Week 4. CE322 Plasticity and Structure

Physical Properties
of Soil Part 2:
Plasticity and
Structure of Soil
CE322: Plasticity and Structure of Soil
When clay minerals are present in fine-grained soil, the soil can be remolded in the presence of
some moisture without crumbling.
❑ Indicates the degree of firmness of fine-grained soil.

❑ The physical properties of clays greatly differ at different water contents. A soil which
is very soft at a higher percentage of water content becomes very hard with a
decrease in water content.
❑ Generally expressed in terms of very soft, soft, stiff, very stiff, and hard.
❑ Consistency is an important characteristic in the case of fine soil, the term
consistency describing the ability of a soil to undergo unrecoverable deformation
without cracking or crumbing.
However, it has been found that at the same water content, two samples of clay of
different origins may possess different consistency. One clay may be relatively soft
while the other may be hard. Further, a decrease in water content may have little effect on
one sample of clay but may transform the other sample from almost a liquid to a very firm
condition.
- a swedish scientist, developed a method to describe the consistency of fine-grained soils

with varying moisture contents.
✓ At a very low moisture content, soil
behaves more like a solid.
✓ When the moisture content is very high,
the soil and water may flow like a liquid.
✓ The behavior of soil can be divided into
four basic states: solid,
semisolid,
plastic, and liquid
✓ Atterberg limits are the limits of water
content used to define soil behavior.
✓ Shrinkage limit - The moisture content, in percent, at which the transition from solid to
semisolid state takes place.
✓ Plastic limit - The moisture content at the point of transition from semisolid to plastic
state.
✓ Liquid limit - The moisture content from plastic to liquid state.
The Atterberg limits may be used for the following:

1. To obtain general information about a soil and its strength, compressibility, and
permeability properties.
2. Empirical correlations for some engineering properties .
3. Soil classification
✓ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxXqqIuCfT0
✓ The moisture content, in percent, required to close a distance of 12.5 mm (0.5 in.)
along the bottom of the groove after 25 blows is defined as the liquid limit.
✓ The relationship between moisture content and log N is approximated as a
straight line which is referred to as the flow curve.
✓ The moisture content corresponding to N = 25, determined from the flow curve,
gives the liquid limit of the soil.
✓ The slope of the flow line is defined as the flow index and may be written as
where
IF flow index
w1 moisture content of soil, in percent, corresponding to N1 blows
w2 moisture content corresponding to N2 blows
Using Casagrande’s device
ASTM D4318-10 Standard Test Methods for

Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity
Index of Soils.
Assemble Fill LL Device Cut groove with Lift LL Device with crank @
components & ~2/3 high tool. constant rate. Count
soil. Mix soil & number of blows to close
with wet soil.
Mix soil with more water.
water.
Repeat. groove ½ inch.

Run 4 Tests
2 > 25 blows
2 < 25 blows.
Plot Number of Blows

(N) on Log Scale.
LL is w
@bN=25b(Round to
1%)


✓ From the analysis of hundreds of liquid limit tests, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(1949) at the Waterways Experiment Station in Vicksburg, Mississippi, proposed an
empirical equation of the form
where
N = number of blows in the liquid limit device for a 12.5 mm groove closure
wN = corresponding moisture content
tan β = 0.121 (but note that tan b is not equal to 0.121 for all soils)
Using Fall cone Method

✓ British Standard—BS1377
✓ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpPxCu6P408
✓ In this test the liquid limit is defined as the moisture content at which a standard cone
of apex angle 30° and weight of 0.78 N (80 gf) will penetrate a distance d 20 mm in 5
seconds when allowed to drop from a position of point contact with the soil surface.
✓ Due to the difficulty in achieving the liquid limit from a single test, four or more tests
can be conducted at various moisture contents to determine the fall cone penetration,
d. A semilogarithmic graph can then be plotted with moisture content (w) versus cone
penetration d. The plot results in a straight line. The moisture content corresponding to
d 20 mm is the liquid limit. The flow index can be defined as:
where w1, w2 moisture contents at cone penetrations of d1 and

d2, respectively
A semilogarithmic
graph can then be
plotted with moisture
content (w) versus
Using Fall cone Method cone penetration d.
The plot results in a
straight line. The
moisture content
corresponding to d =
20 mm is the liquid
limit.
Compressibility on the basis of Liquid Limit (Venkatramaiah, 2006)

