Faculty of Engineering Technology

Civil Engineering Department

Soil Laboratory

ENCE 311

Experiment #9

“Unconfined Test”

Instructors :

Dr. Abdelhamid Mimi, Eng. Shuroq AL Jamal

Done By Group C

`ANAS AKRAM 1160382

AYA KAHALA 1171720

HANNA SAFAR 1172052

Section :2

Date of perform the experiment : 30/11/2019

Date of submitting the experiment:7/12/2019

Contents
Introduction: ............................................................................................................................... 1-5
Purpose:....................................................................................................................................... 5
Hypothesis: .............................................................................................................................. 5
Instruments .................................................................................................................................... 5
Procedure: ...................................................................................................................................... 6
Data and calculations ............................................................................................................... 6-12
Result and conclusion .................................................................................................................. 12
Reference:..................................................................................................................................... 14
Introduction:

In the actual condition, the soil used in any projects whereas it is heavy structures (roads,

highway …) or construction structures, is exposed to external forces that develop internal

stresses and strains in the sample. The external forces are mainly the weight of everything

above the soil (base coarse, sub base, footings, … ); this means that the loads are

normally (perpendicularly) affected the sample, but can cause internal normal and

parallel stresses and strains.( External normal stress (σ) leads to internal normal stress (σ),

internal shear stress (τ), normal strain (ε), and shear strain (γ)). These loads cause failure

of soil sample at any internal plane only if these loads exceed the resistance of the soil

itself. The best representation of these stresses is the Mohr circle

The shear strength of a soil mass is the internal resistance per unit area that the soil mass

can offer to resist failure and sliding along any plane inside it. One must understand the

nature of shearing resistance in order to analyze soil stability problems, such as bearing

capacity, slope stability, and lateral pressure on earth-retaining structures.

Shear strength of a soil can be given by the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. Which is

presented a theory for rupture in materials that contended that a material fails because of

a critical combination of normal stress and shearing stress and not from either maximum

normal or shear stress alone.

Thus, the functional relationship between normal stress and shear stress on a failure plane
can be expressed in the following form:

1
τf =f (σ)

It is sufficient to approximate the shear stress on the failure plane as a linear function of
the normal stress.

This linear function can be written as:

τf =c+ σ tan φ
Where
τf = Shear strength c = Cohesion

σ= Normal stress φ= Angle of friction.

C, Ф are called shear strength factors that basically depends on the type of soil. For

example, the water has zero C and Ф. For soil, C = 0 for sand and inorganic silt. C ≈ 0 for

normally consolidated soil. C > 0 for over consolidated clay.

The shear strength of the soil can be tested by several ways that depends on the tested

soil. The unconfined compression test is by far the most popular method of soil shear

testing because it is one of the fastest and cheapest methods of measuring shear strength.

It is used primarily for saturated, cohesive soils.

It is unconfined and undrained test such that, the tested sample was free without any mold

during the compression test so, it is unconfined (the unconfined compression test is

inappropriate for dry sands or crumbly clays because the materials would fall apart

without a lateral confinement). Also, it is undrained as testing process is fast so, the water

do not have enough time to transfer the load to the soil and get out. (Such that, when the

2
soil is loaded the water that exist in the pores of the soil carry these loads firstly, then a

consolidation process conducted to transfer the load to the soil that concurrently occurred

with the water exiting).

In the unconfined compression test, we assume that no pore water is lost from the sample

during set-up or during the shearing process. A saturated sample will thus remain

saturated during the test with no change in the sample mass, water content, or void ratio.

More significantly, the sample is held together by an effective confining stress that results

from negative pore water pressures. Pore pressures are not measured in an unconfined

compression test; consequently, the effective stress is unknown. Hence, the undrained

shear strength measured in an unconfined test is expressed in terms of the total stress.

Effective stress = Total stress – pore water pressure σ” = σ – U

For soils, the undrained shear strength is necessary for the determination of the bearing

capacity of foundations, dams, etc. The undrained shear strength (Cu) of clays is

commonly determined from an unconfined compression test. Cu of a cohesive soil is

equal to one-half the maximum unconfined compressive strength qu (that determined

when the sample deformed 20% of its original dimension), when ϕ = 0

Cu = qu/

3
 Figure 1.Mohr circle of stresses at failure in unconfined compressive strength

The unconfined compression strength is determined by applying an axial stress to a

cylindrical soil specimen with no confining pressure and observing the axial strains
corresponding to various stress levels.

The stress at which failure in the soil specimen occurs is referred to as the unconfined
compression strength. For saturated clay specimens, the unconfined compression strength
decreases with the increase in moisture content.
These formulas is used in the calculations:
𝐹𝑚𝑎𝑥
σ = qun= 𝐴𝑓

𝐴0
Af = 1−𝜖𝑓

Where,
A0: The initial area
Af: The area at failure

Based on the value of qu the consistency of a cohesive soil can be described as shown in
table 1.

