12/14/2022

LESSON 3:
CONSISTENCY LIMITS OF
SOIL
ENGR. JOHN PAUL R. TUMANGAN

CONSISTENCY
• It describes the degree of firmness
(softness or hardness) of soil.
• Soil consistency provides a means of
describing the degree and kind of
cohesion and adhesion between the
soil particles.
• The soil consistency varies with
moisture content. It can be
described as dry consistence, moist
consistence, and wet consistence.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 1
 12/14/2022

SHORT HISTORY
In early 1900s, Albert Mauritz Atterberg
(Swedish) developed a method to which
describe the consistency of fine-grained
soils with varying moisture contents (the
consistency of cohesive soil is greatly
affected by its water content). This method
is called as the “Atterberg Limits” in which
he describes that there can be four states
SOLID, SEMI-SOLID, PLASTIC, AND OR
LIQUID STATE.

ATTERBERG LIMITS

Liquid
Plastic
Semi- solid
Solid

𝒘 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎% I N C R E A S I N G

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 2
 12/14/2022

1. SHRINKAGE LIMIT
Shrinkage limit is the
phase where:
• There is no further
reduction in volume
with a decrease in
water content.
• With an increase in
water content volume
increases and solid
becomes a semi-solid
state.

2. PLASTIC LIMIT
It is the barrier between
the semi-solid state and
plastic state so it is
known as the plastic
limit. From this state,
the properties of soil
change to plastic, and
there will be huge
differences in the
engineering properties
of soil.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 3
 12/14/2022

3. LIQUID LIMIT
The limit where soil changes
from a plastic state to a
liquid state with an increase
in moisture content is known
as the liquid limit.
At this state moisture
content is more, So gradually
soil loses it’s shear strength
and becomes zero.

CORRESPONDING TEST FOR ATTERBERG LIMITS

ASTM D4943 ASTM D4148 ASTM D4318

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 4
 12/14/2022

LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS
Since the limits of the Atterberg Limit Test
involves the effects of water or moisture
content, w. It is very important that in
laboratory test we first identify the values
of the soil moisture content.

Therefore, the first thing to do is to conduct

“Moisture Content Test”

SAMPLE LABORATORY TEST:

A test for the Trial 1 2 3
moisture content of Weight of can, g 28 27 27
the soil brought in Weight of moist soil + can, g 135 122 120

laboratory. The Weight of dried soil + can, g 120 107 106

following data are

obtained. Determine
the moisture content
of the sample.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 5
 12/14/2022

SAMPLE LABORATORY TEST:

Trial 1 2 3 Wt. of moist soil= (Wt. of moist soil + can)
Weight of can, g 28 27 27 – (Wt. of can)
Weight of moist soil + can, g 135 122 120 Trial 1 -> 135-28 =107 g
Weight of dried soil + can, g 120 107 106 Trial 2 -> 122-27 =95 g
Trial 3 -> 120-27 =93 g
Weight of moist soil, g 107 95 93
Weight of dried soil, g 92 80 79 Wt. of dried soil= (Wt. of dried soil + can)
– (Wt. of can)
Trial 1 -> 120-28 =92 g
Trial 2 -> 107-27 =80 g
Trial 3 -> 106-27 =79 g

SAMPLE LABORATORY TEST:

Trial 1 2 3 Wt. of water= (Wt. of moist soil) – (Wt. of
Weight of can, g 28 27 27 dried soil)
Weight of moist soil + can, g 135 122 120 Trial 1 -> 107-92 =15 g
Weight of dried soil + can, g 120 107 106 Trial 2 -> 95-80 =15 g
Trial 3 -> 93-79 =14 g
Weight of moist soil, g 107 95 93
Weight of dried soil, g 92 80 79 Moisture/Water content,w
Weight of water, g 15 15 14 𝑊 𝑊 , 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑤= 𝑥100 𝑊 , 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
Moisture/Water content, w 𝑊

15 15 14
𝑤 = 𝑥100 = 16.304% 𝑤 = 𝑥100 = 18.750% 𝑤 = 𝑥100 = 17.722%
92 80 79
Average (𝟏𝟔. 𝟑𝟎𝟒% + 𝟏𝟖. 𝟕𝟓𝟎% + 𝟏𝟕. 𝟕𝟐𝟐%)
Moisture/Water 𝒘𝑨𝑽𝑬 =
𝟑
= 𝟏𝟕. 𝟓𝟗𝟐%
content, w

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 6
 12/14/2022

The Liquid Limit Test

LIQUID LIMIT TEST

The moisture content, in
percent, required to close a
distance of 12.5 mm (0.5 in.)
along the bottom pat after the
25 blows (trials of 10-40
blows).

