Shrinkage Limit

on . Posted in Geotechnical Engineering

atterberg limits relationships 1Shrinkage limit, abbreviated as SL, a dimensionless number, is the maximum water content at which further reduction in the water content will not cause decrease in volume of soil. Other words it goes from semi-solid to a solid state.

 

Shrinkage limit formula

\(\large{ SL = \frac{ \left(m_1 \;-\; m_2\right)  \;-\;  \left(V_1 \;-\; V_2\right)  \; PL  }{ m_2 }   }\) 
Symbol English Metric
\(\large{ SL }\) = shrinkage limit \(\large{dimensionless}\)
\(\large{ m_1 }\)  = inlet wet mass of soil \(\large{lbm}\) \(\large{kg}\)
\(\large{ m_2 }\)  = final dry mass of soil \(\large{lbm}\) \(\large{kg}\)
\(\large{ V_1 }\)  = inlet volume of soil \(\large{ft^3}\) \(\large{m^3}\)
\(\large{ V_2 }\)  = final volume of dry soil \(\large{ft^3}\) \(\large{m^3}\)
\(\large{ PL }\)  =  plastic limit \(\large{dimensionless}\)

 

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Tags: Water Equations Soil Equations