Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering - Engineering

Q1:

If the natural moisture content, the liquid limit and plastic limit of a soil sample are stated as 30.5%, 42.5% and 22.5% respectively, the ratio of liquidity index and plastic index, is

A

B

C 2

D

ANS:C - 2

In IL, the percentage cancels out automatically as both nominator and denominator both are in percentage but in PI we must have to decide by 100. Plasticity Index (Ip) = liquid limit(Wl) - plastic limit(Wp).
Ip = 42.5 - 22.5 = 22% => 0.2.

Liquidity Index(Il) = {Natural water content(W)- Plastic limit}/Plasticity Index(Ip).
Il = {30.5-22.5}/20 = 0.4.

Ratio Il/Ip = 0.4/0.2 = 2.