IS 2720-5 (1985): Methods of test for soils, Part 5 ...

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3 ANJJ~H CHIEF ENGINEER ( IPRI ) DIR~~CTOR ( DARN ) ( Alternate ) SARI C. S. DABKE Representing Central Building Research Institute ( CSIR ), Roorkee University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur Engineering Research Laboratories, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab, Chandigarh Howe ( India ) Pvt Ltd, New Delhi SHRI G. V. MURTHY ( Alternate ) SHEI A. G. DASTIDAR In personal capacity ( 5 Hungerford Court, 12/Z DIRECTOR (D PLQPC j HungcrfordStreet, Calcutta ) Public Works Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow DEPUTY DIRECTOIL ( B & SD ) ( Alternate ) DIRECTOR: IRI Irrigation Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Roorkee DIRECTOR Central Soil & Materials Research Station.)

4 New Delhi DEPUTY DIRECTOR ( Alternate ) SARI A. H. DIVANJI Asia Foundations and Construction (P) Ltd, Bombay SHRI A. N. JANGLE ( Alternate ) DR GOPAL RANJAN Univrrsitv of Roorkee. Roorkee: and Institute of Engineers ( India ), Calcutta Srrnr S. GUPTA Cemindia Company Limited, Bombay SHRI N. V. DI+SOUSA ( Alternate ) SHRI M. IYENGA~ Asno~ K. JAIN Engineers India Limited, New Delhi G. S. Jain and Associates, New Delhi SIIRI VIJAY K. JAIN ( Alternate ) ( Continued on page 2 ) @ Copyright 1985 INDIAN standards INSTITUTION This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act ( XIV of 1957 ) and reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.

5 IS : 2720 (Part 5 ) - 1985 ( Continuedfrom page 1 ) Members Representing JOINT DIRECTOR RESEARCH Ministry of Railways ( GE )-I, RDSO Jo& DIRECTOR RESEARCH ( GE )-IS, RDSO ( Alternate ) SHRI A. V. S. R. Munrr Indian Geotechnical Society, New Delhi SHRI D. R. Nnrt.\~r.~a~ Central Building Research Institute ( CSIR ), SRRI T. K. N>\TRaJAN Roorkee Central Road Research Institute ( CSIR ), New Delhi SHRI R~N~JIT SINCH Ministry of Defence ( R & D ) SHRI V. B. GII~RPADE ( Alternate ) DR G. V. RAO Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi DR K. K. GUPIX ( Alternate ) RESEARCH ~ f B & RRL ) Public Works Denartment. Government of Punjab, \ SEOKETARY DIR~CTOII. (C) ( Alternate ) SHRI N.

6 S~VAGCJILU Chandigarh A Central Board of Irrigatron and Power, New Delhi Roads Wing ( Ministry of Shipping and Transport ), New D<lhi _- _ SHI~I U. JAYAJ(ODI ( Alternate ) SHRI K. S. SRINIVASAN National Buildings Organization, New Delhi SHRI SUNIL BERRY ( Alternate ) DR N. SOM SHRI N. SUBRAM\NYAM Jadavpur University, Calcutta Karnataka Eneineerin~ Research Station, COL R. R. SUDIIINDRA Krishnarajaslgar - SHRI S. S..JOSHI ( Alternate ) Ministry of Defence ( Engineer-in-Chief s Branch ) SUPERINTENDING E N o I N E E R Public Works Department, Government of Tamil (P&DC) Nadu, Madras EXECUTIVE ENGINEER ( SMRD ) ( Alternate j- SHRI H. C. VERXA All India Instrument Manufacturers and Dealers Association, Bombay SIIRI H.))

7 I;. G~IIA ( Alternate ) SHRI G. RAMAN, Director General, IS1 ( Ex-o@cio Member ) Director ( Civ Engg ) SHRI K. M. MATHUR Senior Deputy Director ( Civ Engg ), IS1 ( Continued on page 16 ) 2 IS : 2720 1 Part 5 ) - 1985 Indian Stundard METHOD OF TEST FOR SOILS PART 5 DETERMINATION OF LIQUID AND PLASTIC LIMIT ( Second Revision ) 0. FOREWORD This Indian Standard ( Part 5 ) ( Second Revision ) was adopted by the Indian standards Institution on 25 January 1985, after the draft finalized by the Soil Engineering Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council. With a view to establish uniform procedures for the determination of different characteristics of soils and to facilitate comparative study of the results, the Indian standards Institution is bringing out the Indian Standard Methods of test for soils ( IS : 2720 ) which is being published inparts covering various properties of Soils.

8 This Part 5, which deals with the Methods of test for the determination of liquid and plastic, limits and other related indices of soils, was first published in 1965 and revircd in 1970. I In this second revision, cone penetration method has been revise,d based on the revised cone which is now universally used in other countries. The conventional Casagrande apparatus has certain short- comings, such as the difficulty of cutting groove in soils of low plasticity and the tendency of soils to slip rather than flow. Cone penetrometer forms an alternative method to overcome the inherent shortcomings. The liquid and plastic limits of soils are both dependent. on the amount and type of clay in a zoil and form the basis for the soil classifi- cation system for cohesive soils based on the plasticity tests.

9 Besides their use for identification, the plasticity tests give information concerning the cohesion properties of soil and the amount of capillary water which it can hold. They are also used directly in specifications for controlling soil for use in fill. These index properties of soil have also been related to various other properties of the soil. 3 IS : 2720 ( Part 5 j - 1985 In reporting the result of a test or analysis made in accordance with this standard, if the final value, observed or calculated, is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with IS : 2-1960*. 1. SCOPE This standard ( Part 5 ) lays down Methods of test for the determina- tion of the liquid limit and plastic limit of sons.)

10 Three Methods , namely, mechanical method, one point method and the cone method are given for the determination of liquid limit. Liquid limits over about 120 percent shall be obtained by the procedure specified in 3 or 4. The one point method shall not be used for highly organic soils ( see Note ). NOTE - The one point method may be applicable to the region for which the constants are obtained based upon results of tests on soils from that region. For all national and international reports the results obtained by the method in 3 or 4 may be reported. The Methods for calculating the following indices which are related to the liquid and plastic limits are also given: Flow index ( see ), Plasticity index ( see 8 ), Toughness index ( see 9 ), Liquidity index ( or water plasticity ratio ) ( see 10 ), and Consistency index ( see l-1 ).