7 Shear Strength

PBW N302
Credit Hours
CEM/WEE/STE
Dr. Asmaa Moddather
Soil Mechanics and Foundations
Faculty of Engineering Cairo University
Spring 2014
Dr. Asmaa Moddather PBW N302 Spring 2014
Soil fail in shear.
Shear strength of soil is the internal resistance that the
soil mass offer to resist failure/sliding along any plane
inside it.
Shear failure will occur at points where shear stresses
() exceeds soils shear strength (S).
Introduction
Shear stresses are generated into the soil mass due to
adding external loads and/or excavations.
The engineer needs to know the nature of shearing
resistance in the soil mass to analyze problems such as:
o bearing capacity of foundations.
o stability of slopes.
o lateral pressure on retaining walls.
Introduction
Introduction
Bearing capacity of
Foundation
Failure surface
Stable mass
Introduction
Stability of slopes
Failure surface
Stable mass
Introduction
lateral pressure on retaining walls
Failure surface
Stable mass
Failure surface
Direction of movement
1. Local failure takes place at points where shear stresses
() > shear strength (S).
2. When local failure occurs at sufficiently large number
of points within the soil mass, a general failure takes
place.
3. Failure takes the form of sliding of a soil block over a
Failure/Sliding/Slip surface within the soil mass.
To study shear failure at a point, we need to calculate:
1. Stresses (, ) on any plane through this point
2. Shear resistance (S) at this point
Failure Mechanism
Considering a certain point inside
the soil mass and knowing the
normal () and shear () stresses
acting on two planes at this point:
o What is the maximum and
minimum normal stresses
(magnitude and direction)?
o What is the maximum shear
stresses (magnitude and
direction)?
o What is the normal () and shear
() stresses acting on any plane?
xy
xy
xy
xy

Normal and Shear Stresses in a Soil Mass

It is a graphical method to present
the state of stress along any plane
passing through any point within the
soil mass.
Need to define and sign
conventions:
o For :
Compression +ve sign
Tension -ve sign
o For :
Rotation clockwise -ve sign
Rotation anticlockwise +ve sign
xy
xy
xy
xy
Mohr Circle Presentation
Stresses on plane a: (
x
,
xy
)
Stresses on plane b: (
y
, -
xy
)

