Soil Consistency
Using the soil samples' water content at the liquid and plastic limits, wL and wP (Atterberg consistency limit), according to [ASTM D4318-10] and/or [DIN18122], and the natural water content w, the consistency index IC (or CI) can be calculated :
index:
wL natural water content
w liquid limit
wP plastic limit
The consistency index is a numerical representation of the consistency of a soil.
Table:
Consistency index IC and designation of the soil state of cohesive soils in accordance with [DINENISO14688:2001]
| Designation | Consistency Index IC |
|---|---|
| Very soft | < 0.25 |
| Soft | 0.25 up to 0.50 |
| Medium stiff | 0.50 up to 0.75 |
| Stiff | 0.75 up to 1.00 |
| Solid | > 1.0 |
