The maximum past pressure s′ vm is also known as the preconsolidation
pressure s′ p. The laboratory consolidation curve (Fig. 8.2) can also be used to determine the maximum
past pressure s′ vm. The most commonly used procedure for determining the maximum past
pressure s′ vm is to use the Casagrande construction technique (1936). Figure 8.2 illustrates this empirical
procedure, which is performed as follows: