OBJECTIVE

To Determine the Lowest Moisture Content at Which the Soil Behaves Plastically

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
CALCULATION

Mass of dry soil (Ms) = [mass of can + dry soil (Mcs)] – [mass of can (Mc)]
i) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 0.037 – 0.033 = 0.004 g
ii) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 0.035 – 0.030 = 0.005 g
iii) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 0.041 – 0.036 = 0.005 g
iv) Mass of dry soil (Ms) = 0.038 – 0.032 = 0.006 g

Mass of water (Mw) = [mass of can + moist soil (Mcws)] – [mass of can] –
[mass of dry soil]
i) Mass of water (MW) = 0.038 – 0.037 = 0.001 g

ii) Mass of water (MW) = 0.037 – 0.035 = 0.002 g

iii) Mass of water (MW) = 0.042 – 0.041 = 0.001 g

iv) Mass of water (MW) = 0.041 – 0.036 = 0.003 g

Moisture content,w = [Mw/Ms] x 100

0.001
i) Water content, w = 𝑋 100 = 25%
0.004
0.002
ii) Water content, w = 0.005 𝑋 100 = 24%

0.001
iii) Water content, w = 𝑋 100 = 20%
0.005

0.003
iv) Water content, w = 𝑋 100 = 50%
0.006
DISCUSSION

Atterberg limit is quite unreliable since the test method often give a wide range or error.
When considering the plastic limit test, amount of finger pressure used and the shape of the tips of
fingers varies to a great extent and, in addition, operators frequently do not carry out testing using
the tips of the fingers (as specified in the British Standard) since these are eminently unsuited to
the task. The extensive use of plasticity testing can be most rewarding, however the low levels of
accuracy coupled with high cost tend to discourage use.

In order to avoid any mistakes, we should be more careful and follow all the procedures.
We must consider any possibility of error that can be happen during the experiment. Besides that,
we must be careful when using the apparatus in the lab in order to elude from any incident occurred
in the lab. This is because we need to avoid any dangerous especially when using the oven or any
chemical. We have to wear gloves when dealing with the hot oven. Wash the apparatus until it’s
clean and throw the soil or any materials in the dustbin.
CONCLUSION

From the result we obtained, the value of moisture content as well as the plastic limit is
18% indicate the characteristic of the soil whereas the water contents of the soil should not less
than 18% due to the crack limit of the soil. As we got the result of plastic limit, it will use to obtain
the Plastic Index by the formula of liquid limit deduct plastic limit. This calculation will be shown
as :

Plastic Limit, PL = 29.75%

Liquid Limit, LL =

Plastic Index = LL - PL =

As a conclusion, _____ is plastic index indicates the range between the liquid limit and plastic
limit whereas the percentage of water content should fall between these intervals.
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