UNIT- 5

Shear strength of
soil
 The strength of a material is the greatest
stress it can sustain
 The safety of any geotechnical structure is
dependent on the strength of the soil
 If the soil fails, the structure founded on it can
collapse

Shear Failure in Soils

Shear Strength in Soils
 The shear strength of a soil is its resistance to
shearing stresses.
 It is a measure of the soil resistance to deformation by
continuous displacement of its individual soil particles
 Shear strength in soils depends primarily on
interactions between particles
 Shear failure occurs when the stresses between the
particles are such that they slide or roll past each other
o Soil derives its shear strength from two sources:
o Cohesion between particles (stress independent
component)
o Cementation between sand grains

o Electrostatic attraction between clay particles

o Frictional resistance between particles (stress dependent

component)
SHEAR FAILURE OF SOILS

Soils generally fail in shear

Embankment
Strip footing

Failure surface
Mobilized shear resistance
At failure, shear stress along the
failure surface (mobilized shear
resistance) reaches the shear strength.
 SHEAR FAILURE OF SOILS
Soils generally fail in shear

Mobilized
Retaining
shear
wall
resistance

Failure
surface

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface

(mobilized shear resistance) reaches the shear strength.
Shear failure mechanism

failure surface

The soil grains slide over each

other along the failure surface.

No crushing of individual
grains.
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria:

 This theory states that a material fails because of a

critical combination of normal stress and shear stress,
and not from their either maximum normal or shear
stress alone.
 The relationship between normal stress and shear is
given as
s - shear strength

s  c    tan
C - cohesion
 - angle of internal
friction
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
(in terms of effective stresses)

 f  c' ' tan

'-u
'
u = pore water
pressure
Effective ’
cohesion Effective
f friction angle
c
’

 f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without

failure, under normal effective stress of .
MOHR-COULOMB FAILURE CRITERION

Shear strength consists of two components:

cohesive and frictional.

f
 f  c' ' f tan  '
frictional
’ ’f tan ’ component

c’
c’
’f '

c and  are measures of shear strength. Higher the values, higher the shear
strength.
 MOHR CIRCLE OF STRESS
’
1

’
’ ’
3  3
Soil element

’
1

Resolving forces in  and  directions,

 -
' '

 Sin2
1 3
2
1' -3 
' 2
 '   
' '
2
  -  
2 1 3
1   3  1 -  3  2 
' ' ' '

 '   Cos2  2   
2 2
 Mohr Circle of stress
’1
’
’
Soil element
’3 ’3


Soil element

’1


2

 - 
' 2 ' ' 1' - '
 '   
'
 -  
3


2 1 3 1 3 2
  2 
 2    1 ’
3  1'   '
' '
3
2
 Mohr Circle of stress
’1
’
’
Soil element
’3 ’3


Soil element

’1

 ’, 
'-
'

' 2
' -3' 
1 3

 '   
'
2
 -   1 
2 1 3
 
 2  ''
 2    3'  '1 ’
1 3

2
PD = Pole w.r.t. plane
Mohr Circle & Failure Envelope


Failure surface
 f  c' ' tan  '

Y Y
X X
’
Soil elements at different locations

Y ~ stable
X ~ failure
Mohr Circles & Failure Envelope

As loading progresses, Mohr

circle becomes larger…

GL


c
Y c
c

.. and finally failure occurs

when Mohr circle touches the
envelope
 ORIENTATION OF FAILURE PLANE
’1
Failure envelope
’
’
’3 ’3
 ’,  f
  –
’1 
’ 
3
'
 1'   ' 1
' ’
3
2

PD = Pole w.r.t. plane

Therefore,
  45 + ’/2
 –   ’ = 
 Mohr circles in terms of total & effective stresses

v  u
v’

X X u
= + X

 Failure envelope in terms Failure envelope in

If X is on of effective stresses terms of total stresses
failure ’
effective stresses 
total stresses

c’ c
h’ v’ h v or
u 
 Mohr Coulomb failure criterion with Mohr circle of stress

’v = ’1  Failure envelope in terms

of effective stresses

’h = ’3
X
effective stresses
 -
’ c’
 
X is on failure ’3 ’1 
c’    
Therefore, Cot  

   1'   3'    1' -  3' 

c'Cot '  Sin '   
  2   2 
   1'   3'    1' -  3' 
c'Cot '  Sin '   
  2   2 
 '
1
'
3   1 3 
-      Sin '2c'Cos '
' '

 1- Sin '   1 Sin ' 2c'Cos '

' '
1 3

1 Sin ' Cos '

 1'    2c'
'

1- Sin ' 1- Sin '

