1

EXAMPLE
2.6
Liquid Limit Test

Result
Number of blows
Water content
(%)

10

19

23

27

60.0 45.2 39.8 36.

5

40
25.
2

Two Determinations for Plastic Limit:

20.3% & 20.8%

Requir
a) wLL &
ed:a)

b) IP c) IL if w =
w
d)PLe at the wLL if27.4%
Gs=2.7

SOLUTION
2.6
Step 1: Plot the
data

wLL=38%

25

Step 2:

wLL=38

Step 3:
Calculate wPL 20.3 20.8
wPL
20.6%
2
Step 4:
Calculate
I P IwPLL wPL 38 20.6 17.4%
Step 5:
Calculate Iw
27.4 20.6
L w PL
IL

0.39
IP
17.4
Step 6:
Calculate
eLL the soil is
Assume
saturated
w38 2.7 1.03
e LL wLL Gat
s 0.LL
Brittle failure is not expected as the soil is
in a plastic state (0<IL<1).

EXAMPLE
Results of a fall cone
2.7
Parameter
test:

80 gram cone

240 gram cone

Penetration
(mm)

5.5

7.8

14.8

22

32

8.5

15

21

35

Water content
(%)

39.0

44.8

52.5

60.3

67

36.0

45.1

49.8

58.1

Requir
b)
a)
ed:a)
wLL

wPL

c) IP d) IL if w =
36%

SOLUTION
Step 1: Plot the
2.7
data

80 grams

w 10%

40 grams

20

Step 2:

wLL=59

Step 3:
Determine wPLw 10%
wPL wLL 4.2w 59 4.2 10 17%

Step 4:
Determine IP
I P wLL wPL 59 17 42%
Step 5:
Determine IL

IL

w wPL 36 17

0.45
IP
42