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University Of Benghazi
Faculty of engineering
Civil engineering department

Soil mechanics
C331
Lab report
Atterberg Limits
Liquid Limit.
Plastic Limit.

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
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Index:

1. Introduction & definitions. 

2. Purpose of the experiment.
3. Equipment. 
4. Test procedure.
5. Calculations.
6. References.

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
2

Introduction & definitions:

Atterberg limits are a basic measure of the critical water contents of fine-grained
soils, such as silt and clay, as they transition from a solid to a liquid.

Atterberg Limits are an inexpensive and well documented way of predicting the
engineering properties of silt and clay soils.

The Atterberg Limits are: the shrinkage limit, plastic limit, and liquid limit. In
addition, there is the commonly referred to ‘Plasticity Index

 The Plastic Limit (PL) is minimum water content at which a soil is

considered to behave in a ‘plastic’ manner, i.e. is capable of being molded.
 The Liquid Limit (LL) is the maximum water content a silt or clay can have
before becoming a liquid, i.e. turning into mud.
 The Plasticity Index (PI) is the range of moisture contents where the silt or
clay remains plastic (PI = LL – PL).

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
2

LIQUID LIMIT TEST (CASAGRANDE):

The precise definition of the liquid limit is based on standard test procedures.
Liquid Limit can be determined using the Casagrande cup method or
a cone penetrometer.

In the Casagrande cup method, the soil paste is placed in the Casagrande cup, and a
groove is made at the center of it.

The limit is defined as the moisture content, in percent, required to close a distance
of 0.5 inches along the bottom of a groove after 25 blows in a liquid limit device. It
is difficult to adjust the moisture content in the soil to meet the required 12.5 mm
(0.5 in.) closure of the groove in the soil pat at 25 blows. Hence, at least three tests
for the same soil are conducted at varying moisture contents, with the number of
blows, N, varying between 15 and 35

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
2

Test procedure:
1. Place a soil paste in the cup.
2. Cut a groove at the center of the soil paste with the standard grooving tool.
3. Lift the cup and drop it from a height of 10mm, using the crank-operated
cam. Measure the water content required to close a distance of 12.7mm
along the bottom of the groove and note down the number of blows.
4. Repeat the procedure at least three times for the same soil at varying
moisture contents.
5. Plot the moisture content of the soil, in percent, and the corresponding
number of blows on semi-logarithmic graph. Draw the best-fit straight line
through the plotted points.
6. The moisture content corresponding to N 25, determined from the curve, is
the liquid limit of the soil.

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
2

Calculations:
DATA COLLECTED

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
2

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST (HAND ROLLING):

The Plastic Limit (PL), also known as the lower plastic limit, is the water content
at which a soil changes from the plastic state to a semisolid state. The Plastic limit
test is performed by repeated rolling of an ellipsoidal-sized soil mass by hand on a
non-porous surface. Casagrande defined the plastic limit as the water content at
which a thread of soil just crumbles when it is carefully rolled out to a diameter of
3 mm (1/8”). If the thread crumbles at diameter smaller than 3 mm, the soil is too
wet. If the thread crumbles at a diameter greater than 3 mm, the soil is drier than
the plastic limit. The sample can then be remolded and the test repeated. Once the
appropriate size rolls are made, their moisture content is assessed using the
procedure described previously. 

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
2

PI = LL-PL

PI=23.55-15.09

PI = 8.46%

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268
2

Reference:

 Das, Braja M. Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual. 2012.

 “Atterberg Limits: A Quick Reference Guide.” GlobalGilson.com,

www.globalgilson.com/blog/atterberg-limits-a-quick-reference-guide.
Accessed 4 Dec. 2022.

 MD Sahadat Hossain, P. E. Ph. D., et al. “Sieve Analysis – Properties and

Behavior of Soil – Online Lab Manual.” Sieve Analysis – Properties and
Behavior of Soil – Online Lab Manual,
uta.pressbooks.pub/soilmechanics/chapter/sieve-analysis. Accessed 11
Nov. 2022.

Student name: Zakaria Ziad Elhinaid Supervising: Ms.Eng. Fathia ELsawi

Student number: 28268