FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

B. TECH OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING (GTE611S)

LAB 2: DETERMINATION OF THE Plastic Limit And Liquid Limit BY
Means OF A FLOW CURVE

COMPILED BY: TITUS NDESHIPANDA HAUKONGO

STUDENT NUMBER: 220100594
DATE OF EXPIRIMENT: 16TH MAY 2022
DUE DATE:
STUDENT SIGNATURE:

Lecturer: Mr. Abner S.K

Lab Technician: Mr. Rian.U

Table of Content
1. Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3
 1.1.1. Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
1.1.2. Scope………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
2. Apparatus……………………………….…………………………………………………….……………………………………….4
3. Procedures.…………………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………..6
3.1.1. Procedures For Liquid Limit Test……………………………………………………………………………….6
3.1.2. Procedures For Plastic Limit Test……………………………………………………………………………….7
4. Results and analysis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7
4.1.1. Table for Plastic Limit Test…………………………………………………………………………………………7
4.1.2. Table for Liquid Limit Test………………………………………………………………………………………….8
4.1.3. Flow curve ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
5. Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
5.1. Comments on results obtained…………………………………………………………………………………………9
5.2. Unexpected results…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
5.3. Sources of Error………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
6. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
6.1. Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………………………………9
7. References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

1. Abstract
The following is a lab report on a lab experiment conducted at a lab at the Namibia University
of Science and Technology on the 16 th of May by a group of second year Civil Engineering

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students. The experiment was done for the determination of Plastic limit and the liquid limit of
soil by means of a flow curve. The purpose, apparatus used and results obtained are further
discussed and concluded in the report.
2. Introduction
Soil can be regarded as the structural basis of any type of construction as the majority of
structures are erected on the soil. Soil should have an acceptable quality to ensure structural
strength, thus to ensure quality of soil various tests are conducted in this case the plastic limit
and liquid limit. The main purpose of the experiment is to determine Atterberg limits (LL an PL).
Liquid limit is defined as a limiting water content separating the viscous liquid state and the
plastic state of soil consistency. Rabin Tuldhar, Nagaratnam Sivakugan, in Advances in
Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling, 2020. Plastic Limit is the water content, in
percent at which a soil can no longer be deformed by rolling into 3mm threads without
crumbling, in other words percentage at which soil changes with decreasing wetness from the
plastic to semi- solid consistency.
2.1.1 Objectives
The compression index may be estimated which is used in settlement analysis. The
purpose of the test/experiment is to determine the liquid limit and plastic of the soil for
further classification of the soil and it gives an idea of the plasticity of the soil which can
be calculated by (PI =Liquid Limt −Plastic limit ) . As moisture content increases clay
and silt soils go through four distinct states of consistency: solid, semi solid, plastic, and
liquid. Each stage exhibits significant differences in strength, consistency, and behavior.
Atterberg limits test define accurately define boundaries between states using moisture
contents at points where the physical changes occur. The test values obtained have
direct applications in foundation design of structures and predicting the behavior of soil
infills, embarkments and pavements. The values also asses shear strength, estimate
permeability, forecast settlements and identify potential expensive soils.
2.1.2 Scope
The report comprises of the apparatus used including grooving tools, mechanical liquid
limit device and many more. The objectives of the experiments were also discussed
which were simply to determine the Liquid Limit and Plastic Limits of the soil. Both sets
of results were recorded in tables provided below. The results were from the liquid limit
test were plotted on the flow curve (5.1.3.) which was used to determine the liquid
limit. The results from plastic limit were used to. Further calculations of the plasticity
index and shrinkage were made and the results were further discussed and analyzed in
the report.

3. Apparatus for Liquid Limit Test

3.1.1. Grooving tool

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3.1.2. Balance

3.1.3. Oven

3.1.4. Mechanical liquid limit device

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3.1.5. Containers

3.1.6. Evaporating Dish

3.1.7. Spatula

3.1.8. Ground Glass Plate

3.1.9. Blow drier

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4. Procedures
4.1.1. Procedures for Liquid Limit test
1. Firstly, we calibrated the Mechanical Liquid limit device by raising the height of
the bowl by means of rotating the handle. We then placed calibrating plate on
the hard rubber base and the bowl is then allowed to rest on the plate. The
hinged support was then moved backward and forwards by means of a
thumbscrew the cam, on rotation, just raises the bowl free of the plate. We then
tightened the lock-screw and fall was checked again.
2. Sample preparation, as received washed on 425µm and air dried at
3. We then took about 250 g of air-dried soil in an evaporating dish, added water
from plastic squeeze bottle and mixed until it formed a paste.
4. We placed a portion of a paste in the cup of the mechanical liquid limit device
using a spatula and smoothed the surface of the soil in the cup such that the soil
had a maximum depth of 8mm.
5. Using the grooving tool, we cut along the center line of the soil in the cup.
6. We then turned then turned the crank of the mechanical liquid limit device at a
rate of about 2 revolutions per second. This causes the rising and dropping of the
cup through a vertical distance of 10mm per revolution. The soil from two sides
of the cup will begin to flow towards the center meanwhile we count the
number of blows (N) (revolutions) it took for the gap to close which we then
recorded on the table.
7. We the collected the about a quarter of the soil mass from the cup and placed it
in the container which we closed with the lid and measured the mass of the total
mass of the container with the soil and recorded on the table. The Name of the
container was also recorded ex. (A15/6X).
8. We then used a blow drier to dry the soil a bit while it is being mixed in the
evaporating dish.
9. The process was done 5 times and the results were recorded on the table. (Mass
of wet soil + container)
10. The containers containing the samples were then left in the oven at a
temperature of (100-105°C) for a period of 3 days, from 13 th May 2022 to the
16th May 2022.

