South East Asian Institute of Technology, Inc.

Department of Civil Engineering

CE 412: Geotechnical Engineering I

Laboratory Report No. 5 Experiment No. 5
Liquid Limit Test

Submitted by:
Reanne F, Enero
2014-0809
BSCE- IV

Date Submitted: July 13, 2018

CE 412 (Lab) Laboratory Report No. 5

Introduction

The liquid limit is the moisture content at which the groove, formed by a standard
tool into the sample of soil taken in the standard cup, closes for 10 mm on being given 25
blows in a standard manner. This is the limiting moisture content at which the cohesive soil
passes from liquid state to plastic state.

Liquid limit is significant to know the stress history and general properties of the soil
met with construction. From the results of liquid limit the compression index may be
estimated. The compression index value will help us in settlement analysis. If the natural
moisture content of soil is closer to liquid limit, the soil can be considered as soft if the
moisture content is lesser than liquids limit, the soil can be considered as soft if the moisture
content is lesser than liquid limit. The soil is brittle and stiffer.

Equipment

1. Plastic Squeeze bottle with water- used to moist the sample soil.

2. Weight Machine- use to weight the materials like cans, pans, trays and
especially the mass of soil (grams).

3. The tray, small pan and the Spatula- used for mixing the soil and the tray is
for the plate of the soil.
CE 412 (Lab) Laboratory Report No. 5

4. Casagrande device- This apparatus is used to determine the moisture content

at which clay soils pass from a plastic to a liquid state.

Procedures

1. Determine the mass of the moisture cans (W1)

2. Put about 250g of air dry soil, passed through No. 4 sieve, into an evaporating
dish. Add water from the plastic squeeze bottle and mix the soil to the form o a
uniform paste.

3. Place a portion of the paste in the brass cup of the liquid limit device. Using
spatula, smooth the surface of the soil in the cup such that the maximum
depth of the soil is about 8m.
4. Using the grooving tool, cut a groove along the center line of the soil pat in the
cup.
CE 412 (Lab) Laboratory Report No. 5

5. Turn the crank of the liquid limit device at the rate about 2 revolutions per
second.

6. Add more water to the soil, if the sample is too much dry then mix thoroughly.
7. Add more water to the soil paste in the evaporating dish and mix well. Repeat
steps 3, 4 and 5 to get a blow count N between 15 and 20 for a groove closure
of ½ in, in the liquid limit device. Take a moisture sample from the cap.
8. Put three moisture cans in the oven to dry constant masses (W3).

Data, Results, & Analysis

Test No. 1 2 3
Can No. #3 #5 #2
Mass of the can W1 21.3 18.9 12.4
(g)
Mass of the can + 27.8 25.3 17.2
moist, W2 (g)
Mass of can + dry 26.1 23.4 15.5
soil, W3 (g)
Moisture content , 35.42 42.22 54.84
𝑊1−𝑊3
w% 𝑊3−𝑊1 𝑋100
Number of Blows 33 25 21

Liquid Limit= 42.22

Liquid Limit Test

60
Moisture Content , w%

55
50
45
40 Liquid Limit Test

35
30
20 25 30 35 40
No. of Blows
CE 412 (Lab) Laboratory Report No. 5

Conclusion& Recommendation

The importance of liquid limit test is to classify soil. Different soils have
varying of liquid limit. By the use of casagrande device you may also
determine the variation of soil. The liquid Limit Test is always larger than the Plastic
Limit Test.