x
xy
xy
xy
xy
Plane b
Plane a
a
b
Mohrs circle
o
xy
xy
Mohr Circle
Every point on the circle represents the state of stress acting on a
plane passing through the soil element.
There are infinite number of planes passing through the element.
a
b
Mohrs circle
o
xy
xy
xy
xy
xy
xy
Plane b
Plane a
Mohr Circle
Maximum and minimum normal stresses:
o Major principal plane (
1
,0)
o Minor principal plane (
3
,0)
Maximum and minimum shear stresses:
o Plane c ((
1
+
3
)/2,
max
)
o Plane d ((
1
+
3
)/2,
min
)
a
b
Minor principal
plane (
3
, 0)
o
max
min
Major principal
plane (
1
, 0)
c
d
xy
xy
xy
xy
Plane b
Plane a
Mohr Circle
Define: Pole
A unique point on Mohrs circle from which if we draw a line
parallel to any plane, the line will intersect the circle at a point
whose co-ordinates are and acting on this plane.
a
b
xy
xy
xy
xy
Plane b
Plane a
(,)
Pole
Mohr Circle
How to find the Pole?
Need to know the following about a single plane:
o State of stress ( and )
o Direction of plane
a
b
xy
xy
xy
xy
Plane b
Plane a
Pole
Vertical
plane
Horizontal
plane
Mohr Circle
Knowing the location of the pole, determine the direction of:
o Major principal plane (
1
, with horizontal, clockwise)
o Minor principal plane (
2
o Plane with maximum shear stress (
3
o Plane with minimum shear stress (
4
, with horizontal, anticlockwise)
a
b
Minor principal
plane (
3
, 0)
max
min
Major principal
plane (
1
, 0)
c
d
xy
xy
xy
xy
Plane b
Plane a
Pole
4
Mohr Circle
The state of stress on 2 perpendicular
planes within a soil element is shown in
the opposite figure. Draw Mohrs circle,
and determine:
i. The principal stresses and the planes on
which they act.
ii. Maximum shear stress and the
inclination of the plane on which it acts.
iii. The state of stress on a plane inclined
20
o
anticlockwise with horizontal.
Soil Element
2 t/m
2
2 t/m
2
5 t/m
2 5 t/m
2
1.5 t/m
2
Example
Stresses on plane a: (+5, -1.5) t/m
2
Stresses on plane b: (+2, +1.5) t/m
2
a
b
o
5 t/m
2
2 t/m
2
2 t/m
2
5 t/m
2
1.5 t/m
2
Plane b
Plane a
Pole
Note: horizontal and vertical axes MUST be drawn
with the same scale
(t/m
2
)
(t/m
2
)
Example
i.
Principle stresses ( = 0):
1
: Major principle stress = 5.62 t/m
2
,
1
= 68
o
clockwise, with horizontal
3
: Minor principle stress =1.37 t/m
2
,
2
= 158
o
clockwise, with horizontal
ii.
Maximum shear stress:
max
= 2.12 t/m
2
,
3
= 23
o
anticlockwise, with horizontal
a
b
o
1
max
2
(t/m
2
)
(t/m
2
)
Pole
Example
iii.
State of stress at plane inclined 20
o
anticlockwise with horizontal:
= 1.39 t/m
2
= 0.18 t/m
2
(t/m
2
)
a
b
20
(1.39, 0.18)
(t/m
2
)
(t/m
2
)
Pole
Example
Shear resistance in soils is due to:
o Friction and interlocking between soil particles Friction
component
o Inter-particle attraction forces (due to electro-chemical effects)
Cohesion component
The shear strength (S) of soil at a point is expressed as a linear
function of the effective normal stress () acting on plane of
failure:
where, c and are the shear strength parameters
c: effective cohesion
: effective angle of shearing resistance
' ' '
tan c S + =
Shear Failure Criterion in Soil
c
Mohr-Coulomb shear strength
failure envelope
' ' '
f
tan c S + = =
Shear strength
failure envelope
Plastic equilibrium
Elastic equilibrium
(
f
,
f
)
c

o Relative density:
v. loose versus v. dense
o Gradation:
poorly graded versus well graded
o Particle shape:
rounded versus angular
o Particle surface roughness (as roughness
increases, increases)
small large
small large
small large
For coarse grained soils, S depends on friction and interlocking

between particles ():
Factors affecting Soil Shear Strength (S)
For coarse grained soil:
o ranges from 27
o
to 45
o
o
dry
~
wet

o Stress history (overconsolidation ratio):
as OCR increases, S increases
o Soil fabric (floculated, dispersed):
floculated has higher S
o Soil disturbance (affects soil fabric):
as disturbance increases, S decreases
o Soil permeability (water drainage):
Shear strength of soil loaded under drained
conditions (slowly) is different from that
loaded under undrained conditions (quickly)
Drained shear strength versus undrained shear
strength
c
For fine grained soils, S depends on friction and interlocking
between particles () as well as cohesion (c):
Shear strength parameters for a particular soil are
determined by means of laboratory tests on specimens
sampled fromin-situ soil.
Great care is required in sampling, storage, and handling
of samples prior to testing, especially in case of
undisturbed samples where it is necessary to preserve the
in-situ structure and water content of soil.
Shear Strength Tests
Shear box apparatus.
Weights to apply normal load
Proving ring
Shear box
Vertical displacement dial gage
Motor, applies horizontal
displacement at constant rate
Direct Shear Test
Direct Shear Test
Is a device used to measure force. It consists
of an elastic ring of known diameter with a
measuring device located in the center of the
ring that measures its deflection.
Each proving ring has its calibration constant,
by which we convert the readings of the
measuring device (deflection) into force.
Force = proving ring reading x calibration
constant.
Proving Ring
Schematic of shear box apparatus:
Sample may be circular or square
Area of sample is ~ 3 to 4 in
2
, 1 inch high
Box is split into 2 halves
Loading plate
Direct Shear Test
1. Assemble the apparatus (sample, porous stones, filter paper (if
needed), shear box parts) and fill shear box with water if needed.
2. Apply normal force on top of shear box (N
1
).
3. Shear force is applied to specimen by moving one half of the box
relative to the other to cause failure in the soil specimen. Shearing
force is measured by proving ring or load cell.
4. Vertical (
v
) and horizontal (
h
) displacements are monitored
during the test.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 for different normal forces (N
2
, N
3
).
Picture of sample after
failure
Direct Shear Test Procedure
1. For each test, calculate:
Normal stress () = normal force/area of sample
Shear stress () = shear force/area of sample
2. Plot:
Loose sand and normally consolidated clay result in similar (-
h
and
v
-
h
relationships)
Dense sand and overconsolidated clay result in similar (-
h
and
v
-
h
relationships)
Direct Shear Test Analysis
S
h
e
a
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

