SHRINKAGE LIMIT TEST

Group 2
 INTRODUCTION
The Atterberg limits are a basic measure of the water contents of a fine-
grained soil: its shrinkage limit, plastic limit, and liquid limit. Thus these tests are
used widely in the preliminary stages of designing any structure to ensure that the
soil will have the correct amount of shear strength and not too much change in
volume as it expands and shrinks with different moisture contents.
Shrinkage limit is the water content of a soil when the water is just sufficient
to fill all the voids and the soil is saturated. It is also the water content where loss
of moisture will not result in any volume reduction. Shrinkage limit is less used
than liquid and plastic limit.
 PROCEDURES
1. Select a shrinkage dish and record its mass and/or volume. Lightly grease
the inside of the shrinkage dish and determine the mass.

2. Place in the center of the dish an amount of the wetted soil and spread it
in every edge by tapping the dish. Add an amount of soil and tap the dish
until the soil is thoroughly compacted and all included air has been
brought to the surface. Strike off the excess soil with a straightedge and
wipe off all soil adhering to the outside of the dish.

3. Determine the mass of dish plus wet soil.

4. Allow the soil pat to dry in air.

5. Determine and record the mass of dish plus dry soil.

6. Determine the volume of dry soil.

7. Immerse the dry pat of soil in molten wax, completely

coating the pat.

8. Determine the mass of the wax-coated pat of soil.

9. Repeat steps 2 through 8 for three trials.

 RESULTS
No. of trials Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
Weight of shrinkage dish (g) 9 9.5 8.5
Volume of shrinkage dish (cm³) 33.09 33.09 29.45
Weight of shrinkage dish 67.5 67.5 55
+ wet soil (g)
Weight of shrinkage dish 61.5 61.5 49.5
+ dry soil (g)
Weight of shrinkage dish + dry soil + 64.5 60 52.5
wax (g)
Volume of dry soil (cm³) 25.33 28.29 27.14

Moisture content, w (%) 11.4 11.54 13.41

Shrinkage Limit 1.69 1.07 0.76

Average Shrinkage Limit 1.17

COMPUTATIONS
 DISCUSSION
In order to obtain the shrinkage limit, the volume of the wet soil pat
and dry soil pat became the variables. Figure 1 shows the moisture content
in trial 1, 2 and 3 which are 11.4%, 11.54% and 13.41%. Shrinkage limit of
1.69, 1.07 and 0.76. And with the average shrinkage limit of 1.17.
 CONCLUSION
Fine- grained or cohesive soils (passing through Sieve No.40) were
used in shrinkage limit test which exhibit a dry strength when air or sun
dried.
A shrinkage limit test gives a quantitative indication of how much
moisture can change before any significant volume change and to also
indication of change in volume. It is useful in areas where soils undergo large
volume changes when going through wet and dry cycles (e.g. earth dams).