Liquid limit of soils from equilibrium water content in one-dimensional normal compression

Consistency limits are extensively used in geotechnical engineering practice. Conventional test procedures which have been developed to determine the liquid limit are based on the strength, with the liquid limit corresponding to a shearing resistance of 1·7–2·0 kPa. However, the mechanisms controlling the test procedures do not simulate the mechanisms controlling the water-holding capacity of soils which the liquid limit is supposed to represent. Further, the test procedures have their limitation in that they are relatively arbitrary. In this paper an attempt has been made to devise a test procedure which will give the water-holding capacity equivalent to the liquid limit as the equilibrium water content under a specified effective vertical stress of 0·9 kPa in normal compression. It has been found that the proposed test procedure is simple, accurate, relatively experimental and personal error-free, and could also be carried out easily for soils of low plasticity.