Shear displacement,
h
Loose
sand

f
Dense
sand
Peak
shear
strength
f
= = constant
Dense sand
Loose sand
C
h
a
n
g
e

i
n

h
e
i
g
h
t

o
f

s
p
e
c
i
m
e
n
,

v
E
x
p
a
n
s
i
o
n
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n
Shear displacement,
h
3. For test 1, get
1
and
max1
=
f1
.
For test 2, get
2
and
max2
=
f2
.
For test 3, get
3
and
max3
=
f3
.
4. Plot:
c
Test (1)
Test (2)
Test (3)
(
1
,
f1
)
(
2
,
f2
)
(
3
,
f3
)
Note: horizontal and vertical
axes MUST be drawn with the
same scale
Direct Shear Test Analysis
1. Generally, direct shear tests are conducted on dry sand, saturated sand,
and saturated clay.
2. For sands, soil has high permeability, water drains instantaneously
during the test, u = 0 during shearing, therefore, = throughout
the test.
3. For clays, to maintain = throughout the test (similar to sands), the
test is conducted slowly so excess pore water pressure (u) can drain
during shearing.
4. Measured shear strength parameters: c, called drained/effective
shear strength parameters.
Remarks on Direct Shear Test
c
(,
f
)
For each test, we know and
f
on failure plane, which is horizontal.
Pole
Minor principal
plane (
3
, 0)
Major principal
plane (
1
, 0)
Mohr Circle for Direct Shear Test
A shear-box test carried out on a silty clay soil, gave the
following results:
Example
If the shear box area is 36 cm
2
and the proving ring
constant is 15 kg/mm, determine the cohesion intercept
and the angle of shearing resistance.
235.6 176.6 117.7 58.9 Vertical load (N)
8.9 7.1 5.3 3.2 Proving ring dial gauge reading (mm)
Example
235.6 176.6 117.7 58.9 Vertical load (kg)
8.9 7.1 5.3 3.2
Proving ring dial gauge reading
(mm)
132.75 105.75 78.75
=3.2 x15
=47.25
Horizontal force, H (kg)
6.54 4.91 3.27
=58.9/36
=1.64
(kg/cm
2
)
3.69 2.94 2.19
=47.25/36
=1.31
(kg/cm
2
)
Example
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
3.50
4.00
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00 4.50 5.00 5.50 6.00 6.50 7.00
S
h
e
a
r

