GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY

OPEN-ENDED LAB
SEMESTER 2

TITLE OF EXPERIMENT : DETERMINATION OF UNCONFINED COMPRESSION STRENGTH

MARKS COMMENTS
INTRODUCTION
BASIC CONCEPTS
METHODOLOGY 1 2 3 4 5
RESULTS&ANALYSIS 1 2 3 4 5
DISCUSSION 1 2 3 4 5
CONCLUSION 1 2 3 4 5
ORGANIZATION 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL MARKS
COURSE GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY
COURSE CODE ECG428
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 2
CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN
DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 66

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES
DETERMINATION OF THE UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH
(With referenced to clause 7 of BS1377: Part 7: 1990)

PREAMBLE
Introduction

The traditional methods of conducting laboratory activities will not be able to provide
the avenue for students to enhance independent learning activities and inculcate
creativity and innovation. Level 0 is fully prescriptive where problem, ways & means
and answers are provided to the students. However, it is still necessary especially to
first and second year students.

The shear strength of soil, τf is the maximum resistance to shearing stresses and
represented by Coulomb’s equation of:

τf = c + σ tan 

where σ = total normal stress on the failure plane

c = cohesion
 = angle of internal friction

In an unconfined compression test, a specimen of soil is subjected to a steadily

increasing axial compression only until failure occurs. The axial force is the only force
acting on the specimen, therefore the cell pressure, 3 is equal to zero (3 = 0). The test
provides an immediate approximate value of the compressive strength of the soil;
either it is undisturbed or remolded specimen. It is carried out in a short period of time
to ensure that no drainage of water is permitted into or out of the specimen.

Objectives

To determine the unconfined compressive strength of soil using triaxial shear

apparatus.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able to:

 1. acquire the understanding of engineering properties of soils in determination
of the unconfined compressive strength
2. acquire the necessary skill to prepare sample and conduct force measuring device
and the axial deformation gauges in performing standard laboratory
3. calculate and analyze data to report and present result in a proper engineering
format.

The maximum value of the compressive force per unit area which the specimen can
sustain is termed as the unconfined compressive strength of the soil. In very plastic
PROBLEM
STATEMENTS soils, where the axial stress does not readily reach a maximum value, an axial strain of
20 % is allowed as the failure criterion.

WAYS & MEANS

Apparatus
1. Unconfined compression test machine
2. Dial gauges, load ring, and/or electronic displacement and load transducers
3. Sample preparation apparatus: soil lathe, trimming saw, and cradle
4. Moisture content equipment

Sample Preparation
a) The cylinder specimens were prepared, undisturbed, compacted or
remoulded as per requirement, at pre-determined water content (for cohesive
soil).
b) The dimensions of the specimen were measured.
c) The weight of the specimen was recorded.
d) The representative sample for water content determination was kept i.e. the
weight of wet sample was recorded. It was kept into the oven and weight
was taken after 24 hours when it becomes dry.
e) The average height and diameter were measured to check the density.

Procedures
1. The specimen was placed in the compression test machine (Figure 1).
2. The machine was adjusted carefully so that the upper plate just makes contact
with the specimen on the lower plate. Zero the deformation indicator.
3. The load were applied to produce axial strain at a rate of 0.5% to 2% per min
and the load and deformation values were recorded as needed to provide a
complete curve (every 30 sec is normally adequate).
4. The rate of strain was regulated, so that the approximate time to failure does
not exceed 10 minutes. Note that softer materials, which exhibit large
deformations at failure, will require higher strain rates during the test.
5. The test was continued until load values decrease with the increasing strain or
until 20% axial strain was reached.
6. The specimen was removed from the test machine, the sample moisture
content was determined by using the entire test specimen unless
representative cuttings were obtained for this purpose.
7. A sketch of the test specimen at failure was made including the slope angle for
the failure surface if measurable.
 Figure 1 : Unconfined compression test machine

Given;

Initial sample diameter, d 74 mm

Initial sample length, lo 148 mm
Mass 1222 g

Table 1 : Moisture content determination

Mc = mass of empty, clean can + lid (g) 15.6

MCMS = mass of can, lid, and moist soil (g) 46

MCDS = mass of can, lid, and dry soil (g) 38.4

RESULTS MS = mass of soil solids (g) 22.8

MW = mass of pore water (g) 7.6

W = water content, w% 33.33

3
Wet density, Wd (g/cm )  1.92
3
Dry density, Dd (g/cm )  1.44

Area (A0) =

Volume =

Wet density =

Water content (w%) = 33.3%

Dry density =

Table 2 : Unconfined Compression Test Data

(Proving ring calibration = 7.7kN/div)

Axial
Load
Corrected Axial Axial Strain,
Deformation, Strain, ɛ Dial
Area, A’ Load, P Stress, σ ɛ
ΔL (mm) (mm/mm) Reading
(cm²) (kN) (kPa) (%)
(div.)

