Lab Report #2 Determination of Atterberg Limits Abstract This experiment determines the liquid limit, plastic limit and

plasticity index of soil. 250 grams of soil sample was obtained. For liquid limit, the sample was mixed with distilled water until it had reached enough amount of water content. Using the liquid limit device, the test for liquid limit was performed. Three trials were done. For plastic limit, approximately 20 grams of soil sample prepared for the liquid limit was obtained. The plastic limit test was performed using this sample. Two trials were done. Using appropriate equations, the liquid limit was found out to be 28.99, the plastic limit was 22.322 and the plasticity index was 6.668. These properties provide basic information of the soil sample in order to estimate its strength and settlement characteristics. These can be used in soil classification. Errors obtained were due to the subjectivity of the tests. Mistakes were committed in estimating the amount of water content for the sample used and also in estimating whether the soil sample had reached the diameter of 1/8 in before it crumbles.

Submitted by: Arlish M. Carpio Groupmates: Cahatol, Romil Calivo, Chrislene Diaz, Jose Ramil Siervo, Mark David Tolentino, Niki Jon Date Performed: December 06, 2010 Date Submitted: January 07, 2011

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Objectives To determine the liquid limit and plastic limit of the fine-grained soil sample To determine the plasticity index of the sample Materials A. Liquid Limit Test liquid limit device flat grooving tool gauge water content containers digital balance mixing and storage container distilled water B. Plastic Limit Test ground glass plate spatula sieve #40 and #10 wash bottle oven washing pan Methodology A. Liquid Limit Test

250 grams of soil sample was obtained

The sample was mixed with distilled water in a mixing dish until it had reached enough amount of water content

The sample was spread in the cup until it reached a depth of 10 mm

An amount of the prepared soil was placed in the brass cup using a spatula

A groove was formed in the soil pat by drawing the tool, beveled edge forward, through the soil from the top of the cup to the bottom of the cup

The cup was lifted and dropped by turning the crank at a rate of 2 drops per second until the two halves of the soil pat come in contact at the bottom of groove along a distance of 13 mm

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 the portion of the groove in which the soil flowed together, was removed, placed in a container of known mass and put in the oven to dry

The number of drops, N, required to close the groove was recorded.

The remaining soil in the cup was returned to the dish

Three trials were done. The number of blows required for one of the trial should be 15-25, another should be 2030 and another should be 25-35 B. Plastic Limit Test Approximately 20 grams of soil sample prepared for the liquid limit test was obtained

The grooving tool and cup was washed and dried and then the cup was reattached to the carriage for the next trial

The water content of the soil was reduced until can be rolled into the hands without sticking

The mass was rolled between the palm or fingers and the groundglass plate with just sufficient pressure to form a thread of uniform diameter throughout its length.

From the sample obtained, 2 grams of soil was acquired and formed into an ellipsoidal mass

The thread was rolled further until it had reached 3.2 mm (1/8 in.), taking no more than 2 minutes. The thread was then reformed into a ball. At least 6 grams of the crumbled portion were gathered together, placed in a container of known mass and put in the oven to dry. Two trials were done.

The soil was squeezed between the thumb and first finger of each hand to reduce its water content slightly.

The preceding procedures were repeated until the thread crumbled when it reached a uniform diameter of 3.2 mm

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Data and Results

Table 1: Data from Liquid Limit Test

can no. 1 mass of can (g) 10.2 mass of wet soil + can (g) 48.19 mass of dry soil + can (g) 39.78 no. of blows 35

2 10.1 33.33 27.94 19

3 9.8 39.05 32.78 29

Table 2: Data from Plastic Limit Test

can no. 1 mass of can (g) 9.3 mass of wet soil + can (g) 17.15 mass of dry soil + can (g) 15.71

2 10.7 20.12 18.41

Table 3: Result of Liquid Limit Test

can no. mass of dry soil (g) mass of water (g) water content (%) no. of blows

1 29.58 8.41 28.431 35

2 17.84 5.39 30.213 19

3 22.98 6.27 27.285 29

Table 4: Result of Plastic Limit Test

can no. mass of dry soil (g) mass of water (g) water content (%)
Figure 1: Flow Curve

1 2 6.41 7.71 1.44 1.71 22.4649 22.179

Sample Computations: A. Liquid Limit Test 1. Water or Moisture Content

( )

where: Ww = weight of water Ws = weight of soil For Trial 1: ( ) 2. Liquid Limit From the equation of the line substitute the value of 25 to x since this is where liquid limit occurs. Thus ( ) Therefore the liquid limit is approximately 29. B. Plastic Limit Test 1. Plastic Limit

Thus

To compute for the Plasticity Index, we used the equation Thus PL = 28.99 22 322 = 6.668. V. Analysis and Discussions The water content of the sample was computed by that all the mass lost from the wet soil was water. The result of the calculation for moisture content for the liquid limit is presented in Table 3. The number of blows was plotted against the moisture content in a semi-logarithmic graph as shown in Figure 1. The graph did not yield the expected result which was supposed to be linearly decreasing. A possible source of errors is the subjectivity of the test performed. Another is that the soil sample was not mixed thoroughly and the proper amount of moisture content. Using the equation of the line obtained in the graph, the liquid limit is computed to be 28.99 or approximately 29. The liquid limit is defined as the water content above which the soil behaves as a viscous liquid. Moisture content of the plastic limit data was also computed. By taking the average of the moisture content of the two trials, the plastic limit appears to be 22. 322. Plastic limit is defined as the water content below which the soil ceases to behave as plastic medium and begins to exhibit the properties of a semi-solid medium. Errors in the plastic could be due to mistakes in estimating whether the

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soil pat had already a diameter of 1/8 in and whether the sample had reached the plastic as evidenced by breaking. The plasticity index was calculated by subtracting the plastic limit from the liquid limit. The plasticity index was defined by Atterberg to describe the range of water content over which the soil behaves as a plastic medium. The Atterberg Limits obtained provide basic information about the soil sample in order to estimate its strength and settlement characteristics. These properties can be used in soil classification. Conclusions In this experiment, the Atterberg Limits of the soil sample was determined. The liquid limit calculated is 28.99, the plastic limit is 22. 322 and from these values, the plasticity index is computed to be equal to 6.668. The properties obtained provide basic information of the soil sample and can be used for soil classification. References 1. ASTM D4318-10 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils 2. CE 162 Lecture Notes by Dr. Roy Anthony Luna and Dr. Jose Carlo Eric Santos. December 2010.