Lesson

4 ATTERBERG
LIMITS
ENGR. ROLLY S. TAMBE
Registered Civil Engineer

CEPC 117 +63968 852 2376

Geotechnical Engineering 1 [email protected]
Objectives:

At the end of the session, students will be able to:

• Recall and identify the various physical

properties of soil based on the soil indices.
• Analyze and interpret the results of Atterberg
Limits Tests to identify soil behavior and
characteristics.
• Develop new strategies and techniques for
accurately solving problems related to
Atterberg Limits Tests.
REVIEW OF PREVIOUS LESSON
1. What is COMPACTION?
Ø Compaction is a physical process to decrease the voids of soil by static or dynamic
loading.

2. What is RELATIVE DENSITY?

Ø Relative Density expresses the state of compactness of a natural granular soil.

3. What is the relationship between BEARING CAPACITY and RELATIVE DENSITY of soil?
Ø The bearing capacity was greater for soils with increasing relative density.

4. What are the empirical equations used in determining RELATIVE DENSITY of soil?
𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝒆 𝟏 / 𝜸 𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒏 − 𝟏 / 𝜸 𝒅
𝑫𝒓 = ×𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝑫𝒓 = ×𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒙 − 𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝟏 / 𝜸 𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒏 − 𝟏 / 𝜸 𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒙
ASSIGNMENT #2
PROBLEM #1:

A silty sand was tested in the laboratory and found to have a max. and min, void ratios of
0.86 and 0.30 respectively. If the relative density of the soil is 54%,

a. What is the in situ- void ratio of the soil sample? 𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝟕𝟔

b. What is the porosity of the soil sample? 𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟓𝟖𝟎

c. If the dry unit weight of the silty sand is 16.85 kN/m3, compute the specific gravity of the

sand. 𝑮 = 𝟐. 𝟔𝟕𝟓𝟒
ASSIGNMENT #2
PROBLEM #2:

A granular soil was tested in the laboratory and found to have a max. and min, void ratios
of 0.84 and 0.38 respectively. The sp.gr. of soil is 𝟐. 𝟔𝟓. If the moisture content of the soil is 9%
and its moist unit weight is 18.64 kN/m3,

a. What is the dry unit weight of the soil , in kN/m3? 𝜸𝒅 = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟗 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟑

b. What is the in situ- void ratio of the soil sample? 𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟓𝟐𝟎𝟐

c. What is the relative density of the soil in the field, in %? 𝑫𝒓 = 𝟔𝟗. 𝟓𝟐𝟓𝟕%
Any questions/
clarifications?
ATTERBERG LIMITS
SOIL CONSISTENCY
SOIL CONSISTENCY
Ø the strength with which soil materials are held together or the resistance of soils to deformation
and rupture.

Field test for stickiness of wet soil

Press a small amount of wet soil between your thumb and forefinger to see
if it will stick to your fingers. Then slowly open your fingers.

Rate the stickiness as follows:

Sticky, if the soil sticks to both the

Non-sticky, if no soil or practically no
thumb and forefinger and tends to
soil sticks to your fingers
stretch a little and pull apart rather than
pulling free from your fingers

Slightly sticky, if the soil begins to stick Very sticky, if the soil sticks firmly to both
to your fingers but comes off one or the thumb and forefinger and stretches
other cleanly and does not stretch when the fingers are opened.
when the fingers are opened
ATTERBERG LIMITS- SOIL CONSISTENCY
CONSISTENCY
Ø term used to describe the degree of firmness (e.g., soft, medium, firm, or hard) of a soil.

Liquid State

Liquid Limit, LL

Plastic State
Water Content
Increase

Plastic Limit, PL

Semisolid State

Shrinkage Limit, SL

Solid State
SOIL INDICES
Index Definition Correlation
Plasticity 𝑃𝐼 = 𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿 Strength, compressibility, compactibility, …
𝑤 − 𝑃𝐿
Liquidity 𝐿𝐼 = Compressibility and stress rate
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
Shrinkage 𝑆𝐼 = 𝑃𝐿 − 𝑆𝐿 Shrinkage potential
𝐿𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
Activity of Clay 𝐴( = Swell Potential, and so forth
𝜇

where 𝝁 = percent of soil finer than 0.002 mm (clay size)

Activity Classification
𝐴( < 0.7 𝐼𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦
0.7 < 𝐴( < 1.2 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦
𝐴( > 1.2 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦
SOIL PLASTICITY
SOIL PLASTICITY
Ø ability to undergo deformation without cracking or fracturing.

