Experiment 5: Atterberg Limits Test

1. Introduction
Geotechnical engineers must examine soils intended to support structures,
pavements, or other loads in order to forecast their behaviour under applied stresses
and changeable moisture conditions. In geotechnical laboratories, soil mechanics
experiments are used to determine particle size distribution, shear strength, moisture
content, and the ability for cohesive soils to expand or contract. The moisture
content at which fine-grained clay and silt soils transition between solid, semi-solid,
plastic, and liquid states is determined through Atterberg limits tests.
Albert Atterberg, a Swedish chemist and agricultural scientist, was the first to
determine the boundaries of soil consistency for fine-grained soil categorization in
1911. He discovered that cohesive (clay and silt) soils have a unique property called
plasticity, and he proposed classifying soils with particle sizes of 2m (0.002mm) or
less as clays.
In the early 1930s, Karl Terzhagi and Arthur Casagrande recognised the need
of defining soil plasticity for geotechnical engineering applications. Casagrande
improved and standardised the experiments, and his methods are still used to
evaluate soil's liquid, plastic, and shrinkage limits.

2. Literature Review
Clay and silt soils go through four distinct stages of consistency as moisture content
increases: solid, semi-solid, plastic, and liquid (Figure 1). The strength, consistency,
and behaviour of each stage differ significantly. Using moisture content at the places
where physical changes occur, Atterberg limit tests accurately delineate the
boundaries between different states. The test results and related indices can be used
to design structural foundations and anticipate the behaviour of soil infills,
embankments, and pavements. The values are used to quantify shear strength,
predict settlement, and detect potentially expansive soils.

Figure 1: Atterberg limit consistency states of soils

The plastic limit, liquid limit, and shrinkage limit of soils are all test results
obtained by direct measurements of the water content following the standard test
methods. Liquid Limit (LL) is the water content at which soil changes from a plastic
to a liquid state when the soil specimen is just fluid enough for a groove to close
when jarred in a specified manner. Plastic Limit (PL) is the water content at the
change from a plastic to a semi-solid state. This test involves repeatedly rolling a soil
sample into a thread until it reaches a point where it crumbles. Shrinkage Limit
(SL) is the water content where the further loss of moisture does not cause a
decrease in specimen volume.

3. Methodology
3.1 Apparatus
3.1.1 Apparatus for LL
No Apparatus Figure
.
1. Spatula

2. Wash bottle (with water)

3. Moisture content cans

4. Balance

5. Oven

6. Casagrande device and Cone

penetration device

7. Grooving tool
3.1.2 Apparatus for PL
No. Apparatus Figure
1. Spatula

2. Wash bottle (with water)

3. Moisture content cans

4. Balance

5. Oven

6. Flat glass plate

7. Porcelain evaporating dish

3.2 Procedure
3.2.1 Procedure (LL using Casagrande Device)
1. Some air-dried sample which has been matured in an airtight container at
approximately the starting moisture content are prepared (this would make it easier
and quicker to mix the soil).
2. For the LL, the sufficient amount of soil between 300-400g is prepared but for the
PL, a few grams (about 20mm ball) should be set aside to dry if it already plastic.
3. The soil is mixed thoroughly on the glass plate to form soil paste by using spatula.
The starting water content should give about 70 blows Casagrande. This will have to
be trial and trial and error (and later by experience). More water gives less blow and
vice versa.
4. The soil paste is placed in the cup by using the spatula and the sample is pressed
slightly to remove air voids. The surface of the sample should be approximately
horizontal.
5. The soil sample is cut at the center by the grooving tool to form a groove running
across the soil sample towards you.
6. The counter is set at zero and the handle of the tool is winded to close the groove
(in plan) for 10mm. If the count exceeds 70 (or beyond the limit of the flow chart),
the soil from cup is removed and remixed with additional water on the glass plate.
After mixing place the soil paste back in the cup and step (5) above is repeated. The
counter set again at zero and the blows is counted to close the groove for 10mm.
7. If the first starting point is obtained (which gives blow counts of about 70), a little
soil sample is took from the cup and placed in the moisture content container for
water content determination.
8. The soil sample is removed from the cup, returning to the glass plate and
combined it with the remaining sample. Water is added and mixed thoroughly as
before. Step (6) is repeated and this time the blow count should be less than in the
first trial. The aim is to obtain four to five points spread over the range 70 to 10
blows on the flow curve.
9. The procedure is repeated of at least four to five times at different water content
values. The readings are recorded and the calculation in the form is provided.