S
t
r
e
s
s
,

(
k
g
/
c
m
2
)
Normal stress, (kg/cm
2
)
c
c = 0.60 kg/cm
2
= 25
o
Advantages:
1. Simple
2. Not expensive
Disadvantages:
1. Failure occurs at a predetermined plane, not necessarily the
weakest plane (might overestimate strength).
2. Cant measure u during the test, therefore, test conditions
are adjusted such that u = 0.
3. Shear stress distribution over the shear surface of the
specimen is not uniform(stress concentration at corners).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Direct Shear Test
Test specimen
Load frame
Proving ring
Dial gage for
vertical
displacement
Triaxial cell
Triaxial cell
Triaxial Shear Test
O-rings
Porous stones
Top/bottom
platens
Filter paper
Rubber membrane
Triaxial Shear Test
O-rings
Transparent cylinder
Vertical load
Confining pressure
Triaxial Shear Test
Triaxial Shear Test
Top drainage
Open valve
All around
Pressure supply
Open valve
Air is released
Porous stone
Membrane
Porous stone
O ring
Loading cap
Loading ram
Transparent cylinder
Air release valve
Specimen
Bottom drainage
Sample Placement
Test Procedure
Sample Placement:
1. Trim sample to required dimensions (h/d ~ 2).
2. Place sample on bottom filter paper and porous stone.
3. Place top filter paper, porous stone, and loading cap.
4. Place thin rubber membrane around sample and o-rings.
5. Fill cell with water.
6. Lower loading bar just to rest on loading cap.
Test Procedure
Open valve
All around
Pressure supply
Loading Stages:
o Stage I
Test Procedure
Applying confining pressure (
c
)
Open/closed valve
Open valve
All around
Pressure supply
Loading Stages:
o Stage II
Test Procedure
Applying confining pressure (
c
)
Open/closed valve
Applying axial load (N)
Deviator stress (
d
)
Loading Stages:
o Stage 1:
Apply confining pressure (
c
) = cell pressure.
o Stage 2:
Increase axial load (N) up to failure. Axial load/area of specimen
is called deviator stress (
d
).
c
Stage (1)
c
+
df
c
+
df
c
Stage (2)
Test Procedure
Drainage conditions during stages 1 and 2 are set according to
required type of test.
c
Stage (1)
Valve (open/closed)
c
+
df
c
+
df
Stage (2)
Valve (open/closed)
Valve opened
Drainage allowed
Consolidated, C
Valve closed
Drainage not allowed
Unconsolidated, U
Valve opened
Drainage allowed
Drained, D
Valve closed
Undrained, U
Types of Triaxial Tests
Stage (1)
c
Valve (open/closed)
Stage (2)
c
+
df
c
+
df
Valve (open/closed)
Consolidated, C Unconsolidated, U Drained, D Undrained, U
Possible test types:
Stage 1 Stage 2 Test Type
C D Consolidated-Drained (CD)
C U Consolidated-Undrained (CU)
U U Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU)
U D Unconsolidated-Drained (UD)
Never done
Pole
Minor principal plane
Major principal plane
c
Stage (1)
c
+
df
c
+
df
c
Stage (2)
(
c
, 0)
(
c
+
df
, 0)
Note:
c
=
3
c
+
df
=
1
Stage 1
Stage 2
Mohr Circle for Triaxial
Stage (1)
c
Valve (open)
Stage (2)
c
+
df
c
+
df
Valve (open)
Consolidated, C Drained, D
Consolidated-Drained Test (CD)
3
=

c

c
c

c +
df
1
=
u = 0
3
=
3
1
=
1
3
=
1
=
u = 0
3
=
3
1
=
1
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r

S
t
r
e
s
s
,

d
Axial Strain,
v
NCC
OCC
df
OCC
NCC
C
h
a
n
g
e

i
n

v
o
l
u
m
e

o
f

s
p
e
c
i
m
e
n
,

V
E
x
p
a
n
s
i
o
n
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n
Axial Strain,
v
df
Dense sand and overconsolidated clay result in similar (
d
-
v
and
V
-
v
relationships)
Loose sand and normally consolidated clay result in similar (
d
-
v
and
V
-
v
relationships)
Stress-strain Relationships:
1f
df
Mohr circle at failure
c
Stage I
Stage II
1

1f(2)

3(2)

1f(1)

