FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE NAME
COURSE CODE
OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEMESTER

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : Atterberg Limit

DATE OF EXPERIMENT : 28 April 2021
NAME : Muhammad Aiman Syafiq Bin Isma Samsulzamani
UiTM NO : 2020853552
CLASS GROUP : EC2202A3A
LECTURER : Nurul Ainain Binti Mohd Salim
LEVEL OF OPENESS : 1

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY
RESULTS&ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5
ORGANIZATION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECG428
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 1
CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN
DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 33
PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEK (WEEK 6)

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES TEST:

DETERMINATION OF LIQUID LIMIT AND PLASTIC LIMIT OF FINE-GRAINED SOILS

PREAMBLE
Introduction

Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways &
means are guided and given to the students. However, the answers to the
assignment are left to the students to solve using the group creativity and
innovativeness. The activity is hope to slowly introduced and inculcate
independent learning amongst students and prepare them for a much harder
task of open ended laboratory activities.

The term plasticity is applied to silt and clay indicates an ability to be rolled and
molded without breaking apart. The Atterberg Limit is defined as the water
content corresponding to the different behavior condition of silt clays. Atterberg
Limits only refer to the liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL) and shrinkage limit (SL).

Liquid Limit is defined as the water content at which pat soil, cut by a groove of
standard dimensions, will flow together for a distance of 12.7 mm (0.5 in) under
an impact of 25 blows in a standard liquid limit device (ASTM D 4318-98, 2000).

Plastic Limit is defined as the water content at which a silt or clay will just begin
to crumble when rolled into a thread approximately 3.2 mm (1/8 in) in diameter
(ASTM D 4318-98,2000).

Shrinkage Limit is defined as the water content at which any further reduction in
water content will not result in a decrease in volume of the soil mass (ASTM D
427-98 or D 4943-95,2000).

For the liquid limit test, we have 2 methods of test, which include:
1. Cone penetration method
2. Casagrande method

Objectives
1. To find the water content corresponding to the behavior change
between the liquid and the plastic state of a silt or clay.
2. To find the water content corresponding to the behavior change
between the plastic and semisolid states of a silt or clay.

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the laboratory activities, students should be able to:
1. To determine the plasticity and liquidity of fine-grained soils.
2. To classify fine grained soils in accordance with BS 5930: 1999: Code of
Practice for Site Investigation.
3. Work in a group to produce the relevant technical report.

The physical state of a fine-grained soil at particular water content is known as

consistency. Consistency refers to the relative ease at which a soil can be
deformed. Depending on its water content a soil may exist in liquid, plastic,
semi-solid or solid state. A Swedish agriculturist Atterberg (1911) set arbitrary
limits for these divisions in terms of water content.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Liquid limit (ωL)is the water content corresponding to the arbitrary limit
between liquid and plastic state. With reference to the liquid limit devise, it is
defined as the minimum water content which a pat soil cut by a groove of
standard dimensions, will flow together for a distance of 12 mm (½ inch) under
the impact of 25 blows in standard liquid limit apparatus.

WAYS & MEANS

Liquid Limit Test using Casagrande’s Apparatus (Figure 1)
Apparatus
Casagrande liquid limit apparatus, grooving tool, glass plate, spatula, balance,
oven, containers, desiccator, 0.425 mm sieve, etc.

Procedures
1. Clean the apparatus and adjust height of drop of the cup using
adjustment screws.
2. Take about 150 g of soil sample, passing through 0.425 mm sieve.
3. Form uniform paste of the soil sample by mixing it with distilled water
on glass plate. Leave the soil paste for some time to let the water permeate
thoroughly.
4. Fill the cup half with the paste and make surface level using spatula.
5. Cut a ‘V’ shape groove ( 2 mm wide at bottom, 11 mm at top, and mm
deep), along the cup diameter using a grooving tool.
6. Turn the handle of the apparatus at the rate of 2 revolutions per
second. Count the number of blows required to cause the groove to
close along a distance of about 10 mm.
7. Collect a soil sample for water content determination by moving the
spatula from one edge to the other edge of the soil cake at right angles
to the groove. Record the weight of the sample and keep it in the oven.

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Figure 1: Casagrande’s Apparatus

8. Remove the remaining soil from the cup. Change the consistency (water
content) of the mix either by adding some water or leaving the soil
paste to dry.
9. repeat step (3) for four times. The soil paste in this repetition should be
of such a consistency that numbers of revolution (drop) to close the
groove are ± 10. (It is always better to proceed from drier to the wetter
condition of the soil).
10. Record dry weights of soil samples kept in the oven after 24 hours.

Liquid Limit Test using Cone Penetrometer Apparatus (Figure 2)

Apparatus
Test sieve of size 425 um and 2 mm, receiver, sharp knife, 2 palettes knife, an
airtight container, glass plate, wash bottle containing distilled water, glass
breaker, glass stirring rod and a length of rubber tubing for connection to the
water supply.