✓ It is defined as the moisture content in percent, at which the soil crumbles, when
rolled into threads of 3.2 mm in diameter. The plastic limit is the lower limit of the
plastic stage of soil. At this state the mixture is deformed to any shape under minor
pressure.
✓ The procedure for the plastic limit test is given by ASTM in Test Designation D-4318.
✓ Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9HvDB8G90k
✓ It is defined as the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit of a soil.
✓ It is important in classifying fine-grained soils.
✓ It is fundamental to the Casagrande plasticity chart which is currently the basis for the
Unified Soil Classification System.
✓ The greater the difference between liquid and plastic limits, the greater is the
plasticity of the soil.
✓ A cohesionless soil has zero plasticity index. Such soils are termed
non-plastic.
✓ Fat clays are highly plastic and possess a high plasticity index.
✓ Atterberg Limits & Consistency indices Plasticity Index (PI) Report the
liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index to the nearest whole
number, omitting the percent designation.
✓ If either the liquid limit or plastic limit could not be determined, or if the
plastic limit is equal to or greater than the liquid limit, report the soil as
nonplastic, NP
Run 4 Tests. Average
water content for 4
tests = wP = PL
Assemble Roll wet soil to Roll on PL When soil crumbles

components & ellipsoidal Device until when 1/8 inch
soil. Mix soil & mass with hands. 1/8 inch diameter is achieved,
water. diameter roll is you are at PL.
achieved. Take water content.
✓ PI correlated with flow index (Sridharan et al., 1999)

✓ PL correlated with LL and Clay Fraction (CF) by Polidori (2007).
✓ PI correlated with LL and Clay Fraction (CF) by Polidori (2007).

Typical Values of Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Activity of Some Clay Minerals
(Mitchell, 1976; Skempton, 1953)
Burmister (1949) classified the plasticity index in a qualitative manner as follows:

✓ Soil shrinks as moisture is gradually lost from it. With continuing loss of moisture, a
stage of equilibrium is reached at which more loss of moisture will result in no further
volume change. The moisture content, in percent, at which the volume of the soil
mass ceases to change is defined as the shrinkage limit.
✓ Formula:
Where
Ꙍi = initial moisture content when the soil is placed in the shrinkage limit dish
ΔꙌ = change in moisture content (that is, between the initial moisture content and the
moisture content at the shrinkage limit)
Where: Where:
M1 = mass of the wet soil pat in Vi = initial volume of the wet soil pat (that is,
the dish at the beginning of inside volume of the dish, cm3)
the test (g) Vf = volume of the oven-dried soil pat (cm3)
M2 = mass of the dry soil pat (g) ρw = density of water (g/cm3)
Typical values of shrinkage limit for some clay minerals are as follows (Mitchell, 1976).
✓ The relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural state can be defined by a
ratio called the liquidity index, which is given by:
Where
Ꙍ = in situ moisture content of soil
PL = plastic limit
LL = liquid limit
The liquidity index of a soil indicates the nearness of its water content to its liquid limit.
When the soil is at its liquid limit, its liquidity index is 100% and it behaves as a liquid.
When the soil is at the plastic limit, its liquidity index is zero.
Negative values of the liquidity index indicate a water content smaller than the plastic
limit. The soil is then in a hard (dessicated) state.
LI is also known as water-plasticity ratio
✓ Soil deposits that are heavily ✓ The in situ moisture content for a
overconsolidated may have a natural sensitive clay may be greater than the
moisture content less than the plastic liquid limit. These soils, when remolded,
limit. can be transformed into a viscous form to
flow like a liquid.
✓ Another index that is commonly used for engineering purposes is the consistency
index (CI), which may be defined as:
where
Ꙍ = in situ moisture content
• If w is equal to the liquid limit, the consistency index is zero.
• If w PI, then CI = 1.
The CI indicates the consistency (firmness) of a soil. It shows the nearness of the water content
of the soil to its plastic limit.
When CI = 0, the soil is at the liquid limit. It is extremely soft and has negligible shear strength.
When water content = PL then CI = 100%, indicating that the soil is relatively firm.
CI > 100% shows that the soil is relatively strong, as it is the semi-solid state.
CI is negative value indicates that the water content is greater than LL
LI + CI = 100%
✓ It is the slope of the line correlating PI and % finer than 2 mm.

✓ Activity is used as an index for identifying the swelling potential of clay soils.
✓ Helpful to predict the dominant clay type/mineral in soil sample.
✓ High activity signifies large volume change when wetted and large shrinkage when
dried.
Polidori (2007) provided an empirical relationship for activity as (for CF equal

to or greater than 30%”):
✓ Soil containing the clay mineral montmorillonite have very high activity (A > 4).
✓ Soil containing the mineral kaolinite are least active (A < 1).
✓ Soil containing the mineral illite are moderately active (A = 1 or 2)
Clay type Activity

Inactive Clays A < 0.75
Normal Clays 0.75 < A < 1.25
Active Clays > 1.25
✓ Plasticity chart by Casagrande (1932)

▪ The important feature of this chart is the empirical

A-line that is given by the equation
PI = 0.73(LL 20)
▪ An A-line separates the inorganic clays from the

inorganic silts.
▪ Inorganic clay values lie above the A-line, and
values for inorganic silts lie below the A-line.
▪ Organic silts plot below the A-line and with LL
ranging from 30 to 50) as the inorganic silts of
medium compressibility.
▪ Organic clays plot in the same region as
inorganic silts of high compressibility which is
below the A-line and LL greater than 50.
▪ U-line lies above the A-line.

