Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils Under

Consolidated Drained Conditions

D3090 – 90

“Abstracted with permission, from the 1996 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, copyright American
Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19458-2959”

Scope

This test method covers the determination of the consolidated drained shear strength of a
soil material in direct shear. The test is performed by deforming a specimen at a
controlled rate on or near a single shear plane determined by the configuration of the
apparatus. Generally, three or more specimens are tested, each under a different normal
load, to determine the effects upon shear resistance and displacement, and strength
properties such as Mohr strength envelope.

Shear stresses and displacements are non-uniformly distributed within the specimen. An
appropriate height cannot be defined for calculation of shear strain. Therefore, stress-
strain relationships or any associated quantity such as modules, cannot be determined
from this test.

The determination of strength envelope and the development of criteria to interpret and
evaluate test results are left to the engineer or office requesting the test.

Test conditions including normal stress and moisture environment are selected which
represent the field conditions being investigated. The rate of shearing should be slow
enough to ensure drained conditions.

Terminology

Relative lateral displacement – the horizontal displacement of the top and bottom shear
box halves relative to each other.

Failure – the stress condition at failure for a test specimen. Failure corresponds to the
maximum shear stress attained or the shear stress at 15-20 percent relative lateral
displacement. Depending on soil behavior and field application, other suitable criteria
may be defined.

Summary of Test Method

This test method consists of placing the test specimen in the direct shear device, applying
a predetermined normal stress. Wetting or draining of the test specimen, or both,
consolidating the specimen under the normal stress is provided for. Unlocking the frames
that hold the test specimen, and displacing one frame horizontally with respect to the
other at a constant rate of shearing deformation and measuring the shearing force and
horizontal displacement as the specimen is sheared.
Significance and Use

The direct shear test is suited to the relatively rapid determination of the consolidated
drained strength properties because the drainage path thought the test specimen are short,
thereby allowing excess pore pressure to be dissipated more rapidly than with other
drained stress test. The test results are applicable to assessing strength in a field situation
where complete consolidation has occurred under the existing normal stress.

During the direct shear test, there is a rotation of the principal stress, which may or may
not model field conditions. Moreover, failure may not occur on the weak plane since
failure is forced to occur on or near a horizontal plane at the middle of the specimen.
Shear stresses and displacements are non-uniformly distributed within the specimen and
an appropriate height is not defined or calculating shear strains of any associated
engineering quantity.

The range in normal stress, rate of shearing, and general test conditions should be
selected to approximate the specific soil conditions being investigated.

Apparatus

Shear Device – a device to hold the specimen securely between two porous inserted in
such a way that torque is not applied to the specimen. The shear device shall provide a
means of applying a normal stress to the faces of the specimen.
Shear Box – the shear box is either circular or square. The box is divided by a horizontal
plane into two halves of equal thickness which are fit together with alignment screws.
The shear box is also fitted with gap screws, which control the space between the top and
bottom halves of the shear box.
Device for Sharing the Specimen – the device shall be capable of shearing the specimen
ant a constant rate of displacement.

Procedure

1. Assemble the shear box and load the specimen into the shear box as instructed by
your T.A. Make sure that the alignment screws are screwed through the top half of
the shear box into the bottom half of the shear box and the gap screws are screwed
into the top half of the shear box and touching the bottom half of the shear box.
2. Place the shear box into the shearing device.
3. Apply a normal load to the specimen using the load transfer plate and the loading
hanger.
4. Remove the alignment screws from the shear box.
5. Turn the gap screws a half turn clock wise and then tow turns counter clockwise.
This should increase the gap between the two halves of the shear box.
6. Set the shearing device the advance at a rate of 0.50 mm/min.
7. Begin the data acquisition system. Record the input voltage output and voltage from
the channels needed.
8. Once data acquisition has begun start the shearing device.
9. Record the transducer output every 30 seconds after it has begun to change from the
initial reading. Continue recording the output until the output is constant or drops for
three consecutive readings.
10. Stop the data acquisition system.
11. Perform the test with normal loads 8, 12, 16, and 20 kg.

Calculations

Calculate the nominal shear stress, acting on the specimen as follows:

F
τ=
A

where:
τ = nominal shear stress
F = shearing force
A = initial cross sectional area of the specimen.

Calculate the normal stress action on the specimen

N
σn =
A

where:
σn = normal shear stress
N = normal vertical force acting on the specimen.

Estimate the friction angle, φ , for the specimen by assuming the shear stress at failure is
the maximum shear stress.

Estimate the friction angle, φ , by assuming the horizontal plane is the failure plane.

Report

The report shall include the following:

1. Sample identification.
2. Normal stress, rate of deformation, shear displacement, and corresponding nominal
shear stress values.
3. Plot of log time versus deformation for each test.
4. Estimates of the friction angle for the specimen and the Mohr circles used in the
estimates.
 DATA SHEET FOR DIRECT SHEAR TEST

Date: _________________ Transducer: ________________

Calibration Factor: __________________ Sample Diameter: _______________
Displacement Rate: ____________________ Cross Sectional Area: ____________
Sample Description: ______________________

Test # File Name Vertical Load Normal Stress Shear Max Shearing Nominal Shear
Displacement * Force * Stress *

* at failure