444 Chapter 12: Shear Strength of Soil

Example 12.2

Following are the results of four drained direct shear tests on an overconsolidated clay:
• Diameter of specimen ⫽ 50 mm
• Height of specimen ⫽ 25 mm

Normal Shear force at Residual shear

Test force, N failure, Speak force, Sresidual
no. (N) (N) (N)

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1 150 157.5 44.2
2 250 199.9 56.6
3 350 257.6 102.9
4 550 363.4 144.5

Determine the relationships for peak shear strength (tf) and residual shear strength (tr).

Solution
2
50
Area of the specimen 1A2 ⫽ 1p/42 a b ⫽ 0.0019634 m2. Now the following
1000
table can be prepared.

Residual
Speak shear
Normal Normal Peak shear force, S residual
Tf ⴝ Tr ⫽
Test force, N stress, Sⴕ force, Speak A Sresidual A
no. (N) (kN/m2) (N) (kN/m2) (N) (kN/m2)

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1 150 76.4 157.5 80.2 44.2 22.5
2 250 127.3 199.9 101.8 56.6 28.8
3 350 178.3 257.6 131.2 102.9 52.4
4 550 280.1 363.4 185.1 144.5 73.6

The variations of tf and tr with s⬘ are plotted in Figure 12.19. From the plots,
we find that

Peak strength: tf (kN/m2) ⫽ 40 ⴙ Sⴕ tan 27

Residual strength: tr(kN/m2) ⫽ Sⴕ tan 14.6

(Note: For all overconsolidated clays, the residual shear strength can be expressed as

tr ⫽ sœ tan frœ

where frœ ⫽ effective residual friction angle.)

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 12.8 Triaxial Shear Test-General 445

300

250

Shear stress, t (kN/m2) 200

150 tf versus s⬘

100

27⬚ ⫽ f⬘ tr versus s⬘

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50
c⬘ ⫽ 40 kN/m2
fr⬘ ⫽ 14.6⬚
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Effective normal stress, s⬘ (kN/m2)

Figure 12.19 Variations of tf and tr with s⬘

12.8 Triaxial Shear Test-General

The triaxial shear test is one of the most reliable methods available for determining shear
strength parameters. It is used widely for research and conventional testing. A diagram of
the triaxial test layout is shown in Figure 12.20. Figure 12.21 on page 447 shows a triaxial
test in progress in the laboratory.
In this test, a soil specimen about 36 mm in diameter and 76 mm (3 in.) long gener-
ally is used. The specimen is encased by a thin rubber membrane and placed inside a plas-
tic 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.

The axial load applied by the loading ram corresponding to a given axial deformation is
measured by a proving ring or load cell attached to the ram.

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 12.9 Consolidated-Drained Triaxial Test 451

The portion bc of the failure envelope represents a normally consolidated stage of soil and
follows the equation tf ⫽ s⬘ tan f⬘.
If the triaxial test results of two overconsolidated soil specimens are known, the
magnitudes of f1œ and c⬘ can be determined as follows. From Eq. (12.8), for Specimen 1:
œ œ
s1112 ⫽ s3112 tan 2145 ⫹ f1œ /22 ⫹ 2cœ tan145 ⫹ f1œ /22 (12.21)
And, for Specimen 2:
œ œ
s1122 ⫽ s3122 tan2145 ⫹ f1œ /22 ⫹ 2cœ tan145 ⫹ f1œ /22 (12.22)
or
œ œ œ œ
s1112 ⫺ s1122 ⫽ 3s3112 ⫺ s3122 4 tan2145 ⫹ f1œ /22
Hence,
œ œ
s1112 ⫺ s1122 0.5
f1œ ⫽ 2 e tan⫺1 c œ œ d ⫺ 45° f (12.23)
s3112 ⫺ s3122
Once the value of f1œ is known, we can obtain c⬘ as

œ œ
f1œ
s1112 ⫺ s3112 tan2 a45 ⫹ b
2
cœ ⫽ (12.24)
f1œ
2 tan a45 ⫹ b
2
A consolidated-drained triaxial test on a clayey soil may take several days to com-
plete. This amount of time is required because deviator stress must be applied very slowly
to ensure full drainage from the soil specimen. For this reason, the CD type of triaxial test
is uncommon.

Example 12.3
A consolidated-drained triaxial test was conducted on a normally consolidated clay.
The results are as follows:
• s3 ⫽ 276 kN/m2
• (⌬sd )f ⫽ 276 kN/m2
Determine
a. Angle of friction, f⬘
b. Angle u that the failure plane makes with the major principal plane
Solution
For normally consolidated soil, the failure envelope equation is
tf ⫽ sœ tan fœ 1because cœ ⫽ 02

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452 Chapter 12: Shear Strength of Soil

