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LABORATORY MANUAL
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COURSE SOIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECG263

LEVEL OF OPENNESS 0

CATEGORY TRADITIONAL

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 0

PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEK (WEEK 3)

TITLE Atterberg Limit: Liquid limit and Plastic Limit Test

1.1 Introduction
The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities will not be able
to provide the avenue for students to enhance independent learning
activities and inculcate creativity and innovation. Level 0 is fully prescriptive
where problem, ways & means and answers are provided to the students.
However, it is still necessary especially to first and second year students. It
is hoped that the activity will slowly introduce and inculcate independent
learning amongst students and prepare them for a much harder task of
open-ended laboratory activities.
In this laboratory activity students will be exposed to the usage of Atterberg
limit tests to determine the plastic and liquid limit as well as moisture
content of a given soil sample.

1.2 Objective

PREAMBLE The objective of the test is:

To determine the plastic and liquid limit of a soil sample.

1.3 Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activity, students would be able to:
1. Identify the correct apparatus to carry out Atterberg limit tests.
2. Analyse data correctly and present in typical format
3. Work in a group to produce technical report.

1.4 Theoretical Background

Soil can be classified according to its moisture content as solid,
semisolid, plastic and liquid. Each state has different consistency and
behaviour hence different engineering properties. The boundary
between each state can be defined based on the change in the soil’s
behaviour which can be determine through Atterberg limit tests.

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LABORATORY MANUAL
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2.0 Problem Statement

Atterberg limits are the limits of water content used to define soil behaviour.
As a group, you are given a set of samples to determine the plastic and
PROBLEM liquid limit.
STATEMENT
The group must carry out the test following the procedures outline and
subsequently analyse the data and present it in a proper technical format.

WAYS AND MEANS Liquid Limit: Casagrande Test

3.1 Apparatus

• Casagrande liquid limit device

• Grooving tool
• Spatula & palette knives
• Moisture cans
• Wash bottle containing distilled water
• Weighing balance
• Glass plate
• Drying oven (1050C)

3.2 Procedures

1. Take 200 g of the soil and place it onto glass plate (passed No. 40
sieve). Thoroughly mix the soil with a small amount of distilled water
until it appears as a smooth uniform paste. Cover the mixture with
cellophane to prevent moisture from escaping.
2. Label and weigh 3 empty moisture cans.
3. Adjust the liquid limit apparatus by checking the height of drop of the
cup. The point on the cup that comes in contact with the base should
rise to a height of 10 mm. The block on the end of the grooving tool is
10-13 mm high and should be used as a gage. Practice using the cup
and determine the correct rate to rotate the crank so that the cup
drops approximately two times per second.
4. Place a portion of the previously mixed soil into the cup of the liquid
limit apparatus at the point where the cup rests on the base. Squeeze
the soil down to eliminate air pockets and spread it into the cup to a
depth of about 10 mm at its deepest point. The soil pat should form an

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pA approximately horizontal surface.
5. Use the grooving tool carefully cut a clean straight groove down the
centre of the cup. The tool should remain perpendicular to the surface
of the cup as groove is being made. Use extreme care to prevent
sliding the soil relative to the surface of the cup.
6. Make sure that the base of the apparatus below the cup and the
underside of the cup is clean of soil. Turn the crank of the apparatus
at a rate of approximately two drops per second and count the number
of drops, N, it takes to make the two halves of the soil pat come into
contact at the bottom of the groove along a distance of 13 mm (1/2 in.)
If the number of drops exceeds 50, then go directly to step 8 and do
not record the number of drops, otherwise, record the number of
drops on the data sheet.
7. Take a sample, using the spatula, from edge to edge of the soil pat.
The sample should include the soil on both sides of where the groove
came into contact. Place the soil into a moisture can. Immediately
weigh the moisture can containing the soil, record its mass and place
the can into the oven. Leave the moisture can in the oven for at least
16 hours. Place the soil remaining in the cup onto the glass plate.
Clean and dry the cup on the apparatus and the grooving tool.
8. Remix the entire soil specimen on glass plate. Add a small amount of
distilled water to increase the water content so that the number of
drops required to close the groove decrease.
9. Repeat steps six, seven, and eight for at least two additional trials
producing successively lower numbers of drops to close the groove.
One of the trials shall be for a closure requiring 30 to 40 drops, one for
closure between 20 and 29 drops, and one trial for a closure requiring
10 to 19 drops. Determine the water content from each trial by using
the same method used in the first laboratory. Remember to use the
same balance for all weighing.

Liquid Limit: Cone Penetration Test

3.1 Apparatus

● Cone Penetrometer apparatus

● Stopwatch/Timer

● Cylinder cup

● 0.425 mm sieve

● Glass plate

● Spatula & palette knives

● Straightedge

● Moisture cans

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pA ● Wash bottle containing distilled water

● Weighing balance

● Drying Oven

3.2 Procedure

1. Take a sample of the soil of sufficient size to give a test specimen

weight at least 300 g which passed the 0.425 mm test sieve.
2. Transfer the soil to a flat glass plate. Add distilled water and mix
thoroughly with 2 palettes knives the mass becomes a thick
homogeneous paste.
3. If necessary add more distill water so that the first cone penetration
reading is about 15 mm.
4. Push a portion of the mixed soil into the cylinder cup with palette
knife taking care 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 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 + 1s. 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. Take another two penetration reading at different spots. Make sure
the difference between 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 2 more time.

