ASTM D4318-17e1
Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils

Standard No.

ASTM D4318-17e1

Release Date

2017

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM D4318-17e1

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 using these methods to evaluate the properties of a soil. 1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard. 1.8.1 The converted inch-pound units use the gravitational system of units. In this system, the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight), while the unit for mass is slugs. The converted slug unit is not given, unless dynamic (F = ma) calculations are involved. 1.8.2 It is common practice in the engineering/construction profession to concurrently use pounds to represent both a unit of mass (lbm) and of force (lbf). This implicitly combines two separate systems of units; that is, the absolute system and the gravitational system. It is scientifically undesirable to combine the use of two separate sets of inch-pound units within a single standard. As stated, this standard includes the gravitational system of inch-pound units and does not use/present the slug unit for mass. However, the use of balances or scales recording pounds of mass (lbm) or recording density in lbm/ft3 shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this standard. 1.8.3 The “alternative” sieve size designations listed in Specification E11 for the 425-µm and 2.00-mm sieves are given in parentheses following the “standard” designations, that is, 425-µm (No. 40) and 2.00-mm (No. 10). 1.8.4 The standard units for the resilience tester covered in Annex A1 are inch-pound, not SI. The SI values given in Fig. A1.1 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) shall be rounded to the nearest decimal or significant digits in the specified limits. 1.9.2 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/ recorded or calculated, in this standard are regarded as the 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. Current edition approved June 1, 2017. Published July 2017. Originally approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D4318 – 10ɛ1 . DOI: 10.1520/ D4318-17E01. *A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. 1 industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the significant digits that generally should be retained. The procedures do not consider material variation, purpose for obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any considerations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope of this standard to consider significant digits used in analysis methods for engineering design. 1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

ASTM D4318-17e1 Referenced Document

• ASTM C702 Standard Practice for Reducing Samples of Aggregate to Testing Size
• ASTM D1241 Standard Specification for Materials for Soil-Aggregate Subbase, Base, and Surface Courses
• ASTM D2216 Standard Test Method for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
• ASTM D2487 Standard Test Method for Classification Of Soils For Engineering Purposes
• ASTM D3282 Standard Practice for Classification of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures for Highway Construction Purposes
• ASTM D3740 Standard Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as Used in Engineering Design and Construction
• ASTM D420 Standard Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering Design and Construction Purposes
• ASTM D4542 Standard Test Method for Pore Water Extraction and Determination of the Soluble Salt Content of Soils by Refractometer
• ASTM D4753 Standard Specification for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Balances and Scales for Use in Soil, Rock, and Construction Materials Testing
• ASTM D6026 Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical Data
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids
• ASTM D75 Standard Practice for Sampling Aggregates
• ASTM E11 Standard Specification for Wire Cloth and Sieves for Testing Purposes
• ASTM E177 Standard Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
• ASTM E691 Standard Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

ASTM D4318-17e1 history

• 2017 ASTM D4318-17e1 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
• 2017 ASTM D4318-17 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
• 2010 ASTM D4318-10e1 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
• 2010 ASTM D4318-10 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
• 2005 ASTM D4318-05 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils
• 2000 ASTM D4318-00 Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils