1.

0 OBJECTIVE

To determine the liquid limits of soil using cone penetrometer methods.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this experiment, student are able to:

 Conduct the liquid limit experiment.

 Determine the liquid limit value of soil
 Identify the importance and application of the liquid limit test

3.0 THEORY

The properties of fine grains soils are largely dependent on their consistency,
which is itself related to the moisture content of a dry sample of such a soil is increased is
its state gradually changes from that of a solid, through semi-solid, through plastic and
finally into a liquid form. The arbitrary boundaries between these phases are called the
"consistency limits" and the Atterberg limits provide a means of measuring and describing
the plasticity range in numerical terms. If sufficient water is mixed with clay, it can be
made into slurry, which behaves as a viscous liquid. This is known as the liquid’ state. If
the moisture content is gradually reduced by allowing it to dry out slowly, the clay
eventually begins to hold together and to offer some resistance to deformation; this is the
‘plastic’ state. With further loss of water the clay shrinks and the stiffness increases until
there is little plasticity left, and the clay becomes brittle; this is the ‘semi-solid’ state. As
drying continues, the clay continues to shrink in proportion to the amount of water lost,
until it reaches the minimum volume attainable by this process. Beyond that point further
drying results in no further decrease in volume, and this is called the ‘solid’ state.

These four states, or phases, are shown diagrammatically in Figure 1.1. The change from
one phase to the next is not observable as a precise boundary, but takes place as a gradual
transition. Nevertheless, three arbitrary, but specific boundaries have been established
empirically, as indicated in Figure 1.1, and are universally recognised. The moisture
contents at these boundaries are known as the:

Liquid limit (LL) (symbol 𝑤𝑙 )

Plastic limit (PL) (symbol 𝑤𝑝 ) The Atterberg limits or consistency limits
Shrinkage limit (SL) (symbol 𝑤5 )

The "liquid limit" (LL) is the minimum moisture content at which a soil is assumed to
flow under its own weight, which corresponds to 25 blows in the Casagrande test or 20
mm penetration in the Penetrometer test The "shrinkage limit" (SL) is the water content at
which further decrease in moisture does not cause a decrease in volume of the soil.
The "plasticity index" (P1) is the range of moisture content over which the soil is plastic
and is given by the expression,

1
 PI = LL – PL

The moisture content range between the PL and LL is known as the plasticity index (P1)
(symbol Ip), and is a measure of the plasticity of the clay. Cohesionless soils have no
plasticity phase, so their PT is zero.

The tests to determine the Atterberg limits are carried out only on the fraction of soil,
which passes a 425 m sieve. For soils that contain particles coarser than that size, the
particles retained on the 425 m sieve must be removed as part of the sample preparation
procedure. The relationship between the consistency limits and the volume of a soil
sample is shown in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.1 : Phases of soil and the Atterberg limit

Figure 1.2 : Consistency limits/volume relationship of a cohesive soil

2
4.0 APPARATUS AND MATERIAL

1. Penetrometer apparatus complying with the requirements of BS 1377 : Part 2: 1990.

2. Cone for the penetrometer, the main features of which are as follows; - stainless steel
or duralumin, - smooth and polished surface, - length approximately 35 mm and cone
angle 30 - sharp point and mass of cone and sliding shaft 80 g ± 0.1 g
3. Sharpness gauge for cone, consisting of a small steel plate 1.75 mm ±0.1 mm thick
with a 1.5 mm ± 0.02 mm diameter hole accurately drilled and reamed.
4. Flat glass plate, about 500mm square and 10mm thick, with bevelled edges and
rounded corners.
5. Metal cups, of brass or aluminium alloy, 55m diameter and 40mm deep. The rim must
be parallel to the base, which must be flat.
6. Wash bottle containing distilled or de-ionised water.
7. Metal straight-edge, about 100 mm long
8. Palette knives or spatulas ( two 200 mm long x 30 mm, one 150 mm long x 25mm, one
100mm long x 20mm)
9. Moisture content apparatus .

