This calculator is designed for civil engineers and geotechnical professionals to accurately compute the Atterberg limits, crucial for soil classification and analysis. By entering the required soil parameters, users can quickly determine the liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index.
All calculations are based strictly on the formulas and data provided by the ASTM D4318 standard. View Source. All calculations are rigorously based on the formulas and data provided by this source.
The Plasticity Index (PI) is calculated using the formula:
For example, if a soil sample has a Liquid Limit (LL) of 40% and a Plastic Limit (PL) of 20%, the Plasticity Index (PI) is calculated as follows:
PI = 40 - 20 = 20%
Atterberg limits are the basic measures of the critical water contents of a fine-grained soil: its shrinkage limit, plastic limit, and liquid limit.
They are used to distinguish between different types of soil and assess their suitability for construction and other purposes.
The Plasticity Index is the range of moisture content over which soil remains plastic.
Enter the Liquid Limit and Plastic Limit values in the respective fields and click "Calculate" to get the Plasticity Index.
This calculator is designed for fine-grained soils. It might not be suitable for soils with a high sand content.