MODULE 3:

PLASTICITY AND STRUCTURE OF SOIL

ENGAGE

Soil as a multiphase material consists of soil particles and the void spaces between
the particles. Due to absorption of moisture which will occupy the voids will cause at a
certain point that the soil can be reformed easily. The behavior of the soil may therefore vary
with changes of its moisture content.

In your own thoughts, answer the following questions by writing your answers in the
space provided.

1. If the soil condition changes from dry to saturated condition, what may be the
notable variation/s in terms of form, texture, and behavior?

2. Does water affect the bonding of particles of soil? Explain your answer.

This module includes an overview of the method to describe the consistency of fine-
grained soils with varying moisture content and the procedures to determine the Atterberg
limits. This module includes the Atterberg limits: liquid limit, plastic limit and shrinkage limit.
Also discussed in this module are soil structure and geotechnical parameters, such as activity
and liquidity index, which are related to Atterberg limits.

EXPLORE

Read: Plasticity and Structure of Soil (pp. 94-119)

Das B.M., and Sobhan, K. (2014) Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 8th ed. United
States: Cengage Learning

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 UNIT 1: ATTERBERG LIMITS

EXPLAIN

Atterberg Limits:
- Moisture content parameters that serves as borders of the four basic states of soil
1. Shrinkage Limit – moisture content at the point transition from solid to semisolid
state
2. Plastic Limit - moisture content at the point of transition from semisolid to plastic
state
3. Liquid Limit - moisture content at the point of transition from plastic to liquid state

↑w
Liquid
Liquid Limit
Plastic
Plastic Limit
Semi-Solid
Shrinkage Limit
Solid
w=0
States of Soil Atterberg Limits
Figure 3.1. Transition of states of soil an Atterberg limits

1. Liquid Limit, LL:

- Can be estimated considering the moisture content for the 25 – blows using the
liquid limit device under liquid limit test

Counter

Handle

Spatula Cup

Grooving Tool

Figure 3.2. ASTM liquid limit device with counter and tools

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 (a) Before test (b) After test
Figure 3.3. Photographs showing the soil pat in the liquid limit device
Reference: civilblog.org, 2015

- As the moisture content increases – the number of blows for the soil pat to fail
decreases (↑w =↓N)

Figure 3.4. Flow curve for liquid limit determination

Flow Index, If:

- Slope of flow curve or flow line
w1 − w2
If = (3.1)
N
log (N2 )
1
where:
w1 = w of soil sample 1, in percentage corresponding to N1 blows
w2 = w of soil sample 2, in percentage corresponding to N2 blows
Note:
 w2 and w1 are exchanged to yield a positive value even though the slope of the flow line
is negative

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 Equation of flow line:
w = −If logN + C (3.2)
where:
w = moisture content
If = flow index
N = number of blows
C = a constant, value of moisture content at N = 1

One – Point Method:

- Empirical equation to estimate LL proposed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(1949)
- may be used to determine the liquid limit when only one test is run for a soil
N tanβ
LL = wN ( ) (3.3)
25
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 β is not equal to 0.121 for all soils)

2. Plastic Limit, PL:

- Moisture content at which the soil crumbles when rolled to about 1/8 inch. (3.2
mm) diameter

Soil Balls

Thread of soil Glass Plate

Figure 3.5. Rolling of soil mass on ground glass plate to determine plastic limit

Plasticity Index, PI:

- Difference of liquid limit and plastic limit
PI = LL − PL (3.4)

Liquidity Index, LI:

- Ratio which defines the relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural state
w − PL
LI = (3.5)
LL − PL

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 w − PL
LI = (3.6)
PI
where: w = in-situ moisture content

Figure 3.6. Plasticity and liquidity index

Notes:
 If 0 < LI < 1: Plastic State
 If LI > 1: Liquid State

Consistency Index, CI:

- index that is commonly used for engineering purposes
LL − w
CI = (3.7)
LL − PI
LL − w
CI = (3.8)
PL

Sample Problems:

4.1 Results from liquid and plastic limit tests conducted on a soil are given below.
]
120 Liquid limit tests:

Plastic limit tests: PL = 13.4%

a. Draw the flow curve and obtain the liquid limit.
b. What is the plasticity index of the soil?

