Shrinkage Limit

Shrinkage 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	\(\large{dimensionless}\)