Figure 1.3 : Apparatus for cone penetrometer liquid test

3
5.0 PROCEDURE

1. Selection and preparation of sample

a. Place a sample an about 300 gram soil passing 425 μm test sieve on the glass plate.
b. Use the natural material if possible; if not, use the wet preparation method.
c. If the plastic limit test is also to be done, set aside a small portion in a sealed bag or
container before adding too much water, and while the soil is still firm.
d.

Figure 1.4 : Selection and preparation of sample

2. Checking apparatus
a. The cone designed specially for testing soils must be fitted.
b. Mass of cone and stem 80±0.1 g. This is most important. The stem is hollow, so
that Lead - shot can be inserted to bring the cone and stem assembly to the
specified mass.
c. Sharpness of the cone point can be checked by pushing the tip into the hole of the
sharpness gauge plate. If the point cannot be felt when brushed lightly with the tip
of the finger, the cone should be replaced.
d. The cone must fall freely when the release button is pushed, and the sliding shaft
must be clean and dry.
e. The penetration dial indicator should be calibrated by inserting gauge blocks
between the stem of the indicator and the top of the cone sliding shaft.
Alternatively calibrated vernier calipers could be used.
f. The apparatus must stand on a firm level bench.
g. If the apparatus is fitted with an automatic timing device, this should automatically
lock the cone shaft assembly 5 seconds after pressing the button which releases it.
h. This time interval should be verified against a reference timer.

3. Mixing and working

a. Mix the soil paste on the glass plate with the spatulas for at least10 minutes.
b. Some soils, especially heavy clays, may need a longer mixing time, up to 4
minutes.
c. If necessary, add more distilled or de-ionised water to give a cone penetration of
about 15mm, and mix well with. It is essential to obtain a uniform distribution of
water throughout the sample.
d. Keep the soil together near the middle of the glass plate, to minimise drying out
due to exposure to air.

4
 Figure 1.5 : Process to mixing the soil

4. Placing in cup

a. Press the soil paste against the side of the cup, to avoid trapping air.
b. Press more paste well into the bottom of the cup, without creating an air-pocket,
c. Fill the middle and press well down. The small spatula is convenient for these
operations,
d. The top surface is finally smoothed off level with the rim using the straight-edg

Figure 1.6 : Placing soil in a cup

5. Adjustment of cone
a. Lock the cone and shaft unit near the upper end of its travel and lower the
supporting assembly carefully.
b. Make sure that the tip of the cone is within a few millimeters from the surface of
the soil in the cup.
c. Hold the cone, press the release button and adjust the height of the cone so that the
tip just touches the soil surface.
d. A small sideways movement of the cup should just mark the surface.

5
 Figure 1.7 : Adjustment of cone

6. Adjustment of dial gauge

a. Lower the stem of the dial gauge to make contact with the top of the cone shaft.
b. Record the reading of the dial gauge to the nearest 0.1 mm (R1).
c. Alternatively, if the pointer is mounted on a friction sleeve, adjust the pointer to
read zero (i.e. R1= 0).

Figure 1.8 : Adjustment of dial gauge

7. Measuring cone penetration

a. Allow the cone to fall by pressing the button, which must be held in the pressed
position for 5 seconds, timed with a seconds timer or watch.
b. If an auto-timer is used it is necessary only to press the button and release it
immediately.
c. Automatic re-locking of the stem is indicated by a click. Record the dial reading to
the nearest 0.1 mm (R2).
d. Record the difference between R1 and R2 as the cone penetration.
e. If the pointer was initially set to read zero, the reading R2 gives the cone
penetration directly.
f. A range of penetration values from about 15mm to 25mm should be covered, fairly
uniformly distributed.

6
 Figure 1.9 : Press the button to fall the cone and take a reading

8. Repeat penetration
a. Lift out the cone and clean it carefully.
b. Avoid touching the sliding stem.
c. Add a little more wet soil to the cup, without entrapping air, smooth off, and repeat
stages (5), (6) and (7).

