84 041 Plastic Limit

84-041
PLASTIC LIMIT
1. Application
1.1
The plastic limit is defined as the water content below which a

cohesive soil ceases to behave as a plastic material and reacts as a
semi-solid. It is the lowest water content at which a thread of soil
when rolled to a diameter of 3 mm (l/8,0 will just crumble (Bowles,
1979).
2. Apparatus
2.1 Glass plate (minimum size 25 cm square)
2.2 Balance (Sensitive to 0.01 g>
2.3 Moisture tins (small i.e: 10 mL)
2.4 Spatula (lo-15 cm in length)
2.5 Syringe (10 mL)
2.6 Plastic bags (small)
2.7 Evaporation dish (15 cm dia.)
2.8
Plastic wrap (Saran or a similar type)
2.9
Drying Oven (capable of 105'G)
3. Procedure
3.1 Weigh out 15 g of less than 425 pm air dry soil into a tared
evaporation dish.
3.2 Using the syringe add distilled water and mix thoroughly until the
mass becomes plastic enough to shape into a ball.
3.3 Place the sample in a piece of plastic wrap and allow it to
equilibrate for several hours.
3.4 If both liquid and plastic limits are required, it is recommended
that a moist 15 g sample be taken from the thoroughly mixed portion
of the soil sample which has been prepared in accordance with the
liquid limit method.
3.5 The determination of Wp requires that the water content of the soil
sample will initially have to be above the plastic limit. The water
content is adjusted downward by working the ball of soil by hand
until it no longer adheres to the fingers when pressed firmly.
4112
3.6
Roll the ball of soil into a 9-10 mm thread on the glass plate using
the heel of the thumb or finger tips to apply the force (pressure).
3.7 Subdivide the thread and set one half of the soil aside.
3.8 Continue to roll the soil at a rate of 80-90 strokes per minute using
light pressure until a 3 mm diameter thread is produced. Subdividing
the thread when its length exceeds 15 cm, facilitates the rolling of
a thread of uniform thickness.
3.9 Should the thread crumble before it reaches a diameter of 3 mm,
discard the last thread and remould the remainder, add a small volume
of distilled water, mix thoroughly; repeat 3.6-3.8.
3.10 Should the thread not crumble at a diameter of 3 mm, discard the last
piece, remould the remainder into a ball, adjust the water content
downward by working the sample in the hand; repeat 3.6-3.8.
3.11 The thread is at the plastic limit when surface checks (cracks) are
apparent at a diameter of 3 mm and the thread will fracture without
bending when held off the glass and a light pressure is applied.
3.12
Collect the pieces of soil which are at Wp as defined in 3.11 and

place them in the moisture tins, weigh and record the values on the
data sheet.
3.13
Repeat 3.6-3.12 on two additional threads for a total of 3 reps per

soil sample.
3.14 Oven dry the samples for 24 hours at 105OC.

3.15
4.
Cool the sealed moisture tins to room temperature, weigh and record
the values on the data sheet.
Calculations
4.1
Calculate the plastic limit, which is expressed as the mass of the

water to the mass of the oven-dry soil in percent.
Plastic limit (Wp) = Wt of water
x 100
Wt. of oven dry soil
4.2
Average the Wp readings from reps 1, 2 and 3,

limit.
record the plastic
4.3 Plasticity Index (%)=(Liquid limit - Plastic limit)

NOTE the following exceptions
41/3
a>
When the liquid and/or plastic limit cannot be determined the soil is
non-plastic (NP) and is identified as such.
b)
When the soil is high in percent sand or silt, the plastic limit test
shall be made before the liquid limit test. If the plastic limit
value cannot be determined 'Idonot" determine a liquid limit value
record both as N.P.
cl
When the plastic limit is equal to or greater than the liquid limit
report the Plasticity index as N.P.
6. Precision
6.1
7.
Insufficient data available
References
7.1
ASTM.
424-59.
7.2
Bowles, J.E. 1979. Physical and Geotechnical Properties of Soil.

McGray-Hill Inc.
7.3 McKeague, J.A. 1978. Manual on Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis
2nd Edition. Can. Sot. of Soil Sci. Suite 907, 151 Slater St.,
Ottawa, Ont.
Notes

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84-041

The plastic limit is defined as the water content below which a

Plastic wrap (Saran or a similar type)

Drying Oven (capable of 105'G)

Collect the pieces of soil which are at Wp as defined in 3.11 and

Repeat 3.6-3.12 on two additional threads for a total of 3 reps per

3.14 Oven dry the samples for 24 hours at 105OC.

Calculate the plastic limit, which is expressed as the mass of the

Average the Wp readings from reps 1, 2 and 3,

record the plastic

4.3 Plasticity Index (%)=(Liquid limit - Plastic limit)

Insufficient data available

Bowles, J.E. 1979. Physical and Geotechnical Properties of Soil.

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