3.2.2 Procedure (For PL)

1. For the plastic limit test, a small quantity of the sample set aside in (From step 2
in casagrande method) is dried in the hand by rolling it on the glass plate to from
soil thread until it crumbles (or cracks) when its diameter is about 3mm.
2. Sufficient amount of this sample (say 15g) and placed it directly in the moisture
content container for water content determination.

4. Result and Discussion

4.1 Results
Liquid Limit (Casagrande device)
Test no. 1 2 3 4 5
No. of blows (average) 40 30 30 28 25
Container no. L13 LL5 C3 L8 LL1
Mass of container (g) 6.74 6.45 6.40 6.60 6.95
Mass of container + 16.70 17.52 18.67 17.72 18.50
wet soil (g)
Mass of container + 13.65 14.21 14.89 13.92 14.75
dry soil (g)
Mass of water (g) 3.05 3.31 3.78 3.35 3.75
Mass of dry soil (g) 6.91 7.76 8.49 7.32 7.80
Moisture Content (%) 30.62 29.90 30.81 31.40 32.47

Plastic Limit
Container no. 1 2 3
Mass of container (g) 6.95 5.23 5.45
Mass of container + 7.67 6.25 6.30
wet soil (g)
Mass of container + 7.57 6.10 6.14
dry soil (g)
Mass of water (g) 0.10 0.33 0.16
Mass of dry soil (g) 0.62 0.87 0.69
Moisture Content (%) 13.89 14.71 18.82

4.2 Calculation & Discussion

33
32.5
32
Moisture Content (%)

31.5
31
30.5
30
29.5
29
28.5
25 28 30 30 40
No. of Blows

The liquid limit from the graph as the water content on the line corresponding to 25
blows is 32.47%.

From the result obtain for PL, the PL is the average moisture content for the 3 trials:
13.89+ 14.71+18.81
PL ¿ ¿ 15.81 = 0.16
3
Therefore, the plastic limit of the original soil is ≈ 0.2 and the Plasticity Index (PI) of
the soil is:
PI = LL - PL = 32.47 - 0.2 =32.27

Based on the plasticity chart above, the soil is classified as clay.

Despite the difference in measurement methods, liquid limits (LL) obtained with the
Casagrande Device and Fall Cone Method have a similar approach. The Casagrande
Device and the Fall Cone Method measure the shear strength of the soil and this is
associated with LL. The Casagrande Device imposes shock loading to the soil test-
specimen as the cup repeatedly impacts against the apparatus base, initiating a
slope failure. This scenario has been shown to measure a certain specific strength
(i.e. strength divided by soil density) value at LLcup of approximately 1 m2 /s2. The
Fall Cone Method on the other hand corresponds to a fixed reference strength value,
independent of soil density. This difference accounts for the systematic bias between
these two approaches with higher values being obtained for the Casagrande Device
compared to the Fall Cone for high liquid limit materials.

5. Conclusion
In conclusion, to ensure that the soil performs as expected, Atterberg Limits are
used in the early stages of structure design. Excessive volume changes induced by
moisture swings might cause the building to settle or heave. The objective of this
experiment which is to determine the liquid and plastic of soils is achieved. We were
also able to classify the soil based on the result we obtain through the experiment.

References

Atterberg Limits: A Quick Reference Guide. (2021). GlobalGilson.com.

https://www.globalgilson.com/blog/atterberg-limits-a-quick-reference-guide