Relationships between strength properties and Atterberg limits of fine-grained soils

ABSTRACT Soil strength is responsible for all aspects of soil engineering regarding geotechnical underground constructions or slope stability. As Atterberg limits, are the easiest but at the same time very important properties to measure soil strength, this paper summarised and interpreted over 1600 data both from literature and novel experimental data. Correlations considering peak effective friction angle, undrained shear strength ratio and coefficient of earth pressure at rest with Atterberg limits are presented. Besides, critical state soil mechanics parameters were interpreted by correlating them with the plasticity index and the undrained strength ratio for normal consolidated soils. The goal of this research is to provide a general overview between Atterberg limits and strength parameters of fine-grained soils. Based on the overview, the existing predicted models in the literature need to be carefully considered if utilised for practical use due to some correlation discrepancies. One of the reasons for dissimilarities is due to the fact that such correlations are developed based on the data pertaining to particular sites and therefore a general validity is still missing.