EVALUATION OF THE LIQUID LIMIT THROUGH THE CASAGANDENDE AND CONCONTIC PENETERMETER TEST, IN THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLAYS OF LOW, MEDIUM AND HIGH PLASTICITY

The Ecuadorian regulations of the MTOP, regarding the materials for roads, makes specific reference to the limits that certain soil parameters must have to be accepted as material in road works. Among one of the most used parameters to determine the validity or not of a soil is the liquid limit (LL). The determination of the LL must be carried out by using the Casagrande method, however, the variability that occurs in the determination of its characteristic value can cause the costs of some works to increase because the soil has not been accepted because it does not comply with the specified limit. From here, it is important to understand the method that is being used to define the LL and the theoretical background that governs soil behavior to different humidity. In order to better understand the variability that occurs in the measurement of the LL, the importance of defining the liquid limit in roads and characterizing local soils, it is proposed in this investigation to evaluate the liquid limit on three different soils (low, medium and high plasticity clays) by using the traditional case of casagrande and an alternative method such as the conical penetometer. This investigation will serve as a guide to different entities to better define the LL and understand its importance when executing a civil work.

XVI UNIVERSITY RESEARCH COMPETITION