STP 206-4

Standard Test Section: AGGREGATES

Procedures Manual Subject: PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

1. SCOPE

1.1. Description of Test

This method describes the procedure for determining the liquid limit, plastic limit and the
plasticity index of coarse-grained soils. This includes all materials having more than
50% of its particles retained on a No. 400 µm Canadian Metric sieve.

1.2. Application of Test

The liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils are used extensively, either
individually or together with other soil properties to correlate with engineering behaviour
such as compressibility, permeability, compactibility, shrink-swell and shear strength.

1.3. Units of Measure and definitions

The liquid limit and plastic limit are called the Atterberg limits and represent the water
content at which defined level of consistencies are achieved. The limits vary according
to the percent of clay in the mixture.

The plasticity index of a soil is the numerical difference between the liquid and plastic
limits, the range of water content over which the soil behaves plastically. It is an
indication of the “clayeyness” or plasticity of a clay.

The liquid limit is the water content, in percent, at which the soil passes from a plastic
state to a liquid state. At the liquid limit, the soil becomes a semifluid like softened
butter.

The plastic limit is the water content, in percent, at which the soil passes from a plastic
state to a brittle state. At the plastic limit, the soil begins to crumble while being rolled
into a 3 mm diameter thread.

2. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS

2.1. Equipment Required

-Pans, a supply of suitable pans or pails.

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
Section: Subject:
AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

-Drying Apparatus - oven or stove suitable for drying samples.

-Sieve - a No. 400 µm sieve with pan.

-Evaporating Dish - a plastic dish about 100 mm in diameter.

-Spatula - a spatula having a blade approximately 75 mm in length and 19 mm in width.

-Grooving Tool - a combination grooving tool and gauge as shown in Figure 206-4.

-Surface for Rolling - a ground glass plate or piece of smooth unglazed paper used for
rolling plastic limit determinations.

-Containers - suitable containers such as aluminum tares with covers to prevent the loss
of moisture during the weighing of the sample.

-Balance - a balance sensitive to 0.02 g.

-Siphon - rubber tubing about 5 mm in diameter.

-Pulverizing Apparatus.

2.2. Materials Required

A supply of clean water.

2.3. Samples To Be Tested

Obtain a sample as described in Standard Test Method STP 105. Mix the sample well
and use a quartering method or sample splitter to reduce the sample to sufficient size to
yield approximately 115 g of material passing the No. 400 µm sieve. The final sample
size should be approximately 1500 g to provide representative and sufficient material for
both the liquid and plastic limit determinations.

2.4. Data Required

Sample information such as contract number, pit file or land location, date sampled,
operation that aggregate is used for, test number and aggregate type.

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
Section: Subject:
AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

3. PROCEDURE

3.1. Description of Equipment Preparation

Adjust the liquid limit device by means of the adjustment plate on the device and the
gauge on the handle of the grooving tool. Adjust so the centre of the wear point on the
bottom of the cup is lifted exactly 1 cm above the base. Secure adjustment plate by
adjusting the screws.

3.2. Sample Preparation

Place the aggregate sample in a pan and cover with tap water to soften and break down
particle aggregations.

Break up clay lumps with the fingers.

Agitate sample to bring fine material into suspension and pour the suspension through the
400 µm sieve into a pail.

Repeat washings until the wash water is clear and the material in the pan is clean.

Dry the washed material and dry-sieve on the 400 µm sieve.

Allow the wash water in the pail to settle until the water above the soil is clear. This will
take several hours.

Carefully siphon off as much water as possible from the pail without losing any soil.

Transfer the soil from the pail to a pudding pan and dry the soil at a temperature not
exceeding 110o C.

Carefully scrape and brush the material (the fines) from the pail and pulverize with a
rubber tipped mortar or in some other way that does not cause the breakdown of
individual grains and sieve the material through the 400 µm sieve. Return any material
retained on the 400 µm sieve to the pulverizing apparatus and repeat the pulverizing and
sieving operations as many times as necessary to ensure that all the material has passed
through the 400 µm sieve.

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
Section: Subject:
AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

Mix thoroughly the pulverized material (the fines) and add to the material that has been
previously dried and sieved on the 400 µm sieve. The combined sample will be used for
the determination of the liquid and plastic limits.

3.3. Test Procedure

3.3.1. Liquid Limit Determination

Place approximately 100 grams of prepared soil in the evaporating dish and add 15 to
20 ml of demineralized water and mix water thoroughly with the soil. Then add
sufficient water and thoroughly mix to form a uniform mass of stiff consistency. The
material will be used to perform two liquid limit tests and one plastic limit test.

Place a portion of the prepared mixture in the cup over the spot where the cup rests on
the base and spread into place with as few strokes as possible to a depth of 10 mm.
Take care to prevent the entrapment of air bubbles within the mass.

Keep the unused soil in the evaporating dish and cover with a wet towel or other means
to retain moisture in the sample.

Divide the soil in the cup with a firm stroke of the grooving tool along the diameter
through the centerline of the cam follower.

Sandy materials may require several strokes of the grooving tool to make satisfactory
groove without tearing the soil. For these soils, increase the depth of the groove with
each stroke and only the last stroke should scrape the bottom of the cup.

Turn the crank to raise and drop the cup twice per second until the two sides of the
grooved sample come in contact at the bottom of the groove along a distance of 12.5
mm.

Record the number of blows.

If the number of blows is between 15 and 40, take a representative sample of the soil in
the cup for moisture content.

