Critical State Parameters of Kentucky Clay

This paper examines the critical state parameters of clays typical to the physiographic regions of Kentucky, a state located in the southeastern United States. The critical state model is unique due to the fact that it links the soil consolidation characteristics with shear strength properties allowing prediction of soil behavior at various loading states. The critical state strength parameters for the clays are presented and well-established engineering material property correlations are translated into critical state representation, particularly those correlations that relate consolidation index and recompression index to liquid limit and specific gravity. The Kentucky clay soil parameters are then compared to these representations. Finally, new relationships correlating critical state parameters to consistency limits and particle size analysis are presented.