Intro The Atterberg limits of a soil will be determined using the procedures outlined in the laboratory.

The Atterberg limits are the liquid limit, plastic limit, and shrinkage limit of a soil. The plasticity index of a soil is also to be determined in this experiment. Equipment Dry soil passed through the No. 40 sieve Atterberg apparatus Putty knife Grooving tool Moisture containers Evaporating dish Oven Glass plate 3mm rod Procedure As outlined in the CIVE 3208 Geotechnical Mechanics Laboratory Manual September 2012 and following the ASTM standard D4318 Standard test method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soil, American Society for Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Theory The parameters to be determined are the liquid limit, plastic limit and the shrinkage limit. The liquid limit is the soil moisture at which the soil passes from liquid state to plastic state. The plastic limit is the soil moisture at which the soil passes from plastic state to semisolid state. The shrinkage limit is the soil moisture at which the soil passes from semisolid state to solid state. The plasticity index is the range of water content where the soil exhibits plastic properties. In engineering practice, these parameters are used to classify soils, and are useful in selecting soils on which to construct buildings. The tests are used primarily on clay soils, which expand and shrink due to moisture their content. It is important to verify that a soil will withstand an acceptable level of shear stress, and that it will not behave unfavourably with changes in its moisture content.