Influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limits

Abstract Plasticity properties of fine-grained soils in the form of Atterberg limits are very important inferential properties used for classification and preliminary qualitative assessment of their suitability for any geotechnical engineering applications. Through extensive research, it is well und...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: K. Bhavya, H. B. Nagaraj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98729-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850042671858450432
author K. Bhavya
H. B. Nagaraj
author_facet K. Bhavya
H. B. Nagaraj
author_sort K. Bhavya
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Plasticity properties of fine-grained soils in the form of Atterberg limits are very important inferential properties used for classification and preliminary qualitative assessment of their suitability for any geotechnical engineering applications. Through extensive research, it is well understood that clay mineralogy and soil structure are the main factors that control the Atterberg limits of soils. To further the understanding of the factors influencing the Atterberg limit of soils at the macro level with an insight at the micro level through SEM studies, the present study was taken up using various soil mixtures prepared with extreme clay minerals (Bentonite and Kaolinite), fine sand, and silt (extracted from a natural soil). From the experimental results reported herein, the changes observed in the Atterberg limits as influenced by the variation in the composition of the fractions in the clay-sand-silt mixture may be due to the influence of clay mineral type and the clay structure which are supported by the SEM images.
format Article
id doaj-art-72b383b686984deb8b80217455f43dbd
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-72b383b686984deb8b80217455f43dbd2025-08-20T02:55:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-98729-yInfluence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limitsK. Bhavya0H. B. Nagaraj1Department of Civil Engineering, B.M.S College of EngineeringDepartment of Civil Engineering, B.M.S College of EngineeringAbstract Plasticity properties of fine-grained soils in the form of Atterberg limits are very important inferential properties used for classification and preliminary qualitative assessment of their suitability for any geotechnical engineering applications. Through extensive research, it is well understood that clay mineralogy and soil structure are the main factors that control the Atterberg limits of soils. To further the understanding of the factors influencing the Atterberg limit of soils at the macro level with an insight at the micro level through SEM studies, the present study was taken up using various soil mixtures prepared with extreme clay minerals (Bentonite and Kaolinite), fine sand, and silt (extracted from a natural soil). From the experimental results reported herein, the changes observed in the Atterberg limits as influenced by the variation in the composition of the fractions in the clay-sand-silt mixture may be due to the influence of clay mineral type and the clay structure which are supported by the SEM images.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98729-yClaysLaboratory testsMineralogySoil structure
spellingShingle K. Bhavya
H. B. Nagaraj
Influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limits
Scientific Reports
Clays
Laboratory tests
Mineralogy
Soil structure
title Influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limits
title_full Influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limits
title_fullStr Influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limits
title_full_unstemmed Influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limits
title_short Influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on Atterberg limits
title_sort influence of soil structure and clay mineralogy on atterberg limits
topic Clays
Laboratory tests
Mineralogy
Soil structure
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98729-y
work_keys_str_mv AT kbhavya influenceofsoilstructureandclaymineralogyonatterberglimits
AT hbnagaraj influenceofsoilstructureandclaymineralogyonatterberglimits