Tests for Determination of Plasticity Characteristics

1 General

Determination of the Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit and the Plasticity Index of soils are covered here.
In recognition of their formulation by the Swedish soil scientist A. Atterberg, Liquid limit and
plastic limit (along with the Shrinkage limit) are often referred to as Atterberg Limits. These limits
are a basic measure of the nature of a fine grained soil.

2 Scope

These limits distinguish the boundaries of the several consistency states of a plastic soil and are
performed on the soil which passes the 0.425mm - (425µm) sieve.

Liquid limit can either be determined using a multipoint test or a one point test. Plasticity limit
test is performed on materials prepared for the liquid limit test.

In some soils Liquid limit and Plastic limit can be considerably different when they are dried
before the test. In such cases "Wet preparation method" described here should be adopted.
Otherwise soil sample shall be prepared by the "Dry preparation method".

Plasticity characteristics are used as an integral part of several engineering classification systems
to characterise the fine grained fraction of the soil. The Liquid limit, Plastic limit and Plasticity
Index of soils are also used extensively, either individually or together with other soil properties
to correlate with engineering behaviour such as compressibility, permeability, compact ability,
shrink, swell and shear strength.

3 Apparatus

3. 1. Liquid Limit Device (Casagrande’s Apparatus)

This is a. mechanical device consisting of a brass cup suspended from a carriage, which is
designed to control its drop on to a hard rubber base. Figure 1 depicts the essential features of the
device and provides the critical dimensions. The device may be operated either by a hand crank
or by an electric motor. Different parts of the Liquid limit device should confirm to the standards
listed below.

Base
The base shall be hard rubber having a Durometer hardness of 80 to 90, and resilience that an
8mm diameter polished steel ball, when dropped from a height of 25 cm will have an average
rebounce of at least 80% but not more than 90%. The test shall be conducted on the finished base
with feet attached.

Feet
The base shall be supported by rubber feet designed to provide isolation of the rubber base from
the work surface. When the finished feet is attached to the base it should provide Durometer
hardness less than 60.

Cup
The cup should be brass and have a weight (inclusive of cup hanger) of 185 - 215 g.

Cam
The cam shall raise the cup smoothly and continuously to its maximum height, over a distance of
at least 1800 of cam rotation. The preferred cam motion is a uniformly accelerated lift curve. The
design of the cam and follower combination shall be such that there is no upward or downward
velocity of the cup when the cam follower leaves the cam.

Carriage
The cup carriage shall be constructed in a way that allows convenient but secure adjustment of
the height of drop of the cup to 10 mm. The cup hanger shall be attached to the carriage by means
of a pin which allows removal of the cup and cup hanger for cleaning and inspection.

Optional motor drive

As an alternative to the hand crank, the drive may be equipped with a motor to turn the earn at 2
revolutions per second.

3. 2 Other Accessories
Grooving Tool
A grooving tool having dimensions as shown in Figure 2. The tool shall be made of plastic or non
corroding metal. The design of the tool may vary as long as essential dimensions are maintained.

Gauge
A metal gauge block for adjusting the height of drop of the cup having dimensions shown in
Figure A. 5. 2. 2. (The gauge could have been incorporated in the cutting tool itself).

Containers
Small containers for moisture content determination.

Balance
A balance readable to at least 0.01 g

Storage Containers
A container in which to store the prepared soil sample so that contamination or moisture loss is
prevented. A porcelain, glass or plastic dish about 11.5 cm in diameter and a plastic bag large
enough to enclose the dish and be folded over is adequate.

Ground Glass Plate

A ground glass plate at least 30 cm square by 1cm thick for mixing soil and rolling plastic limit
threads.

Spatulas
A spatula having a blade about 2 cm wide by 10 cm long and another having a blade 2.5cm wide
and 15 cm long.

Sieve
A 425µm sieve.
Wash bottle
Wash bottle or a smaller container for adding controlled amounts of water to the soil and washing
fines from coarser particles.

Drying Oven
A thermostatically controlled oven capable of continuously maintaining a temperature of 105 –
110Co, throughout the drying chamber. The oven shall be equipped with a thermometer of
suitable range and accuracy for monitoring the oven temperature.

Rod
A metal or plastic rod or tube 3.2 mm (1/8 inch) diameter and about 10 cm long for judging the
size of plastic limit threads.

4 Procedure

4. 1 Preparation of the Sample

Soil used in the test should be finer than 425 µm. A representative portion of from the total sample
sufficient to provide 150 g to 250 g of material passing 425 µm sieve should be obtained.

Preparation of the sample may be done either by "Dry Preparation Method" or "Wet Preparation
Method".

Dry Preparation Method

In the dry preparation method, soil sample received in the laboratory shall be air dried or oven
dried (at a temperature less than 60 deg) and a portion finer than 425 µm shall be obtained by dry
sieving. With some soils Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit obtained after drying in the above manner
would be different from the LL and PL obtained on undried samples. In such instances wet
preparation method shall be used.

Wet preparation Method

If by appearance it is determined that no material coarser than 425 µm is present in the sample a
sample of 150 g - 200 g shall be prepared by mixing thoroughly with distilled or demineralised
water on a glass plate using a spatula. Before mixing soil may be softened by soaking it in a
storage disk for a while.