Procedures
1. Took a sample of the soil of sufficient size to give a test specimen weight
at least 400 g which passed the 425 um test sieve.
2. Transfer the soil to a flat glass plate. Added distilled water and mixed
thoroughly with 2 palettes knives the mass became a thick
homogeneous paste.
3. If necessary, added more distilled water so that the first cone
penetration reading is about 15 mm.
4. Pushed a portion of the mixed soil into the cub with palette knife make
sure not to trap air.
5. Strike off excess soil with the straightedge to give a smooth level
surface.
6. With the penetration cone locked in the raised position lower the
supporting assembly so that the tip of the cone just touches the surface
soil.
7. Lower the stem of the dial gauge to contact the cone shaft and record
the reading of the dial gauge to the nearest 0.1 mm.
8. Release the cone a period 5 seconds, If the apparatus is not fitted with
an automatic release and locking device.
9. Record the difference between the beginning and end of the drop cone
penetration.
10. Lift out the cone and clean it carefully to avoid scratching.
11. Add a little more distill water to the cub. Make sure the difference
between the first and second penetration reading is less than 0.5 mm.
12. Take a moisture content sample of about 10 g from the area penetrated
by the cone.
13. Repeat step 2 to 12 at least 3 more times.

* The reading of the liquid limit should be around 15 to 30 mm.

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Figure 2: Cone penetrometer apparatus

Plastic Limit Test (Figure 3)

1. Take a sample about 20 g from the soil paste and place it on the mixing
plate.
2. Allow the soil to dry partially on the plate until it becomes plastic
enough to shape it into a ball.
3. Mould the ball of the soil between the fingers and roll it between the
palms of the hand until the heat of the hands has dried. The soil
sufficient for slight cracks to appear on its surface.
4. Device the sample in two sub sample of about 10g each and carry out a
separate determination on each portion.
5. Divide into four more or less equal parts.
6. Mould the soil in the finger to equalize the distribution of moisture,
then form the soil into the tread about 6mm diameter between first finger
and thumb of each hand.
7. Roll the tread to reduce to about 3mm in 5 to 10 complete, forward and
backward movement of the hand.
8. Mould it between the Fingers to dry it further. The first crumbling point
is the plastic limit.
9. Replace it to the container. Determine the moisture content of the soil
in the container.

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Figure 3: Plastic limit test (1) apparatus for plastic limit, (2) preparation of
specimen, (3) the soil is rolled into a thread of 3 mm and (4) crumbling of the
soil at 3 mm (Das, 2003).

i) CONE PENETRATION

Liquid limit

No. of can 1 2 3 4 5
Number of Penetration 15.8 18.8 20.6 22.7 23.6
Mass of can (g) 20.01 19.6 19.97 18.63 20.05
Can + wet soil weight (g) 32.2 34.7 36.4 37.6 38
Can + dry soil weight (g) 29.6 31.3 32.7 33.2 33.6
Water weight (g) 2.6 3.4 3.7 4.4 4.4
RESULTS
Dry soil weight (g) 9.59 11.7 12.73 14.57 13.55
Moisture content (%) 27.11 29.06 29.07 30.20 32.47

Plastic limit

No. of can 1 2 3
Mass of can (g) 19.9 20.3 19.9
Can + wet soil weight (g) 22.1 22.4 22.5
Can + dry soil weight (g) 21.7 22 22.1
Water weight (g) 0.4 0.4 0.4
Dry soil weight (g) 1.8 1.7 2.2
©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

Moisture content (%) 22.22 23.53 18.18

Average plastic limit 21.31

ii) CASAGRANDE TEST

Liquid Limit

Sample number 1 2 3
Container number 24 21 25
Number of blows 17 25 34
Mass of empty container, g (1) 44.9 46 44.6
Mass of container + wet soil, g (2) 78.3 81.3 76.8
Mass of container + dry soil, g (3) 70 75.30 74.10
Moisture content (%), 8.3 6 2.7
( 2 )−(3) 25.1 29.3 29.5
w= x 100
( 3 )−(1) =33.07 =20.48 =9.15

Plastic Limit

Number of containers 24 25
Mass of empty container, g (1) 45.7 44.5
Mass of container + wet soil, g (2) 50.6 49.5
Mass of container + dry soil, g (3) 48 46
( 2 ) −(3) 2.6 3.5
Water content = x 100
(3 )−(1) 2.3 1.5
=10 =10
Average plastic limit 10

( can weight+ wet soil )−(can weight +dry soil)

Moisture content =
( can weight +dry soil )−(can weight )

DATA ANALISIS

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm

FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

casagrande
40
35
30 f(x) = − 1.40398617511521 x + 56.4676497695852

WATER CONTENT %
25
20
15
10
5
0
10 100

NUMBER OF BOWL

Liquid limit = 21.368

Plasticity index = 21.368-10 = 11.36%

cone penetration
25
24 f(x) = 1.48146653930145 x − 23.5247431656156
23
22
no of penetration

21
20
19
18
17
16
15
26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
water content

Liquid limit=29.379
Plasticity index = 29.379 – 21.31 = 8.07%

From the test that we conduct, we can determine the classification of soil
sample based on the result of the test. From the cone penetration test we have
calculated the liquid limit of the soil is 29.379% and the plastic limit is 21.31%.
CONCLUSION from this value we get the value of plasticity index is 8.07% and classification as
clay. From the Casagrande test, we got the value of liquid limit is 21.368% and
the plastic limit is 10%. From this value we calculated the plasticity index and got
the value of 11.36% and classify the soil as clay.

DISCUSSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
The liquid limit is important for classifying soils. The liquid limit of different soils
varies. You'll also need to know the liquid and plastic limits to figure out a soil's
plasticity index. These limits' values are used in a variety of ways. There's also a
connection between a soil's limits and its properties like compressibility,
©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
SHAH ALAM LABORATORY MANUAL

permeability, and power. Not only are Atterberg limits used to classify soils, but
they also allow for the use of empirical correlations for other engineering
properties.

References

©FKA, UiTM, SHAH ALAM Mei 2020_mm