DETERMINATION OF SHRINKAGE LIMIT OF SOIL

PROCEDURE
1. Grease the inside of the shrinkage mold with a thin film of petroleum jelly.
Weigh mold and record.
2. Place about 30 g of sample obtained in accordance with standard
procedures in Preparation of Disturbed Soil Samples for Test in an evaporating dish and
mix thoroughly with sufficient water to completely fill the voids to a consistency to as
much as ten percent in excess of the liquid limit.
3. Place a portion of the wet soil in the mold (about 1/3 the volume of mold)
and tap the bottom on a firm surface. Add approximately the same amount of soil and
tap bottom of mold until thoroughly compacted and entrapped air is driven off. Add
more soil and continue tapping until the mold is overflowing. Strike off the excess
sample with a straightedge, and weigh immediately. Record as the weight/mass of mold
and wet soil.
4. Air-dry the soil until its color turns from dark to light; then oven-dry to
constant weight/mass at 110±5oC. Record as the weight/mass of the dish and dry soil.
5. Determine the volume of the wet soil by filling the mold with mercury to
overflowing. Remove the excess by pressing a glass plate firmly over the top. Measure
in a graduated cylinder the volume of mercury filling the mold. This is also the volume
of wet soil pat.
6. Determine the volume of the dry soil pat by the following procedure:
a. Remove the dry soil pat from the mold
b. Fill the glass cup to overflowing with mercury and remove excess
by pressing the glass plate with prongs firmly over the top of the cup.
c. Place the cup with mercury in the evaporating dish and place the
soil pat on the surface of the mercury.
d. Carefully force the soil pat under the mercury with the pronged
glass plate and press firmly over the top of the cup.
 WORK SHEET FOR SHRINKAGE LIMIT OF SOIL
Lab. No. ______________

1. Can + wet soil pat, g _____________ ______________

2. Can + dry soil pat, g _____________ ______________
3. Moisture loss, g _____________ ______________
4. Can, g _____________ ______________
5. Dry soil pat, g, “Vo” _____________ ______________
6. Moisture content, %, “M” _____________ ______________
7. Can filled with mercury, g _____________ ______________
8. Mercury, g _____________ ______________
9. Unit wt. of mercury, g/cm3 _____________ __13._6_______

10. Volume of wet soil pat, cm3, V _____________ ______________

11. Container + displaced mercury, g _____________ ______________
12. Container, g _____________ ______________
13. Displaced mercury, g _____________ ______________

14. Volume of dry soil pat, cm3, “VC” _____________ ______________

15. Shrinkage limit, S.L. _____________ ______________