4
 consistency qu( lb/ft2 )
Very soft 0-500
Soft 500-1000
Medium 1000-2000
Stiff 2000-4000
Very stiff 4000-8000

Table 1. Consistency of soil

Purpose:

The aim of this experiment is to find the shear strength parameters (φ, c), and determine

the maximum shear force soil sample can withstand, then determine the shape of shear

failure.

Hypothesis:

There may be a percent of error as the samples were prepared by different experimenters

so different strengths.

Instruments:

mold knife caliper

unconfined compression testing machine wood stick

5
Procedure:

• The sample was obtained from the lab (prepared by the instructor).

• The mold was filled at several layers with compaction for each layer by wood-rod.

• The excess was trimmed and removed by a knife.

• A caliper tool was used to determine the height and the diameter of each sample.

• The moist weight of the sample was measured.

• The specimen was placed between the two loading plates of the unconfined

compression testing machine

• The readings were taken down.

• Step 7 was repeated till cracks appeared on the specimen (reaching the failure).

• The whole procedure redone for all samples

Data and calculations:

Table (2) samples data

sample number 1 2 3 4
D(cm) 3.93,3.86,3.88 3.95,3.9,3.87 3.9,3.9.3.9 3.9,3.9,3.9
Davg(cm) 3.89 3.91 3.9 3.9
L(cm) 8.01 8.06 8.32 8.1
can # empty weight (gm) 28.5 25.5 28.8 32.4
can +soil weight
199 192.5 205.3 193.5
(gm)
1DIV force 7.7N 3kN 7.7KN
1div deformation 0.01mm 0.01mm 0.01mm
Area(mm2) 1188.5 1200.7 1194.6 1194.6

6
 Table (3) sample one strain and stress calculation

force(div) deformation (div) deformation(mm) force(N) € A(cm) 𝜎 MPA

2 5 0.05 15.4 0.00062422 1189.242349 0.012949421

3 30 0.3 23.1 0.003745318 1192.968045 0.019363469

4 39 0.39 30.8 0.004868914 1194.315017 0.025788841

5 49 0.49 38.5 0.006117353 1195.815224 0.03219561

6 59 0.59 46.2 0.007365793 1197.319205 0.038586201

7 66 0.66 53.9 0.0082397 1198.374245 0.044977602

8 100 1 61.6 0.012484395 1203.525284 0.051182971

9 105 1.05 69.3 0.013108614 1204.286528 0.057544445

10 110 1.1 77 0.013732834 1205.048734 0.063897831

11 115 1.15 84.7 0.014357054 1205.811906 0.070243128

12 123 1.23 92.4 0.015355805 1207.034994 0.076551219

13 132 1.32 100.1 0.016479401 1208.413938 0.082835854

14 145 1.45 107.8 0.018102372 1210.411316 0.089060635

15 165 1.65 115.5 0.020599251 1213.497132 0.095179459

Sample calculation
force newton =7.7*2=15.4N
deformation(mm)=0.01*5=0.05mm
∆𝐿 0.05
€= = = 0.00062422
𝐿 80.1
𝐴𝑜 1188.5
𝐴= = = 1189.242349 𝑚𝑚2
1 − € 1 − 0.00062422
𝐹 15.4
σ= = = 0.012949421 𝑀𝑃𝐴
𝐴 1189.2423