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 11. After the specified period the containers were removed by the students to
measure the mass of container + dry soil using the balance for further analysis
and calculations.
4.1.2. Procedures the plastic limit Test
1. We took about 20 grams of the thoroughly mixed portion of material passed
through 425µm sieve.
2. Mixed it thoroughly with distilled water in the evaporating dish till the soil mass
became plastic enough to be molded with fingers.
3. Allowed water to permeate spread throughout the soil mass.
4. We then took about 8 grams of this plastic soil mass and rolled it between our
fingers and glass plate with just sufficient pressure to roll the mass into a thread
of uniform diameter throughout its length. The rate of rolling was between 80 to
90 strokes
5. Continue rolling until you get a thread of 3mm diameter.
6. Continue the process until the thread crumbles when diameter is 3mm.
7. We then collected the crumbled pieces into the containers.
8. Measured the mass of the container and record its name as well. (Wet mass of
soil + container)
9. Repeated the process.
10. The containers containing the samples were then placed in an oven at a
temperature of (100-105°C) for a period of 3 days (13/05/22 to 16/05/22)
11. After the specified period the samples are removed from the oven carefully and
the mass of container + dry mass is recorded on the table for further analysis and
calculations to be performed.
5. Results and Analysis
5.1.1. Table for Plastic Limit Test

PLASTIC LIMIT Test no. 1 2 3 4 Average

Container no. 25/9X A15/6X 3A/4X A/88
Mass of wet soil + container 27.0 26.3 30.8 24.4
g
Mass of dry soil + container 26.0 26.0 30.0 23.5
g
Mass of container 23.3 22.8 25.6 18.7
g
Mass of moisture 1 0.3 0.8 0.9
g
Mass of dry soil 2.7 3.2 4.4 4.8
g
Moisture content 37.0 9.4 18.2 18.8 20.83
%

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 5.1.1.1. Test data

Initial Length mm 150.0

Oven dried length mm 149.6
Ld 0.267
Linear shrinkage 100(1− )%
Lo

5.1.2. Table for Liquid Limit

LIQUID LIMIT Test 1 2 3 4 5

no
Number of bumps 14 20 27 36 69
Container no. 500/500 A8/A4 15/A AAA5/21 47/K28
Mass of wet soil + container 72.5 41.5 76.5 47.0 36.0
g
Mass of dry soil + container 68.0 37.5 72.0 42.0 32.0
g
Mass of container 52.5 24.0 54.0 23.0 15.0
g
Mass of moisture 4.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 4.0
g
Mass of dry soil 15.5 13.5 18.0 19.0 17.0
g
Mass of moisture content 29.0 29.6 25.0 26.3 23.5
g

5.1.3. Flow curve

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 35 Flow curve
29 29.6
30
f(x) = − 1.43 x + 30.97 26.3
25
Water Content 25 23.5

20

15

10

0
14 20 27 36 69

Numbe of blows

Series 1 Linear (Series 1) Linear (Series 1)

Calculations
Liquid Limit = 26.7 % (where number of blows is 25)
mw 1
W 1= ×100= × 100=37.0 (Repeated for W2, W3, W4 and calculate average for the
ms 2.7
Plastic Limit)
Plastic Limit = 20.83 %
Plasticity Index: PI =Liquid Limt −Plastic limit =26.7−20.83=5.87
6. Discussion
6.1. Comment on results obtained
Data obtained from the liquid limit test were used to draw the flow chart from which we
obtained that the liquid limit of the soil is 26.7% when the number of blows/bumps is
equal to 25, the Plastic limit was found to be 20.83% after calculating the average water
content. We then used the Atterberg limits to calculate the plasticity index which was
found to be 5.87%, this tells us that the soil is low plastic with low dry strength and can
easily be crushed by finger. The linear shrinkage of the soil was also found to be
6.2. Unexpected results

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 When the students repeated the Liquid limit test for the last time the number of bumps
were found to be 69 which is relatively high. Also, after the students removed the
containers from the oven for the Plastic limit test the mass of container + dry soil was
almost the same as the mass of container + wet soil for the 2 nd container which caused
confusion among the students.
6.3. Sources of error
The greatest source of error in both in both liquid and plastic limit tests is lack of care in
performing, operator error because these tests are very precise and requires exact
following of procedures, any mistake may throw off the data substantially. Examples
include:
- Not rolling the soil samples to the correct diameter
- Counting errors when counting number of blows during the liquid limit test
- Errors during measuring mass of containers
- Overheating the soil samples with the blower during
- Poor mixing of soil and water together
7. Conclusion
We can thus conclude that the experiment was a success because the objective which was
to determine the Plastic Limit, Liquid Limit and the plasticity index was completed. We can
also conclude from the results obtained that the soil has a plasticity index of 5.87% which
tells us that the soil is low plastic therefore it would less prone to expansion
7.1. Recommendations
- In the case of sandy soils, the plastic limit should be determined first, when the
plastic limit cannot be determined it is classified as non-plastic.

References
ASTM D 4138 - Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils . (n.d.).

Braja M. Das, B. C. (n.d.). PRINCIPLE OF GEOTECNICAL ENGINEERING 5TH EDITION.

Das, B. M. (n.d.). FUNDAMENTAL OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING.

Laboratories, C. E. (2012, February 21). Retrieved from

https://civilengineeringlaboratory.blogspot.com/2012/02/liquid-limit-and-plastic-limit-
tests.html

Reddy, P. (n.d.). Engineering Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory Testing.

Science Direct. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/plasticity-

index.

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