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EXAMPLE 2.1 SOLUTION 2.1
Liquid Limit Test Result Step 1: Plot the data
Number of blows 10 19 23 27 40
Water content (%) 60.0 45.2 39.8 36.5 25.2

Two Determinations for Plastic Limit: 20.3% & 20.8%

Required: wLL=38%

a) wLL & wPL b) IP c) IL if w = 27.4%

d) e at the wLL if Gs=2.7
25

Step 2: Extract wLL: wLL=38%

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Step 3: Calculate wPL EXAMPLE 2.2
Results of a fall cone test:
Parameter 80 gram cone 240 gram cone

Step 4: Calculate IP Penetration (mm) 5.5 7.8 14.8 22 32 8.5 15 21 35

Water content (%) 39.0 44.8 52.5 60.3 67 36.0 45.1 49.8 58.1

Step 5: Calculate IL Required:

a) wLL b) wPL c) IP d) IL if w = 36%

Step 6: Calculate eLL

Assume the soil is saturated at wLL

Brittle failure is not expected as the soil is in a plastic state

(0<IL<1).
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SOLUTION 2.2 Step 3: Determine wPL
Step 1: Plot the data

80 grams

Step 4: Determine IP

２40 grams
Step 5: Determine IL

20

Step 2: Extract wLL wLL=59%

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Are 50% of particles > 0.75 mm Are 50% of particles < 0.75 mm
Yes No Yes No
Soil is coarse-grained Soil is fine-grained Soil is fine-grained Soil is coarse-grained
Proceed to flowchart of Fig. 2.15b Proceed to flowchart of Fig. 2.15a
Is gravel fraction > sand fraction?
Yes No
Yes No
Soil is gravel Soil is Sand
First letter is G First letter is S Soil is organic Is clay fraction > silt fraction?
First letter is O
Yes No
Is clay + silt fraction Soil is clay Soil is silt
Between 5% and 12 %? First letter is C First letter is M
> 12%? < 5%?
Yes
Yes Yes
Is clay fraction > silt fraction? Is liquid limit > 50%?
Is clay fraction > silt fraction? Yes No
Yes No
Yes No Plasticity is high Plasticity is low
If first letter is G, UC If first letter is G, UC
Plastic clayey fines Non-plastic silty fines 4 and 1 CC 3 4 and 1 CC 3 Second letter is H Second letter is L
Second letter is C Second letter is M Classification is: GW-GC Classification is: GW-GM Soil is fat clay or Soil is lean clay or
Otherwise, Otherwise, elastic silt silt
If first letter is G, UC 4 and 1 CC 3, Classification is: GP-GC Classification is: GP-GM
second letter is W, otherwise second letter is P
If first letter is S, If first letter is G, UC
If first letter is S, UC 6 and 1 CC 3, UC 6 and 1 CC 3 4 and 1 CC 3
second letter is W, otherwise second letter is P Classification is: SW-SC Classification is: GW-GM Unified soil classification flowchart for fine-grained soil.
Otherwise, Otherwise,
Classification is: SP-SC Classification is: GP-GM

Unified soil classification flowchart for coarse-grained soil.

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EXAMPLE 2.3 Required:
a) Classify soils according to USCS.
Atterberg Limit Test Result b) Classify soils according to USCS.
Soil wLL wPL c) Which of the two soils is a better
A 26 18 material for the core of a rolled earth dam.
B Non plastic
SOLUTION 2.3
Particle Size distribution curve:
Step 1:
Determine the percentage of each soil type
from the particle size distribution curve.
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Clay 5 6
Silt Sand Gravel Step 2
Use the flow chart
Following the flow chart, soil A is ML
and soil B is SM.

Step 3
Plot the Atterberg limit on the plasticity
chart.
Soil A: IP = 26 – 18 = 8%
The point (26,8) falls above the A-line,
the soil is inorganic.
Constituent Soil A Soil B
Soil B: Non-plastic, inorganic.
Percent of particle greater than 0.075 mm 14 81
Gravel fraction (%) 0 15
Sand fraction (%) 14 66
Silt fraction (%) 57 19
Clay fraction (%) 29 0
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Step 4
Use Table 2.7 to make the preliminary
assessment.
Soil B with a rating of 5 is better than
soil A with a rating of 6.