PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

CE LICENSURE EXAMINATION PROBLEMS

ATTERBERG LIMITS
MULTIPLE CHOICE

WEIGHT OF
OVEN DRIED
SOIL ( g )

128.6

105.4

141.4

116.8

132.6

109.6

134.6

111.2

136.0

113.4

The results of Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit tests are shown in the
figure. Which of the following most nearly gives the liquid limit
(LL) of the soil? (N98 H 6)

LIQUID LIMIT TEST

26

a.
b.
2.

24
x

22
20

18

16
14

LL = 36 %
LL = 26 %

c.
d.

LL = 65 %
LL = 52 %

The results of Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit tests are shown in the
figure. Which of the following most nearly gives the plasticity
index (PI) of the soil? (M01 H 20)
CONE PENETRATION (mm)

CONE PENETRATION (mm)

1.

WEIGHT OF
MOIST SOIL
(g)

LIQUID LIMIT TEST

26

24
40

45

50

55

60

65

22
20

18

16
14

x
40

45

50

55

60

65

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

a.
b.
Situation:

3.

36 %
31 %

WEIGHT OF
MOIST SOIL
(g)

WEIGHT OF
OVEN DRIED
SOIL ( g )

128.6

105.4

141.4

116.8

132.6

109.6

134.6

111.2

136.0

113.4
c.
d.

b.
19.

Which of the following most nearly gives the porosity of the insitu soil? (N02 H 20)
a.
0.51
c.
0.27

The following data were obtained from laboratory tests

for a cohesive specimen: moisture content, , was 22.5%;
Gs = 2.60; and to determine the approximate unit weight,
a sample having a mass of 224.0 g was placed in a 500
cm3 container with 382 cm3 of water required to fill the
container.

What is the nearest value to the total unit weight of the soil sample
in kN/m3? (M03 H 19)
a.
20.44
c.
18.62
b.
21.58
d.
19.71

21.

What is the nearest value to the dry unit weight of the soil sample
in kN/m3? (M03 H 20)
a.
14.3
c.
13.9
b.
16.1
d.
15.2

22.

What is the void ratio e? (M03 H 21)

a.
0.678
c.
b.
0.582
d.

Situation:

18.

0.32

20.
26 %
42 %

What is the plasticity index of the soil? (M03 H 28)

a.
2.15 %
c.
123.1 lb/ft3
b.
25.52 %
d.
113.4 lb/ft3

d.

Which of the following most nearly gives the degree of saturation

of the in-situ soil? (N02 H 21)
a.
75 %
c.
61 %
b.
45 %
d.
35 %

Situation:

The following data were obtained from the Atterberg

Limit test for a soil:
Liquid Limit = 41 %
Plastic Limit = 21.1 %

0.42

0.866
0.784

A fully saturated clay sample has a mass of 1,526 grams.

After oven-drying, its mass was reduced to 1,053 grams.
The specific gravity of soil particles is 2.7.

23.

Calculate the natural water content of the sample in percent. (N03

H 10)
a.
52
c.
36
b.
45
d.
40

24.

Calculate the void ratio in percent. (N03 H 11)

a.
b.
25.

85
114

c.
d.

136
121

Calculate the porosity in percent. (N03 H 12)

a.
48
c.
55
b.
36
d.
59