Casa Grande Cup

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 7
 12/14/2022

LIQUID LIMIT TEST

In the fall cone method, the
liquid limit is taken as the
moisture content at which a
standard 30 degree, 80g cone
will penetrate the soil sample a
distance of 20 mm in
approximately 5 seconds.

Fall Cone Method

Steps in Liquid Limit Test using Casa Grande Cup

1. Mix a soil sample with an
amount of water so as to
make it appear between
being plastic and liquid.
2. The soil mix is to lay this
on the casa grande cup.
3. Produce a groove using
a grooving tool to divide
the sample into two
equal parts.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 8
 12/14/2022

Steps in Liquid Limit Test using Casa Grande Cup

1. Mix a soil sample with an
amount of water so as to
make it appear between
being plastic and liquid.
2. The soil mix is to lay this
on the casa grande cup.
3. Produce a groove using
a grooving tool to divide
the sample into two
equal parts.

Steps in Liquid Limit Test using Casa Grande Cup

1. Mix a soil sample with an
amount of water so as to
make it appear between
being plastic and liquid.
2. The soil mix is to lay this
on the casa grande cup.
3. Produce a groove using
a grooving tool to divide
the sample into two
equal parts.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 9
 12/14/2022

Steps in Liquid Limit Test using Casa Grande Cup

4. And then, there’s a mechanism controlled by the handle and this
needs to be spin for the cup to rise and fall such that, after 25
blows / drops, the sample closes a 12.5 mm region.

SAMPLE LABORATORY TEST:

A liquid limit test, Number of blows Water content
conducted on a soil 10 60
sample in the casa 19 45.2

grande cup, gave the 23 39.8

27 36.5
following results:
40 25.2

Determine the Liquid

Limit, LL.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 10
 12/14/2022

SOLUTION:
The liquid limit it can
be determine using
two ways: Number of blows Water content
10 60

1. Using semi 19 45.2

23 39.8
logarithmic graph.
27 36.5
40 25.2
2. Using linear
interpolation

GRAPHICAL METHOD:
x y Note:
Number Water
of blows content LL= moisture
10 60 content at 25
19 45.2 blows
23 39.8
27 36.5
40 25.2

39.8%≥LL≥36.5%
Say 38% based on
graph

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 11
 12/14/2022

LINEAR INTERPOLATION
x y
Number Water AC OR CA -> Reg or
of blows content Mode-> Stat -> linear Regression
10 60 or y=a+blnx If the unknown is Water content use:
19 45.2 w=(#of blows)(y hat)
Number Water
23 39.8 of blows content If the unknown is Number of blows
27 36.5 X Y use:
40 25.2 23 39.8 #of blows=(water content)(x hat)
25 ?
27 36.5
𝒘 = 𝟐𝟓𝒚 = 𝟑𝟖. 𝟎𝟖𝟒%

Other Formulas for Liquid Limit Test:

Slope for the flow of curve: U.S. Army Corps of
𝒘𝟏 − 𝒘𝟐 Engineers’ One point
𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒙 =
𝑁
log( ) Method
𝑁
𝑁
Where we consider two 𝐿𝐿 = 𝑤 ( ) tan 𝛽
points on the curve 25
w1 and w2, are water Where,
𝑤 , 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡
content of the two points
N, number of blows for a 12.5 mm
groove closure (20-30 blows)
N1 and N2, are the number 𝛽 = 0.121 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑠𝑒
of blows of the two points

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 12
 12/14/2022

The Plastic Limit Test

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

It is defined as the moisture
content in percent, at which the
soil crumbles, when rolled into
threads of 3.2 mm in diameter.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 13
 12/14/2022

PLASTIC LIMIT TEST

• A soil sample is formed into a
thread like cylinder and it is
rolled until it gets thinner and
thinner.
• When this thread crumbles with
a diameter of 3.2 mm, the
moisture content of that soil is
the PLASTIC LIMIT.
• This isn’t a one try test,
normally it takes a lot of test
and trying of varying content

Soil Indices

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 14
 12/14/2022

SOIL INDICES
In Liquid Limit Test and Plastic Limit Test, the following soil
indices can be used. The following soil indices are as follows:
1. Plasticity Index
2. Shrinkage Index
3. Liquidity Index
4. Clay Activity
5. Consistency Index