3(1)
c=0
Normally Consolidated Clay (NCC) and Sands
Overconsolidated Clay (OCC)
OCC
NCC
p
c
c
1
Stage (1)
c
Valve (open)
Stage (2)
c
+
df
c
+
df
Valve (closed)
Consolidated, C Undrained, U
Consolidated-Undrained Test (CU)
3
=

c

c
c

c +
df
1
=
u = 0
3
=
3
1
=
1
3
=
1
=
u = value measured during test
3
=
3
- u
1
=
1
- u
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r

S
t
r
e
s
s
,

d
Axial Strain,
v
NCC
OCC
df
OCC
NCC
C
h
a
n
g
e

i
n

p
o
r
e

w
a
t
e
r

p
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
,

u
-
v
e
+
v
e
Axial Strain,
v
df
Dense sand and overconsolidated clay result in similar (
d
-
v
and u-
v
relationships)
Loose sand and normally consolidated clay result in similar (
d
-
v
and u-
v
relationships)
Stress-strain Relationships:
1f
(Total stresses, measured)
'
1f
3
u u
Normally Consolidated Clay (NCC)
u = +ve
3
=
3
u decreases
1
=
1
u decreases
Same diameter
c=0
(Effective stresses, calculated)
o If
c
<p
c
, soil behaves as OCC, u = -ve
3
=
3
u increases
1
=
1
u increases
o If
c
>p
c
, soil behaves as NCC, u = +ve
3
=
3
u decreases
1
=
1
u decreases
OCC
NCC
p
c
c
1
(Effective stresses, calculated)
u
1
u
2
u
3
u
4
u = -ve
u = +ve
Drainage conditions during stages 1 and 2 are set according to
required type of test.
c
Stage (1)
Valve (open/closed)
c
+
df
c
+
df
Stage (2)
Valve (open/closed)
Valve opened
Drainage allowed
Consolidated, C
Valve closed
Unconsolidated, U
Valve opened
Drainage allowed
Drained, D
Valve closed
Undrained, U
Stage (1)
c
Valve (closed)
Stage (2)
c
+
df
c
+
df
Valve (closed)
Unconsolidated, U Undrained, U
Unconsolidated-Undrained Test (UU)
3
=

c

c
c

c +
df
1
=

3
=
1
=
u
d
= increase in p.w.p due to
d
u
c
= increase in p.w.p due to
c
3
=
3
- u
1
=
1
- u
Measured u during shearing = u
c
+ u
d
+ve (NCC), -ve (OCC)
1
One effective stress circle to all
total stress circles (calculated)
'
3
u
= 0
1(1)
3(1)
u
(1)
(-ve)
u
(2)
(+ve)
Same diameter
c
u
3(2)

1(2)
c
u
= undrained shear strength
Note: increasing
c
doesnt result in any increase in
3
Since all
3
prior to shearing is the same in all samples, the strength of the
samples when sheared will be the same.
Unconsolidated-Undrained Test (UU)
Special case of UU test
o
c
= 0
o Very simple and quick
Proving ring
(measures axial load)
Dial gage
(measures axial displacement)
Sample
Loading frame
Unconfined Compression Test
Sample Placement:
1. Trimsample to required dimensions (h/d ~ 2).
2. Place sample on the loading device. Begin test immediately
as drying will alter samples characteristics considerably.
3. Lower loading piston until it contacts specimen.
4. Begin the test, continue until load values decrease or until
20%strain is reached.
Specimen before test
H
o
A
o
Specimen after test
Bulging
H
H
A
) (1
A
)
H
H
(1
A
H) (H
H A
A
H A H) A(H
H A AH
V V
Constant V
o
o
o
o
o o
o o o
o o
test before after test
=
=
=
=
=
)
100
(%)
(1
A
A
o
=
Readings: Load (F), vertical displacement (H)
Data Reduction:
o Axial strain:
a
= (H/H
o
) x 100
o where: H
o
= initial sample height
o Stress: = F/A
c
where: A
c
corrected area = A
o
/(1-
a
)
A
o
= initial x-sectional area of the sample
Data Plotting:
o Plot stress () versus axial strain (
a
)
Strain, (%)
S
t
r
e
s
s
,

