Laboratory Activity No.
8
Consistency Limits of the Soil
1. Objective(s):
This activity aims to impart how the moisture content influences the behavior of fine-grained
soils.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
• Understand the concept of Atterberg limits and how it influences the behavior of the soil.
• Determine the liquid limit, plastic limit and shrinkage limit of the given soil sample.
• Describe the relationship of liquid limit and plastic limit in soil identification.
3. Discussion:
The liquid limit and plastic limit are used internationally for soil identification, soil classification
and for strength co-relation. It is also helpful in determining consolidation and settlement of
soil. The liquid limit is arbitrarily defined as the moisture content at which a soil pat placed in a
brass cup cut with a standard groove and dropped from a height of 1cm will undergo a groove
closure of 12.7mm after 25 drops.
Plastic limit is the moisture content at which soil threads start to crumble when rolled to 3mm
diameter threads. The difference of the plastic limit and liquid limit is the plasticity index. This
is the range of water content wherein the soil will act like a plastic.
The shrinkage limit is the moisture content wherein the volume of the soil will cease to reduce
in relation to reduction of moisture content. Shrinkage limit is important in earthworks for
predicting the shrinkage and swelling potential of soil.
4. Resources:
1) Liquid limit device with groove tool
2) Tin can
3) Masking tape
4) Spatula
5) Sensitive balance
6) Oven, pan
5. Procedure:
Liquid Limit Test
1. Prepare at least 250g of representative air-dry soil sample passing the no. 40 sieve.
Pulverize this soil sample. Be sure to break all lumps to elemental particles.
2. Prepare at least 3 moisture tin cans. Mix the prepared sample with a small amount of water.
Mix the sample of soil thoroughly until it becomes uniform and consistent in appearance
(no lumps). A major source of error is poor mixing.
3. Fasten the brass cup to the hinge of the liquid limit device.
4. Using the 1cm block at the end of the grooving tool, adjust the height of the fall to exactly
1 centimeter.
Height of fall is very critical and as little as 0.1cm can affect the liquid limit by several
percent.
5. Once calibrated, place ¾ full of soil on the liquid limit device cup. Smooth the pat surface.
6. Using the grooving tool, cut a groove at the middle.
7. Prepare 3 different consistencies of soil based on the number of blows in the liquid limit
device: 1525, 20-30 and 25-35 blows. This is done by gradually adding water to the soil.
8. Mix the soil sample until the consistency would require 15-25 blows (1st sample) to close
the groove for about 12.5 mm. Take moisture content near the groove using 30g of soil to
determine the moisture content by placing in the oven. Keep the temperature at 105°C.
9. Add additional water to test the remaining consistencies of soil. Repeat procedure 7 for 2nd
sample (20-30) and 3rd sample (25-35).
10. Draw the flow curve wherein the data is recorded with the water content in the domain and
the log N in the abscissa. The water content that would require 25 blows to close the groove
is the liquid limit of the sample.
Plastic Limit Test
1. Take a sample of about 100 grams.
2. Start rolling the soil between the finger and the glass plate with adequate pressure to form a
soil thread approximately 3mm with 80-90 strokes per minute. When the diameter of the
threads of soil becomes 3mm, break the threads in smaller pieces, reform into a ball and re-
roll. Continue this re-balling and rerolling until threads crumble under pressure and soil can
no longer be rolled into threads.
3. When the threads crumbles at a diameter greater than 3mm this is satisfactory to define the
plastic limit.
4. Place the crumbled soil in a tin can until a weight of about 30grams is achieved. Do this until
two (2) samples are achieved. Place it in an oven to oven-dry. Maintain the temperature at
1050C.
5. After determining the moisture content, determine its average. The result is the plastic limit
of the soil.
6. Data and Results:
Group No.: Activity No.:
Course: Section:
Name: Date Performed:
Date Submitted:
Instructor:
Liquid Limit Test
Description Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
20 15
Number of Blows 3.7
30 30
Weight of Tin Cup 30
Weight of Tin Cup 60 60
6
and Wet Soil
Weight of Tin Cup 53.8 52.5
53.6
and Dry Soil
6.2 7.5
Weight of Water 6.4
23.8 22.5
Weight of Dry Soil 23.6
26.0504% 33.3333%
Water Content 27.1186%
Liquid Limit 81.6506
Flow Curve
Plastic Limit Test
Description Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
30 30
Weight of Tin Cup 30
Weight of Tin Cup 60 60
60
and Wet Soil
Weight of Tin Cup 53.6 56.7
52.6
and Dry Soil
6.4 3.3
Weight of Water 7.4
23.6 26.7
Weight of Dry Soil 22.6
27.1186 12.3596
Water Content 32.7437
Plastic Limit 24.0739
7. Observation:
In this laboratory we were task to get the liquid limit and the plastic limit of our soil. First we
prepare all the materials needed then we separate our group into to for liquid limit and plastic
limit for the liquid limit we add water a bit by bit on our soil until we get the consistency we
desired or the blows we want. After adding a bit water our objective for the first trial is to get 25-
35 blows and for second trial is 20-30 blows and for the last trial is 15-25 blows then we record
the data we get from each trial then on each of that trial we take samples on the middle of the cut
then put it on a tin can and weight it. We consistently put 30g on each tin cans. And for the plastic
limit test we add water a bit by bit until we can shape the soil on the desired shape and size we
want then we start rolling the sample on the glass. The soil thread is approximately 3mm then we
ball it again the sample then re-roll it we until it become 3mm we do this until the soil crumbles.
Then we repeat this steps on each sample then we take sample on each sample
8. Conclusion:
Liquid limit, plastic limit, and shrinkage limit are primary parameters characterizing soil which are
utilized for identification, classification and understanding the behavior of soil in various moisture
contents present in the soil. Adding more moisture and clay sludge solidifies into a broad range of
soil consistency: the liquid limit will show the soil stiffness at which soil begins to act like a viscous
liquid; the plastic limit will show the soil moisture value at which the soil is plastic, but at which
orbit it becomes brittle. Plasticity index (the difference between liquid limit and plastic limit), is a
measure of the plasticity of a soil. Engineers can gauge the range of plastcicity of a soil, which in
turn governs soil behavior, stability, etc. Such parameters are important for engineering
applications, such as soil consolidation, settlement and deformation prediction.
9. Documentation:
A stainless steel bowl, its smooth surface hinting at countless concoctions past, occupies the
center stage. Beside it, a spatula, its wooden handle worn with use, lies ready to stir, scrape, or
spread. A mortar and pestle, a testament to the ancient art of grinding and mixing, sits nearby, its
bowl filled with a tantalizing paste. Finally, a digital scale, its precise measurements promising
accuracy, completes the scene. This meticulous storage ensures the preservation of the samples'
properties, allowing for thorough laboratory testing and analysis. These tests, in turn, provide
crucial data for understanding the soil or rock's engineering properties, which are essential for
designing safe and stable structures.
