Lab+Report+Template_Spring24 (1)

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Georgia Institute Of Technology *

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3400

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Civil Engineering

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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3

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Report
Georgia Institute of Technology School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Atterberg Limits Laboratory MEMORANDUM To: Emre Duman Date: February 15, 2023 From: Sachinshripadh Dasu, A3-1 Lab Partners: Stephen Grafius, Marty Robert James Jr., Ashley Eun Joo Jhun Subject: CEE 3400 Sample(s) Description: Name: Piedmont Red Clay Source: In-Situ Condition: Dry Visual Classification and Unified Symbol: SM Remarks: Piedmont Red Clay was used as a soil sample for this laboratory experiment. Test Procedure: Test Procedures: ASTM D4318: Standard Test Method for Liquid Limits, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils The Atterberg Limits laboratory is based on ASTM standard ASTM D4318. Atterberg Limits are some of the most important and basic index properties of fine-grained soils. Atterberg limits are therefore used to classify soils via the USCS. The Atterberg limits are the liquid limit, the plastic limit, and the shrinkage limit. Each Atterberg limit is a water content value that defines transition boundaries in soils. The liquid limit test is a type of dynamic shear test, and the liquid limit typically corresponds to a shearing resistance of 1.7 to 2.0 kPa. The plastic limit corresponds to a strength of approximately 170 to 200 kPa. The value for the liquid limit can vary tremendously between soils, from approximately 20% for silts, all the way up 900% for Montmorillonit. The liquid limit is controlled by the specific surface of the soil, with more water required to weaken the soil with a higher specific surface. The Casagrande cup works on principles of slope stability. The Fall Cone test is based on principles of soil bearing capacity and undrained shear strength variation as a function of water content. The Atterberg Limits laboratory consists of two parts. Part 1 is the Liquid Limits (Fall Cone Part 1: Liquid Limits Test via the Fall Cone Test) and Part 2 is the Plastic Limit Test (where Part 2A is the Thread-Rolling Test and Part 2B is the Fall Cone Test). In Part 1, 400-500 grams of the soil sample is mixed with deionized water to form a paste that is then placed in the Fall Cone cup. Then, after adjusting the apparatus, the initial reading on the travel gauge is recorded and then the test is repeated for three trials. These trails are repeated to get two points above 20 mm and two points below 20 mm. In Part 2, the moist soil sample is molded into an elongated pat with an 1/8 inch diameter thread. The sample is rolled out until it crumbles at a thread of 1/8 diameter in order to determine 3 plastic limit values that can be averaged.
Test Results: 1. The graph below, Figure 1. Travel Distance Vs. Water Content, provides the liquid limit of the soil type using the Fall Cone Test method on the appropriate log scales. 10 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 f(x) = 0.48 x + 47.66 Travel Distance (mm) Water Content (%) Figure 1. Travel Distance Vs. Water Content The liquid limit of the soil type is calculated using the equation for the line of best fit (which is the trendline and corresponding trendline equation shown in the graph above). This corresponds to a travel distance of 20 mm and to then calculate the water content. The plastic limit is also calculated below based on the Fall Cone method. Sample calculations are shown below. Water Content (%) = 0.4846(x) + 47.655 Water Content (%) = 0.4846(20) + 47.655 Water Content = 57.347% = Liquid Limit Plastic Limit = C*(2 m ) C = Y-Intercept = 47.666 m = 0.4846 Plastic Limit = 47.655*(2 .4846 ) Plastic Limit = 66.679% This water content percentage (57.347%) corresponds to the liquid limit of the soil sample. Plastic Limit based on Thread-Rolling Test Analysis and Discussion: The Atterberg Limits laboratory is based on ASTM standard ASTM D4318. Atterberg Limits are some of the most important and basic index properties of fine-grained soils. Atterberg limits are therefore used to classify soils via the USCS. The Atterberg limits are the liquid limit, the plastic limit, and the shrinkage limit. Each Atterberg limit is a water content value that defines transition boundaries in soils. The liquid limit test is a type of dynamic shear test, and the liquid limit typically corresponds to a shearing resistance of 1.7 to 2.0 kPa. The plastic limit corresponds to a strength of
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