1.

0 OBJECTIVE

To Determine the Lowest Moisture Content at Which the Soil Behaves

Plastically.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this experiment, students are able to:

• Conduct the plastic limit experiment.
• Identify the plastic limit value for soil.
• Identify the importance and application of plastic limit test.

3.0 INTRODUCTION

The following moisture conditions - liquid unlit, plastic limit, along with
shrinkage limit are referred to as the "Atterberg Limits", after the originator of the
test procedures. Semi-Solid .StagySolid State Atterbera Limits and Indices. The
plastic limit, also known as the lower plastic limit, is the water content at which a
soil changes from the plastic state to a semisolid state. A plastic limit set is an
apparatus that is used to determine the plastic limit of soil.

The change from a semisolid state to a plastic state of soil is a gradual

process. According to a standard empirical definition, the plastic limit is the water
content at which a soil passing a 0.425mm sieve can be rolled into threads one-
eighth inch in diameter without the soil breaking into pieces. Generally, the terms
plastic limit and liquid limit are used together for soil identification and
classification.
Definition
The method described herein is based upon A_ASHTO Designation T89
which has been modified for New York State Department of Transportation
use. The liquid limit of a soil is the moisture content, expressed as a percentage of
the weight of the oven-dried soil. at the boundary between the liquid and plastic
states of consistency. The moisture content at this boundary is arbitrarily defiled
as the water content at which two halves of a soil ca1Le will flow together, for a
distance of l,- in.(12.7 min) along the bottom of a groove of standard dimensions
separating the two halves, when the cup of a standard liquid limit apparatus is
dropped 25 times from height of 0.3937 in. (10 nun) at the rate of two
drops/second.

4.0 THEORY
Plastic limit ( P w ) of soil is defined as the water content at which a soil
will just begin to crumble when rolled into a thread of approximately 3 mm in
diameter. It is water content at the boundary between the plastic and semi-solid
states of consistency of the soil. Plasticity index (PI or IP) is the numerical
difference of the liquid and plastic limit, and indicates the range of water content
through which the soil remains plastic.
PI = LL – PL
For fine grained soils, determining the natural water content (the water
content of a soil in an undisturbed condition in the ground) and relating it to the
plastic and liquid limits can provide an indication of the soil’s consistency and/or
sensitivity potential. One such relationship is the liquidity index.
w − PL
IL =
PI
Consistency index is defined as the ratio of the liquid limit minus the natural
water content to the plasticity index of a soil.
LL − w
Cr =
PI
Plasticity Index Degree of Plasticity Type of Soil
 (IP or PI)
0 Non-Plastic Sand
<7 Low-Plastic Silt
7-17 Medium Plastic Silty clay or clayey silt
> 17 Highly Plastic Clay
Classification of soil according to plasticity.

Liquidity Index (IL or LI) Consistency

< 0.0 Desiccated (dry) hard soil
0.0-0.25 Stiff
0.25-0.50 Medium to soft
0.50-0.75 Soft
0.75-1.00 Very soft
>1.00 Liquid s
Classification of soil according to liquidity indices.

4.0 TEST EQUIPMENTS

1. The most important piece of apparatus for this test is the hand of operator,
which should be clean and free from grease.
2. Evaporating dish.
3. A separate glass plate reserved for rolling of threads. This should be
smooth and free from scratches, and about 300 mm square and
10mm thick. The surface condition of the plate can affect the
behavior of rolled threads, and the use of unscratched glass reduces
the like lihood of discrepancies. An alternative is to reserve
one side of the mixing plate for
thread rolling, and avoid mixing the soil on this area.
4. Two palette knives or spatulas.
5. A short length (say 100 mm) of 3mm diameter metal rod.
6. Standard moisture content apparatus (container, balance and oven)
5.0 PROCEDURES
1) First of all a soil paste is prepared and a part of it is placed on the glass
mixing plate.
2) The soil is allowed to dry to such an extent that it becomes plastic and can
be shaped into a ball.
3) The ball is then moulded by pressing gently between fingers and palms so
that it dries up and cracks appear on the soil.
4) The soil is then divided into two sub-samples and separate determination
process is carried out for both the samples. Moisture is evenly spread on both soil
samples by pressing them between fingers. A thread is formed of about 6mm diameter
between the first finger and thumb of each hand.
5) The thread is rolled between the fingers, from the finger-tip to the second
joint, of one hand and the surface of the glass rolling plate.
6) The process is repeated until the thread shears both longitudinally and
transversely when it has been rolled to about 3mm diameter, as gauged by a rod.
7) Moisture content measurement :
This is placed in a numbered moisture content container, which is
weighed, oven dried and weighed as in the standard moisture
content procedure according to BS 1377: Part 2: 1990.
i. Weight the empty moisture content container
ii. Take a moisture content sample of about 10 g from the area
penetrated by the cone, using the tip of a small spatula.
iii. Weight the wet sample
iv. Dry in the oven for about 24 hours (overnight)
v. Weight the dry sample

(a) (b)
 (c)

(d) (e)

Process to take a moisture content.

