LABORATORY

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