DETERMINATION OF ATTERBERG LIMITS

BS 1377-2-1990
Questionnaire format

UNDERSTOOD THE TEST

NO. LIQUID LIMIT TEST
PROCEDURE
What is the required sample size for the test? Yes No
1.
Answer: 500 g below 425 micron (natural soil specimen)
300 g below 425 micron (Sieved specimen)
The penetration cone readings are measurable up to? Yes No
2.
Answer: 0.1 mm
How long the sample needs to be mixed? Yes No
3.
Answer: 10 mins
What is the maximum the difference between the first Yes No
and second penetration readings

4. Answer: If the difference between the first and second

penetration readings is not more than 0.5 mm record
the average of the two penetrations. If not, carry out
third reading
What is the maximum overall range among three Yes No
readings?
5.
Answer: It should be 1mm. If the overall range is more
than 1 mm remove the soil from the cup, remix and
repeat.
What is the required quantity sample for water content Yes No
test?
6.
Answer: 10 g from the area penetrated by the cone.
What is the approximate range of penetration values? Yes No
7.
Answer: 15 mm to 25 mm
How to calculate the liquid limit? Yes No
8.
Answer: From the linear graph read off the water
content corresponding to a cone penetration of 20 mm
Expression of liquid limit result Yes No
9.
Answer: Nearest whole number
When to release the cone? Yes No
10.
Answer: 5 ± 1 s
NO. PLASTIC LIMIT TEST UNDERSTOOD THE TEST
 PROCEDURE
What is the required sample size for the test? Yes No

1. Answer: About 2 duplicate samples each 20 g below 425

micron is to be used.

What is the thread diameter? Yes No

2.
Answer: 3 mm.
When to repeat the test? Yes No
3.
Answer: If the two results differ by more than 0.5 %
moisture content, repeat the whole test.
Expression of Plastic limits results. Yes No
4.
Answer: average of the two moisture content values and
express the value to the nearest whole number.
 DETERMINATION OF ATTERBERG LIMITS
BS 1377-2-2022/ BS EN ISO 17892 -12:2018+A2:2022
Questionnaire format

UNDERSTOOD THE TEST

NO. LIQUID LIMIT TEST
PROCEDURE
What is the required sample size for the test? Yes No
1.
Answer: About 200 g of soil finer than 0,4 mm or 0.425
mm.
The penetration cone readings are measurable up to? Yes No
2.
Answer: 0.1 mm
When to record the reading after the cone is released? Yes No

Answer: Record the depth of penetration of the cone

after 5 s ± 1 s to the nearest 0,1 mm. (Release the
penetration cone and let it settle for a period of 5 s ± 1 s)
How long the sample needs to be mixed? Yes No
3.
Answer: 10 mins
What is the maximum the difference between two Yes No
successive readings?
4.
Answer: 0.5 mm if 80 g/30o is used. 0.4 mm if (60 g / 60 o
cone is used)
What is the maximum overall range among three Yes No
readings?
5.
Answer: It should be 1mm. If the overall range is more
than 1 mm remove the soil from the cup, remix and
repeat.
What is the required quantity sample for moisture Yes No
content test?
6.
Answer: 15 g from the area penetrated by the cone.
Yes No

What is the approximate range of penetration values?

7.
Answer: 15 mm to 25 mm if 80 g/30o is used. 7 mm to 15
mm if (60 g / 60o cone is used).

8. How to calculate the liquid limit? Yes No

 Answer: From the linear graph read off the moisture
content corresponding to a cone penetration of 20 mm if
80 g/30o is used. 10 mm if (60 g / 60o cone is used)
Expression of liquid limit result Yes No
9.
Answer: Nearest whole number

UNDERSTOOD THE TEST

NO. PLASTIC LIMIT TEST
PROCEDURE
What is the required sample size for the test? Yes No

1. Answer: About 2 duplicate samples each 15 g to 20 g

below 425 micron is to be used.

What is the thread diameter? Yes No

2.
Answer: 3 mm.
When to repeat the test? Yes No

Answer: If the two results differ by more than 2 %

3.
absolute for values of wP less than or equal to 40 %, or
by more than 5 % relative for values of w P greater than
40 %, the plastic limit test shall be repeated.
Yes No
Expression of Plastic limits results.
4.
Answer: average of the two moisture content values and
express the value to the nearest whole number.

How to calculate Plasticity Index? Yes No

5.
Answer: Liquid Limit – Plastic limit