Fareast International University (FIU)
Banani, Dhaka-1213.
ASSIGNMENT ON
Course Name:
Course Code: CE ……….
Submission Date :
Submitted By Submitted To
Program : BSC in CEE Lecturer, CEE
Student ID: 07225100050710…..
Atterberg Limits Test
Objective:
To determine the Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), and calculate the Plasticity Index
(PI) of a soil sample.
Scope of the test
This test is performed to determine the plastic and liquid limits of a fine-grained soil.
Standard Reference
ASTM D 4318 - Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of
Soils. ASTM D 427-04 - Standard Test Method for Shrinkage Factors of Soils by the Mercury
Method
Significance
The Swedish soil scientist Albert Atterberg originally defined seven ―limits of consistency‖ to
classify fine-grained soils, but in current engineering practice only two of the limits, the
liquid and plastic limits, are commonly used. (A third limit, called the shrinkage limit, is used
occasionally.) The Atterberg limits are based on the moisture content of the soil. The plastic
limit is the moisture content that defines where the soil changes from a semi-solid to a plastic
(flexible) state. The liquid limit is the moisture content that defines where the soil changes
from a plastic to a viscous fluid state. The shrinkage limit is the moisture content that defines
where the soil volume will not reduce further if the moisture content is reduced. Awide
variety of soil engineering properties have been correlated to the liquid and plastic limits, and
these Atterberg limits are also used to classify a fine-grained soil according to the Unified
Soil Classification system or AASHTO system.
Figure 7.1: Atterberg Limits (Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, B. M. Das)
Figure 7.2: Modified Plasticity chart (Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, B. M. Da
Apparatus:
Casagrande Liquid Limit Device
Grooving tool
Spatula
Moisture cans
Oven
Balance (accuracy 0.01g)
Glass plate for rolling
Soil sample (passing 425 μm sieve)
Theory:
Liquid Limit (LL): Water content at which soil changes from plastic to liquid state.
Plastic Limit (PL): Water content at which soil changes from semi-solid to plastic state.
Plasticity Index (PI):
PI=LL−PLPI = LL - PLPI=LL−PL
Observation Table – Liquid Limit (Casagrande Method):
Trial No. Water Content (%) No. of Blows (N)
1 39.8 34
2 42.1 26
3 44.3 20
4 46.5 15
Plot Water Content (%) vs. log(Number of Blows) on semi-log graph paper to determine the
Liquid Limit at 25 blows.
Observation Table – Plastic Limit:
Trial No. Weight of Wet Soil (g) Weight of Dry Soil (g) Water Content (%)
1 18.2 16.0 13.75
2 17.5 15.4 13.64
Average Plastic Limit (PL) = (13.75 + 13.64) / 2 = 13.7%
Results:
Liquid Limit (LL) = ~43.5% (interpolated from graph)
Plastic Limit (PL) = 13.7%
Plasticity Index (PI) = LL - PL = 43.5 - 13.7 = 29.8%
📌 Conclusion:
The soil sample has:
Liquid Limit: 43.5%
Plastic Limit: 13.7%
Plasticity Index: 29.8%
This indicates a high plasticity clay (CH) based on the Unified Soil Classification System
(USCS).
🧾 Remarks:
Ensure consistent groove closure in Casagrande device.
Maintain uniform thread thickness during plastic limit test.
Perform test on soil passing through 425 µm sieve only.
