CE 353 Geotechnical Engineering

Dr M. Touahmia

12 Shear Strength of Soil

Lecture Outlines:
1. Introduction
2. Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion
3. Determination of Shear Strength Parameters
4. Direct Shear Test
5. Triaxial Shear Test
6. Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU) Test
7. Consolidated-Undrained (CU) Test
8. Consolidated-Drained (CD) Test

Textbook: Braja M. Das, "Principles of Geotechnical Engineering", 7th E. (Chapter 12).

1
Introduction

• One of the most important and the most controversial engineering properties
of soil is its shear strength or ability to resist sliding along internal surfaces
within a mass. The stability of a cut, the slope of an earth dam, the
foundations of structures, the natural slopes of hillsides and other structures
built on soil depend upon the shearing resistance offered by the soil along the
probable surfaces of slippage.

• A knowledge of shear strength of soils is necessary to determine:

– bearing capacity of foundation
– lateral pressure on earth retaining structures
– slope stability and
2
Introduction

• Soils consist of individual particles that can slide and roll relative to one
another.
• Shear strength of a soil is equal to the maximum value of shear stress that can
be mobilized within a soil mass without failure taking place.
• Soil failure usually occurs in the form of “shearing” along internal surface
within the soil.
• Thus, structural strength is primarily a function of shear strength.

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface reaches the shear strength

3
Introduction

• Shear strength is a soils’ ability to resist sliding along internal surfaces within
the soil mass.
• 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 particle.
• Shear failure occurs when the stresses between the particles are such that
they slide or roll past each other.
• Soil derives its shear strength from two sources:
 Cohesion between particles (stress independent component):
• a measure of the forces that cement particles of soils
• Cementation between sand grains
• Electrostatic attraction between clay particles
 Frictional resistance between particles (stress dependent component):
is the measure of the shear strength of soils due to friction
4
Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion

• 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.
• When the soil sample has failed, the shear stress on the failure plane defines
the shear strength of the soil.
• The Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion in terms of total stress as:
  c   tan 
f

5
Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion

• The Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, expressed in terms of effective stress:

 f  c' ' tan  '

Where c’ = cohesion and
’ = friction angle,
based on effective stress:  '  u

6
Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion

• Soil elements at different locations The soil element does not

fail if the Mohr circle is
within the envelope

As loading progress, Mohr

circle becomes larger

Failure occurs when Mohr

X: failure Y: stable
circles touches the envelope
7
Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion

• Inclination of the Plane of Failure Caused by Shear

• Also in terms of total stress

8
Mohr–Coulomb Failure Criterion

• Failure envelopes in terms of total & effective stresses

9
Determination of Shear Strength Parameters

• The shear strength parameters of a soil are determined in the lab primarily
with two types of tests:

1. Direct Shear Test 2. Triaxial Shear Test

Soil
Sample

10
Direct Shear Test
• The test is carried out on a soil sample confined in a metal box of square or circular
cross-section which is split horizontally into two halves at mid-height.
• The size of the specimens generally used is about 51 mm x 51 mm or 102 mm x 102
mm across and about 25 mm high.
• Vertical force (normal stress) is applied through a metal platen.
• Shear force is applied by moving one half of the box relative to the other to cause
failure in the soil.

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Direct Shear Test
• Test Procedure

1. Measure inner side or diameter of shear box and find the area.
2. Make sure top and bottom halves of shear box are in contact and fixed together.
3. Weigh out 150 g of sand.
4. Place the soil in three layers in the mold using the funnel. Compact the soil with 20
blows per layer.
5. Place cover on top of sand.
6. Place shear box in machine.
7. Apply normal force (Lever arm loading ratio 1:10 ).
8. Start the motor with selected speed (0.1 in/min) so that the rate of shearing is at a
selected constant rate
9. Take the horizontal displacement gauge, vertical displacement gage and shear load
gage readings. Record the readings on the data sheet.
10. Continue taking readings until the horizontal shear load peaks and then falls, or the
horizontal displacement reaches 15% of the diameter.
12
Direct Shear Test
• Test Analysis

