Tri-axial Test

In this test, a soil specimen about 36 mm in diameter and 76 mm (3 in.) long generally is
used. The specimen is encased by a thin rubber membrane and placed inside a plastic
cylindrical chamber that usually is filled with water or glycerine. The specimen is subjected
to a confining pressure by compression of the fluid in the chamber. (Note: Air is
sometimes used as a compression medium.) To cause shear failure in the specimen, one
must apply axial stress (sometimes called deviator stress) through a vertical loading ram.
This stress can be applied in one of two ways:
1. Application of dead weights or hydraulic pressure in equal increments until the
specimen fails. (Axial deformation of the specimen resulting from the load applied
through the ram is measured by a dial gauge.)
2. Application of axial deformation at a constant rate by means of a geared or
hydraulic loading press. This is a strain-controlled test.

Figure shows the diagram of a tri-axial test equipment

Connections to measure drainage into or out of the specimen, or to measure
pressure in the pore water (as per the test conditions), also are provided. The
following three standard types of triaxial tests generally are conducted:
1. Consolidated-drained test or drained test (CD test)
2. Consolidated-undrained test (CU test)
3. Unconsolidated-undrained test or undrained test (UU test)
Consolidated-drained Test (CD Test)
In this test, the specimen is first subjected to an all-around confining pressure, σ3, by
compression of the chamber fluid. As the deviator stress, σD, on the specimen is
increased at a very slow rate, the drainage connection is kept open and the slow rate
of deviator stress application allows complete dissipation of any pore water pressure,
thus consolidation will occur.

Figure shows the application of tress during a CD test

For normally consolidated soil (non-cohesive, c=0)

σ1 – major principal stress at failure

σ3- confining stress
σD – deviator stress
Ø – angle of internal friction
Ɵ – angle that the failure plane makes with the major principal stress
∅
𝜃 = 45 +
2
Over Consolidated Soil (cohesive soil)

Problem 1
A consolidated drained tri-axial was conducted on a normally consolidated clay. The
results were: σ3 = 300 kpa, deviator stress = 300 kpa. Determine (a) the angle of
shearing resistance (b) the angle that the failure plane makes with the major principal
stress (c) Compute the shear stress on the failure plane

𝑟 150
𝑠𝑖𝑛∅ = ; 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅ = ; ∅ = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟒𝟕°
𝜎3 + 𝑟 300 + 150
∅ 19.47
𝜃 = 45 + ; 𝜃 = 45 + = 𝟓𝟒. 𝟕𝟒°
2 2
𝜏 = 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠∅ = 150 cos 19.47 = 𝟏𝟒𝟏. 𝟒𝟐 𝒌𝑷𝒂
Problem 2
A soil sample has an angle of shear resistance equal to 26.57. If it has a cohesion of
10 kPa and a normal stress of 400 kPa at a point of max. shearing resistance, compute
(a) the deviator stress at failure (b) the chamber confining pressure, and (c) the normal
stress at a point of failure plane (d) major principal stress

𝜎𝐷
⁄2
sin 26.57 =
𝑥 + 𝜎𝑁
10
tan 26.57 = ; 𝑥 = 20𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝑥
𝜎𝐷
⁄2
sin 26.57 = ; 𝜎 = 𝟑𝟕𝟓. 𝟕𝟐 𝒌𝑷𝒂
20 + 400 𝐷
𝜎𝐷 375.72
𝜎𝑁 = 𝜎3 + ; 400 = 𝜎3 + ; 𝜎3 = 𝟐𝟏𝟐. 𝟏𝟒 𝒌𝑷𝒂
2 2
375.72
𝜎 = 400 − sin 26.57 = 𝟑𝟏𝟓. 𝟗𝟕 𝒌𝑷𝒂
2
𝜎1 = 𝜎3 + 𝜎𝐷 = 212.14 + 375.72 = 𝟓𝟖𝟕. 𝟖𝟔 𝒌𝑷𝒂
Consolidated-Undrained Test (CU Test)

In this test, the saturated soil specimen is first consolidated by an all-around chamber
fluid pressure, σ3, that results in drainage. After the pore water pressure generated by
the application of confining pressure is dissipated, the deviator stress on the specimen
is increased to cause shear failure. During this phase of the test, the drainage line
from the specimen is kept close because drainage is not permitted.

Figure shows triaxial soil specimen at failure during a consolidated-undrained test

 ⍙u – pore water pressure
σD – Deviator stress
σ3 – confining stress
Ø – drained angle of friction
Øcu – undrained angle of friction

Problem 1
A sample of normally consolidated clay was subjected to a consolidated undrained tri-
axial compression that was carried out until the specimen failed at a deviator stress of
50 kPa. The pore water pressure at failure was recorded to be 18 kPa and a confining
pressure of 48 kPa was used in the test. Compute (a) the consolidated undrained
friction angle for the total stress strength envelope, (b) the drained friction angle for
the effective stress strength envelope, and (c) the difference in the angle of shearing
resistance
 50⁄
sin ∅𝑐𝑢 = 2 ; ∅ = 𝟐𝟎°
𝒄𝒖
50
48 + ⁄2

50⁄
sin ∅ = 2
50
𝑥 + ⁄2

𝑥 = 48 − 18 = 30𝑘𝑃𝑎
50⁄
sin ∅ = 2 ; ∅ = 𝟐𝟕°
50
30 + ⁄2

27° − 20° = 𝟕°

Problem 2
The following data was recorded during a consolidated-undrained tri-axial
compression test on a clay soil

Compute (a) undrained value of angle of shearing resistance (b) undrained value of
cohesion (c) drained value of angle of shearing resistance (d) drained value of
cohesion
 160 212.5
= ; 𝑥 = 357.14
260 + 𝑥 462.5 + 𝑥
160
sin ∅𝑐𝑢 = ; ∅ = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟎𝟑°
260 + 357.14 𝒄𝒖
𝑐𝑢
tan 15.03 = ; 𝒄 = 𝟗𝟓. 𝟗 𝒌𝑷𝒂
357.14 𝒖

160 212.5
= ; 𝑥 = 60.02 𝑘𝑃𝑎
293.5 + 𝑥 409.5 + 𝑥
160
sin ∅ = ; ∅ = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟗°
293.5 + 60.02
𝑐
tan 26.9 = ; 𝑐 = 30.45 𝑘𝑃𝑎
60.02
Unconsolidated-Undrained Test (UU Test)
In unconsolidated-undrained tests, drainage from the soil specimen is not permitted
during the application of chamber pressure. The test specimen is sheared to failure
by the application of deviator stress and drainage is prevented.

∅=0
⍙u – pore water pressure
σD – Deviator stress
Minor effective stress at failure:
𝜎3′ = 𝜎3 − ∆𝑢
Major effective stress at failure:
𝜎1′ = 𝜎1 − ∆𝑢
Cu = undrained shear strength

Problem 1
At a point in a stressed material, the major principal stress is 5000 psf compression
and the minor principal stress is 2000 psf compression. Compute (a) the max shear
stress acting on the same plane (b) the value of normal stress acting on the same
plane
 2r = 5000-2000; r=1500 psf
Normal stress = 2000 +1500; 3500 psft