ISSN: 0149-6115
Page Count: 6

Quick and Reliable Procedure for Liquid Limit Determination of Fine-Grained Soils

Mendoza, MJ
Research professor and research student,Institute of Engineering, National University of Mexico,

Orozco, M
Research professor and research student,Institute of Engineering, National University of Mexico,

(Received 10 May 1999; accepted 26 September 2000)

Abstract

This paper describes comparative results of liquid limits for fine-grained soils, determined by the percussion-cup standard procedure and alternative techniques with penetrating cones. Microwave oven drying is used as a complement to fall-cone tests. In this way, the liquid limit for a soil sample can be accurate and reliably obtained in about 45 min. The studied cones were the pioneer Swedish cone with 60° angle and 60 g mass, and the English cone with 30° and 80 g. Percussion liquid limits differ from those obtained with the cones; however, results of a comprehensive experimental program evince that there exist linear correlations between their liquid limits.

Keywords:
liquid limit, fall-cone test, percussion or Casagrande procedure, microwave drying, fine-grained soils

Paper ID: GTJ11286J
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ11286J
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