9/24/2019

Shear strength theory:

o The significance of failure plane

Soil Mechanics II (CE 324)

Tariq M. Bajwa , PhD
NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan
Office: NIT # 112
Email: tariq.bajwa@nice.nust.edu.pk

Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shear strength theory: Shear strength theory:

• A material falls due to critical combination
o Inclination of the plane of the failure caused by shear
o Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion of normal stress and shear stress, not
max and (Mohr 1900)

Mohr Coulomb Failure Criteria

Shear strength – linear function of

normal stress (Coulomb, 1776)

Figure: Mohr’s failure envelope and the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria

Figure: Inclination of failure plane in soil with major principal plane
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shear strength theory: Shear strength theory:

o Inclination of the plane of the failure caused by shear

o Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion

• In saturated soil, the total normal stress at a point is the sum of the effective stress and
the pore water pressure, or

• The effective stress is carried by the soil solids, so above equation becomes

• c = effective cohesion • ϕ = effective angle of internal friction

Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

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Shear strength theory:

Shear strength theory:
o Inclination of the plane of the failure caused by shear

Direct shear test

Triaxial compression test

Laboratory tests

Unconfined compression test

Vane shear test

This is Mohr-Coulomb’s failure criteria restated in terms of failure stresses

Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shear strength theory: Shear strength theory:

o Shear strength parameters

o Direct shear test: The size of the specimens = 20 to 25 cm2 across and 25 to 30 mm high.

Soil properties Parameters

Sand and inorganic materials =0

Normally consolidated soil =0

Over-consolidated clays >0

Normally consolidated clay = 25 – 30 degrees

Over-consolidated clay decreases

Natural non cemented, over consolidated clay with = 5 ~ 15 kPa

pre-consolidated pressure < 1000 kPa
Figure: Schematic diagram of direct shear apparatus
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shear strength theory: Shear strength theory:

o Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion o Direct shear test:

Table: Relationship between relative density and angle of friction of cohesionless soils

State of packing Relative density (%) Angle of friction, (deg.)

Very loose < 20 < 30

Loose 30 30 - 35

Compact 40 – 60 35 - 40

Dense 60 - 80 40 - 45
Figure: Diagram of direct shear test
Very dense > 80 > 45 arrangement

Figure: Laboratory direct shear apparatus

Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

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Shear strength theory: Shearing strength :

Cohesionless soil – Angle of internal friction

o Direct shear test:
Table: Representative values of for cohesionless soils

Soil type Angle (degrees)

Ultimate Peak

Sand and gravel mixture 33 - 36 40 - 50

Well graded sand 32 - 35 40 - 50

Fine to medium sand 29 - 32 32 - 35

Figure: Direct shear results for one test - Silty sand 27 - 32 30 - 33
Figure: Typical plotted representation of shearing stress
normal stress–shear stress coordinates.
versus shearing displacement data Silt (non-plastic) 26 - 30 30 - 35

Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shearing strength parameters : Shearing strength :

Direct shear test – Cohesionless soil Direct shear test - Cohesive soil – UU :

Figure: Effect of normal loading on shear strength of dry cohesionless soil Figure: Shear strength results for unconsolidated–undrained (U–U) tests
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shearing strength parameters : Shearing strength :

Direct shear test - Cohesionless soil Direct shear test - Cohesive soil - CU:

Figure: Summary representing maximum shear strength versus applied

normal stress for dry cohesionless soil
Figure: Shear strength results for consolidated–undrained (C–U) tests
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

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Shearing strength : Shear strength theory:

Direct shear test - Cohesive soil - CD: o Triaxial compression test:

• a soil specimen about 36 mm

in diameter and 76 mm long is
generally used.
• Air or fluid used as a confining
pressure source

Figure: Shear strength results for consolidated–drained (C–D) tests Figure: Schematic diagram of triaxial compression test
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 apparatus; (b) laboratory triaxial equipment Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shearing strength : Shear strength theory:

Direct shear test – Example 1: o Triaxial compression test:

Direct shear tests were performed on a dry, sandy soil. The size of the specimen was 50 mm

x 50 mm x 20 mm. Tests results were as given in the table. Find the shear stress parameters.

