The Shrinkage Limit of a soil is defined as the moisture content after which any further reduction of moisture does not cause volume reduction. The shrinkage of clayey soil can be very significant. A fully saturated soil specimen is allowed to dry in free air and its volume is measured repeatedly by immersing in a mercury bath. From the data obtained from this test, Shrinkage Limit, Shrinkage Ratio, Shrinkage Index and Volumetric Shrinkage can be calculated. The choice of puddle-clay material is often governed by the results obtained from this test.

The Shrinkage Limit of a soil is defined as the moisture content after which any further reduction of moisture does not cause volume reduction. The shrinkage of clayey soil can be very significant. A fully saturated soil specimen is allowed to dry in free air and its volume is measured repeatedly by immersing in a mercury bath. From the data obtained from this test, Shrinkage Limit, Shrinkage Ratio, Shrinkage Index and Volumetric Shrinkage can be calculated. The choice of puddle-clay material is often governed by the results obtained from this test.

• IS: 2720 (Part 6)
• IS: 10077

Shrinkage limit is the maximum water content at which a reduction in water content does not cause an appreciable reduction in volume of the Soil Mass. At shrinkage limit, on further reduction in water, air enters in to the voids of soils and thus keeps the volume constant.
The apparatus can be used to determine shrinkage limit and to calculate other shrinkage ratio, shrinkage index and volumetric shrinkage.

Set consists of one each:

1.  Porcelain evaporating dish
2.  Shrinkage dish
3.  Glass cup
4.  Perspex plate with three metal prongs
5.  Flexible spatula 100mm
6.  Glass cylinder
7.  25ml x 1ml, supplied without mercury
8.  Plastic wash bottle 500ml

Additional accessory: Mercury supplied in bottle of 500 gms at an extra cost.