Liquid limit

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The Liquid Limit, also known as the upper plastic limit, and the Atterberg limit, is the water content at which a soil, clay or clay body changes from the liquid state to a plastic state.

The change from a plastic state to a liquid state is gradual, and so any definition of a boundary limit must be somewhat arbitrary. There are two method for finding the liquid limit of soil, via the Casagrande Device or the Cone Penetrometer.

It is of practical importance in all aspects of geotechnical engineering. In particular such areas as The Netherlands with soft and wet soils and Hong Kong, subject to landslides. In Hong Kong liquid limit tests are performed on a regular basis to check that hills will remain stable during the rainy season.

The liquid limit and plastic limit are used together for soil identification and classification. The plasticity index of a soil is defined as the difference between the liquid limit and the plastic limit.

The liquid limit and plastic limit are defined and the test method outlined by ASTM Designation D4318-00 Standard Test Method for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils

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