SOIL INDICES Where,

1. Plasticity Index (PI) PL= Plastic Limit
• Tells of the soil’s LL= Liquid Limit
strength, compressibility, Plasticity Index Description
and compactibility. 0 Non-plastic
• The range of water 1-5 Slightly Plastic
contents over which the 5-10 Low Plasticity
soil deforms plastically. 10-20 Medium Plasticity
20-40 High Plasticity
>40 Very High Plasticity
Plasticity is the ability of a soil to deform
continuously without rupture

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 15
 12/14/2022

SOIL INDICES

2. Shrinkage Index (SI)

• Tells of the soil’s
shrinkage potential.
Where,
PL= Plastic Limit
SL= Shrinkage Limit

SOIL INDICES
3. Liquidity Index (LI) Where,
LI= Liquidity Index
• Tells of the relative w, in situ moisture content
consistency of a PL= Plastic Limit
cohesive soil in its LL= Liquid Limit
natural state.
Liquidity Index Soil State
• Gives a qualitative <0 Semisolid (high strength, brittle
measure of strength fracture is expected)
0-1 Plastic (intermediate strength,
soil deforms like a plastic
material)
>1 Liquid (low strength, soil deforms
like a viscous fluid)

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 16
 12/14/2022

SOIL INDICES
4. Consistency Index (CI) Where,
w, in situ moisture content
• As CI increases, the PI= Plasticity Index
firmness, or shear LL= Liquid Limit
strength of the soil
also increases.

SOIL INDICES
5. Clay Activity Where,
w, in situ moisture content
• It is used to identify PI= Plasticity Index
the swelling potential LL= Liquid Limit
of clay soils.
Activity Classification
<0.75 Inactive
0.75-1.25 Normal
1.25-2.00 Active
>6.00 Very Highly Active

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 17
 12/14/2022

The Shrinkage Limit

Test

SHRINKAGE LIMIT TEST

• The moisture content , in
percent at which the volume
of the soil mas ceases to
change.
• The test is also known as the
ASTM D-427 AND ASTM D-
4943

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 18
 12/14/2022

SHRINKAGE LIMIT TEST

• The Shrinkage Limit Test is
when a sample is put in a
porcelain dish and it will be
allowed to shrink.
• A point where the soil mass
ceases to change, the
moisture content of the soil
at that instant is the
SHRINKAGE LIMIT.

SHRINKAGE LIMIT TEST

𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑉 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑉

𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 𝑚 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 𝑚

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 19
 12/14/2022

SHRINKAGE LIMIT TEST

Where,
m1, mass of the wet soil on the dish
at the beginning of the test (g)
m2, mass of the dry soil pat (g)
Vi, initial volume of the wet soil pat
𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑉 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑉 that is inside the volume of the dish
𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 𝑚 𝑆𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 𝑚 (cm^3)
Vf, volume of the oven-dried soil
𝑚 −𝑚 𝑉 −𝑉 𝜌 pat (cm^3)
𝑆𝐿 =
𝑚
100 − [
𝑚
](100) Pw, density of water
Pw=1g/m^3= 1000 kg/m^3

Soil Indices

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 20
 12/14/2022

SOIL INDICES
In Shrinkage Limit Test, the following soil indices can be used.
The following soil indices are as follows:
1. Shrinkage Ratio
2. Specific Gravity
3. Volumetric Shrinkage
4. Linear Shrinkage

SOIL INDICES 4. Linear Shrinkage (LS %)

1. Shrinkage Ratio (SR)
𝑚 100
𝑆𝑅 = ( ) 𝐿𝑆(%) = 100[1 − ( ) ]
𝑉𝜌 𝑉𝑆 % + 100
2. Specific Gravity (Gs)
1 Where,
𝑆𝑅 = ( ) m2= mass of the dry soil pat (g)
1 𝑆𝐿 Vf= volume of the oven-dried soil
−
𝑆𝑅 100 pat (cm^3)
3. Volumetric Shrinkage (VS %) Pw, density of water
Pw=1g/m^3= 1000 kg/m^3
𝑉𝑆(%) = 𝑆𝑅[𝑤 % − 𝑆𝐿]

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 21
 12/14/2022

Plasticity Chart

PLASTICITY CHART
Casagrande (1932)
studied the
relationship of the
plasticity index to
the liquid limit of
a wide variety of
natural soils and
proposed a
plasticity chart as
shown:

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 22
 12/14/2022

PLASTICITY CHART
• An A-line separates the
inorganic clays from the
inorganic silts.
• Inorganic clay values lie
above the A-line, and values
for inorganic silts lie below
the A-line.
• Organic silts plot in the
same region (below the A-
line and with LL ranging
from 30 to 50) as the
inorganic silts of medium
compressibility.

