DETERMINATION OF THE LIQUID LIMIT

INTRODUCTION

Liquid limit is an empirically established moisture content at which a soil passes from liquid state to
plastic state. It’s measured by placing a clay sample in standard cup and making a separation
(groove) using a spatula and the cup is cup is dropped until the separation vanishes. According to
[ CITATION Raj16 \l 7177 ] the test is performed again by increasing moisture content , soil with low
water content would yield more blows and soils with high water content would yield less blows.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the liquid limit of a soil

APPARATUS

A flat glass (10mm thick and 500mm square)

Spatula

Grooving tool

Drying oven

Electronic balance

Metal cans

A mechanical device

A wash bottle with distilled water

Apparatus for moisture content determination

PROCEDURE

A sample weighing 200g shall be taken from material passing the 425 µm test sieve. Place the
sample on a flat glass and mix thoroughly with distilled water using the palette knives until the mass
becomes thick homogeneous paste. Allow the paste to stand in the airtight container for 24h to
allow water to permeate through the soil. Remove the soil sample from the container and remix for
at least 10 minutes. Place a portion of the remixed soil into the cup resting on the base and level off
the soil parallel to the base. Use the grooving tool to divide the soil along the diameter through the
centre of the hinge. Check the distance of cup drop to be about 13mm (use the end of the grooving
tool or ruler). Turn the motor on and record the number of blows/drops where the two parts of soil
come in contact (there is a counter, just remember to zero it). Add a little extra of the soil mixture to
the cup and mix with soil in the cup then drop it for 5 to 9 times until two consecutive runs give the
same number of blows for closure. Ensure that the range of moisture content gives a 10 to 50 range
of blows required for closure also cover the soil to avoid drying up during the experiment.
CALCULATIONS

MASS OF WATER=Mass of can + wet soil –mass of can

Sample 1: 25.4-21.0=1.6

Sample 2: 26.0-21.2=1.8

Sample 3: 27.6-21.8=2.0

Sample 4: 24.6-21.0=1.2

MASS OF DRY SOIL=Mass of can + dry sample-mass of can

Sample 1: 23.8-21.0=2.8

Sample 2: 24.2-21.2=3.0

Sample3: 25.6-21.8=3.8

Sample 3: 23.4-21.0=2.4

Percentage moisture content =Mass of water/Mass of soil *100

Sample 1: 1.6/2.8*100=57%

Sample 2: 1.8/3.2*100=60%

Sample 3: 2.0/3.8*100=53%

Sample 3: 1.2/2.4*100=50%

RESULTS

DETERMINATION OF THE LIQUID LIMIT (USING CASAGRANDE APPARATUS)

SAMPLE NUMBER MASS MASS MASS MASS OF MASS OF PERCENTAGE

NO OF DROPS OF CAN OF CAN OF CAN WATER(Mw) DRY MOISTURE CONTENT
+WET +DRY SOIL(Ms)
SAMPLE SAMPLE
1 18 21.0 25.4 23.8 1.6 2.8 57%

2 20 21.2 26.0 24.2 1.8 3.0 60%

3 30 21.8 27.6 25.6 2.0 3.8 53%

4 48 21.0 24.6 23.4 1.2 2.4 50%

DISCUSSION
A cone penetrometer method is preferred over the casagrande method described in this procedure
because it gives accurate results. The evidence is raised by major changes which were introduced;
therefore the preferred method of liquid limit testing became the Cone Penetrometer. This
preference is reinforced by to the Cone Penetrometer as the definitive method. The Cone
Penetrometer is considered a more satisfactory method than the alternative because it is essentially
a static test which relies on the shear strength of the soil, whereas the alternative casagrande
method introduces dynamic effects [ CITATION Bow78 \l 7177 ].
DETERMINATION OF PLASTIC LIMIT

INTRODUCTION

Plastic limit is a moisture content at which a soil passes from plastic to semi-solid state. The plasticity
of soils is determined using relatively simple remoulded strength tests. The presence of water in fine
grained soils can significantly affect associated engineering behaviour, so to clarify the effects, a
reference index Liquid limit and Plastic limit is established.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the plasticity index of a soil

APPARATUS

A flat glass plate (10mm thick and 500mm square)

Two palette knives (200mm long and 300mm wide blade)

A length of metal rod 3mm in diameter and about 100mm long

PROCEDURE

A sample weighing about 20g is taken from the soil paste prepared and placed on the glass plate.
The prepared paste is thoroughly mixed with water until the soil becomes plastic enough to be
shaped into a ball. Approximately 8g-12g of the moistened soil is taken and formed into a uniform a
uniform mass roughly elliptical in shape. The ball of soil is rolled by tips of the fingers on the glass
the plate with just enough pressure to form an elongated thread as rolling proceeds. If the soil can
be rolled to a thread 3mm thick without crumbling, amassed it and rerolled it.Rolling and amassing is
repeated until the soil crumbles under slight pressure required for rolling and the thread is nearly
3mm before crumbled. Gather portions of the crumbled soil and the moisture content of the soil is
recorded immediately.

CALCULATIONS

Mass of water= mass of can +wet soil-mass of can

Sample 1: 22.8-21.2=0.2

Sample 2: 22.6-21.4=0.2

Sample 3: 22.4-20.6=0.6

Sample 4: 22.0-20.6=0.2

MASS OF SOIL= mass of can +dry soil – mass of can

Sample 1: 22.6-21.2=1.4

Sample 2: 22.4-21.4=1.0

Sample 3: 21.8 – 20.6=1.2

Sample 4: 21.8-20.6=1.2

Percentage moisture content =mass of water/mass of soil*100

Sample 1: 0.2/1.4*100=14.3%

Sample 2:0.2/1.0*100=20%

Sample 3:0.6/1.2*100=50%

Sample 3:0.2/1.2*100=17%

RESULTS

DETERMINATION OF THE PLASTIC LIMIT

SAMPLE NO MASS OF MASS OF MASS OF MASS OF MASS OF PERCENTAGE

EMPTY CAN CAN + WET CAN + DRY WATER DRY SOIL MOISTURE
SAMPLE SAMPLE CONTENT
1 21.2 22.8 22.6 0.2 1.4 14.3%
2 21.4 22.6 22.4 0.2 1.0 20%
3 20.6 22.4 21.8 0.6 1.2 50%
4 20.6 22.0 21.8 0.2 1.2 17%

AVERAGE PLASTIC LIMIT: 25.3

DISCUSSION

Water holding capacity is defined as the water retained between field capacity and wilting capacity.
Field capacity is the saturated state of water in the soil that can drain easily due to pressure.

CONCLUSION