0 0 0
0 43.00 0 0
0.2 4 0.14
0.0014 43.10 30.8 0.715
0.4 9 0.27
0.0027 43.11 69.3 1.607
0.6 12 0.41
0.0041 43.18 92.4 2.140
0.8 19 0.54
0.0054 43.23 146.3 3.384
1 21 0.68
0.0068 43.29 161.7 3.735
1.2 24 0.81
0.0081 43.35 184.8 4.263
1.4 26 0.95
0.0095 43.41 200.2 4.611
1.6 29 1.10
0.011 43.50 223.3 5.133
1.8 33 1.20
0.012 43.52 254.1 5.839
2 36 1.40
0.014 43.61 277.2 6.356
2.5 45 1.70
0.017 43.74 346.5 7.922
3 54 2.00
0.020 43.90 415.8 9.471
3.5 64 2.40
0.024 44.06 492.8 11.185
4 74 2.70
0.027 44.20 569.8 12.891
4.5 84 3.00
0.030 44.33 646.8 14.590
5 93 3.40
0.034 44.51 716.1 16.088
5.5 102 3.70
0.037 44.65 785.4 17.590
6 112 4.10
0.041 44.84 862.4 19.232
6.5 120 4.40
0.044 45.00 924 20.533
7 129 4.70
0.047 45.12 993.3 22.015
7.5 138 5.10
0.051 45.30 1062.6 23.457
8 144 5.40
0.054 45.45 1108.8 24.396
8.5 152 5.70
0.057 45.60 1170.4 25.667
9 160 6.10
0.061 45.80 1232 26.899
9.5 166 6.40
0.064 46.00 1278.2 27.787
 10 171 6.60
0.066 46.04 1316.7 28.599
11 182 7.40
0.074 46.44 1401.4 30.176
12 192 8.10
0.081 46.80 1478.4 31.590
13 202 9.00
0.090 47.25 1555.4 32.918
14 209 9.50
0.095 47.51 1609.3 33.873
15 217 10.10
0.101 47.83 1670.9 34.934
16 223 10.80
0.108 48.21 1717.1 35.617
17 229 11.50
0.115 48.60 1763.3 36.281
18 234 12.20
0.122 49.00 1801.8 36.771
19 240 12.80
0.128 49.31 1848 37.477
20 243 13.50
0.135 49.71 1871.1 37.640
22 250 15.00
0.150 50.60 1925 38.043
24 253 16.20
0.162 51.31 1948.1 37.967
26 255 17.60
0.176 52.18 1963.5 37.629
28 256 18.90
0.189 53.02 1971.2 37.178
30 254 20.30
0.203 54.00 1955.8 36.218

Axial Strain (ε2)      = ΔL/Lo x 100

                                    = 0.2/148 x 100%
                                    = 0.14%
             
Corrected Area       = (ε2+100)/100 x Ao
                                    = (0.14+100)/100 x 43.0
                                    = 43.10 cm2

Axial Load                = Load Dial x 7.7 kN/div

                                    = 4 x 7.7
                                    = 30.8 kN
                                   
Axial Stress.           = Axial Load / Corrected Area
                                    = 30.8 / 43.051
                                    = 0.715 kPa
 (15,38.043)

DATA ANALYSIS

In conclusion, the compressive strength of the soil is determined which is 38.043

kPa and the consistency is soft. Since the water content is 33.3%, the cohesion is
CONCLUSION
19.021 kPa because the greater the water content, the smaller the cohesive strength.
The test is conclude as a success and the objective is determined.

DISCUSSION AND
RECOMMENDATION The Unconfined Compression Test is a laboratory test used to derive the
Unconfirmed Compressive Strength (UCS) of a rock specimen. Unconfirmed
Compressive Strength (UCS) stands for the maximum axial compressive stress that a
specimen can bear under zero confining stress. Due to the fact that stress is applied
along the longitudinal axis, the Unconfined Compression Test is also known as Uniaxial
Compression Test. UCS is a parameter widely used in geotechnical design, but may not
represent the strength in-situ. On a large scale, the rock mass properties are highly
affected by other factors including discontinuities, faults and weathering.

Unconfined compression test is to determine the value of cu for a clayey soil. The
unconfined strength is given by the relation cu= qu /2 where, qu is the unconfined
compression strength. From the graph of axial stress vs axial strain, the ultimate
compressive strength, qu is determine at 15% axial strain. The qu value was the peak
point on the graph and the value obtained was 38.043 kPa. Based on the value of qu
obtained, the consistency of a cohesive soil is soft since the value is in between 25-50
kPa. After obtaining qu, cohesion was determined to be 19.0215 kPa.

Based on the graph, there are a few errors that affecting the test. First is, one of the
largest sources is the use of an unrepresentative sample of soil. The sample can also be
unrepresentative if it has been disturbed or changed from its original slate. A common
cause for disturbance is the soil sampling process. Disturbance usually has the effect of
lowering the strength of the soil and reducing the slope of the stress-strain curve.
Next, if the sample is too short there will be significant end effects. End effects are
caused by the top and bottom loading plates that grip the sample. They can increase the
strength of a soil sample by preventing the formation of the weakest failure plane. If the
sample is too long, we find that it tends to buckle.
Another source of error is that the soil is not confined during shear but will be
confined in the field if the soil is located at a depth of a few feet or more. The problem is
most severe with fissured soils (soils that contain cracks). In the ground, the cracks are
held closed by the confining pressure due to the weight of soil above it. The soil is much
stronger in this state than it is with no confining pressure in an unconfined compression
test.