Chemo–mechanical interactions in clay: a correlation between clay mineralogy and Atterberg limits

Among some few others tests, the evaluation of the Atterberg limits is a very basic soil mechanical test allowing a first insight into the chemical reactivity of clays. Basically, the liquid limit and the plasticity index are highly and mainly influenced by the ability of clay minerals to interact with liquids. In this contribution, a correlation between the Atterberg limits and clay mineralogy is proposed. This correlation increases the understanding between clay mineralogists and engineers in soil mechanics; additionally a wealth of information in clay mineralogy literature is now available to predict the mechanical behaviour of clays via index tests.