6.0 RESULTS / ANALYSIS / CALCULATION

DATA SHEET

Test Number Units 1 2 3 4

Can Number
Mass of can + moist soil (Mcws) gram 12 12 11.5 11.8
Mass of can + dry soil (Mcs) gram 11.4 11.6 11.0 11.2
Mass of can (Mc) gram 9.0 9.9 9.3 9.0
Mass of dry soil (Ms) gram 2.4 1.7 1.7 2.2
 Mass of water (Mw) gram 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.6
Water content % 25 23.53 29.41 27.27
Plastic limit % 26.30

Plastic limit = 26.30 %

Liquid limit = %
Plasticity index = Liquid Limit – Plastic Limit = %

a) To determine the value of mass of dry soil (MS)

Test Number Units 1 2 3 4

Can Number 1 2 3 4
Mass of can + dry soil (Mcs) gram 11.4 11.6 11.0 11.2
Mass of can (Mc) gram 9.0 9.9 9.3 9.0

Mass of dry soil (Ms) = [Mass of can + dry soil (MCS)] – [Mass of can (MC)]
 i) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 11.4 - 9.0 = 2.4 g
ii) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 11.6 - 9.9 = 1.7 g
iii) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 11.0 - 9.30 = 1.7 g
iv) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 11.2 – 9.0 = 2.2 g

b) To determine the value of mass of water (MW)

Test Number Units 1 2 3 4

Can Number 1 2 3 4
Mass of can + moist soil (Mcws) gram 12 12 11.5 11.8
Mass of can + dry soil (Mcs) gram 11.4 11.6 11.0 11.2

Mass of water (MW) = [Mass of can + moist soil] – [Mass of can + dry soil ]

i) Mass of water (MW) = 12.0 - 11.40 = 0.6 g

ii) Mass of water (MW) = 12.0 – 11.60 = 0.4 g
iii) Mass of water (MW) = 11.5 – 11.00 = 0.5 g
iv) Mass of water (MW) = 11.8 – 11.20 = 0.6 g

c) To determine the value of water content, %

Test Number Units 1 2 3 4

Can Number 1 2 3 4
Mass of dry soil (Ms) gram 2.4 1.7 1.7 2.2
Mass of water (Mw) gram 0.6 0.4 0.5 0.6
 Water content, w = x 100%

i) Water content, w = 0.6 X 100 = 25%

2.4

ii) Water content, w = 0.4 X 100 = 23.53%

1.7

iii) Water content, w = 0.5 X 100 = 29.41%

1.7

iv) Water content, w = 0.6 X 100 = 27.27%

2.2

d) To determine the value of plastic limit and plasticity index

Plastic limit = average of the water content

PL = 25 + 23.53 + 29.41 + 27.27

4
= 26.30%

Plasticity index = Liquid Limit – Plastic Limit

= 58.10% – 26.30 %
= 23.35%
7.0 DISCUSSION
8.0 CONCLUSION
9.0 QUESTIONS :

QUESTIONS 1

(a) What is the definition of plastic limit?

The plastic limits is arbitrarily defined as the water content at which a silt
or clay will just begin to crumble when rolled into a thread
approximately 3.2 mm in diameter (ASTM D 4318-98, 2000).
Both of these definitions are based on empirical concepts.

(b) A sample of wet clay and its container weigh 102 g. After oven drying the
sample and the container weigh 60 g. What is the water content and
plastic limit for the soil?

Wet clay soil + container = 102 g

Dry soil + container = 60 g
Container = 6g
So, dry soil, M2 = 60 – 6 = 54 g
And wet soil, M1 = 102 – 6 – 54 = 96 g

M1 − M 2 96 − 54
∴w = × 100% = × 100% = 77.78%
M2 54

Therefore, plastic limit for the soil is 77.78%

QUESTIONS 2

(a) What is the different between liquid limit and plastic limit?
Different between liquid limit and plastic limit is behavior change between
the liquid and plastic states and between the plastic and semisolid states of
a silt or clay. Liquid limit is arbitrarily defined as the water content at
 which a part of soil, cut by a groove of standard dimensions and
will flow together for a distance of 12.7mm under the impact of 20
blows in a standard liquid limit device. Plastic limit is arbitrarily
defined as the water content at which a silt or clay will just begin to
crumble when rolled into a thread approximately 3.2mm in diameter.

(b) A sample of wet clay weighs 176 g. After oven drying the sample weigh
60 g and its container is 7.32 g. What is the water content and plastic limit
for the soil?

Wet clay soil + container = 176 g

Dry soil + container = 60 g
Container = 7.32 g
So, dry soil, M2 = 60 – 7.32 = 52.68 g
And wet soil, M1 = 176 – 7.32 – 52.68 = 116 g

M1 − M 2 116 − 52.68
∴w = × 100% = × 100% = 120.2%
M2 52.68

Therefore, plastic limit for the soil is 120.2