Field test for plasticity of wet soil

Roll a small amount of wet soil between the palms of your hands
until it forms a long, round strip like a wire about 3 mm thick.

Rate the stickiness as follows:

Non-plastic, if no wire can be formed. Plastic, if a wire can be formed but, when it is broken and
returned to its former state, it cannot be formed again;

Very plastic, if a wire can be

formed which cannot be broken
Slightly plastic, if a wire can be formed but easily and, when it is broken, it can
can easily be broken and returned to its be rolled between your hands
former state. and be reformed several times.
DESCRIPTION OF SOIL BASED ON PLASTICITY INDEX

Plasticity Index, 𝑷𝑰 Description

0 𝑁𝑜𝑛𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐

1−5 𝑆𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐

5 − 10 𝐿𝑜𝑤 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦

10 − 20 𝑀𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑚 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦

20 − 40 𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦

> 40 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝐻𝑖𝑔ℎ 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦

LIQUIDITY INDEX
LIQUIDITY INDEX, 𝑳𝑰
Ø defines the relative consistency of a cohesive soil in the natural state

𝑴𝑪 − 𝑷𝑳 ∗ 𝐼𝑓 𝑀𝐶 𝑖𝑠 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝐿𝐿, 𝐿𝐼 > 1

𝑳𝑰 =
𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑳 ∗ 𝐼𝑓 𝑀𝐶 < 𝑃𝐿, 𝐿𝐼 < 0

Liquidity Index, 𝑳𝑰 Definition

𝐿𝐼 < 0 𝑆𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒- high strength, brittle (sudden) fracture is expected

0 < 𝐿𝐼 < 1 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒- intermediate strength, soil deforms like a plastic material
𝐿𝐼 > 1 𝐿𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒- low strength, soil deforms like a viscous fluid
𝐿𝐼 = 0 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 = Plastic Limit
𝐿𝐼 = 1 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 = Liquid Limit
CONSISTENCY INDEX & SHRINKAGE LIMIT
CONSISTENCY INDEX, 𝑪𝑰
𝑳𝑳 − 𝑴𝑪 ∗ 𝐼𝑓 𝑀𝐶 = 𝐿𝐿, 𝐶𝐼 = 0
𝑪𝑰 =
𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑰 ∗ 𝐼𝑓 𝑀𝐶 = 𝑃𝐼, 𝐶𝐼 = 1

SHRINKAGE LIMIT, 𝑺𝑳
𝑽 − 𝑽𝒐 𝝆𝒘
𝑺𝑳 = 𝑾 −
𝑴𝒐
Where:
𝑆𝐿 = 𝑆ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒
𝑊 = 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑖𝑛 %
𝑉 = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑚!.
𝑉" = 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑛 − 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑚!.
𝜌# = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 1𝑔/𝑐𝑚!
𝑀" = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑛 − 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠
ATTERBERG LIMITS
EXAMPLE #1:
Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg Limit Test, plot the water content versus the number of blows and
a. Determine the nearest value to the Liquid Limit of the Soil.
b. Determine the nearest value to the Plastic Limit of the Soil.
c. Determine the nearest value to the Liquidity Index of the Soil.

LIQUID LIMIT

TEST NO.→ 1 2 3 4
No. of Blows 35 21 16 11
Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 22.46 21.33 21.29 26.12
Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 19.44 18.75 18.78 22.10
Mass of Container, g 12.76 13.06 13.26 13.27

PLASTIC LIMIT NATURAL WATER CONTENT

TEST NO.→ 1 2 TEST NO.→ 1 2

Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 22.10 21.77 Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 17.94 17.39
Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 20.42 20.19 Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 14.84 14.36
Mass of Container, g 13.07 13.18 Mass of Container, g 7.84 7.5
ATTERBERG LIMITS
EXAMPLE #1:
Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg Limit Test, plot the water content versus the number of blows and
a. Determine the nearest value to the Liquid Limit of the Soil.
b. Determine the nearest value to the Plastic Limit of the Soil.
c. Determine the nearest value to the Liquidity Index of the Soil.