Solution:
a. Process:
- create the semi-log graph, you may consider/adjust the origin at any point
- plot the different points from liquid limit test
- draw mean-line (flow curve)
- project N = 25 towards the mean-line, at its intersection consider the value of
its moisture content and identify as the Liquid Limit, LL

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 Flow Curve:
40

38

Moisture Content, % 36

34

32

30 LL ≈ 29%
28

26

24

22

20
10 25
Number of Blows, N (Log Scale)

Figure 3.7.

b. Plasticity Index (Eq. 3.4)

PI = LL − PL = 29% − 13.4% = 15.6%

4.2
]
120 Determine the liquidity index of the soil in Problem 4.1 if win situ = 32%.

Solution:
Liquidity Index (Eq. 3.6):
w − PL 32% − 13.4%
LI = = = 1.19
PI 15.6%
LI > 1, therefore the sample soil is at its Liquid State

3. Shrinkage Limit, SL:

- Moisture content at which the volume of soil cease to change
m1 − m2 Vi − Vf
SL = ( ) (100%) − ( ) (ρw )(100%) (3.9)
m2 m2

Initial moisture Change in moisture content

content before test (between initial moisture and
where: moisture at shrinkage limit)
m1 = moist mass of soil
m2 = dry mass of soil
Vi = initial volume

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 Vf = final volume
ρw = density or water (1 g/cc, 1000 kg/m3 or 1.94 slug/ft3)

(a) (b)
Figure 3.8. Shrinkage limit test: (a) soil pat before drying; (b) soil pat after drying

Shrinkage Ratio, SR:

- the ratio of the volume change of soil as a percentage of the dry volume to the
corresponding change in moisture content
m2
SR = (3.10)
Vf ρw

Specific Gravity of Soil Solids, Gs:

- Shrinkage limit and shrinkage ratio empirical equation to determine Gs
1
Gs = (3.11)
1 SL
SR − (100%)

Sample Problem:

4.5 A saturated soil used to determine the shrinkage limit has initial volume Vi = 20.2 cm3,
]
120 final volume Vf = 14.3 cm3, mass of wet soil m1 = 34 g, and mass of dry soil m2 = 24 g.
Determine the shrinkage limit and the shrinkage ratio.

Given:
Vi = 20.2 cm3
Vf = 14.3 cm3
m1 = 34 g
m2 = 24 g
Required:
a. Shrinkage Limit, SL
b. Shrinkage Ratio, SR
c. (Additional Requirement) Estimate the Specific Gravity of the Soil Solids, Gs

Solution:
a. Shrinkage Limit, SL (Eq. 3.9)
m1 − m2 Vi − Vf
SL = ( ) (100%) − ( ) (ρw )(100%)
m2 m2
34 g − 24 g 20.2 cc − 14.3 cc g
SL = ( ) (100%) − ( ) (1 ) (100%) = 17.083%
24 g 24 g cc

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 b. Shrinkage Ratio, SR (Eq. 3.10)
m2 24 g
SR = = g = 1.678
Vf ρw 14.3 cc (1 cc)

c. Gravity of the Soil Solids, Gs (Eq. 3.11)

1 1
Gs = = = 2.353
1 SL 1 17.083%
SR − (100%) 1.678 − ( 100% )

ELABORATE

Try solving the following problems:

4.3 Results from liquid and plastic limit tests conducted on a soil are given below.
]
120 Liquid limit tests:

Plastic limit tests: PL = 19.1%

d. Draw the flow curve and obtain the liquid limit.
e. What is the plasticity index of the soil?
4.4
] Determine the liquidity index of the soil in Problem 4.3 if win situ = 21%.
120
4.6 A saturated soil used to determine the shrinkage limit has initial volume Vi = 16.2 cm3,
]
120 final volume Vf = 10.8 cm3, mass of wet soil m1 = 44.6 g, and mass of dry soil m2 = 32.8
g. Determine the shrinkage limit and the shrinkage ratio.

