Geotechnical Engineering Shrinkage Limit with animation

1. SHRINKAGE LIMIT
(ASTM-2007 TEST DESIGNATION-
D247)
Volume
of
soil
Moisture content
LL
PL
SL
Definition:
The shrinkage limit of cohesive soils is defined as the water
content at which further loss of moisture will not cause a decrease
in volume.

2. SHRINKAGE LIMIT
(ASTM-2007 TEST DESIGNATION-D247)
Definition:
The shrinkage limit of cohesive soils is defined as the water content at which further loss of
moisture will not cause a decrease in volume.
Shrinkage Limit = Wi- W
𝑤𝑖 =
𝑀1 − 𝑀2
𝑀2
𝑥100
𝑤 =
𝑉1−𝑉𝑓 ρ𝑤
𝑀2
𝑥100
Initial water
content
Change in water content
Shrinkage limit= (
𝑀1−𝑀2
𝑀2
)𝑥100 −
𝑉1−𝑉𝑓 ρ𝑤
𝑀2
𝑥100
Va
Vw
Vs
Wa=
0
Ww
Ws
Initial phase
diagram
Final phase
diagram
Ws
Ww’
Vw’

3. SHRINKAGE LIMIT
(ASTM-2007 TEST DESIGNATION-D247)
44mm
12.7mm
Soil volume=
Vi
Soil Mass= Mi
Soil volume=
Vf
Soil Mass= Mf
Soil volume= V1
Soil Mass= M1
Soil volume= V2
Soil Mass= M2
Mercury volume= Vm
Empty mould volume= Ve
Dry Soil volume Vf= Ve - Vm
Shrinkage limit= (
𝑀1−𝑀2
𝑀2
)𝑥100 −
𝑉1−𝑉𝑓 ρ𝑤
𝑀2
𝑥100

4. SHRINKAGE LIMIT
(ASTM-2007 TEST DESIGNATION-D247)
Shrinkage limit =
(𝑉𝑓−𝑉𝑠)γ𝑤
𝑀2
𝑥100
Shrinkage limit = (
γ𝑤
γ𝑑
−
1
𝐺
)𝑥100
Shrinkage limit =
𝑒
𝐺
γ𝑤
γ𝑑
=
1
𝑆𝑅
SR= Shrinkage Ratio
Other Formulae
∵S r = 𝑤𝐺