LIQUID LIMIT
𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒎𝒘
TEST NO.→ 1 2 3 4 𝑴𝑪 =
𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅, 𝒎𝒔
×𝟏𝟎𝟎%

No. of Blows 35 21 16 11 𝒎𝒘 = 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒊𝒍 + 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓

𝑹→ Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 22.46 21.33 21.29 26.12 − 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒓𝒚 𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍 + 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓

𝑶→ Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 19.44 18.75 18.78 22.10 𝒎𝒔 = 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒓𝒚 𝑺𝒐𝒊𝒍 + 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓
− 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓
𝑳→ Mass of Container, g 12.76 13.06 13.26 13.27
Mass of water, g
𝟐𝟐. 𝟒𝟔 − 𝟏𝟗. 𝟒𝟒 𝟐𝟏. 𝟑𝟑 − 𝟏𝟖. 𝟕𝟓 𝟐𝟏. 𝟐𝟗 − 𝟏𝟖. 𝟕𝟖 𝟐𝟔. 𝟏𝟐 − 𝟐𝟐. 𝟏𝟎
𝒎𝒘 = 𝑹 − 𝑶 = 𝟑. 𝟎𝟐 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝟖 = 𝟐. 𝟓𝟏 = 𝟒. 𝟎𝟐

Mass of Dry Soil, g

𝟏𝟗. 𝟒𝟒 − 𝟏𝟐. 𝟕𝟔 𝟏𝟖. 𝟕𝟓 − 𝟏𝟑. 𝟎𝟔 𝟏𝟖. 𝟕𝟖 − 𝟏𝟑. 𝟐𝟔 𝟐𝟐. 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟏𝟑. 𝟐𝟕
𝒎𝒔 = 𝑶 − 𝑳 = 𝟔. 𝟔𝟖 = 𝟓. 𝟔𝟗 = 𝟓. 𝟓𝟐 = 𝟖. 𝟖𝟑

Water Content, % 𝟒𝟓. 𝟐𝟎𝟗𝟔% → 𝑨 𝟒𝟓. 𝟑𝟒𝟐𝟕% → 𝑩 𝟒𝟓. 𝟒𝟕𝟏𝟎% → 𝑪 𝟒𝟓. 𝟓𝟐𝟔𝟔% → 𝑫
LIQUID LIMIT TEST

ASTM D4318:

Standard Test
Methods for
Liquid Limit,
Plastic Limit,
and Plasticity
Index of Soils
ATTERBERG LIMITS
EXAMPLE #1:
Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg Limit Test, plot the water content versus the number of blows and
a. Determine the nearest value to the Liquid Limit of the Soil.
Calculator Technique:
b. Determine the nearest value to the Plastic Limit of the Soil.
MODE 3:4
c. Determine the nearest value to the Liquidity Index of the Soil.

LIQUID LIMIT

Number of Moisture
Blows Content

35 𝟒𝟓. 𝟐𝟎𝟗𝟔% →𝑨

21 𝟒𝟓. 𝟑𝟒𝟐𝟕% →𝑩

16 𝟒𝟓. 𝟒𝟕𝟏𝟎% →𝑪

11 𝟒𝟓. 𝟓𝟐𝟔𝟔% →𝑫
MODE 3:2
y
Calculator Technique:
AC→
MODE 3:2 x

15
10.5
0
10
SHIFT 1:5:5
7

𝒙 𝒚
0 0
10 15
ATTERBERG LIMITS
EXAMPLE #1:
Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg Limit Test, plot the water content versus the number of blows and
a. Determine the nearest value to the Liquid Limit of the Soil.
Calculator Technique:
b. Determine the nearest value to the Plastic Limit of the Soil.
MODE 3:4
c. Determine the nearest value to the Liquidity Index of the Soil. 𝒙 𝒚
(# 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔) (𝑴𝑪)

35 𝐴
LIQUID LIMIT 21 𝐵
16 𝐶
Number of Moisture 11 𝐷
Blows Content

35 𝟒𝟓. 𝟐𝟎𝟗𝟔% →𝑨 AC→

21 𝟒𝟓. 𝟑𝟒𝟐𝟕% →𝑩 SHIFT 1:5:5

16 𝟒𝟓. 𝟒𝟕𝟏𝟎% →𝑪

11 𝟒𝟓. 𝟓𝟐𝟔𝟔% →𝑫

𝑳𝑳 = 𝟒𝟓. 𝟑𝟎𝟖𝟒%
ATTERBERG LIMITS
EXAMPLE #1:
Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg Limit Test, plot the water content versus the number of blows and
a. Determine the nearest value to the Liquid Limit of the Soil.
b. Determine the nearest value to the Plastic Limit of the Soil.
c. Determine the nearest value to the Liquidity Index of the Soil.