3

  '   '
 1'   Tan  45  2   2c'Tan 45  2 
' 2
3
   
Determination of shear strength parameters of soils
(c, or c’ ’

Laboratory tests on Field tests

specimens taken from
representative undisturbed
samples

Most common laboratory tests to 1. Vane shear test

determine the shear strength 2. Torvane
parameters are, 3. Pocket penetrometer
4. Fall cone
1.Direct shear test 5. Pressuremeter
2.Triaxial shear test 6. Static cone penetrometer
3. Direct simple shear test 7. Standard penetration test
 LABORATORY
Field conditions TESTS

A representative
soil sample
z z
vc vc + 

hc hc hc hc

vc vc + 

Before construction After and during

construction
 vc + 

LABORATORY TESTS
hc hc
Simulating field conditions
in the laboratory
0 vc
vc + 
vc
0 0 hc hc


0 vc 
Representative vc
Step 1
soil sample
taken from the Set the specimen in Step 2 Apply
site the apparatus and corresponding the
apply the initial field
stress condition stress conditions
Direct shear test
Schematic diagram of the direct shear apparatus
Direct shear test is most suitable for consolidated drained tests
DIRECT SHEAR TEST
specially on granular soils (e.g.: sand) or stiff clays

Preparation of a sand specimen

Porous plates

Components of the shear box Preparation of a sand specimen

Preparation of a sand specimen Pressure plate

Leveling the top surface Specimen preparation

of specimen completed
 Steel ball
Test procedure P
Pressure plate
Porous plates

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation

Step 2: Lower box is subjected to a horizontal displacement at a constant rate

DIRECT SHEAR TEST Dial gauge to
measure vertical
Shear box displacement

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Loading frame to Dial gauge to

apply vertical load measure horizontal
displacement
 Analysis of test results

Normal force (P)

 Normal stress 
Area of cross section of the sample

  Shear stress  Shear resistance developed at the sliding surface (S)

Area of cross section of the sample

Note: Cross-sectional area of the sample changes with the horizontal

displacement
DIRECT SHEAR TESTS ON SANDS
STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP
Dense sand/


OC clay
f
stress,
Shear
Loose sand/
f NC clay

Shear displacement
Expansion
Change in height
of the sample

Dense sand/OC Clay

Shear displacement
Compression

Loose sand/NC Clay

How to determine strength parameters c and 

Normal stress = 3

stress,
Shear

Normal stress =
 f2  f1  1
 f3

Shear displacement

Mohr – Coulomb failure envelope

Shear stress at


failure,  f

Normal stress,
 DIRECT
In case SHEAR
of clay, TESTS
horizontal ON CLAYS
displacement should be applied at a very
slow rate to allow dissipation of pore water pressure (therefore, one
test would take several days to finish)

Failure envelopes for clay from drained direct shear tests

Overconsolidated clay (c’ ≠ 0)

Normally consolidated clay (c’ = 0)

Shear stress at


failure,  f

Normal force,

In many foundation design problems and retaining wall problems, it
is INTERIRECT SHEARthe
required to determine APPARATUS
angle of internal friction between
soil and the structural material (concrete, steel or wood)
P

Soil
Soil S
Foundation material
Foundation material

 f  ca   '
Where,
ca = adhesion,
tan   = angle of internal friction
 Advantages of direct shear apparatus

Due to the smaller thickness of the sample, rapid

drainage can be achieved
Can be used to determine interface strength parameters

Clay samples can be oriented along the plane of

weakness or an identified failure plane

Disadvantages of direct shear apparatus

Failure occurs along a predetermined failure plane

Area of the sliding surface changes as the test progresses
Non-uniform distribution of shear stress along the failure surface
TRIAXIAL SHEAR TEST
Piston (to apply deviatoric stress)

Failure plane
O-ring

impervious
membrane
Soil sample Soil
at failure sample
Porous
Perspex stone
cell
Water

Cell pressure
Back pressure Pore pressure or
pedestal volume change
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sample is covered
Cell is completely
with a rubber filled with water
membrane an d sealed
 TRIAXIAL
Specimen SHEAR
preparation TEST
(undisturbed sample)
Proving ring to
measure the
deviator load

Dial gauge to
measure vertical
displacement

In some tests
TYPES OF TRIAXIAL TESTS
deviatoric stress
( = q)

Step 1 c Step 2

 
  c c
c c

 +
 c

c
q
Under all-around cell pressure Shearing (loading)
 c
Is the drainage valve open? Is the drainage valve open?

yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated Drained Undrained

sample sample loading loading
TYPES OF TRIAXIAL TESTS
Step 1 Step 2

Under all-around cell pressure Shearing (loading)

 c

Is the drainage valve open? Is the drainage valve open?

yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated
sample Drained Undrained
sample loading loading

CD test UU test

CU test
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Dense sand or OC clay

d)f

stress,   d Loose sand

Deviator

 or NC Clay

d)f

Axial strain
Expansion
Volume change

Dense sand or OC
of the sample

clay
Axial strain
Compression

Loose sand or NC
clay
 How to determine strength parameters c and 
 )
d f 1 =
CD TESTS
3
c 
( +
Confining stress = 
d

3c
d)f
stress,  

Confining stress = 
Deviator

3b
 d f  Confining stress = 3
 )   3a
b

)
ad f
Axial strain


Mohr – Coulomb failure envelope

stress,
Shear

    
or
3a
3c 
( 1a 1b 1c
 3b
( d fb
 Failure envelopes

ForCD TESTS
sand and NC Clay, cd = 0

d
Mohr – Coulomb
failure envelope

stress,
Shear

  or
3a 
( 1a

d)
a f
Therefore, one CD test would be sufficient to determine  d
of sand or NC clay
 Failure envelopes

ForCD Clay, cd ≠ 0
OCTESTS

 OC NC


c or
  
3 ( 1 c

d)f
Some practical applications of CD analysis for
clays
1. Embankment constructed very slowly, in layers over a soft clay
deposit

Soft clay

  = in situ drained
shear strength
Some practical applications of CD analysis for
clays
2. Earth dam with steady state seepage

• 

• Core

•  = drained shear strength of

clay core
Some practical applications of CD analysis for
clays
3. Excavation or natural slope in clay

 = In situ drained shear strength

Note: CD test simulates the long term condition in the

field. Thus, cd and d should be used to evaluate
the long term behavior of soils
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Volume change of sample during consolidation

Expansion
Volume change of the

Time
sample

Compression
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Dense sand or OC clay

d)f

d
stress,   Loose sand
Deviator

 or NC Clay

d)f

Axial strain
+

Loose sand /NC Clay

Axial strain
u

Dense sand or OC
clay
-
 How to determine strength parameters c and 
CU TESTS   1=  3
d)f
b
Confining stress =  + (d)f
d

3b
stress,  

Confining stress =

Deviator

 3a
3
d)f
Total stresses at failure
a
Axial strain

Mohr – Coulomb
 cu
failure envelope in


terms of total stresses

stress,
Shear

ccu
   
or
3a 3b ( d fa 1a 1b

 How to determine strength parameters c and 
 1 =  3 + (d)f -
CU TESTS uf

uf
  =3
Mohr – Coulomb failure
envelope in terms -u
f

of effective stresses Effective stresses at failure

Mohr – Coulomb

failure envelope  cu


in terms of total
stresses
stress,
Shear

ufb
ufa
C’ ccu  

3
  
or
 
b
3a 3b (dd)fafa
( 11ba 1b

3a 1a
 Failure envelopes
For sand and NC Clay, ccu and c’ = 0
CU TESTS
Mohr – Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
effective stresses

Mohr – Coulomb ’  cu

failure envelope in
terms of total stresses

stress,
Shear

   or
1a
3a CU test 
3a
( 1a

d)
a f
Therefore, one would be sufficient to determine
 cu and  =  d) of sand or NC clay
Some practical applications of CU analysis for
clays
1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

  = in situ
undrained shear
strength
Some practical applications of CU analysis for
clays
2. Rapid drawdown behind an earth dam

• 

• Core

•  = Undrained shear strength of clay

core
Some practical applications of CU analysis for
clays
3. Rapid construction of an embankment on a natural slope

 = In situ undrained shear

strength
Note: Total stress parameters from CU test (ccu and cu) can be used for
stability problems where,
Soil have become fully consolidated and are at equilibrium with the
existing stress state; Then for some reason additional
stresses are applied quickly with no drainage occurring
 Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Step 1: Immediately after sampling
0

Step 2: After application of hydrostatic cell pressure

 C =  3
No  = 3
3
 = uc
drainage - uc  3 =

C
= + 3
3 
- uc

uc = B
Increase of pwp due
Increase of cell pressure
to 3
increase of cell pressure
Skempton’s pore water
pressure parameter, B
Note: If soil is fully saturated, then B = 1 (hence, uc = 
3)
 Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Step 3: During application of axial load
 1 = 3 + uc
 3+ 
ud -
No d
 d
drainage   3 = 3 -
3 = + u u

c d

uc ± ud

ud =
AB d
Increase of pwp due to Increase of deviator
increase of deviator stress stress
Skempton’s pore water
pressure parameter, A
Combining steps 2 and 3,
UNCONSOLIDATED- UNDRAINED TEST (UU TEST)

uc = B  3 ud = AB d

Total pore water pressure increment at any stage, u

u = uc + ud

u = B [ 3 +
A d]
u = B [ 3 + A( 1 – Skempton’s pore
water pressure
 3] equation
Some practical applications of UU analysis for
clays
1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

