Atterberg limits

Limits used to classify soils. The liquid limit is the minimum moisture content at which the soil can flow under its own weight; the plastic limit is the minimum moisture content at which the soil can be rolled into a 3 mm diameter thread without breaking; the shrinkage limit is the moisture content at which further water loss will not cause further shrinkage.

In plastic soils, the water contents (determined by standard tests) which define the boundaries between the different states of consistency of plastic soils. Also see liquid limit, plastic limit, shrinkage limit.