7
 Fig(2) stress strain diagram for sample 1

0.1
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.06
σ MPA

0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025
€

qun=95KN
cun=95/2=47.5kN

Table (4) sample 2 stress and strain calculation

deformation
force(div) (div) deformation(mm) force(N) € A(mm2) σ MPA

3 15 0.15 23.1 0.001861042 1202.93872 0.019202973

4 20 0.2 30.8 0.00248139 1203.686816 0.025588051

5 38 0.38 38.5 0.00471464 1206.387684 0.031913456

6 53 0.53 46.2 0.006575682 1208.647683 0.038224539

7 80 0.8 53.9 0.009925558 1212.737093 0.044444917

8 100 1 61.6 0.012406948 1215.784171 0.050666888

9 115 1.15 69.3 0.01426799 1218.079547 0.056892836

10 125 1.25 77 0.015508685 1219.614619 0.063134697

11 160 1.6 84.7 0.019851117 1225.017975 0.069141843

8
 Fig(3) stress strain diagram for sample 1

0.08

0.07

0.06

0.05
Axis Title

0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025
€

qun=70KN
Cun=35KN

Table (5) sample3 stress and strain calculation

deformation
force(div) deformation(mm) force(N) σ A(mm2) σ MPA
(div)
2 10 0.1 6 0.001201923 1196.037545 0.005016565
3 15 0.15 9 0.001802885 1196.757616 0.00752032
4 24 0.24 12 0.002884615 1198.055931 0.010016227
5 36 0.36 15 0.004326923 1199.791405 0.012502173
6 46 0.46 18 0.005528846 1201.241479 0.014984498
7 52 0.52 21 0.00625 1202.113208 0.017469237
8 60 0.6 24 0.007211538 1203.277482 0.019945524
9 65 0.65 27 0.0078125 1204.006299 0.022425132
10 67 0.67 30 0.008052885 1204.298073 0.024910776
11 80 0.8 33 0.009615385 1206.198058 0.027358691
12 92 0.92 36 0.011057692 1207.957219 0.02980238
13 94 0.94 39 0.011298077 1208.250912 0.032278064
14 97 0.97 42 0.011658654 1208.691718 0.034748315
15 100 1 45 0.012019231 1209.132847 0.037216754
16 110 1.1 48 0.013221154 1210.605603 0.039649577

9
17 113 1.13 51 0.013581731 1211.04813 0.042112282
20 119 1.19 60 0.014302885 1211.934154 0.04950764
21 124 1.24 63 0.014903846 1212.673499 0.051951329
22 127 1.27 66 0.015264423 1213.117539 0.05440528
25 131 1.31 75 0.015745192 1213.710099 0.061793998
30 150 1.5 90 0.018028846 1216.532681 0.07398075
31 158 1.58 93 0.018990385 1217.725067 0.076371919
32 164 1.64 96 0.019711538 1218.620893 0.078777576
33 170 1.7 99 0.020432692 1219.518037 0.081179611
34 176 1.76 102 0.021153846 1220.416503 0.083578024
35 185 1.85 105 0.022235577 1221.766687 0.085941122
36 193 1.93 108 0.023197115 1222.969361 0.088309653
37 210 2.1 111 0.025240385 1225.532922 0.090572842

Fig(4) stress strain diagram for sample 1

0.06

0.05

0.04
σ MPA

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 0.005 0.01 0.015 0.02 0.025 0.03
€

qun=57KN
Cun=28.5KN

10
 Table (6) sample 4 stress and strain calculation

force(div) deformation (div) deformation(mm) force(N) € A(mm2) σ MPA

1 7
0.07 7.7 0.000864198 1195.633263 0.006440102
2 14
0.14 15.4 0.001728395 1196.668316 0.012869063
3 28
0.28 23.1 0.00345679 1198.743806 0.019270173
4 46
0.46 30.8 0.005679012 1201.422895 0.025636269
5 60
0.6 38.5 0.007407407 1203.514925 0.031989632
6 74
0.74 46.2 0.009135802 1205.614254 0.038320715
7 100
1 53.9 0.012345679 1209.5325 0.044562672
8 120
1.2 61.6 0.014814815 1212.56391 0.050801446
9 193
1.93 69.3 0.02382716 1223.758695 0.056628811

Fig(5) stress strain diagram for sample 1

0.06

0.05

0.04
σ MPA

0.03

0.02

0.01

0
0 0.002 0.004 0.006 0.008 0.01 0.012 0.014 0.016
€

11
Qun=50KN
Cun=25KN

Result and conclusion:

Results

Table (7): table of results

Number of trial Q ultimate(KN) Cun(KN)
1 95 47.5
2 70 35
3 57 28.5
4 50 25

Conclusion :

This test method covers the determination of the unconfined compressive

strength of cohesive soil in the intact, remolded, or reconstituted condition, using
strain-controlled application of the axial load, and provides an approximate value
of the strength of cohesive soils in terms of total stresses. This test method is
applicable only to cohesive materials which will not expel or bleed water (water
expelled from the soil due to deformation or compaction) during the loading
portion of the test and which will retain intrinsic strength after removal of
confining pressures, such as clays or cemented soils.

From the results shown above, it’s clear that there is a big difference in the cohesion of

each trial which is caused by the different compaction levels done on each sample and a

part of the data was obtained by another group which may have different methods of

compaction.

12
From the values of q ultimate, it is obvious that trials #1, #2, #3 and #4 have very soft

consistencies, according to the manual.

When executing the experiment a few errors may have occurred:

• Imperfections in the reading of the gauge.

• The force reading and the displacement readings weren’t at the exact time.

• Inconsistency in the compaction.

• Weakening the sample during its removal from the mold.

• Errors caused by the testing machine.

13
Reference:

• Das, Braja M., Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 7th edition.

• Das, Braja M., Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual, 6th edition, University of

California State, 2002 print.

• Das, B. M. (2006). Principles of geotechnical engineering. Stamford,CT:

Thomson Learning College.

14