Review of Recent Developments and Understanding of Atterberg Limits Determinations

Among the most commonly specified tests in geotechnical engineering industry, liquid limit and plastic are principally used for (i) deducing useful design parameter values from existing correlations with these consistency limits (ii) classifying fine-grained soils, typically employing Casagrande-style plasticity chart. This updated state-of-the-art review paper gives a comprehensive presentation of salient latest research understanding soil determinations/measurement, elaborating concisely on many standardized proposed experimental testing approaches, their various fundamental aspects possibly pitfalls, as well some very recent alternative proposals determinations. Specific attention is given to fall cone methods advocated (but totally unsuitable) determination; that is, water content at plastic–brittle transition point, defined using hand rolling threads method. A framework (utilizing strength-based cone-derived parameters) appropriate correlating shear strength variation over conventional range presented. then describes two new classification system advancements (charts) do not rely thread-rolling test, known have high operator variability, concludes by discussing emerging determinations classification.