If the number of blows is outside the range of 15 to 40, transfer the soil from the cup to
the evaporating dish. Adjust the moisture content by mixing, with or without the
addition of water and repeat the test until the blows fall within the range of 15 to 40
blows.

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
Section: Subject:
AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

Clean the cup of the liquid limit device after each trial test.

Determine the moisture content by placing the sample in a tared aluminum can and
weighing.

Remix the soil in the evaporating dish and repeat the test and obtain a second liquid
limit sample for a duplicate result.

Oven dry the samples at 110o C to a constant weight and weigh after cooling.

3.3.2. Plastic Limit Determination

Use approximately 20 g of the prepared soil for the plastic limit determination. Reduce
the water content of the soil to a consistency at which it can be rolled without sticking
to the hands by spreading or mixing continuously on a glass plate or in a storage dish.
The drying process can be accelerated by exposing the soil to the air current from an
electric fan or by blotting with paper that does not add fiber to the soil.

Take approximately 8 to 12 g of the moistened soil and form into a uniform mass
roughly ellipsoidal in shape.

Roll the ball of soil by hand on the rolling surface with just enough pressure to form an
elongated thread as rolling proceeds.

If the soil can be rolled to a thread 3 mm thick without crumbling, amass it and re-roll
it.

Repeat rolling and amassing until the soil crumbles under slight pressure required for
rolling. Crumbling may occur when the soil has a diameter greater than 3 mm,
however, this is considered a satisfactory end point, provided the soil has been
previously rolled into a 3 mm thread.

Gather portions of the crumbled soil and place in a tared aluminum can and weigh, then
oven dry at 110o C to a constant weight and weigh again after cooling.

4. RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

4.1. Collection of Test Results

The collection of test results should be recorded on the required Department form.

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
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AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

4.2. Calculations

4.2.1. Calculations For Liquid Limit

Record the numerical difference between the wet and dry weight to determine the
weight of moisture. Determine the percent moisture using the formula:

Weight of Moisture
The percent moisture = X 100
Dry weight of sample

The percent moisture and corresponding number of blows are used to calculate the
liquid limit (WL) at 25 blows. Adjust the percent moisture of the sample by dividing by
a denominator (correction factor) selected from the following table:

No. of Denominator No. of Denominator

Blows of Formula Blows of Formula
(Correction (Correction
Factor) Factor)
15 1.066 28 0.985
16 1.059 29 0.980
17 1.050 30 0.976
18 1.043 31 0.972
19 1.036 32 0.968
20 1.029 33 0.964
21 1.023 34 0.960
22 1.017 35 0.956
23 1.011 36 0.952
24 1.005 37 0.948
25 1.000 38 0.945
26 0.995 39 0.942
27 0.990 40 0.939

Calculate the liquid limit for each test and average the results as shown in the following
example.

Percent Moisture
Liquid Limit WL (25 blows) =
Correction Factor

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
Section: Subject:
AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

Test 1 2
Blows 19 31
Percent Moisture 33.79 31.50

WL (25 blows) 33.79 = 32.6 31.50 = 32.4

1.036 0.972

4.2.2. Calculations for Plastic Limit

Record the difference between the wet and dry weight as the weight of moisture.

Calculate the plastic limit WP by dividing the "weight of moisture" by the "dry weight
of sample" and multiplying by 100.

Weight of moisture
Plastic Limit (WP) = x 100
Weight of oven dry soil

4.2.3. Calculation for Plasticity Index

Plasticity Index (Ip) of a soil is the numerical difference between the liquid limit and
the plastic limit.

Plasticity Index (Ip) = WL - WP

4.3. Report of Results

The results should be reported on the required Department form. Report as non-plastic if
the liquid limit or plastic limit cannot be determined. Also report as non-plastic if the
plastic limit is equal or greater than the liquid limit.

5. CALIBRATIONS, CORRECTIONS, REPEATABILITY

5.1. Equipment Calibrations

It is important to ensure that the proper drop height is set for the Liquid Limit Device.

Also it is very important to inspect wear of the Liquid Limit Device. The device should
be clean and in good working order. The following points should be checked as
described in ASTM D4318 Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit and
Plasticity Index of Soils:

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
Section: Subject:
AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

1) Wear of the base

2) Wear of the cup
3) Wear of the cup hanger
4) Wear of the cam
5) Grooving tools

5.2. Tolerances and Repeatability

Tolerances for equipment are as described in this procedure and shown in Figure 206-4.
The duplicate liquid limit results should be repeated if they do not fall within the limits as
shown below.

WL < 30 Repeatability within 1.0%

30 < WL < 60 Repeatability within 2.0%
WL > 60 Repeatability within 3.0%

5.3. Sources of Error

It is important to take the correct amount of soil for the plastic limit test. The usual error
is to take too large a sample which may give an incorrect answer.

For the liquid limit test, it is important to thoroughly mix soil and water. Avoid adding
dry soil to a mixture which is too wet; dry it by stirring instead.

The washings in the pail must be allowed to settle completely without disturbance. This
will require setting aside for several hours and in some cases even overnight.

To ensure complete pulverized of the wasted and dried minus 400 µm material, it is
advisable to continue pulverization until all the material passes the 400 µm sieve.

6. ADDED INFORMATION

6.1. References

ASTM D4318
For plasticity index of fine grained soils refer to STP 205-1

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 Standard Test Procedures Manual STP 206-4
Section: Subject:
AGGREGATES PLASTICITY INDEX COARSE GRAINED SOILS

SQUARE
END

HARD RUBBER

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