9. Moisture content measurement

This is placed in a numbered moisture content container, which is weighed, oven dried and
weighed as in the standard moisture content procedure according to BS 1377 : Part 2:
1990.

a. Weight the empty moisture content container

b. Take a moisture content sample of about 10 g from the area penetrated by the cone,
using the tip of a small spatula.
c. Weight the wet sample
d. Dry in the oven for about 7 days
e. Weight the dry sample, Below the weight reading of three dry sample;

7
 Figure 1.10 : Process to take a moisture content.

Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

Figure 1.11 : The weight reading sample

8
6.0 DATA AND ANALYSIS

DATA SHEET

Location : Geotechnic laboratory Loc. No. : -

Soil description: Undisturbed Sample No. : LL1, LL2, LL3

Sample type : Clay Soil Depth of Sample : 1.5 m

Operator : - Date Started : 3 April 2018

Test Number Units 1 2 3

Dial Gauge Reading (Start) mm 0 0 0

Dial Gauge Reading (End) mm 15.5 16.3 20.2 18.3 22.6 22.7

Cone penetration mm 15.5 16.3 20.2 18.3 22.6 22.7

Average penetration mm 15.9 19.25 22.65

Can Number LL1 LL2 LL3

Mass of can + moist soil (𝑀𝑐𝑤𝑠 ) gram 68 69 65

Mass of can + dry soil (𝑀𝑐𝑠 ) gram 55.31 54.71 49.97

Mass of can (𝑀𝑐 ) gram 42 40 35

Mass of dry soil (𝑀𝑠 ) gram 13.31 14.71 14.97

Mass of water (𝑀𝑤 ) gram 12.69 14.29 15.03

Water content % 95.34 97.14 100.4

9
 25

20
Panetration of cone (mm)

15

10

97.15
0
95.34 97.14 100.4
Moisture Content (%)

Liquid Limit (LL) = 97.15 %

7.0 CALCULATION

Cone penetration = Dial gauge reading end – dial gauge reading start
= 15.5 – 0
= 15.5 mm

Mass of dry soil (Ms) = [mass of can + dry soil (Mcs)] – [mass of can (Mc)]
= 55.31– 42
= 13.31 gram (L1)

Mass of water (Mw) = [mass of can + moist soil (Mcws)] – [mass of can (Mc)] –
[ mass of dry soil (Ms)]
= 68 – 42 – 13.31
= 12.69 gram (L1)

Calculation of moisture content,w

Sample 1,

𝑀𝑤 12.69
𝑤= × 100% = × 100 = 95.34%
𝑀𝑠 13.31

10
10.0 QUESTIONS 1

a. What are the definitions of liquid and plastic limit?

A liquid limit is the moisture content expressed as a percentage of the weight of over-
dried soil, at which soil changes from a plastic to a liquid state.

Plastic limit is the constant defined as the lowest moisture content and expressed as a
percentage of the weight of the oven dried soil at which the soil can be rolled into
threads one-eighth inch in diameter without the soil breaking into pieces, also the
moisture content of a solid at which a soil changes from a plastic state to a semisolid
state.

b. A sample of wet clay and its container weigh 102g. After oven drying the sample and
the container weigh 60 g. What is the water content?

𝑀𝑐𝑤𝑠 - 𝑀𝑐𝑠 = 102g – 60g = 42g

QUESTIONS 2

a. What are alternative methods to define a liquid limit and give a brief explanation?

The liquid limit is determined through the use of Casagrande device. Through the first
method we determine the liquid limit when a sample of soil with a horizontal and
smooth surface placed in the bowl of the device and divided by a grooving tool into
two parts which need 25hits of the bowl to the base to close the gap between them in a
length of 12.5+-0.5 mm namely at a rate of 2 hits per second.

b. Briefly explain why the reading is taken after 5 seconds?

To allow the cone fall until get the max liquid limit.

11