ATTERBERGS LIMIT

SAMPLE PROBLEM
 PROBLEM 1
A silty clay has a plastic limit of 25 and a plasticity index
of 30. If the clay has a liquidity index of 0.20.
1. Compute the water content of the clay.
2. Compute the degree of saturation if the Gs of the
clay is 2.70 and a void ratio of 0.92.
3. Compute the moist unit weight of the clay is the
void ratio is 0.92, Gs = 2.70
 Solution - 1
1. Water content

𝑤 − 𝑃𝐿 𝑤 − 25
𝐿𝐼 = 0.20 = 𝑤 = 31%
𝑃𝐼 30
2. Degree of Saturation

𝑆𝑒 = 𝑤𝐺𝑠 𝑆(0.92) = (31%)(2.70) S = 90.98%

3. Unit wt. of clay

2.70(9.81)(1 + 0.31)
𝛾=
𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 (1 + 𝑤) 1 + 0.92
𝛾=
1+𝑒 𝛾 = 18.91 𝐾𝑁
𝑚3
 PROBLEM 2
Following are the results of a shrinkage limit test:
Initial volume of soil in a saturated state = 26.6 cm3
Final volume of soil in a dry state = 15.9 cm3
Initial mass of soil in a saturated state = 44 g
Initial mass of soil in a dry state = 30.1 g
Gs = 2.70
1. Shrinkage limit of the soil
2. Saturated unit weight if e = 30.1 g
3. Dry unit weight
 Solution - 2
1. Shrinkage limit 𝑚1 −𝑚2 100 𝑉1 −𝑉2 𝜌𝑤 100
𝑆𝐿 = -
𝑚2 𝑚2
44−30.1 100 24.6−15.9 (1)100
𝑆𝐿 = - S𝐿 = 17.28%
30.1 30.1

2. Saturated unit weight 𝛾𝑤 (𝐺𝑠 + 𝑒)

𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 =
1+𝑒
9.81 (2.70 + 0.467)
𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 = 𝛾 = 21.18 𝐾𝑁
1 + 0.467 𝑠𝑎𝑡 𝑚3
3. Unit wt. of clay
2.70(9.81)
𝛾𝑑 =
𝐺𝑠 𝛾𝑤 1 + 0.467
𝛾𝑑 =
1+𝑒 𝛾𝑑 = 18.06 𝐾𝑁
𝑚3
 PROBLEM 3
A sample was determine in the laboratory to have a
liquid limit of 41% and a plastic limit of 21.1%. If the
water content is 30%, determine the following:
1. Plasticity index
2. Liquidity index
3. What is the characteristics of soil?
a) Liquid
b) Plastic
c) Dense
d) Brittle solid
 Solution - 3
1. Plasticity index

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝐼 = 41 − 21.1 𝑃𝐼 = 19.9

2. Liquidity index
𝑤 − 𝑃𝐿 30 − 21.1 𝐿𝐼 = 0.447
𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 41 − 21.1
3. Characteristics of soil
Note:
LI<0 – brittle solid Since LI=0<0.447<1
LI<1 – plastics Therefore, it is plastic
LI>1 - Liquid
 PROBLEM 4
A soil has a liquid limit of 61 and a plastic limit of 30. A
moisture content test performed on an undisturbed
sample of this soil yielded the following results:
Mass of soil + can before placing in oven = 96.2 g
Mass of soil + can after removal from oven = 71.9 g
Mass of can = 20.8 g
1. Compute the plasticity index
2. Compute the moisture content
3. Compute the liquidity index
 Solution - 4
1. Plasticity index

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝐼 = 61 − 30 𝑃𝐼 = 31

2. Moisture content
96.2 − 20.8 − (71.9 − 20.8)
𝑊𝑤 𝑤=
71.9 − 20.8
𝑤=
𝑊𝑠 𝑤 = 0.476 = 47.6%
3. Liquidity index

𝑤 − 𝑃𝐿 47.6 − 30 𝐿𝐼 = 0.568
𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 61 − 30
 PROBLEM 5
Laboratory test results for a sample of clay soil for the
purpose of evaluating the potential for volume change
(swelling, expansion) are as shown:
LL = 68% PL = 24%
Particles smaller than 0.002 mm = 44%
1. Compute the plasticity index
2. Indicate the activity classification for this clay.
3. The rate of the volume change potential (refer to table)
a) Very high
b) Medium
c) Low
d) normal
 Solution - 5
1. Plasticity index

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝐼 = 68 − 24 𝑃𝐼 = 44
2. Activity classification for clay
𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑕𝑡
44
𝐴= 𝐴=1
44
3. The rate of the volume change potential
Note:
LI > 60 and PI > 35 – very high
LL = 50 – 60 and PI = 25 – 35 – medium
Therefore, very high
LL < 50 and PI < 25 - low
 PROBLEM 6
The following are results from the liquid and plastic limit
test for a soil.
No. of blows (N) Moisture content (%)
15 42
20 40.8
28 39.1
The plastic limit is 18.7%.
1. Compute the liquid limit using table.
2. What is the plasticity index of the soil.
3. What is the liquidity index if the water content is 24%.
4. What is the consistency index.
 Solution - 6
1. Liquid limit
 Solution - 6
2. Plasticity index

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝐼 = 39.1 − 18.7 𝑃𝐼 = 20.4

3. Liquidity index

𝑤 − 𝑃𝐿 24 − 18.7 𝐿𝐼 = 0.20
𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 39.1 − 18.7
4. Consistency index

𝐿𝐿 − 𝑤 39.1 − 24 𝐶𝐼 = 0.81
𝐶𝐼 = 𝐶𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐼 39.1 − 20.4
 PROBLEM 7
In a liquid limit, using a cone penetrometer, the
following readings were recorded and tabulated:
PLASTIC LIMIT TEST
Trial Unit wt. (KN/m3) Dry Unit wt. (KN/m3)

1 128.6 105.4
2 141.4 116.8
3 132.6 109.6
4 134.5 111.2
5 136.0 113.4
 PROBLEM 7
LIQUID LIMIT TEST
Moisture content (%) Cone Penetration (mm)
42.5 16.0
47.5 17.5
58.1 22.8
60.0 26.0

1. Determine the liquid limit of the soil

2. Determine the plasticity index of the soil.
3. If the natural water content of the soil is 38%,
determine the liquidity index.
 Solution - 7
1. LIQUID LIMIT
 Solution - 7
𝛾
2. PLASTICITY INDEX 𝛾𝑑 =
1+𝑤
Trial Unit wt. (KN/m3) Dry Unit wt. (KN/m3) w
1 128.6 105.4 0.22
2 141.4 116.8 0.21
3 132.6 109.6 0.21
4 134.5 111.2 0.21
5 136.0 113.4 0.20
𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑤 = 0.21 = 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 = 21%

𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 𝑃𝐼 = 52 − 21 𝑃𝐼 = 31
 Solution - 7
3. LIQUIDITY INDEX

𝑤 − 𝑃𝐿 38 − 21 𝐿𝐼 = 0.55
𝐿𝐼 = 𝐿𝐼 =
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 52 − 21
 PROBLEM 8
The following data shows the results of liquid limit and
plastic limit.
1. Compute the liquid limit.
2. Compute the plasticity index.
3. Compute the liquidity index.
PROBLEM 8
 Solution - 8
1. Liquid limit
 Solution - 8
1. Liquid limit
 Solution - 8
2. Plastic limit
 Solution - 8
3. Liquidity index