TTE154

Abstract Atterberg limits are one of the soils’ most widely used properties, and is one of the oldest tests conducted in the geotechnical research area. In this project, the procedures of two liquid limit determination methods -the Casagrande cup method and fall-cone method- plus a plastic limit method were carried out in non-allophanic volcanic soils of Hornopirén (Los Lagos Region, Chile) to evaluate the operator influence obtaining the liquid limit and plasticity index. The results of a low plasticity soil are presented, in which the fall-cone method show higher liquid limit values, and lower water content difference ranges than Casagrande cup method. Furthermore, the plastic limit results are discussed for soils with low clay content. Finally, the possibility of modifying the plasticity chart developed by Casagrande is suggested, from further research in Chile’s soils, for the use of fall-cone method in the determination of Atterberg limits.

Keywords: Atterberg limits, Casagrande cup, fall-cone, soil classification.

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