UNIT 2: PLASTICITY CHART

EXPLAIN

Plasticity Chart
- Used to estimate the value of the Shrinkage Limit, in the absence of laboratory
test, using the values of Plastic Limit and Liquid Limit
- Used to classify the soil if it is:
1. Cohesionless
2. Inorganic clay
3. Inorganic silt

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 Inorganic Clay

Cohesionless

Inorganic Silts

Figure 3.9. plasticity chart

A-Line:
PI = 0.73 (LL − 20) (3.12)
- Boundary of inorganic clay and silt
- Upper limit of inorganic silt

U-Line:
PI = 0.90 (LL − 8) (3.13)
- Boundary of cohesionless soil and inorganic clay
Process:
1. Plot and draw A-line and U-line
- For the axis: (equal interval and measurement)
o Abscissa: Liquid Limit, LL
o Ordinate: Plasticity Index, PI
 For sample coordinates of the A-Line: (using Eq. 3.12)
- If PI = 0, LL = 20%
- If LL = 0, PI = -14.6%
sample coordinates of A-line: (20,0) and (0,-14.6)

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  For sample coordinates of the U-Line: (using Eq. 3.13)
- If PI = 0, LL = 8%
- If LL = 0, PI = -7.2%
sample coordinates of U-line: (8,0) and (0,-7.2)

2. Consider the values of PI and LL as coordinate of point A

- Data from laboratory tests

3. Extend A and U – lines and identify the intersection as point B

Check coordinates of point B:
- Equate Eq. 3.12 and 3.13
0.73 (LL − 20) = 0.90 (LL − 8) (3.14)
LL ≈ -43.53%
Substitute in Eq. 3.12:
PI ≈ -46.38%
Computed coordinate of point B: (-43.53,-46.38)

4. Connect points A and B using a straight line, determine the intersection of the
line with the horizontal axis as point C
- Point C = Shrinkage Limit, SL

Shrinkage Limit

Figure 3.10. Estimation of shrinkage from plasticity chart

Note:
 You may check the value of the Shrinkage Limit (using sample value of PI = 0) by
considering linear interpolation taking points A (LL,PI from test) and B (-43.53,-46.38)

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 Sample Problem:

4.1 Additional requirement:

]
120 Determine the value of the Shrinkage Limit and classification of the soil sample

Given:
LL = 29%
PI = 15.6%

Required: SL

Solution:
70
Plasticity
Index 60
50

40

30

20 A
●
10

0 ● C
-100 -90 -80 -70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
-10 Liquid Limit
-20

-30

B -40
●
-50

-60

-70

Figure 3.11.

Based on Figure 3.9:

Shrinkage Limit = Point C ≈ 11%

Check the solution by linear interpolation:

A 29% 15.6%
C SL 0
B -43.53% -46.38%

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 SL − 29% 0 − 15.6%
=
−43.53% − 29% −46.38% − 15.6%

Shrinkage Limit ≈ 10.74%

*Based on Figure 3.9 and classification from Figure 3.7:

Soil classification: Inorganic clays of low plasticity

ELABORATE

Try solving the following problem:

4.3 Additional requirement:

]
120 Determine the value of the Shrinkage Limit and classification of the soil sample

UNIT 3: SOIL STRUCTURE

EXPLAIN

Soil Structure
- Geometric arrangement of soil particle with respect to each other
o Size
o Shape
o Composition

1. Cohesionless Soil
- Soil with poor bond, and soil with components that breaks easily when exposed
to force or pressure
- Majority of soil components are granular/coarse (gravel and sand)

a. Single – grained soil

- Soil particles are in stable positions, with each particle in contact with the
surrounding ones.
- variation of void ratios caused by the relative positions of the particles

(a) (b)
Figure 3.12. Single-grained structure: (a) loose; (b) dense

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 b. Honeycombed structure
- relatively fine sand and silt form small arches with chains of particles
- have large void ratios, and they can carry an ordinary static load

Figure 3.13. Honeycombed structure

2. Cohesive Soil
- Soil with good shear strength, and soil with components that does not easily
breaks when exposed to force or pressure
- Normally it is a soil with distributed soil sizes, good arrangements and with fines
particularly clay as its major component

(a) (b)
Figure 3.14. Soil structure: (a) arrangement of peds and macropore spaces;
(b) arrangement of domains and clusters with silt-sized particles

Clay Particles:
a. Domains – smallest particle of clay
b. Clusters – group of domains
c. Peds – group of clusters

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 EVALUATE

Based on the discussions, with varying moisture content of soil, what is/are the critical state/s
of the soil? Explain your answer.
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Assignment:

Solve the following problem, neatly and orderly. Follow your assignment or task guides.

Problem: A saturated soil used to determine the shrinkage limit has initial volume Vi = 16.2
cm3, final volume Vf = 10.8 cm3, mass of wet soil m1 = 44.6 g, and mass of dry soil m2 = 32.8 g.
Estimate the specific gravity of soil solids.

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