Figure: State of stress on an Figure: Laboratory triaxial equipment

incremental element in the soil sample
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shearing strength : Shear strength theory:

Direct shear test – Example 2: o Triaxial compression test:

• A sample of dry sand is tested in direct shear. A normal load equivalent to 96 kPa is
o Practical situation:
imposed for the test. The shearing force applied to fail the sample is increased until
The loading conditions in the triaxial test can be made to
shearing does occur. The shear stress at failure is 65 kPa. What is the angle of internal
simulate more accurately the loading conditions that the
friction for the sand?
soil was (or will be) subjected to in its natural state

Failure is not forced to occur across a predetermined

plane, as occurs for the direct shear test.

Figure: Stress combination acting on
incremental element of soil subjected to triaxial
testing.
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

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Shearing strength theory: Shearing strength:

o Triaxial compression test : Consolidated drained (CD) - Triaxial test :

B = Skempton’ s pore pressure

parameter – non dimensional
and is generally equal to 1

Table: Theoretical values of B at complete saturation

Figure: Consolidated-drained triaxial test: (a)

volume change of specimen caused by chamber
confining pressure;
Figure: Triaxial results for one test: (a) stress–strain plot; (b) result of test on normal
stress–shear stress coordinates.
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shearing strength theory: Shearing strength parameters:

o Triaxial compression test results CD - Triaxial test:

For different confining pressure

Same combinations of shear

and normal stresses as of DST

Figure: Volume change in dense sand and over-

consolidated clay during deviator stress application

Figure: Volume change in loose sand and normally

consolidated clay during deviator stress application

Figure: Plot of deviator stress against strain in the

Figure: Results of triaxial tests on samples of a homogeneous soil
vertical direction for dense sand and over
Figure: Plot of deviator stress against strain in the
vertical direction for loose sand and normally consolidated clay
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019
consolidated clay

Shearing strength: Shearing strength parameters:

Consolidated drained (CD) - Triaxial test : CD - Triaxial test : Pore water pressure completely dissipated in these tests

In a triaxial test, σ = major principal effective stress

at failure
σ = minor principal effective stress at failure.

Figure: Consolidated-drained triaxial test: (a) specimen under chamber confining

Figure: Effective stress failure envelope from drained tests in sand
pressure; (b) deviator stress application
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 and normally consolidated clay Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

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Shearing strength parameters: Shearing strength parameters:

CD - Triaxial test : CD - Triaxial test :

Example 5 :

We have the results of two drained triaxial tests on a saturated clay:

Normally consolidated stage Specimen I:

= 70 kPa; Δ ! = 173 kPa

Specimen II:

= 105 kPa; Δ ! = 235 kPa

Figure: Effective stress failure envelope for over-consolidated clay Determine the shear strength parameters

• Limitations:
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019 Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shearing strength parameters:

CD - Triaxial test :

Example 3:

For a normally consolidated clay, these are the results of a drained triaxial test:

chamber confining pressure = 112 kN/m2,

deviator stress at failure = 175 kN/m2 Thank you very much / Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa

a.) Find the angle of friction ’

b.) Determine the angle “ ” that the failure plane makes with the major principal plane

c.) Find the normal stress f, and the shear stress f on the failure plane.

d.) Determine the effective normal stress on the plane of maximum shear stress.
Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019

Shearing strength parameters:

CD - Triaxial test :

Example 4: For a normally consolidated clay, these are the results of a drained triaxial

test:

The equation of the effective stress failure envelope for normally consolidated clayey soil is

= . A drained triaxial test was conducted with the same soil at a chamber

confining pressure of 70 kN/m 2 . Calculate the deviator stress at failure.

Dr. Tariq M. Bajwa /03/09/2019