Fall cone test applied to studies of plasticity and shear strength of artificial soils
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24849/j.geot.2018.143.05Keywords:
Fall cone, Atterberg limit, undrained shear strengthAbstract
The plasticity and shear strength in undrained conditions are properties of great importance in geotechnical projects involving fine soils. The use of expedite tests to measure these properties in the laboratory, from undisturbed or remoulded samples, is attractive given the greater repeatability. The Fall Cone Test is an alternative for this purpose. In the present work, the fall cone test was used to evaluate the undrained shear strength and the plasticity of samples of artificial soils, made in the laboratory, from mixtures of kaolin, bentonite, fine sand and distilled water in different proportions. Samples of the unconsolidated mixtures (paste-like), and samples consolidated under various vertical stresses were tested. A Proctor compacting cylinder was used as a mould for the preparation of the samples. To compare with the results of the cone test, shear strength was measured by laboratory vane tests, and the Atterberg limits of consistency (liquid limit and plastic limit) were quantified by the traditional Casagrande tests. The experimental results were interpreted and compared with theoretical models and other experimental results found in the technical literature.
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