PLASTIC LIMIT
𝟐𝟐. 𝟖𝟓𝟕𝟏% + 𝟐𝟐. 𝟓𝟑𝟗𝟐%
TEST NO.→ 1 2 𝑷𝑳 =
𝟐
𝑹→ Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 22.10 21.77
𝑷𝑳 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟔𝟗𝟖𝟐%
𝑶→ Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 20.42 20.19
𝑳→ Mass of Container, g 13.07 13.18
Mass of water, g
𝟐𝟐. 𝟏𝟎 − 𝟐𝟎. 𝟒𝟐 𝟐𝟏. 𝟕𝟕 − 𝟐𝟎. 𝟏𝟗
𝒎𝒘 = 𝑹 − 𝑶 = 𝟏. 𝟔𝟖 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟖

Mass of Dry Soil, g

𝟐𝟎. 𝟒𝟐 − 𝟏𝟑. 𝟎𝟕 𝟐𝟎. 𝟏𝟗 − 𝟏𝟑. 𝟏𝟖
𝒎𝒔 = 𝑶 − 𝑳 = 𝟕. 𝟑𝟓 = 𝟕. 𝟎𝟏

Water Content, % 𝟐𝟐. 𝟖𝟓𝟕𝟏% → 𝑨 𝟐𝟐. 𝟓𝟑𝟗𝟐% → 𝑩

ATTERBERG LIMITS
EXAMPLE #1:
Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg Limit Test, plot the water content versus the number of blows and
a. Determine the nearest value to the Liquid Limit of the Soil.
b. Determine the nearest value to the Plastic Limit of the Soil.
c. Determine the nearest value to the Liquidity Index of the Soil.

NATURAL WATER CONTENT

𝟒𝟒. 𝟐𝟖𝟓𝟕% + 𝟒𝟒. 𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟏%
TEST NO.→ 1 2 𝑴𝑪 =
𝟐
𝑹→ Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 17.94 17.39
𝑴𝑪 = 𝟒𝟒. 𝟐𝟐𝟕𝟒%
𝑶→ Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 14.84 14.36
𝑳→ Mass of Container, g 7.84 7.5 𝑴𝑪 − 𝑷𝑳 𝟒𝟒. 𝟐𝟐𝟕𝟒% − 𝟐𝟐. 𝟔𝟗𝟖𝟐%
𝑳𝑰 = =
Mass of water, g 𝑳𝑳 − 𝑷𝑳 𝟒𝟓. 𝟑𝟎𝟖𝟒% − 𝟐𝟐. 𝟔𝟗𝟖𝟐%
𝟏𝟕. 𝟗𝟒 − 𝟏𝟒. 𝟖𝟒 𝟏𝟕. 𝟑𝟗 − 𝟏𝟒. 𝟑𝟔
𝒎𝒘 = 𝑹 − 𝑶 = 𝟑. 𝟏 = 𝟑. 𝟎𝟑 𝑳𝑰 = 𝟗𝟓. 𝟐𝟏𝟖𝟗%

Mass of Dry Soil, g

𝟏𝟒. 𝟖𝟒 − 𝟕. 𝟖𝟒 𝟏𝟒. 𝟑𝟔 − 𝟕. 𝟓
𝒎𝒔 = 𝑶 − 𝑳 =𝟕 = 𝟔. 𝟖𝟔

Water Content, % 𝟒𝟒. 𝟐𝟖𝟓𝟕% → 𝑨 𝟒𝟒. 𝟏𝟔𝟗𝟏% → 𝑩

Any questions/
clarifications?
ASSIGNMENT #3
PROBLEM:
Given the laboratory results of the Atterberg Limit Test, plot the water content versus the number of blows and
a. Determine the nearest value to the Liquid Limit of the Soil.
b. Determine the nearest value to the Plastic Limit of the Soil.
c. Determine the nearest value to the Liquidity Index of the Soil.
d. Determine the nearest value to the Consistency Index of the Soil.
LIQUID LIMIT

TEST NO.→ 1 2 3 4
No. of Blows 38 29 20 14
Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 22.47 21.29 21.27 26.12
Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 19.44 18.78 18.75 22.10
Mass of Container, g 12.74 13.24 13.20 13.27

PLASTIC LIMIT NATURAL WATER CONTENT

TEST NO.→ 1 2 TEST NO.→ 1 2

Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 23.20 22.80 Mass of Wet Soil + Container, g 17.53 16.97
Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 20.42 20.19 Mass of Dry Soil + Container, g 14.84 14.36
Mass of Container, g 12.90 12.95 Mass of Container, g 9.50 9.55