13
Direct Shear Test
• Determination of shear strength parameters c and ?

• Sand is cohesionless hence c = 0

• Direct shear tests are drained and pore water pressures are dissipated, hence u = 0

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Direct Shear Test
Direct shear tests on sands:
• Sand is cohesionless, hence c = 0
• Direct shear tests are drained and pore water pressures are dissipated, hence u = 0
• Therefore, ’ =  and c’ = c = 0
Direct shear tests on clays:
• In case of clay, horizontal 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)

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Triaxial Shear Test
• Principles of the Triaxial Shear Test:
• Developed by Casagrande in an attempt to overcome some
of the serious disadvantages of the direct shear test.
• 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.
• The test is called "triaxial" because the three principal
stresses are assumed to be known and are controlled.

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Triaxial Shear Test
• Principles of the Triaxial Shear Test:
• The specimen is encased by a thin rubber membrane and
placed inside a plastic cylindrical chamber that usually is
filled with water.
• The specimen of soil is subjected to a confining fluid/air
pressure and then loaded axially to failure.
• To cause shear failure in the specimen, one must apply
axial stress through a vertical loading ram (sometimes
called deviator stress).
• During shear, the major principal stress, σ1 is equal to the
applied axial stress (Δσ = P/A) plus the chamber
(confining) pressure,σ3.
• The applied axial stress, σ1 - σ3 is termed the "principal
stress difference" or sometimes the "deviatory stress“
• The intermediate principal stress, σ2 and the minor
principal stress, σ3 are identical in the test, and are equal to
the confining or chamber pressure.
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Triaxial Shear Test
• Determination of Shear Strength Parameters

Step 1

Step 2

Soil Sample at Failure

18
Triaxial Shear Test
• Soil Shear Strength under Drained and Undrained Conditions:
• Drained conditions occur when rate at which loads are applied are slow
compared to rates at which soil material can drain (k -dependent).
• Sands drain fast; therefore under most loading conditions drained conditions
exist in sands.
• Exceptions: pile driving, earthquake loading in fine sands.
• In clays, drainage does not occur quickly; therefore excess pore water
pressure does not dissipate quickly,
• Therefore, in clays the short-term shear strength may correspond to
undrained conditions.
• Even in clays, long-term shear strength is estimated assuming drained
conditions.

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Triaxial Shear Test
• Types of Triaxial Shear Test: There are three types of tests:
1. Consolidated-drained test or drained test (CD test)
2. Consolidated-undrained test (CU test)
3. Unconsolidated-undrained test or undrained test (UU test)

20
Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU) Test
• UU test simulates short-term shear strength for cohesive soils, called the quick test.
• σ3 and Δσ are applied fast so the soil does not have time to consolidate.
• The test is performed with the drain valve closed for all phases of the test (Water is
not allowed to drain).
• For this test,  = ’ = 0

UU Test Results

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Consolidated-Undrained (CU) Test
• Apply σ3 and wait until the soil consolidates.
• Drainage valves OPEN during consolidation phase but Closed during the shearing
phase. (Drainage and consolidation is allowed to take place during the application of
the confining pressure σ3).
• Loading does not commence until the sample ceases to drain (or consolidate).
• This test can simulates long-term as well as short-term shear strength for cohesive
soils if pore water pressure is measured during the shearing phase.
Effective stresses CU Test Results
failure envelope

Total stresses
failure envelope

Effective stresses at failure

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Consolidated-Drained (CD) Test
• Also called slow test, this test simulates long-term shear strength for cohesive soils.
• Drainage valves OPEN during consolidation as well as shearing phases.
• Complete sample drainage is achieved prior to application of the vertical load.
• The load is applied at such a slow strain rate that particle readjustments in the
specimen do not induce any excess pore pressure. (can take up to 2 weeks).
• Since there is no excess pore pressure total stresses will equal effective stresses.
CD Test Results

23