Jeoloji Münendisliği Dergisi

Determination of Liquid Limit of Soils Using One Point Fall Cone Method

ABSTRACT: Liquid limit is one of the important soil index parameters and it is determined by means of two standard methods; Casagrande and fall-cone methods. Determination of liquid limit by fall-cone is based on penetration of cone shaped metal object in to a homogeneously prepared soil mud with free fall. Even though it is less operator dependent and it gives more accurate results, compared to the Casagrande method, standard 4 point fall-cone method as imposed in TS 1900, takes long time when too many samples are to be tested for identification purposes. In this study 138 clay samples were tested with fall-cone method, test results were evaluated statistically and determination of liquid limit by means of one point fall-cone was investigated. After the experimental and statistical studies, 3 empirical equations were developed and “LL= W/(0.33*(P/20)+0.66)” equation seemed to be more reliable. Faults to happen during the application of standard 4 point method are reflected on the graph and after drawing a trend line, these faults will be distributed along the trend line. However in the one point method faults will be reflected directly on a single liquid limit value. Therefore, in one point method, test procedure should be obeyed carefully. Although the fall-cone liquid limit test method is proposed method in Turkish Standards, one point method is not mentioned. As in the standards of other countries, it is thought to be appropriate that Turkish Standards include one point fall-cone method.