ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF FINE GRAINS IN THE PARAMETERS OF CONSISTENCY, CONSOLIDATION AND PERMEABILITY OF THE SOIL

Abstract

Clay soils are frequently used in Geotechnical Engineering applications. This fact makes relevant the expansion of knowledge about the factors that influence on its parameters of engineering. In this sense, the present study aimed to evaluate the influence of the percentage of fine grains on the parameters of consistency, consolidation, and permeability of compacted soil samples. Were analyzed the mixtures with 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, and 80% by mass of fines. The results show a direct influence of fine grains on the parameters analyzed. There was a progressive increase in Atterberg’s limits in relation to the increase in fines, with a discrete variation in the plasticity limit. The void rate and the permeability coefficient suffered successive decreases with the increase in the fines content, presenting a decreasing rate of variation throughout the consolidation. The void rate and the permeability coefficient decreased with the increase in fines, with a decreasing rate of variation throughout consolidation. The consolidation coefficients were obtained through two different methodologies, by the Taylor method and by the mathematical correlation of Terzaghi, which pointed to the successive decrease of this parameter along the fine increases in the mixture. However, the Taylor method yielded a set of values ​​with the lowest correlation coefficients, with greater deviations.

Keywords: Consolidation, Fine soil, Consistency, Compressibility, Permeability.