ASTM D4318-17
(Test Method)Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 These test methods are used as an integral part of several engineering classification systems to characterize the fine-grained fractions of soils (see Practices D2487 and D3282) and to specify the fine-grained fraction of construction materials (see Specification D1241). The liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index of soils are also used extensively, either individually or together, with other soil properties to correlate with engineering behavior such as compressibility, hydraulic conductivity (permeability), compactibility, shrink-swell, and shear strength. (See Section 6, Interferences.)
5.2 The liquid and plastic limits of a soil and its water content can be used to express its relative consistency or liquidity index. In addition, the plasticity index and the percentage finer than 2-μm particle size can be used to determine its activity number.
5.3 These methods are sometimes used to evaluate the weathering characteristics of clay-shale materials. When subjected to repeated wetting and drying cycles, the liquid limits of these materials tend to increase. The amount of increase is considered to be a measure of a shale's susceptibility to weathering.
5.4 The liquid limit of a soil containing substantial amounts of organic matter decreases dramatically when the soil is oven-dried before testing. Comparison of the liquid limit of a sample before and after oven-drying can therefore be used as a qualitative measure of organic matter content of a soil (see Practice D2487).
Note 1: The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740, generally, are considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors...
SCOPE
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the liquid limit, plastic limit, and the plasticity index of soils as defined in Section 3 on Terminology.
1.2 Two procedures for preparing test specimens are provided as follows: Specimen Preparation Procedure 1 (Wet Preparation), as described in 11.1 and Specimen Preparation Procedure 2 (Dry Preparation), as described in 11.2. The specimen preparation procedure to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no specimen preparation procedure is specified, use the wet preparation procedure. (See Section 6, Interferences.)
1.3 Two methods for determining the liquid limit are provided as follows: Liquid Limit Method A (Multipoint Method), as described in Sections 12 and 13, and Liquid Limit Method B (One-Point Method), as described in Sections 14 and 15. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use Method A. (See Section 6, Interferences.)
1.4 The plastic limit test, Method for Plastic Limit, is performed on material prepared for the liquid limit test. When determining the plastic limit, two procedures for rolling portions of the test specimen are provided as follows: Plastic Limit Rolling Procedure 1 (Hand Rolling), and Plastic Limit Rolling Procedure 2 (Using the Rolling Device).
1.5 The liquid limit and plastic limit of soils (along with the shrinkage limit) are often collectively referred to as the Atterberg limits. These limits distinguished the boundaries of the several consistency states of plastic soils.
1.6 The plasticity index, Method for Plasticity Index, is calculated using results from liquid limit and plastic limit testing.
1.7 The methods described herein are performed only on that portion of a soil that passes the 425-μm (No. 40) sieve. Therefore, the relative contribution of this portion of the soil to the properties of the sample as a whole must be considered when usin...
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Designation: D4318 − 17
Standard Test Methods for
1
Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4318; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* Therefore, the relative contribution of this portion of the soil to
the properties of the sample as a whole must be considered
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the liquid
when using these methods to evaluate the properties of a soil.
limit, plastic limit, and the plasticity index of soils as defined
in Section 3 on Terminology.
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
1.2 Two procedures for preparing test specimens are pro-
conversions to inch-pound units, which are provided for
vided as follows: Specimen Preparation Procedure 1 (Wet
information only and are not considered standard. Reporting of
Preparation), as described in 11.1 and Specimen Preparation
test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as
Procedure 2 (Dry Preparation), as described in 11.2. The
nonconformance with this standard.
specimen preparation procedure to be used shall be specified
1.8.1 The converted inch-pound units use the gravitational
by the requesting authority. If no specimen preparation proce-
systemofunits.Inthissystem,thepound(lbf)representsaunit
dure is specified, use the wet preparation procedure. (See
of force (weight), while the unit for mass is slugs. The
Section 6, Interferences.)
converted slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F = ma)
1.3 Two methods for determining the liquid limit are pro-
calculations are involved.
vided as follows: Liquid Limit Method A (Multipoint Method),
1.8.2 It is common practice in the engineering/construction
as described in Sections 12 and 13, and Liquid Limit Method B
profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit
(One-Point Method), as described in Sections 14 and 15. The
of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two
method to be used shall be specified by the requesting
separate systems of units; that is, the absolute system and the
authority. If no method is specified, use Method A. (See
gravitational system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine
Section 6, Interferences.)
the use of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single
1.4 The plastic limit test, Method for Plastic Limit,is
standard. As stated, this standard includes the gravitational
performed on material prepared for the liquid limit test. When
system of inch-pound units and does not use/present the slug
determining the plastic limit, two procedures for rolling por-
unit for mass. However, the use of balances or scales recording
3
tionsofthetestspecimenareprovidedasfollows:PlasticLimit
pounds of mass (lbm) or recording density in lbm/ft shall not
Rolling Procedure 1 (Hand Rolling), and Plastic Limit Rolling
be regarded as nonconformance with this standard.