  = in situ
undrained shear
strength
Some practical applications of UU analysis for
clays
2. Large earth dam constructed rapidly with
no change in water content of soft clay

• 

• Core

•  = Undrained shear strength of clay

core
Some practical applications of UU analysis for
clays
3. Footing placed rapidly on clay deposit

 = In situ undrained shear strength

Note: UU test simulates the short term condition in the field.

Thus, cu can be used to analyze the short term
behavior of soils
UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST (UC
TEST)
 1=  VC
+ 

 3 =
0

Confining pressure is zero in the UC test

  1=

Shear stress, 
 VC +
 f

3 = 0

qu

Normal stress, 

Note: Theoritically qu = cu , However in the actual case qu

< cu due to premature failure of the sample
pSTRESS
(or s) =INVARIANTS
( 1 + (P AND Q) t) = (
q (or 1 -
 3)/2  3)/2


(1 - 3)/2

 c
3 1 
( 1 +
 used
p and q can be 3)/2to illustrate the variation of the stress

state of a soil specimen during a laboratory triaxial test

 STRESS
p (or s) = ( INVARIANTS
1 +  (P ANDqQ)(or t) = ( 1 -
3)/2 )/2
3

 or q
GL


c
c

 or
c
p
Mohr Coulomb failure envelope in terms of stress invariants
p (or s) = ( 1 + q (or t) = ( 1 -
 3)/2  3)/2

( 1 -
 3)/2

 c
3 1 
( 1 +
   1'   3'   3)/2   1' -  3' 
 c'Cot  '    Sin  '  
   
  2   2 

 '
1
'
3
 
'
1
'
3
Sin 'c'Cos '
q  pSin 'c'Cos '
-2 2
Mohr Coulomb failure envelope in terms of stress invariants
p (or s) = ( 1 + q (or t) = ( 1 -
 3)/2
 or q 3)/2


c cos
or
p
Therefore, sin = tan  = sin-1(tan

 In CD tests pore water pressure is equal to zero. Therefore, total and
STRESS
effective PATH
stresses FOR CD TRIAXIAL TEST
are equal

p, p’ (or s, s’) = ( 1 + q (or t) = ( 1 -  3)/

3)/2 2
= ( 1 +
S tep3)1  3
/2

 or q

3

p, p’ (or s, s’) =  q (or t) = 0

3

Step 2  3+
 d

3
450
 
or
p, p’ (or s, s’) =  3 + q (or t) = d/ 3 
 In CU tests pore water pressure develops during shearing
STRESS PATH FOR CU TRIAXIAL TEST
p (or s) = ( 1 + 3)/2 q (or t) = ( 1 -  3)/
p’ (or s’) = ( + )/2 2
1 3
-u
Step 1 
3

q

3

p, p’ (or s, s’) =  q (or t) = 0 ud

3

Step 2  3+
 d
ud

3
450

    
p (or s) =  + q (or t) = d/  p’ or p,

3
3=
DIRECT SIMPLE SHEAR TEST

Porous Spiral wire

Soil specimen in rubber
stones
membrane

Direct shear test

 = 80 mm
Direct simple shear test
Strength
envelope of
soil:
Strength
envelope or
failure envelope is
the combination of
normal and shear
stress at which
the soil fails.
Dilatancy :
Dilatancy is the volume change observed in granular materials when they are
subjected to shear deformations.This effect was first described scientifically
by Osborne Reynolds in 1885/1886 and is also known as Reynolds dilatancy.
Unlike most other solid materials, the tendency of a compacted granular material
is to dilate (expand in volume) as it is sheared. This occurs because the grains in a
compacted state are interlocking and therefore do not have the freedom to move
around one another.
Critical Void Ratio:
An increase or decrease of volume means change in the void ratio of
soil. In a soil mass, the ratio of the volume of the void space to the
volume of the solid particles is defined as the critical void ratio.
Soil liquefaction :
Soil liquefaction describe
s a phenomenon whereby
a saturated or partially
saturated soil
substantially loses
strength and stiffness in
response to an applied
stress, usually earthquake
shaking or other sudden
change in stress
condition, causing it to
behave like a liquid.