If a small percentage of material coarser than 425 µm is encountered during mixing they shall be
removed by hand. If it is impractical to remove the coarse material by hand coarse material may
be removed by working the specimen through 425 µm sieve. If a larger percentage of coarse
material is encountered during mixing, or if it is impractical to remove the coarse material by the
methods described above sample may be washed through the 425 µm sieve.

Prior to the washing process any obviously large particles may be removed by sieving through a
2mm sieve. Thereafter 425 µm sieve shall be kept on the bottom of a clear pan and water should
be added to bring to a level of about 13 mm above the surface of the 425 µm sieve. The slurry
shall be washed through the 425 µm sieve by taking not more than 500 g of soil at a time on to it.
Material retained on 425 µm sieve shall be discarded and the water content of the soil in the pan
shall be reduced till it approaches the Liquid Limit. Water content may be reduced by Exposing
it to air currents at room temperature, exposing it to warm air currents of a hair drier, filtering
through a funnel or colander with the help of a high wet strength filter paper or by decantering
clear water from the surface of the suspension.

Soil sample of about 250 g finer than 425 µm obtained through one of the procedures above
should then be thoroughly mixed using a. spatula. Mixed soil should then be returned to the
mixing dish, covered to prevent loss of moisture and allowed to stand for at least 16 hrs. After the
standing period and immediately before starting the test, sample shall be remixed thoroughly.
4. 2 Test Procedure for the Liquid Limit (Casagrande’s Apparatus)

A portion of the prepared soil shall be placed in the cup of the liquid limit device and spread in
the cup to a depth of 10 mm at its deepest point, to form an approximately horizontal surface.
Care should be taken to eliminate air bubbles from the soil pat. But the pat should be made with
as few strokes as possible. Unused soil on the glass plate should be kept covered by a wet towel
or an inverted dish.
A groove should be made in the soil pat by drawing the tool, beveled edge through the soil on a
line joining the highest point to the lowest point on the rim of the cup. When cutting the groove,
grooving tool should be held against the surface of the 'cup and be maintained perpendicular to
the surface throughout its movement. In soils where a groove cannot be, made in one stroke
without tearing the soil, groove may be cut with several strokes of the grooving tool. Alternatively
the groove may be cut with a spatula initially to a slightly less width and made to -the final
dimensions by the grooving tool. Extreme care should be exercised to prevent any sliding of the
soil relative to the surface of the cup.

Cup shall be lifted and dropped by turning the crank at a rate of 2 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.

The number of drops, N, required to close the groove should be recorded and a slice of the soil
be removed for the determination of moisture content. Sample should be taken from edge to edge
of the cup to include the portion of the groove in which the soil flowed together. A spatula may
be used for this purpose.

The soil remaining in the cup shall be returned to the glass plate, and the cup and grooving tool
shall be washed and dried. Cup shall then be reattached to the carriage in preparation for the next
trial. The entire soil specimen on the glass plate shall be remixed adding more water to increase
the moisture content so that the number of blows required for the closure of the groove will be
less.

In the trials number of blows required should be between 15 and 50. Liquid limit is the water
 content of the soil when the grove closes with 25 blows.

4. 3 Test Procedure for the Liquid Limit (Penetration Method)

The apparatus for the liquid limit test in this method consists of a penetrometer fitted with a 30°
cone of stainless steel, 35 mm long; the cone and the sliding shaft to which it is attached have a
mass of 80 g. The soil to be tested is mixed with water to form a thick homogeneous paste and
stored for 24 hrs. Some of the paste is then placed in a cylindrical metal cup, 55 mm internal
diameter by 40 mm deep, and leveled off at the rim of the cup to give a smooth surface.

The cone is lowered so that it just touches the surface of the soil in the cup, the cone being locked
in its support at this stage. The cone is then released for a period of 5 sec and its depth of
penetration into the soil is measured. A little more of the soil paste is added to the cup and the
test is repeated until a consistent value of penetration has been obtained. (i.e. the average of the
two values within 0.5 mm or three values within 1.0 mm is obtained). The entire test procedure
is repeated at least four times using the same soil sample but increasing the water content. The
penetration values should cover the range of approximately 15mm to 25mm.

Cone penetration is plotted against water content and the best straight line fitting the points in
drawn. Liquid limit is defined as the water content corresponding to a cone penetration of 20 mm.

20mm

Cone
Penetration
4. 4 Test Procedure for the Plastic Limit

About a 20 g portion of soil from the material prepared for the Liquid Limit test shall be used for this test.
By spreading and continuously mixing on the glass plate or by rolling between the palms of hands the
water content of the soil should be reduced to a consistency at which it can be rolled without sticking. Soil
specimen may be exposed to air currents from an electric fan to expedite the process of drying.

From the specimen about 2 g shall be taken and formed it to an ellipsoidal mass. This mass shall be rolled
between the palms of hands and the ground glass plate. Mass should be rolled with just sufficient pressure
to make it in to a thread of uniform diameter of about 3.2 mm. (Rod may be used to get a guidance about
the size). Any crumbling of the thread should be observed.

This should be done over and over again; thereby reducing the water content till the thread crumbles when
rolled to a diameter of 3.2 mm. The portions of the crumbled thread should be gathered and place on a
container to determine the moisture content. The procedure should be repeated for another 2 g portion of
the soil from the original specimen. This should be continued until the container has at least about 9 g of
soil.

The process should be repeated to obtain another container of at least 9 g of soil. The moisture content
from the two containers should be computed separately to determine the Plastic Limit of the soil. If the
difference is greater than 2% the test should be repeated.