q
u
q
u
= unconfined strength
c
u
= undrained shear strength = q
u
/2
a,f
q
u
= unconfined strength
c
u
= undrained shear strength = q
u
/2
q
u
q
u
1
=
=
q
u
0
c
= 0

c
= 0
0.0
q
u
u
= 0
c
u
1
One effective stress circle to all
total stress circles (calculated)
'
3
u
= 0
1(1)
3(1)
u
(UU1)
u
(UU2)
Same diameter
c
u
3(2)

1(2)
c
u
= undrained shear strength
c
=
3
= 0
u
(UC)
Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU) Test
versus Unconfined Compression Test
Drained shear strength parameters:
o c', OCC
o : NCC, sand
These parameters are obtained from:
o CD Test
o CU Test (with pore pressure measurements)
Applications
o Used to design structures for long term condition Drained.
Final Remarks
Undrained shear strength parameters:
o c
u
,
u
=0 OCC, NCC
These parameters are obtained from:
o UU Test
o Unconfined Compression Test
Applications
o Used to design structures for short term condition
Undrained.
Final Remarks
Example (1)
The following results were obtained at failure in a series of
CD triaxial tests on specimens of fully saturated clay.
i. Determine the shear strength parameters of this soil.
ii. If a specimen is subjected to a confining pressure of 150 kPa
and a deviator stress of 200 kPa, would it fail? Comment.
Confining pressure
(kN/m
2
)
Deviator stress
(kN/m
2
)
Test
100 350 1
210 410 2
Example (1)

1
=
c
+
df

3
=
c

c
(kN/m
2
)

df
(kN/m
2
)
Test
450 100 100 350 1
620 210 210 410 2
450
100
210
620
'
c '
i. Shear strength parameters:
c' = 119 kN/m
2
' = 12
o
Note: since c>0, this clay is OCC,
and p
c
> 210 kN/m
2
Example (1)
350
150
c
ii. If a specimen is subjected to a confining pressure of 150 kPa and a
deviator stress of 200 kPa, would it fail? Comment.
Elastic equilibrium
The specimen will not fail
Example (2)
A clay specimen failed at unconfined strength value of 400 kN/m
2
when placed in an unconfined test apparatus, what would be the
undrained shear strength for the tested specimen?
0.0
400
u
= 0
c
u
Undrained Shear strength:
c
u
= q
u
/2 = 400/2 = 200 kN/m
2
11 12 17 16 13 9 4 0
Load (kg)
0.350 0.300 0.111 0.080 0.053 0.034 0.013 0.0
H (cm)
3.365 2.885 1.067 0.769 0.510 0.327 = 0.013x100/10.4
= 0.125
0.0
= H/H
o
(%)
14.34 14.27 14.00 13.96 13.92 13.90
=13.87
13.85
A (cm
2
)
0.77 0.84 1.21 1.15 0.93 0.65
= 0.29
0
Stress
(kg/cm
2
)
In an unconfined compression test, the following data were collected
(sample height = 10.4 cm, sample diameter = 4.2 cm), Find the unconfined
strength and the undrained shear strength for the tested sample. (A
o
= 13.85
cm
2
, H
o
= 10.4 cm).
Example (3)
)
100
0.125
(1
13.85
=
87 . 13
4.0
=
)
100
(%)
(1
A
o
=
Example (3)
0.00
0.20
0.40
0.60
0.80
1.00
1.20
1.40
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00
Axial Strain,
a
(%)
A
x
i
a
l

S
t
r
e
s
s
,

(
k
g
/
c
m
2
)
q
u
Unconfined strength: q
u
= 1.21 kg/cm
2
Undrained Shear strength: c
u
= q
u
/2 = 0.61 kg/cm
2

7 Shear Strength

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7 Shear Strength

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