Procedure 2 (Using the Rolling Device).
1.8.3 The “alternative” sieve size designations listed in
Specification E11 for the 425-µm and 2.00-mm sieves are
1.5 The liquid limit and plastic limit of soils (along with the
given in parentheses following the “standard” designations,
shrinkage limit) are often collectively referred to as the
that is, 425-µm (No. 40) and 2.00-mm (No. 10).
Atterberg limits. These limits distinguished the boundaries of
1.8.4 The standard units for the resilience tester covered in
the several consistency states of plastic soils.
Annex A1 are inch-pound, not SI. The SI values given in Fig.
1.6 The plasticity index, Method for Plasticity Index,is
A1.1 are for information only.
calculated using results from liquid limit and plastic limit
1.9 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
testing.
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
1.7 The methods described herein are performed only on
Practice D6026.
that portion of a soil that passes the 425-µm (No. 40) sieve.
1.9.1 For purposes of comparing a measured or calculated
value(s) with specified limits, the measured or calculated
1
value(s) shall be rounded to the nearest decimal or significant
These test methods are under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil
and Rock and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 on Texture,
digits in the specified limits.
Plasticity and Density Characteristics of Soils.
1.9.2 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2017.Published
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This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: D4318 − 10 D4318 − 17
Standard Test Methods for
1
Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4318; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1
ε NOTE—Editorial corrections made throughout in January 2014.
1. Scope*
1.1 These test methods cover the determination of the liquid limit, plastic limit, and the plasticity index of soils as defined in
Section 3 on Terminology.
1.2 Two methodsprocedures for preparing test specimens are provided as follows: Wet preparation method,Specimen
Preparation Procedure 1 (Wet Preparation), as described in 10.111.1. and Dry preparation method,Specimen Preparation
Procedure 2 (Dry Preparation), as described in 10.211.2. The method specimen preparation procedure to be used shall be specified
by the requesting authority. If no method specimen preparation procedure is specified, use the wet preparation method. procedure.
(See Section 6, Interferences.)
1.2.1 The liquid and plastic limits of many soils that have been allowed to dry before testing may be considerably different from
values obtained on non-dried samples. If the liquid and plastic limits of soils are used to correlate or estimate the engineering
behavior of soils in their natural moist state, samples should not be permitted to dry before testing unless data on dried samples
are specifically desired.
1.3 Two methods for determining the liquid limit are provided as follows: Liquid Limit Method A,A Multipoint test(Multipoint
Method), as described in Sections 1112 and 1213. , and Liquid Limit Method B,B One-point test(One-Point Method), as described
in Sections 1314 and 1415. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use
Method A. (See Section 6, Interferences.)
1.3.1 The multipoint liquid limit method is generally more precise than the one-point method. It is recommended that the
multipoint method be used in cases where test results may be subject to dispute, or where greater precision is required.
1.3.2 Because the one-point method requires the operator to judge when the test specimen is approximately at its liquid limit,
it is particularly not recommended for use by inexperienced operators.
1.3.3 The correlation on which the calculations of the one-point method are based may not be valid for certain soils, such as
organic soils or soils from a marine environment. It is strongly recommended that the liquid limit of these soils be determined by
the multipoint method.
1.4 The plastic limit test, Method for Plastic Limit, is performed on material prepared for the liquid limit test. When determining
the plastic limit, two procedures for rolling portions of the test specimen are provided as follows: Plastic Limit Rolling Procedure
1 (Hand Rolling), and Plastic Limit Rolling Procedure 2 (Using the Rolling Device).
1.5 The liquid limit and plastic limit of soils (along with the shrinkage limit) are often collectively referred to as the Atterberg
limits. These limits distinguished the boundaries of the several consistency states of plastic soils.
1.6 The composition andplasticity index, concentration of soluble saltsMethod for Plasticity Index, in a soil affect the values
of the liquid and plastic limits as well as the water content values of soils (see Test Method is calculated using results from liquid
limit and plastic limit testing.D4542). Special consideration should therefore be given to soils from a marine environment or other
sources where high soluble salt concentrations may be present. The degree to which the salts present in these soils are diluted or
concentrated must be given careful consideration.
1.7 The methods described herein are performed only on that portion of a soil that passes the 425-μm (No. 40) sieve. Therefore,
the relative contribution of this portion of the soil to the properties of the sample as a whole must be considered when using these
testsmethods to evaluate the properties of a soil.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 on Texture, Plasticity
and Density Characteristics of Soils.
Curre
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