+DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA 31404

CIVT 3601K
SOIL MECHANICS AND FOUNDATIONS DESIGN

LAB # 6

LIQUID LIMIT
ASTM D4318

SUBMITTED BY:
ROSSMERY ALVA

LABORATORY PARTNERS:
SHAMICE JAMES
PETER GLENN
ABDEL KOUNDABA

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. MOHAMAD MUSTAFA

DATE PERFORMED: APRIL 21, 2009

DATE SUBMITTED: APRIL 27, 2009
DATE DUE: APRIL 27 , 2009

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….
3
.....

Apparatus…………………………………………………………………………………
4
…..

Procedure…………………………………………………………………………………
5
…..

Data
6
Sheet…………………………………………………………………………………….

Calculations………………………………………………………………………………
7
…..

Tabulated
8
Results…………………………………………………………………………….

Errors………………………………………………………………………………………
9
…

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………
10
…

References…………………………………………………………………………………
11
…

Appendix
12
A…………………………………………………………………………………..

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INTRODUCTION:

The liquid limit is the water content, in percent, of a soil at the arbitrarily defined

boundary between the semi-liquid and plastic states [2]. It is also known as the water content at

which the groove closes at exactly 25 cranks. The liquid limit is taken as the water content at

which the soil “flows” [1]. Special equipment and procedures defined in the ASTM Test

Designation D-4318, are required for determining the liquid limit [1]. These test procedure

involves placing the soil sample in the liquid limit device cup, creating a thin groove in the

center of the sample with a special tool, and then subjecting the cup-sample to a series of small

drops to create vibrations that will cause the soil to “flow” and close the groove [1]. The test

procedure to obtain the liquid limit value consists of performing a series of trials, with the soil at

a different water content for each trial. Therefore to determine the water content where the

groove will “close” when the tap count is 25 [1]. After performing the liquid limit test we found

the liquid limit of the soil sample to be 44%.

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APPARATUS:

• 60g of fine-grained moist soil

• Scale capable of measuring to the nearest 0.01

• Distilled water

• Ceramic soil mixing bowl

• Oven set at 110 +/- 5˚ C

• Frosting knife

• Liquid Limit device

• Grooving tool

• 3 soil moisture containers

• spoon

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PROCEDURE:

• Add distilled water to about 60g of soil until it looks like peanut butter

• Check that the drop height of the cup in the liquid limit device is 1.0-cm and adjust as

necessary (grooving tools have a tab with a dimension of exactly 1.0-cm that you can

use)

• Spread a flat layer of soil in the cup with the frosting knife

• Use the grooving tool to cut a groove right down the middle of the soil

• Turn the crank on the liquid limit device at a rate of 2 cranks per second and closely

observe the groove. Count and record the number of cranks that are required to close the

groove over a length of 0.5-in ( the grooving tool have a dimension of 0.5-in that you can

use)

• Remove a slice of soil approximately the width of the spatula, extending from edge to

edge of the soil cake at right angles to the groove and including that portion of the groove

in which the soil flowed together, place in a container of known mass, and cover.

• Return the soil remaining in the cup to the dish. Wash and dry the cup and grooving tool

and reattach the cup to the carriage in preparation for the next trial.

• Remix the entire soil specimen in the dish adding distilled water to increase the water

content of the soil and decrease the number of blows required to close the groove.

• Repeat steps 4-9 for at least two additional trials producing successively lower numbers

of blows to close the groove. One of the trials shall be for a closure requiring 25 to 35

blows, one for closure between 20 and 30 blows, and one trial for a closure requiring 15

to 25 blows

• Determine the water content in accordance with Test Method D 2216 (Lab 1).

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Data Sheet:

Measurement of Moisture Content (ASTM D2216)

Laboratory Data Sheet

I. General Information

Tested by: Rossmery Alva Date tested: 04/07/2009

Lab partners: Shamice James Project: Lab #6

Peter Glann
Abdel Koundaba Client: Dr. Mustafa

II. Test Details

Oven temperature: 110 oC

Drying time: 7hrs

Scale type/serial no./precision: Explorer Pro / L186 / 0.01

Notes, observations, and deviations from ASTM D422 test standard:

III. Measurement and Calculations

Trial Number 1 2 3
Container ID Abdel Peter1 Peter3
Mass of container (Mc) 21.76 20.87 21.12
Mass of moist soil + container (M1) 47.80 46.99 47.64
Mass of dry soil + container (M2) 39.44 37.33 37.71
Mass of moisture (Mw) 8.36 9.26 9.93
Mass of dry soil (Ms) 17.68 16.86 16.59
Moisture Content (w) 47% 54% 59%
Number of Cranks 35 20 19
Liquid Limit (LL) 44%
Corresponding Plastic Limit (PL) 54%
Plasticity Index (PI) -9%

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CALCULATIONS:

Mw = M1 – M2
Mw = 47.80 – 39.44 = 8.36 g
Mw = 46.99 – 37.73 = 9.26 g
Mw = 47.64 – 37.71 = 9.93 g

Ms = M2 - Mc

Ms = 39.44 – 21.76 = 17.68 g

Ms = 37.37 – 20.87 = 16.86 g
Ms = 37.71 – 21.12 = 16.59 g

ω=M1-M2M2-Mc x 100

ω=47.80-39.4439.44-21.76 x 100=47%

ω=46.99-37.7337.73-20.87 x 100=54%

ω=47.64-37.7137.71-21.12 x 100=59%

LL= ωN250.121
LL= 4735250.121=48.953%
LL= 5520250.121=53.535%
LL= 3019250.121=29.022%

∑ LL = 48.953+53.535+29.022 = 44%

PL = 47 + 54 + 59 = 54%

PI = LL -PL

PI = 44 – 53 = -9%

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TABULATED RESULTS:

Trial Number 1 2 3
Container ID Peter 1 Peter 2 Abdel 2
Mass of moisture (Mw) 8.36 9.26 9.93
Mass of dry soil (Ms) 17.68 16.86 16.59
Moisture Content (w) 47% 54% 59%
Average Plastic Limit (PL) 44%
Corresponding Liquid Limit (LL) 54%
Plasticity Index (PI) -9%

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ERRORS:

• Soil sample was dried for 23 hrs

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 CONCLUSION:

The liquid limit test is used to determine the water content of a sample of soil when the

groove is “closed” at 25 cranks [1]. The liquid limit is the boundary between the semi-liquid and

plastic state [2]. After obtaining a liquid limit of 44% the soil can be classified as inorganic clay,

which was located on the Soil Classification Chart [1].

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REFERENCES

[1] McCarthy, David F (2007). Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations: Basic

Geotechnics. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson Prentice Hall.

[2] ASTM International. Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity

Index of Soil (D4318).

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