Test: Properties of Soil - 2

where
w is natural water content
w_L is liquid limit
w_p is plastic limit
P_I is plasticity index
Cl + LI = 1.00
If Cl > 1 or LI < 0, then soil is very stiff.
If Cl < 0 or LI > 1 soil behaves as liquid.

So soil is high plastic

At shrinkage limit, the soil remains fully saturated. 

• Cassagrande apparatus is used to determine the liquid limit of soils. Liquid Limit is defined as the water content at which the soil changes from liquid state to plastic state.
• Hydrometer method is used to determine the particle size distribution of fine-grained soils passing 75 μ sieve. The hydrometer measures the specific gravity of the soil suspension at the Centre of its bulb. The specific gravity depends upon the mass of solids present, which in turn depends upon the particle size.
• Plate Load Test is a field test for determining the ultimate bearing capacity of soil and the likely settlement under a given load. The Plate Load Test basically consists of loading a steel plate placed at the foundation level and recording the settlements corresponding to each to increment.
• An oedometer test is a test that measures a soil's consolidation properties. Oedometer tests are performed by applying different loads to a soil sample and measuring the deformation response. The results from these tests are used to predict how a soil in the field will deform in response to a change in effective stress.

Soil consistency is the strength with which soil materials are held together or the resistance of soils to deformation and rupture. It is related to shear strength of the soil.

Porosity is defined as the ratio of volume of voids to the volume of soil in a given soil mass.

Activity

As activity is more than 1.25 so it is active soil.

Void ratio in loosest state, e_max = 0.9
Void ratio in natural state, e = 0.6

e_min = 0.9 - 0.5 = 0.4

Plastic limit, W_P = W_L - PI = 40 - 20 = 20%