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Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute

A study of the plasticity of clays and hydrated limes with Whittemore plasticimeter

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This project was an attempt to deter:nine haw the plasticity of clays and limes, as determined by the Whittemore Plasticimeter, varied over a range of water contents. The performance tests showed that the Plasticity Figure depends on the load applied to the shaft and on the size of the sphere. Furthermore the position of the zero-setting has an important effect on the results of a test. For one clay body, containing Tenn. Ball no. 5, there was a plastic range, at the working consistency of the clay, within which the Plasticity Figure remained constant. For another clay body, containing Challenger Ball, the Plasticity Figure decreased at a steady rate with increase in water content. For both clay bodies the one minute travel was found to be approximately proportional to the water of plasticity. The plasticimeter was found to be applicable to testing limes providing all the load was removed. Two Ohio Whites and one mason's hydrate were tested. In general, the Plasticity Figure was inversely proportional to, and the one minute travel directly proportional to the water content. The Ohio Whites required 15 per cent less water to reach the testing consistency than the ma.son's hydrate, and had Plasticity Figures, at that point, twice as great. A variety of clays were tested and Plasticity Figures obtained for both de-aired samples and those not de-aired. The results of typical tests were expressed on a flow diagram.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.S.
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Chemical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Chemical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute
Year dc:date.issued
1937

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Foote, Earl H.

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/10919/101393
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/101393

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Foote, Earl H.. A study of the plasticity of clays and hydrated limes with Whittemore plasticimeter. masters thesis, Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute, 1937. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/101393