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

❖ Penetration value suggested: 15-20 mm,20-25 mm & 25-30 mm

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Plastic limit
1. Weigh 3 empty moisture cans and record the respective weights and
moisture can’s numbers on the data sheet.
2. Take the remaining 20 g of the original soil sample and add distilled
water until the soil is at a consistency where it can be rolled without
sticking to the hands.
3. Form the soil into an ellipsoidal mass. Roll the mass between the
palm or the fingers and the glass plate. Use sufficient pressure to roll
the mass into a thread of uniform diameter by using about 90 strokes
per minute. (A stroke is one complete motion of the hand forward and
back to the starting position.) The thread shall be deformed so that its
diameter reaches 3.2 mm (1/8 in.), taking no more than two minutes.
4. When the diameter of the thread reaches the correct diameter, break
the thread into several pieces. Knead and reform the pieces into
ellipsoidal masses and re-roll them. Continue this alternate rolling,
gathering together, kneading and re-rolling until the thread crumbles
under the pressure required for rolling and can no longer be rolled into
a 3.0 mm diameter thread.
5. Gather the portions of the crumbled thread together and place the soil
into a moisture can, then cover it. If the can does not contain at least 6
grams of soil, add soil to the can from the next trial (See Step 6).
Immediately weigh the moisture can containing the soil, record its
mass, remove the lid, and place the can into the oven. Leave the
moisture can in the oven for at least 16 hours.
6. Repeat steps three, four, and five at least two more times. Determine
the water content from each trial by using the same method used in
the first laboratory. Remember to use the same balance for all
weighing.

3.3 Data Acquisition

Liquid Limit:
1. Calculate the water content of each of the liquid limit moisture cans
after they have been in the oven for at least 16 hours.
2. Plot the number of drops, N, (on the log scale) versus the water
content (w). Draw the best-fit straight line through the plotted points
and determine the liquid limit (LL) as the water content at 25 drops
(casagrande test).
3. Plot the penetration in mm versus the moisture content (w). draw the
best-fit straight line through the plotted points and determine the liquid
limit (LL) as the water content at 20 mm penetrations (cone
penetration test).

Plastic Limit:
1. Calculate the water content of each of the plastic limit moisture cans
after they have been in the oven for at least 16 hours.
2. Compute the average of the water contents to determine the plastic
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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY MANUAL
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pA limit, PL. Check to see if the difference between the water contents is
greater than the acceptable range of two results (2.6 %).
3. Calculate the plasticity index, PI=LL-PL.
4. Report the liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index to the nearest
whole number, omitting the percent designation.

Atterberg limits data sheets

Casagrande test
Liquid limit

Sample no Unit 1 2 3

Moisture can no. #

Mass of empty g M1
can

Mass of can + g M2
moist soil

Mass of can + g M3
dry soil

Mass of soil solids g M3 – M1

Mass of pore g M2 – M3
water

W = Water % [M2 – M3 /
content M3 – M 1 ] x
100%

No. of drops

Cone penetration test

Liquid limit
Sample no Unit 1 2 3

Moisture can no. #

Mass of empty can g M1

Mass of can + g M2
moist soil

Mass of can + dry g M3

soil

Mass of soil solids g M3 – M1

Mass of pore water g M2 – M3

W = Water content % [M2 – M3 /

M3 – M1] x

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LABORATORY MANUAL
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100%
pA
Penetration mm

Ave. Penetration mm

Plastic limit

Sample no Unit 1 2 3

Moisture can no. #

Mass of empty g M1
can

Mass of can + g M2
moist soil

Mass of can + g M3
dry soil

Mass of soil solids g M3 – M1

Mass of pore g M2 – M3
water

W = Water % [M2 – M3 /
content M3 – M 1 ] x
100%

Average Water
content

RESULTS
4 Results, Analysis and Conclusion
Result
1. Attach the table of the result.
2. Show the plot for liquid limit & plasticity chart.

Discussion
1. What is the importance of Atterberg limit in soil mechanics?
2. What is the liquid limit & plastic limit value found from the test ?
3. How do you interpret liquid limit & plastic limit value using plasticity
chart?

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY MANUAL
PASIR
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1. What is the objective of this laboratory test? Have your group achieved
the objective of the laboratory test?
2. Describe the possible errors that may have occurred.
3. How to prevent or minimise the error?

The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory

results highlighting the data acquisition process, analysis carried out and
the relevancy of the set-out output to achieve the objective.
The report must be submitted 7 days after the completion of the test.

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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY MANUAL
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FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
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LABORATORY MANUAL
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