Shrinkage Limit Set
Product Code : EL-STLE-10384
Shrinkage Limit Set (code EL-STLE-10384) is a set of apparatus for finding the shrinkage limit of soil, from which the shrinkage ratio, shrinkage index and volumetric shrinkage are also worked out. It comprises a porcelain evaporating dish, shrinkage dish, glass cup, Perspex plate with three metal prongs, 100 mm flexible spatula, 25 ml × 1 ml glass cylinder supplied without mercury and a 500 ml plastic wash bottle.
Get a quote: use the Add To Cart enquiry button below, or send your quantity and delivery location through the contact page.
Specifications
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use | Determining the shrinkage limit, shrinkage ratio, shrinkage index and volumetric shrinkage of soil |
| Set contents | One each: shrinkage limit set, porcelain evaporating dish, shrinkage dish, glass cup |
| Prong plate | Perspex plate with three metal prongs |
| Spatula | Flexible, 100 mm |
| Glass cylinder | 25 ml × 1 ml, supplied without mercury |
| Wash bottle | Plastic, 500 ml |
| Optional accessory | Mercury in a 500 g bottle, at extra cost |
| Standards | IS 2720 (Part VII), ASTM D 427, BS 1377, AASHTO T 92 |
| Product code | EL-STLE-10384 |
| Manufacturer | Engineering Lab Equipment, Ambala, Haryana, India |
What Is the Shrinkage Limit Set Used For?
The shrinkage limit is the water content below which further drying does not reduce the volume of a soil, because air then enters the voids instead. A soil paste is placed in the shrinkage dish, weighed, dried and weighed again. The volume of the dried pat is found by mercury displacement: the glass cup is filled with mercury, the pat is pressed under the surface with the three-pronged Perspex plate, and the displaced mercury is measured in the glass cylinder. From these masses and volumes the shrinkage limit, shrinkage ratio, shrinkage index and volumetric shrinkage are calculated.
What to Specify When Ordering
- Quantity — the number of shrinkage limit sets required.
- Mercury — whether the optional 500 g bottle of mercury is to be supplied, at extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which parameters can be found with the set?
Besides the shrinkage limit, the readings are used to calculate the shrinkage ratio, shrinkage index and volumetric shrinkage of the soil mass.
What does the shrinkage limit represent?
It is the highest water content at which further drying no longer makes the soil mass shrink appreciably; below it, air enters the voids and the volume remains constant.
Is mercury supplied with the set?
No. The glass cylinder is supplied without mercury; mercury can be added as an optional accessory in a 500 g bottle at extra cost.
What is the Perspex plate with prongs used for?
Its three metal prongs press the dried soil pat beneath the mercury surface in the glass cup, so that the volume of mercury it displaces, and hence the pat volume, can be measured.
What sizes are the spatula, cylinder and wash bottle?
The flexible spatula is 100 mm long, the glass cylinder is 25 ml × 1 ml and the plastic wash bottle holds 500 ml.
Which standards are listed for shrinkage limit testing?
For this shrinkage limit set, the standards listed are IS 2720 (Part VII), ASTM D 427, BS 1377 and AASHTO T 92.
OEM Manufacturer
Engineering Lab Equipment (Engineering Labs Equipment Pvt Ltd) builds the Shrinkage Limit Set at its works in Saha, District Ambala, Haryana (Plot No. 43, Industrial Park, Sector 2, Growth Center). Its soil testing equipment for classification, compaction, density, shear and consolidation tests go to engineering colleges, polytechnics, technical training institutes and research laboratories in India and abroad, and equipment can be made to an institution's own requirements. For tenders and OEM supply, see the Tenders/OEM page.
Related Soil Testing Equipment
- Liquid Limit Devices (Casagrande) — cam-operated brass cup liquid limit apparatus with blow counter, two grooving tools and height gauge.
- Plastic Limit Set — plastic limit apparatus with glass plate, 3 mm reference rod, moisture containers and basin.
- Linear Shrinkage Mould — 140 mm long, 25 mm diameter mould for measuring the linear shrinkage of soil.
- Liquid Limit Penetrometers — cone penetrometer with digital 0.01 mm gauge for liquid limit and undrained shear strength of clays.
See the full Soil Testing Lab Equipment range or all Civil Engineering Lab Equipment.
Request a Quote
For this and other soil testing lab equipment, schools and colleges can contact Engineering Lab Equipment, a manufacturer, supplier and exporter based in Ambala, India. For a price, send the number of sets and whether the optional bottle of mercury is wanted and the delivery location through the contact page; the Add To Cart button on this page also adds the Shrinkage Limit Set to an enquiry.
Last updated: October 2026
