ASTM D4318-10
(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
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.
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.
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.
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; Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating s...
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 methods for preparing test specimens are provided as follows: Wet preparation method, as described in 10.1. Dry preparation method, as described in 10.2. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use the wet preparation method.
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: Method A, Multipoint test as described in Sections 11 and 12. Method B, One-point test as described in Sections 13 and 14. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use Method A.
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 is performed ...
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Designation: D4318 − 10
StandardTest 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.Anumber 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 Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.4 The plastic limit test is performed on material prepared
for the liquid limit test.
1.1 Thesetestmethodscoverthedeterminationoftheliquid
limit, plastic limit, and the plasticity index of soils as defined 1.5 Theliquidlimitandplasticlimitofsoils(alongwiththe
in Section 3 on Terminology.
shrinkage limit) are often collectively referred to as the
Atterberg limits. These limits distinguished the boundaries of
1.2 Two methods for preparing test specimens are provided
the several consistency states of plastic soils.
as follows: Wet preparation method, as described in 10.1. Dry
preparation method, as described in 10.2. The method to be
1.6 The composition and concentration of soluble salts in a
used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no
soil affect the values of the liquid and plastic limits as well as
method is specified, use the wet preparation method.
the water content values of soils (see Method D4542). Special
1.2.1 The liquid and plastic limits of many soils that have
consideration should therefore be given to soils from a marine
been allowed to dry before testing may be considerably
environment or other sources where high soluble salt concen-
different from values obtained on non-dried samples. If the
trations may be present. The degree to which the salts present
liquid and plastic limits of soils are used to correlate or in these soils are diluted or concentrated must be given careful
estimatetheengineeringbehaviorofsoilsintheirnaturalmoist
consideration.
state, samples should not be permitted to dry before testing
1.7 The methods described herein are performed only on
unless data on dried samples are specifically desired.
that portion of a soil that passes the 425-µm (No. 40) sieve.
1.3 Two methods for determining the liquid limit are pro-
Therefore,therelativecontributionofthisportionofthesoilto
vided as follows: Method A, Multipoint test as described in
the properties of the sample as a whole must be considered
Sections 11 and 12. Method B, One-point test as described in
when using these tests to evaluate properties of a soil.
Sections 13 and 14. The method to be used shall be specified
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
by the requesting authority. If no method is specified, use
standard, except as noted below.The values given in parenthe-
Method A.
ses are for information only.
1.3.1 The multipoint liquid limit method is generally more
1.8.1 The standard units for the resilience tester covered in
precise than the one-point method. It is recommended that the
AnnexA1 are inch-pound, not SI. The SI values given are for
multipoint method be used in cases where test results may be
information only.
subject to dispute, or where greater precision is required.
1.9 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
1.3.2 Because the one-point method requires the operator to
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
judge when the test specimen is approximately at its liquid
Practice D6026.
limit, it is particularly not recommended for use by inexperi-
1.9.1 For purposes of comparing a measured or calculated
enced operators.
1.3.3 The correlation on which the calculations of the value(s) with specified limits, the measured or calculated
value(s) shall be rounded to the nearest decimal or significant
one-point method are based may not be valid for certain soils,
digits in the specified limits
such as organic soils or soils from a marine environment. It is
1.9.2 Theproceduresusedtospecifyhowdataarecollected/
strongly recommended that the liquid limit of these soils be
determined by the multipoint method. recorded or calculated, in this standard are regarded as the
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
1
dures do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining
This standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock andisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeD18.03onTexture, Plasticity
the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the
and Density Characteristics of Soils.
user’s objectives; and it is common practice to increase or
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2010. Published March 2010. Originally
reduce signific
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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.
Designation:D4318–05 Designation:D4318–10
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 Department of Defense.
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 methods for preparing test specimens are provided as follows: Wet preparation method, as described in 10.1. Dry
preparation method, as described in 10.2. The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting authority. If no method is
specified, use the wet preparation method.
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: Method A, Multipoint test as described in Sections
11 and 12. Method B, One-point test as described in Sections 13 and 14.The method to be used shall be specified by the requesting
authority. If no method is specified, use Method A.
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 is performed on material prepared for the liquid limit test.
1.5 The liquid limit and plastic limit of soils (along with the shrinkage limit) are often collectively referred to as theAtterberg
limits. These limits distinguished the boundaries of the several consistency states of plastic soils.
1.6 The composition and concentration of soluble salts in a soil affect the values of the liquid and plastic limits as well as the
water content values of soils (see Method D2216D4542). 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
tests to evaluate properties of a soil.
1.8 The values stated in acceptable metricSI units are to be regarded as the standard, except as noted below. The values given
in parentheses are for information only.
1.8.1 The standard units for the resilience tester covered in Annex A1 are inch-pound, not metric. The metric values given are
for information only.
1.9are inch-pound, not SI. The SI values given are for information only.
1.9 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice
D6026.
1.9.1 For purposes of comparing a measured or calculated value(s) with specified limits, the measured or calculated value(s)
1
This standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.03 on Texture, Plasticity and
Density Characteristics of Soils.
Current edition approved March 1, 2005. Published April 2005. Originally approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as D4318–00. DOI:
10.1520/D4318-0
...
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