At what limit is the water content of a soil when it passes from the plastic to liquid state?

At what limit is the water content of a soil when it passes from the plastic to liquid state?

• A. Plastic limit
• B. Shrinkage limit
• C. Atterberg limit
• D. Liquid limit

Answer: (D)

Soil consistency as moisture changes is described by Atterberg limits. The water content at which a soil transitions from a plastic state to a liquid state is the liquid limit. At this point, the soil no longer resists deformation and will flow like a viscous liquid under small stresses. By contrast, the plastic limit marks the transition from plastic to semisolid, and the shrinkage limit is the moisture content where further drying stops causing volume reduction. The liquid limit is typically measured with the Casagrande cup method, yielding the moisture content at which the soil begins to flow.

Soil consistency as moisture changes is described by Atterberg limits. The water content at which a soil transitions from a plastic state to a liquid state is the liquid limit. At this point, the soil no longer resists deformation and will flow like a viscous liquid under small stresses. By contrast, the plastic limit marks the transition from plastic to semisolid, and the shrinkage limit is the moisture content where further drying stops causing volume reduction. The liquid limit is typically measured with the Casagrande cup method, yielding the moisture content at which the soil begins to flow.