PLASTICITY CHART
• Organic clays plot in the
same region as inorganic
silts of high compressibility
(below the A-line and LL
greater than 50).

• The U-line is approximately

the upper limit of the
relationship of the plasticity
index to the liquid limit for
any currently known soil.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 23
 12/14/2022

Sample Problems

SAMPLE PROBLEM 1:
A soil has a liquid limit of 60 and a plastic limit of 30. A moisture content test
performed under 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 =20.8g
Compute the following
a. Plasticity Index
b. In-situ moisture content
c. Liquidity Index
d. Consistency Index
e. Activity Classification
If particles smaller than 0.002mm = 30%. Also, indicate all possible oil sample
natures generated from the soil indices.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 24
 12/14/2022

SOLUTION:

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2:
Following the result of result of shrinkage limit test:
Initial volume of soil in a saturated state = 24.6 cm^3
Final volume of soil in a dry state = 15.9 cm^3
Initial mass in a saturated state = 44.0 g
Final mass in a dry state = 30.1 g
Find the following:
a. Shrinkage Limit
b. Volumetric Shrinkage
c. Linear Shrinkage
d. Shrinkage Ratio
e. Specific Gravity of Soil Solids
Note that the density of water 𝜌 = = 1𝑔/𝑐𝑐

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 25
 12/14/2022

SOLUTION:

SAMPLE PROBLEM 3:
In a liquid limit test using cup apparatus, the following data were taken:
SAMPLE WATER CONTENT NO. OF BLOWS
1 41.8 39
2 43.50 23
3 44.30 20
4 45.50 13

While in a plastic limit test the following values were observed.

Wt. of wet soil + container =21.9 grams
Wt. of dry soil + container =18.78 grams
Wt. of container = 8.20 grams

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 26
 12/14/2022

SOLUTION:

SAMPLE PROBLEM 4:
The following results were obtained from a liquid limit test on a clay using
the Casagrande cup device. Use the graph as shown . The natural water
content of this clay is 38% and the plastic limit is 21%.
Number of blows 6 12 20 28 32
Water content (%) 52.5 47.1 42.3 38.6 37.5
a. What is the liquid limit of the clay?
b. What is the plasticity index of the clay?
c. What is the liquidity index of the clay?

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 27
 12/14/2022

SOLUTION:

SAMPLE PROBLEM 5:
Given the laboratory result of the Atterberg Limit Test.
Plot the water content versus the cone penetration
result.
a. Determine the nearest value of the Liquid Limit of the
soil.
b. Determine the nearest value of the Plastic Limit of the
soil.
c. Determine the nearest value of the Liquidity Index of
the soil.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 28
 12/14/2022

A. Liquid Limit
Test Number 1 2 3 4
Cone Penetration, mm 16 18 28 33
Weight of Wet Soil + Container, g 35.62 36.91 41.26 45.70
Weight of Dry Soil + Container, g 28.84 29.89 31.42 33.69
Weight of Container, g 10.52 12.33 11.74 11.45
Weight of Water, g
Weight of Dry soil, g
Water Content, %

B. Plastic Limit and Natural Water Content

Plastic Limit Natural Water
Content
Test Number 1 2 1 2
Weight of Wet Soil + Container, g 30.18 31.78 27.77 30.04
Weight of Dry Soil + Container, g 25.76 27.18 25.39 27.23
Weight of Container, g 10.52 12.33 11.74 11.45
Weight of Water, g
Weight of Dry soil, g
Water Content, %
Average, %

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 29
 12/14/2022

Water content v.s. Cone penetration graph

SOLUTION:

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 30
 12/14/2022

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
• QUIZ #3: SOIL CONSISTENCY – TUESDAY (DECEMBER
20, 2022) 10:30 A.M. -11:30 A.M.

• DISCUSSION LESSON #4: SOIL CLASSIFICATION –

TUESDAY (DECEMBER 20, 2022) 11:40 A.M. – 1:30 P.M.

• QUIZ #4: SOIL CLASSIFICATION – THURSDAY

(DECEMBER 22, 2022) 10:30 A.M. 11:30 A.M.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF ENGR. JOHN PAUL

TUMANGAN 31