PERCUSSION AND CONE METHODS OF DETERMINING THE LIQUID LIMIT OF SOILS: CONTROLLING MECHANISMS

The mechanisms that control the liquid limit of montmorillonitic and kaolinitic soils are different. The observation that the liquid limits obtained by both the conventional precussion method and the cone penetration method differ quite appreciably from each other at low and high plasticity ranges indicates that the mechanisms dominating the 2 testing procedures are different. Analysis of results obtained from the present experimental study, and of results available in the literature, proves that the viscous shear resistance primarily controls the percussion method of testing, and that the frictional shear resistance dominates the cone method of testing. Because the viscous shear resistance is primarily due to the double-layer held water (characteristic of montmorillonitic soils) and the liquid limit of montmorillonitic soil is primarily governed by the diffuse double-layer thickness, the percussion method is well suited to montmorillonitic soils. Similarily, as the interparticle frictional resistance is due to the mode of particle arrangement in addition to mineral frictional aspects, and the same primarily controls the liquid limit of kaolinitic soils, the cone method suits kaolinitic soils better.

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  • Corporate Authors:

    American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

    100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700
    West Conshohocken, PA  United States  19428-2957
  • Authors:
    • Sridharan, A
    • Prakash, K
  • Publication Date: 2000-6

Language

  • English

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00794517
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 14 2000 12:00AM