Name :A.

Shyamsunder
Roll number : 191703

4. UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

4.1Objective: determine shear parameters of cohesive soil

4.2Apparatus:
 Loading frame of capacity of 2 t, with constant rate of movement. What is the least
count of the dial gauge attached to the proving ring.
 Proving ring of 0.01 kg sensitivity for soft soils; 0.05 kg for stiff soils.
 Soil trimmer.
 Frictionless end plates of 75 mm diameter (Perspex plate with silicon grease coating).
 Evaporating dish (Aluminium container).
 Soil sample of 75 mm length.
 Dial gauge (0.01 mm accuracy).
 Balance of capacity 200 g and sensitivity to weigh 0.01 g.
 Oven thermostatically controlled with interior of non-corroding material to maintain
the temperature at the desired level. What is the range of the temperature used for
drying the soil
 Sample extractor and split sampler.
 Dial gauge (sensitivity 0.01mm).
 Scale.
4.3 Procedure (Sample): In this test, a cylinder of soil without lateral support is tested to
failure in simple compression, at a constant rate of strain. The compressive load per unit
area required to fail the specimen as called unconfined compressive strength of the soil.
Preparation of specimen for testing
i) Undisturbed specimen
 Note down the sample number; bore whole number and the depth at which the
sample was taken.
 Remove the protective cover (paraffin wax) from the sampling tube.
 Place the sampling tube extractor and push the plunger till a small length of
sample moves out.
 Trim the projected sample using a wire saw.
 Again push the plunger of the extractor till a 75 mm long sample comes out.
 Name :A.Shyamsunder
Roll number : 191703

 Cut out this sample carefully and hold it on the split sampler so that it does not
fall.
 Take about 10 to 15 g of soil from the tube for water content determination.
 Note the container number and take the net weight of the sample and the
container.
 Measure the diameter at the top, middle, and the bottom of the sample and find
the average and record the same.
 Measure the length of the sample and record.
 Find the weight of the sample and record.
ii) Moulded sample
 For the desired water content and the dry density, calculate the weight of the
dry soil Ws required for preparing a specimen of 3.8 cm diameter and 7.5 cm
long
 Add required quantity of water Ww to this soil.

1. Ww = WS � W/100 gm
 Mix the soil thoroughly with water.
 Place the wet soil in a tight thick polythene bag in a humidity chamber and
place the soil in a constant volume mould, having an internal height of 7.5 cm
and internal diameter of 3.8 cm.
 After 24 hours take the soil from the humidity chamber and place the soil in a
constant volume mould, having an internal height of 7.5 cm and internal
diameter of 3.8 cm.
 Place the lubricated moulded with plungers in position in the load frame.
 Apply the compressive load till the specimen is compacted to a height of 7.5
cm.
 Eject the specimen from the constant volume mould.
 Record the correct height, weight and diameter of the specimen.
4.4 Test procedure:
 Take two frictionless bearing plates of 75 mm diameter.

 Place the specimen on the base plate of the load frame (sandwiched between the end
plates).
 Name :A.Shyamsunder
Roll number : 191703

 Place a hardened steel ball on the bearing plate.

 Adjust the centre line of the specimen such that the proving ring and the steel ball are
in the same line.
 Fix a dial gauge to measure the vertical compression of the specimen.
 Adjust the gear position on the load frame to give suitable vertical displacement.
 Start applying the load and record the readings of the proving ring dial and
compression dial for every 5 mm compression.
 Continue loading till failure is complete.
 Draw the sketch of the failure pattern in the specimen.

4.5Observation and Tables:

Moisture content = 17.2%

Size of the specimen = 200*100

Providing ring calibration factor = 2.1

Deformation dial,1 division = 5mm
Cross sectional area = 3061.5
Initial area, Ao = 78.5 cm2
Initial length, lo = 195mm
Strain, e = 0.97

Provin
Elapsed time, Compressive Penetration Axle load compressive
g ring
sec dial readings value P, kg strength
reading
0 0 9 0 0 0.000
5 0 21 0 0 0.000
10 0 30 0 0 0.000
15 0 41 0 0 0.000
20 0 53 0 0 0.000
25 0 69 0 0 0.000
30 0 81 0 0 0.000
35 0 90 0 0 0.000
40 0.05 101 0.25 0.53 0.000
45 0.05 119 0.25 0.53 0.000
50 0.05 130 0.25 0.53 0.000
55 0.075 141 0.375 0.79 0.000
 Name :A.Shyamsunder
Roll number : 191703

60 0.1 156 0.5 1.05 0.000

65 0.15 169 0.75 1.58 0.001
70 0.15 179 0.75 1.58 0.001
75 0.2 190 1 2.10 0.001
80 0.25 200 1.25 2.63 0.001
85 0.3 213 1.5 3.15 0.001
90 0.35 225 1.75 3.68 0.001
95 0.7 239 3.5 7.35 0.002
100 0.75 250 3.75 7.88 0.003
105 1 263 5 10.50 0.003
110 1.025 276 5.125 10.76 0.004
115 1.05 288 5.25 11.03 0.004
120 1.1 299 5.5 11.55 0.004
125 1.125 310 5.625 11.81 0.004
130 1.15 323 5.75 12.08 0.004
135 1.175 335 5.875 12.34 0.004
140 1.2 346 6 12.60 0.004
145 1.225 362 6.125 12.86 0.004
150 1 373 5 10.50 0.003
155 1.25 386 6.25 13.13 0.004
160 1.275 398 6.375 13.39 0.004
165 1.3 413 6.5 13.65 0.004
170 1.325 424 6.625 13.91 0.005
175 1.35 436 6.75 14.18 0.005
180 1.4 450 7 14.70 0.005
185 1.425 468 7.125 14.96 0.005
190 1.475 476 7.375 15.49 0.005
195 2 489 10 21.00 0.007
200 2.025 500 10.125 21.26 0.007
205 2.05 514 10.25 21.53 0.007
210 2.075 524 10.375 21.79 0.007
215 2.1 535 10.5 22.05 0.007
220 2.125 546 10.625 22.31 0.007
225 2.15 562 10.75 22.58 0.007
230 2.16 574 10.8 22.68 0.007
235 2.175 586 10.875 22.84 0.007
240 2.18 599 10.9 22.89 0.007
245 2.2 611 11 23.10 0.008
250 2.225 621 11.125 23.36 0.008
255 2.25 649 11.25 23.63 0.008
260 2.275 660 11.375 23.89 0.008
265 2.28 672 11.4 23.94 0.008
270 2.325 689 11.625 24.41 0.008
 Name :A.Shyamsunder
Roll number : 191703

275 2.35 700 11.75 24.68 0.008

280 2.375 713 11.875 24.94 0.008
285 2.4 726 12 25.20 0.008
290 2.45 736 12.25 25.73 0.008
295 2.475 762 12.375 25.99 0.008
300 3 775 15 31.50 0.010
305 3.01 789 15.05 31.61 0.010
310 3.025 799 15.125 31.76 0.010
315 3.075 813 15.375 32.29 0.011
320 3.1 826 15.5 32.55 0.011
325 3.1 836 15.5 32.55 0.011
330 3.12 845 15.6 32.76 0.011
335 3.15 861 15.75 33.08 0.011
340 3.175 872 15.875 33.34 0.011
345 3.2 886 16 33.60 0.011
350 3.2 898 16 33.60 0.011
355 3.201 910 16.005 33.61 0.011
360 3.225 934 16.125 33.86 0.011
365 3.25 945 16.25 34.13 0.011
370 3.25 958 16.25 34.13 0.011
375 3.25 975 16.25 34.13 0.011