▪ The U-line is approximately the upper limit of the
relationship of the plasticity index to the liquid limit
for any currently known soil.
The consistency limits are determined for remoulded soils and do not give complete
information about the in-situ soils.
The engineering properties of soil can be empirically related to these index properties:
1. It has found that both the LL and PL depends upon the type and amount of
clay in a soil. The PI is a measure of the amount of clay in soil and the
fineness of the particles.
2. As the soil particle decreases, both LL and PL increase.
3. The study of PI in combination with LL, gives information about the type of
clay. The main use of consistency limit is the classification of soil.
4. Sandy soil change from liquid state to the semi-solid rather abruptly. These
soils do not possess plasticity and are classified as non-plastic (NP). Soil
with LL < 20% is generally sand.
5. The PL of a soil increases if organic matter is added, without any significant
increase in the LL. Thus, soils with high organic content have low PI.
6. The LL of a solid is an indicator of the compressibility of a soil. The

compressibility of a soil generally increases with an increases in LL.
7. The shrinkage index is directly proportional to the percentage of clay-size

fraction present in the soil.
8. The toughness index is a measure of the shearing strength of the soil at the
PL.
9. When comparing the properties of two soils with eqaul values of PI, it is
found that as the LL increases, the dry strength and toughness decreases,
whereas compressibility and permeability increase.
10. When comparing the properties of two soils with equal LL, it is found that as
the PI increases, the dry strength and toughness increase, whereas the
permeability decreases.
✓ Soil structure is defined as the geometric arrangement of soil

particles with respect to one another.
✓ Among the many factors that affect the structure are the shape, size,
and mineralogical composition of soil particles, and the nature
and composition of soil water.
✓ In general, soils can be placed into two groups: cohesionless and
cohesive.
✓ Two major categories: single grained and honeycombed
single grained
o soil particles are in stable
positions, with each particle in
contact with the surrounding
ones.
o The shape and size distribution of
the soil particles and their
relative positions influence the
denseness of packing thus, a
wide range of void ratios is
possible.
honeycombed
o fine sand and silt form small
arches with chains of particles.
Soils that exhibit a honeycombed
structure have large void ratios,
and they can carry an ordinary
static load.
o However, under a heavy load or
when subjected to shock loading,
the structure breaks down, which
results in a large amount of
settlement.
honeycombed
o fine sand and silt form small
arches with chains of particles.
Soils that exhibit a honeycombed
structure have large void ratios,
and they can carry an ordinary
static load.
o However, under a heavy load or
when subjected to shock loading,
the structure breaks down, which
results in a large amount of
settlement.
✓ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVvra7h5U8g
✓ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvrqyFYhhxQ
✓ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAvN9Z6yVDs

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Week 4. CE322 Plasticity and Structure

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Physical Properties

❑ Indicates the degree of firmness of fine-grained soil.

- a swedish scientist, developed a method to describe the consistency of fine-grained soils

The Atterberg limits may be used for the following:

Using Casagrande’s device

ASTM D4318-10 Standard Test Methods for

Using Casagrande’s device

Using Casagrande’s device

Plot Number of Blows

Using Casagrande’s device

Using Casagrande’s device

Using Fall cone Method

where w1, w2 moisture contents at cone penetrations of d1 and

Compressibility on the basis of Liquid Limit (Venkatramaiah, 2006)

Assemble Roll wet soil to Roll on PL When soil crumbles

✓ PI correlated with flow index (Sridharan et al., 1999)

✓ PL correlated with LL and Clay Fraction (CF) by Polidori (2007).

✓ PI correlated with LL and Clay Fraction (CF) by Polidori (2007).

Burmister (1949) classified the plasticity index in a qualitative manner as follows:

✓ It is the slope of the line correlating PI and % finer than 2 mm.

Polidori (2007) provided an empirical relationship for activity as (for CF equal

Clay type Activity

✓ Plasticity chart by Casagrande (1932)

✓ Plasticity chart by Casagrande (1932)

▪ The important feature of this chart is the empirical

▪ An A-line separates the inorganic clays from the

✓ Plasticity chart by Casagrande (1932)

▪ U-line lies above the A-line.

2. As the soil particle decreases, both LL and PL increase.

6. The LL of a solid is an indicator of the compressibility of a soil. The

7. The shrinkage index is directly proportional to the percentage of clay-size

✓ Soil structure is defined as the geometric arrangement of soil

✓ Two major categories: single grained and honeycombed

✓ Two major categories: single grained and honeycombed

✓ Two major categories: single grained and honeycombed

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