AS 1289.3.3.1-2009 Methods of testing soils for en

1AS1289.3.3.1—2009©StandardsAustraliaAustralianStandard®MethodsoftestingsoilsforengineeringpurposesMethod3.3.1:Soilclassificationtests—Calculationoftheplasticityindexofasoil1SCOPEThisStandardsetsoutamethodtocalculatetheplasticityindexofasoilasderivedfromtheliquidlimitandtheplasticlimitofasoil.2REFERENCEDDOCUMENTSThefollowingdocumentsarereferredtointhisStandard:AS1289Methodsoftestingsoilsforengineeringpurposes1289.3.1.1Method3.1.1:Soilclassificationtests—Determinationoftheliquidlimitofasoil—FourpointCasagrandemethod1289.3.1.2Method3.1.2:Soilclassificationtests—Determinationoftheliquidlimitofasoil—OnepointCasagrandemethod(subsidiarymethod)1289.3.2.1Method3.2.1:Soilclassificationtests—Determinationoftheplasticlimitofasoil—Standardmethod3PROCEDURETheprocedureshallbeasfollows:(a)DetermineliquidlimitinaccordancewithAS1289.3.1.1orAS1289.3.1.2.Iftheliquidlimitcannotbedeterminedthesoilisconsideredtobenon-plasticandtheplasticlimitneednotbedetermined.(b)Ifaliquidlimitvaluehasbeendetermined,performtheplasticlimitinaccordancewithAS1289.3.2.1ensuringthatthesamemethodofpreparationofthesoilfortheliquidlimitandplasticlimithasbeenfollowed.4CALCULATIONUsingthereportedvaluesofwLandwP,calculatetheplasticityindex(IP)fromthefollowingequation:IP=wL−wPwhereIP=plasticityindex,inpercent.wL=liquidlimit,inpercent.wP=plasticlimit,inpercent.AS1289.3.3.1—2009AS1289.3.3.1—20092©StandardsAustralia(a)Theplasticityindex(IP),inpercent,whenboththeliquidlimitandtheplasticlimitaredetermined.(b)Whentheliquidlimitortheplasticlimitcannotbedetermined,reporttheplasticityindexasNP(i.e.,non-plastic),togetherwiththeliquidorplasticlimit,ifeitherhasbeendetermined.(c)Whentheplasticlimitisequaltoorgreaterthantheliquidlimit,reporttheplasticityindexas0(zero)andalsoreportboththeliquidlimitandtheplasticlimit.(d)Themethodusedtodeterminetheliquidlimit,i.e.,AS1289.3.1.1orAS1289.3.1.2.(e)Methodofpreparationandthehistoryofthesample.(f)Referencetothismethod,i.e.,AS1289.3.3.1.3AS1289.3.3.1—2009NOTESAS1289.3.3.1—20094ThisAustralianStandard®waspreparedbyCommitteeCE-009,TestingofSoilsforEngineeringPurposes.ItwasapprovedonbehalfoftheCouncilofStandardsAustraliaon9December2008andpublishedon6February2009.ThefollowingarerepresentedonCommitteeCE-009:AUSTROADSAssociationofGeotechnicalTestingAuthorities(Qld)AustralianBuildingCodesBoardAustralianChamberofCommerceandIndustryAustralianGeomechanicsSocietyAustralianStabilisationIndustryAssociationCementConcreteandAggregatesAustraliaDepartmentofPlanningandInfrastructure(NT)EngineeringandConstructionLaboratoriesAssociationEngineersAustraliaNationalAssociationofTestingAuthoritiesAustraliaUniversityofMelbourneUniversityofSydneyVictorianConstructionMaterialsLaboratoriesAssociationKeepingStandardsup-to-dateStandardsarelivingdocumentswhichreflectprogressinscience,technologyandsystems.Tomaintaintheircurrency,allStandardsareperiodicallyreviewed,andneweditionsarepublished.Betweeneditions,amendmentsmaybeissued.Standardsmayalsobewithdrawn.ItisimportantthatreadersassurethemselvestheyareusingacurrentStandard,whichshouldincludeanyamendmentswhichmayhavebeenpublishedsincetheStandardwaspurchased.Detailedin[e-mail],orwritetotheChiefExecutive,StandardsAustraliaLimited,GPOBox476,Sydney,NSW2001.OriginatedasASA89.4A—1966.RevisedandredesignatedasAS1289.C3.1—1977.RevisedandredesignatedasAS1289.3.3.1—1995.Secondedition2009.ThisStandardwasissuedindraftformforcommentasDR06693.COPYRIGHT©StandardsAustraliaAllrightsarereserved.Nopartofthisworkmaybereproducedorcopiedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,withoutthewrittenpermissionofthepublisher.PublishedbyStandardsAustraliaLimitedGPOBox476,Sydney,NSW2001,AustraliaISBN0733790062PrintedinAustraliaThispagehasbeenleftintentionallyblank.