For the triaxial test, the effective major and minor principal stresses at failure are as
follows:
s1œ ⫽ s1 ⫽ s3 ⫹ 1¢sd 2f ⫽ 276 ⫹ 276 ⫽ 552 kN/m2
and
s3œ ⫽ s3 ⫽ 276 kN/m2
Part a
The Mohr’s circle and the failure envelope are shown in Figure 12.26. From Eq. (12.19),
s1œ ⫺ s3œ 552 ⫺ 276
sin fœ ⫽ œ œ ⫽ ⫽ 0.333
s1 ⫹ s3 552 ⫹ 276
or
fœ ⫽ 19.45ⴗ
Part b
From Eq. (12.4),
fœ 19.45°
u ⫽ 45 ⫹ ⫽ 45° ⫹ ⫽ 54.73°
2 2

s1⬘

s3⬘ s3⬘ f⬘
Shear stress

Effective stress failure envelope

s1⬘
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2u

O s3⬘ ⫽ 276 kN/m2 A s1⬘ ⫽ 552 kN/m2

Normal stress

Figure 12.26 Mohr’s circle and failure envelope for a normally consolidated clay

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460 Chapter 12: Shear Strength of Soil

Table 12.3 Triaxial Test Results for Some Normally Consolidated Clays Obtained by the
Norwegian Geotechnical Institute*
Drained
Liquid Plastic Liquidity friction angle,
Location limit limit index Sensitivity a F⬘ (deg) Af

Seven Sisters, Canada 127 35 0.28 19 0.72

Sarpborg 69 28 0.68 5 25.5 1.03
Lilla Edet, Sweden 68 30 1.32 50 26 1.10
Fredrikstad 59 22 0.58 5 28.5 0.87
Fredrikstad 57 22 0.63 6 27 1.00
Lilla Edet, Sweden 63 30 1.58 50 23 1.02
Göta River, Sweden 60 27 1.30 12 28.5 1.05
Göta River, Sweden 60 30 1.50 40 24 1.05
Oslo 48 25 0.87 4 31.5 1.00
Trondheim 36 20 0.50 2 34 0.75
Drammen 33 18 1.08 8 28 1.18
*
After Bjerrum and Simons, 1960. With permission from ASCE.
a
See Section 12.14 for the definition of sensitivity.

Example 12.7

A specimen of saturated sand was consolidated under an all-around pressure of

105 kN/m2. The axial stress was then increased and drainage was prevented. The
specimen failed when the axial deviator stress reached 70 kN/m2. The pore water
pressure at failure was 50 kN/m2. Determine
a. Consolidated-undrained angle of shearing resistance, f
b. Drained friction angle, f⬘

Solution
Part a
For this case, s3 ⫽ 105 kN/m2, s1 ⫽ 105 ⫹ 70 ⫽ 175 kN/m2, and (⌬ud)f ⫽ 50 kN/m2.
The total and effective stress failure envelopes are shown in Figure 12.32. From
Eq. (12.27),

s1 ⫺ s3 175 ⫺ 105
f ⫽ sin⫺1 a b ⫽ sin⫺1 a b ⬇ 14.5°
s1 ⫹ s3 175 ⫹ 105

Part b
From Eq. (12.28),

s1 ⫺ s3 175 ⫺ 105
fœ ⫽ sin⫺1 c d ⫽ sin⫺1 c d ⫽ 22.9ⴗ
s1 ⫹ s3 ⫺ 21¢u d 2f 175 ⫹ 105 ⫺ 1221502
 12.11 Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Test 461

f⬘

Shear stress (kN/m2) Effective stress failure envelope

Total stress failure envelope

f

B
B⬘

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55 A⬘ 105 125 A 175
Normal stress (kN/m2)

Figure 12.32 Failure envelopes and Mohr’s circles for a saturated sand

12.11 Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Test

In unconsolidated-undrained tests, drainage from the soil specimen is not permitted dur-
ing the application of chamber pressure s3. The test specimen is sheared to failure by the
application of deviator stress, ⌬sd, and drainage is prevented. Because drainage is not
allowed at any stage, the test can be performed quickly. Because of the application of
chamber confining pressure s3, the pore water pressure in the soil specimen will increase
by uc. A further increase in the pore water pressure (⌬ud) will occur because of the devia-
tor stress application. Hence, the total pore water pressure u in the specimen at any stage
of deviator stress application can be given as

u ⫽ u c ⫹ ¢u d (12.31)

From Eqs. (12.18) and (12.25), uc ⫽ Bs3 and ¢u d ⫽ A¢sd, so

u ⫽ Bs3 ⫹ A¢sd ⫽ Bs3 ⫹ A1s1 ⫺ s3 2 (12.32)

This test usually is conducted on clay specimens and depends on a very important
strength concept for cohesive soils if the soil is fully saturated. The added axial stress at
failure (⌬sd)f is practically the same regardless of the chamber confining pressure. This
property is shown in Figure 12.33. The failure envelope for the total stress Mohr’s circles
 Problems 485

Problems
12.1 Following data are given for a direct shear test conducted on dry sand:
• Specimen dimensions: 63 mm ⫻ 63 mm ⫻ 25 mm (height)
• Normal stress: 105 kN/m2
• Shear force at failure: 300 N
a. Determine the angle of friction, f⬘
b. For a normal stress of 180 kN/m2, what shear force is required to cause failure?
12.2 Consider the specimen in Problem 12.1b.
a. What are the principal stresses at failure?
b. What is the inclination of the major principal plane with the horizontal?
12.3 For a dry sand specimen in a direct shear test box, the following are given:
• Size of specimen: 63.5 mm ⫻ 63.5 mm ⫻ 31.75 mm (height)
• Angle of friction: 33°
• Normal stress: 193 kN/m2
Determine the shear force required to cause failure
12.4 The following are the results of four drained direct shear tests on undisturbed nor-
mally consolidated clay samples having a diameter of 50 mm. and height of 25 mm.

