Geotechnical Engineering–II [CE-321]

BSc Civil Engineering – 5th Semester

Lecture # 3
13-Sep-2017

by
Dr. Muhammad Irfan
Assistant Professor
Civil Engg. Dept. – UET Lahore
Email: mirfan1@msn.com
Lecture Handouts: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/geotech-ii_2015session
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DETERMINATION OF SOIL SHEAR STRENGTH
(c, φ or c’, φ’)

Laboratory tests Field tests

on representative samples

Direct shear test

Unconfined compression test Vane shear test
Triaxial shear test Torvane
Simple shear test Pocket penetrometer
Torsional ring shear test Fall cone
Plane strain triaxial test Pressuremeter
Laboratory vane shear test Static cone penetrometer
Laboratory fall cone test Standard penetration test

Assignment: Brief intro of each 2

 FIELD STRESS CONDITIONS

Representative soil
sample
z z
σv σv + Δσ

σh σh σh σh

σv σv + Δσ

Before construction During and after

construction
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 LAB SIMULATION OF
FIELD CONDITIONS σv + Δσ

σh t σh
0 σv

σv + Δσ
σh σh
0 0 σv

τ
σv
0
τ

σv
Step 1 Step 2
Representative soil
sample from site Application of initial Application of
stress condition disturbing/structural load4
DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Schematic Illustration -
t f  c   tan 

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 DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Specimen Preparation -

Porous
Plates

Components of Shear Box Preparation of Sand specimen

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DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Specimen Preparation -
Pressure plate

Leveling the top surface of Specimen preparation

specimen completed

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 DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Test Procedure -
Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for
consolidation
P Steel Ball

Pressure Plate
Porous
Plates

F
Soil Specimen

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

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 DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Test Procedure -
Step 2: Lower box is subjected to a horizontal displacement at a
constant rate
P Steel Ball

Pressure plate
Porous
Plates

Proving ring
to measure
shear force
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DIRECT SHEAR TEST
Dial gauge to
measure vertical
Shear Box displacement

Proving ring
to measure
shear force
Loading frame to
apply vertical load Dial gauge to
measure horizontal
displacement

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 DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Calculations -
t f  c   tan 
Normal force (P)
  Normal stress 
Cross - sectional Area of sample

Shear resistance developed at the sliding surface (F)

t  Shear stress 
Cross - sectional Area of sample
Cross-sectional area of the sample changes
with the horizontal displacement
Ac = Corrected Area
Ao = Original Area
AC  Ao  B.h B = Width
h = Sample Deformation 11
 DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Calculations -
Sample Calculations
DDG constant = 0.01mm/div
Proving Ring constant = 0.8lb/div

Weight of Hanger = 8 lb 15 ounce

= 8.94lb
Normal Load = 20lb
Total Normal Load = 28.94lb
Horizontal

Horizontal Horizontal
Sample #

Normal Corrected Normal Shear

Displacement, Load Dial Shear Force,
D/R

Load, Area, Stress, Stress,

∆H Reading F
N Ac =A0-b∆H σ =N/AC τ=F/AC
Col#3×L.C Col#6×PRC n
(lb) (mm) (cm2) (lb) (kN/m2) (kN/m2)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
28.94 0 0.0 36.00 0.0 0.0 35.77 0.00
28.94 20 0.2 35.88 17.0 13.6 35.89 16.87
2
28.94 40 0.4 35.76 21.0 16.8 36.01 20.91
28.94 60 0.6 35.64 23.0 18.4 36.13 22.97
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 DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Analysis of Results -
t f  c   tan 
Shear stress, t

Normal stress = 3
Normal stress = 2

tf2 Normal stress = 1

tf1 How to determine shear
tf3 strength parameters c
and  ?
Shear displacement
Shear stress at failure, tf

Mohr – Coulomb
failure envelope


Normal stress,  13
DIRECT SHEAR TEST
- Stress ~ Strain Relationships -
Dense sand/ OC clay

Shear stress, t tf
Loose sand/ NC clay
tf

Shear displacement
Expansion
Change in height
of the sample

Dense sand/OC Clay

Compression

Shear displacement
Loose sand/NC Clay

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 DIRECT SHEAR TEST ON CLAYS
• Horizontal displacement applied at a very slow rate to allow
dissipation of pore water pressure
• One test would take several days to finish

Failure envelopes of clay from drained direct shear tests

Shear stress at failure, tf

Over-consolidated clay (c’ ≠ 0)

Normally consolidated clay (c’ = 0)

’

Normal stress, 
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 INTERFACE TESTS ON DIRECT
SHEAR TEST APPARATUS
• Friction angle between soil and structural material (concrete, steel, wood, etc.)
• Used in many foundation design and retaining wall problems
P

Soil
S

Foundation material

t f  ca    tan 
Where,
ca = adhesion,
 = angle of internal friction 16
DIRECT SHEAR TEST
-- Advantages & Disadvantages --
Advantages
 Relatively simple and quick test.
 Interface strength parameters can be determined.

Disadvantages
 Failure occurs along predetermined failure plane.
 Area of the sliding surface changes as the test progresses.
 Non-uniform distribution of shear stress along failure
surface.
 Reliable ‘mostly’ for granular soils only.

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 ANGLE OF REPOSE
The steepest angle to
which a loose granular
material can be piled
without slumping.

Angle of repose ≈ Friction angle

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REFERENCE MATERIAL
Principles of Geotechnical Engineering – (7th Edition)
Braja M. Das
Chapter #12

Geotechnical Engineering – Principles and Practices – (2nd Edition)

Coduto, Yueng, and Kitch
Chapter #12

Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations – Basic Geotechnics – (7th Edition)

David F. McCarthy
Chapter #11

CONCLUDED
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