Geotechnical Design:

Direct Shear Test

(Shear Box)
MICHAEL MAMATTA CERT IV CIVIL CONSTRUCTION
 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)....................................................................................................…...2

Aim:

 Scope
 Apparatus
 Procedure

Sieve Analysis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3

Section 1: Proving Ring (Analogue)…………………………………………………………………………………………………4

Calculation:

 τ : Tau and Ф : Phi calculations

Section 2: Loading Cell (Digital)……………………………………………………………………………………………………6

Calculation:

 τ : Tau and Ф : Phi calculations

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….8

Report……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……8

Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…9

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Aim

To determine the Direct Shear strength of Sand using two different types of Shear Box testing
apparatus to perform a compression test.

Scope

This Test sets out a method for the determination of the relationship between Forces loaded on
Sand with regards to its Shear strength and internal friction. Thus it is used for testing non cohesive
soils such as sand or gravels.

Apparatus

The shear box apparatus is used for carrying out a shear test for non-cohesive soils and in this case
sand is being tested. Essentially it is a box that is split horizontally in two; soil placed in the box can
be loaded vertically from the top and a horizontal load applied to the upper half of the box until the
sample fails in shear.

Note: Refer to Appendix A

Procedure

(a) Prepare sample and with a nest of Sieve from 2.36mm down to pan.

(b) Starting with 2kg of dry Sieved Sand ranging from the 2.36mm sieve size down and place the
sample in a tray. Then carry out the shear box test by adding equally distributed portions of the
sample into the shear box and then proceed by following the guidelines in Appendix C for safe
operation of equipment. For each test a weight added is doubled to give a maximum horizontal
force to the sample until it shears, this point can be seen when the dial gauge on the Proving
ring apparatus or loading cell is seen to stop and potentially moving backwards from its
maximum point reached.

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

SEIVE ANAYLSIS: Particle Size Distribution

PSD TABLE : 2.36mm Down

Mss of
%
Size of Mass of Sieve Mass Retained Cumulative
PASSING
Sieve Sieve + Retained % Retained %
100-Cr
Fraction (g)
2.36 598.8 707 108.2 5.41 5.4 94.6
1.7 370 432.1 62.1 3.10 8.5 91.5
1.18 548.3 637.2 88.9 4.44 13.0 87.0
880 510.1 638.2 128.1 6.40 19.4 80.6
600 493.4 1000 506.6 25.33 44.7 55.3
500 333.3 584.1 250.8 12.54 57.2 42.8
425 296.2 477.6 181.4 9.07 66.3 33.7
300 490.4 945.6 455.2 22.76 89.1 10.9
212 493.5 610.2 116.7 5.83 94.9 5.1
150 476.7 535.3 58.6 2.93 97.8 2.2
106 461 490.3 29.3 1.46 99.3 0.7
75 486 495.6 9.6 0.48 99.8 0.2
53 478.6 482.1 3.5 0.17 99.9 0.1
Pan 446.5 447.5 1 0.05 100.0 0.0
Final MASS (g) 2000
Initial Mass (g) 2000.2
(Mi-Mf/Mi) x
0.01
100
% LOSS 1%

GRADING CUVRE:

100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
% PASSING

60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
0 200 400 600 800 1000
SIEVE SIZE

The graph can be seen as a Well Graded sample of sand.

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Section 1: PROVING RING (ANALOGUE)

Carry out the shear box test by adding equally distributed portions of the sample into the shear box
and placing it into the apparatus and proceed by following the guidelines in Appendix C.

Added weights:

i. 5.1kg x 10 = 51N
ii. 10.2kg x 10 = 102N
iii. 20.4 kg x10 = 204N

Reading the analogue gauge where one rotation = 100 divisions and every division is 0.002mm

 τmm 1 = 23 divisions x 0.002mm = 0.046mm this value is the deflection in mm and using a
proving ring calibration graph for SHEARBOX APPARATUS the force in kN can be found and

in this case the Force is 0.022kN which is equal to τ = 22N.

 refer to Appendix D: PROVING RING CALIBRATION GRAPH for all Force readings:

Calculations:

EQUATION 1:

Finding the angle of repose: Ф

i. τ = Shear Strength (N) = 22N
ii. δ = Normal Stress (N) = 51N
τ = δ. tanФ
τ −1
Ф = tan ( )
δ
−1
22
= tan ( )
51
Ф = 23.33˚

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

 τmm 2 = 92 divisions x 0.002mm = 0.184mm, FORCE τ = 90N

 τmm 3 = 110 divisions x 0.002mm = 0.22mm, FORCE τ = 108N

EQUATION 2: EQUATION 3:

Finding the angle of repose: Ф Finding the angle of repose: Ф

iii. τ = Shear Strength (N) = 90N v. τ = Shear Strength (N) = 108N
iv. δ = Normal Stress (N) = 102N vi. δ = Normal Stress (N) = 204N
τ = δ. tanФ τ = δ. tanФ
τ −1
τ −1
Ф = tan ( ) Ф = tan ( )
δ δ
90 −1
108 −1
= tan ( ) = tan ( )
102 204
Ф = 41.42˚ Ф = 27.89˚

Therefore average angle of repose can be calculated and is equal to Ф = 30.88˚

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Section 1: LOADING CELL (DIGITAL)

Carry out the shear box test by adding equally distributed portions of the sample into the shear box
and placing it into the apparatus and proceed by following the guidelines in Appendix C.

Added weights:

iv. kg x 10 = N
v. kg x 10 = N
vi. kg x10 = N

 τmm 1 = divisions x mm = mm this value is the deflection in mm and using a proving ring
calibration graph for SHEARBOX APPARATUS the force in kN can be found and in this case

the Force is 0.0kN which is equal to τ = N.

 refer to Appendix B: PROVING RING CALIBRATION GRAPH for all Force readings:

Calculations

EQUATION 1:

Finding the angle of repose: Ф

vii. τ = Shear Strength (N) = N
viii. δ = Normal Stress (N) = N
τ = δ. tanФ
τ
Ф = tan−1 ( )
δ

= tan−1 ( )

Ф=˚

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

 τmm 2 = divisions x 0.002mm = 0.mm, FORCE τ=N

 τmm 3 = divisions x 0.002mm = 0.mm, FORCE τ = N

EQUATION 1: EQUATION 1:

Finding the angle of repose: Ф Finding the angle of repose: Ф

xi. τ = Shear Strength (N) = N ix. τ = Shear Strength (N) = N
xii. δ = Normal Stress (N) = N x. δ = Normal Stress (N) = N
τ = δ. tanФ τ = δ. tanФ
τ −1
τ −1
Ф = tan ( ) Ф = tan ( )
δ δ

= tan−1 ( ) = tan−1 ( )

Ф=˚ Ф=˚

Therefore average angle of repose can be calculated and is equal to Ф=˚

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Conclusion

Therefore it can be seen that there is a direct coloration between the Normal Stress

(sigma δ τ
) and tau Ф
as sigma increase so thus tau, from this we can calculate the angle of
repose , it can also be noticed that as the weight is increased during the test and shear strength of
sand is increased.
The shear strength relates to the foundation design. From the Proving Ring (Analogue) test the value

of average τ= 73.33N and average angle of repose Ф =30.88˚ Calculated we determine the
bearing capacity of a soil type and thereby can determine the allowable load it can carry. Therefore
the as the normal stress increases the shear strength also increases proportionally.

REPORT:

a) TAFE GEO LAB

b) Date 1/6/17 : time 9:00am
c) Temperature : 16 degrees
d) Humidity : 82%
e) SAMPLE: SAND ( sieved from 2.36mm DOWN to Pan)
f) PROVING RING RESULTS:

 Force δ 1 = 51N
 Force δ 2 = 102N

 Force δ 3 = 204N

 τ1 = 22N
 τ2 = 90N
 τ3 = 108N
 Ф1 = 23.33˚
 Ф2 = 41.42˚
 Ф3 = 27.89˚

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Appendix A: MAIN PROVING RING SHEARBOX APPARATUS

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Appendix B: SHEARBOX APPARATUS WHERE SAND IS PLACED INSIDE

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Appendix C: SHEARBOX TEST: SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURE

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 Geotechnical Design: Direct Shear Test (Shear Box)

Appendix D: PROVING RING CALIBRATION GRAPH

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