Normal Shear force at

Test no. force (N) failure (N)

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1 67 23.3
2 133 46.6
3 213 44.6
4 369 132.3

Draw a graph for shear stress at failure against the normal stress and determine
the drained angle of friction from the graph.
12.5 Repeat Problem 12.4 with the following data. Given: Specimen diameter ⫽
50 mm; specimen height ⫽ 25 mm.

Normal Shear force at

Test no. force (N) failure (N)
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1 250 139
2 375 209
3 450 250
4 540 300

12.6 Consider the clay soil in Problem 12.5. If a drained triaxial test is conducted on
the same soil with a chamber confining pressure of 208 kN/m2, what would be the
deviator stress at failure?
12.7 For the triaxial test on the clay specimen in Problem 12.6,
a. What is the inclination of the failure plane with the major principal plane?
b. Determine the normal and shear stress on a plane inclined at 30° with the
major principal plane at failure. Also explain why the specimen did not fail
along this plane.
 Chapter 12

12.1 a. cc = 0. From Eq. (12.3): Wf = Vc tan Ic

300
W 75 kN/m 2
(1000)(0.063) 2

So, 75 = 105 tan Ic

§ 75 ·
I c tan 1 ¨ ¸ 35.5q
© 105 ¹

b. For Vc = 180 kN/m2, Wf = 180 tan 35.5q = 128.39 kN/m2

Shear force, S (128.39)(1000)(0.063) 2 509.5 N

12.2 The point O (180, 128.4) represents the failure stress conditions on the Mohr-
Coulomb failure envelope. The perpendicular line OC to the failure envelope
determines the center, C of the Mohr’s circle. With the center at C, and the radius
as OC, the Mohr’s circle is drawn by trial and error such that the circle is tangent
to the failure envelope at O. From the graph,

99
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 a. V 3c | 115 kN/m 2 ; V 1c | 420 kN/m 2

b. The horizontal line OP drawn from O determines the pole P. Therefore, the
orientation or the major principal plane with the horizontal is given by the
angle Į | 65q.

12.3 For Vc = 28 lb/in2, Wf = 28 tan 33q = 18.18 lb/in2

Shear force, S (18.18)(2.5) 2 113.65 lb

§S · 2
12.4 Area of specimen A ¨ ¸( 2 ) 3.14 in.2
©4¹

§W f ·
Test Normal Vc
N Shear Wf
S I c tan 1 ¨¨ ¸¸
No. force N A force S A ©Vc¹
(lb) (lb/in.2) (lb) (lb/in.2) (deg)
1 15 4.77 5.25 1.67 19.29
2 30 9.55 10.5 3.34 19.27
3 48 15.28 16.8 5.35 19.29
4 83 26.43 29.8 9.5 19.77

A graph of Wf vs. Vc will yield Ic = 19.5º.

§S ·
¨ ¸(0.05)
2
12.5 Area of specimen A 0.00196 m 2
©4¹

§W f ·
Test Normal Vc
N Shear Wf
S Ic tan 1 ¨¨ ¸¸
No. force N A force S A ©Vc¹
(N) (N/m2) (N) (N/m2) (deg)
1 250 79.6 139 44.26 29.07
2 375 119.4 209 66.56 29.13
3 450 143.3 250 79.61 29.05
4 540 171.9 300 95.54 29.06

A graph of Wf vs. Vc will yield Ic § 29º.

§ Ic ·
12.6 cc = 0. From Eq. (12.8): V 1c V 3c tan 2 ¨ 45  ¸; I c 30q
© 2¹

100
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 § 29 ·
V 1c 208 tan 2 ¨ 45  ¸ | 600 kN/m 2
© 2¹

ǻ V d (failure) V 1c  V 3c 600  208 392 kN/m2

Ic 29
12.7 a. From Eq. (12.4): T 45  45  59.5q
2 2

b. Refer to the figure.

W = 196 sin 60º = 169.7 kN/m2

Vc = 404 + r cos 60 = 404 + 196 cos 60 = 502 kN/m2

For failure, Wf = Vc tan Ic = 502 tan 29 = 278.26 kN/m2. Since the developed
shear stress = 169.5 kN/m2 (which is less than 278.26 kN/m2), the specimen
did not fail along this plane.

12.8 Ic = 28 + 0.18Dr = 28 + (0.18)(68) = 40.24q

§ Ic · 2§ 40.24 ·
V 1c V 3c tan 2 ¨ 45  ¸ 150 tan ¨ 45  ¸ 697.43 kN/m 2
© 2¹ © 2 ¹

101
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  Answer