Problems 133

pressure reading of 660 kN/m2. Calculate the values of the pore pressure coefficients B,
A and B.
Corresponding to an increase in all-round pressure from 800 to 900 kN/m2 the pore
pressure increases from the value of the back pressure, 400 kN/m2, to 495 kN/m2.
Therefore,

u3 495  400 95

B¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ 0:95

3 900  800 100

The total major principal stress increases from 900 to (900 þ 585) kN/m2 ; the
corresponding increase in pore pressure is from 495 to 660 kN/m2. Therefore,

u1 660  495 165

A¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ 0:28

1 585 585

The overall increase in pore pressure is from 400 to 660 kN/m2, corresponding to an
increase in total major principal stress from 800 to (800 þ 100 þ 585) kN/m2 . Therefore,

u 660  400 260

B¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ 0:38

1 100 þ 585 685

PROBLEMS

4.1 What is the shear strength in terms of effective stress on a plane within a satur-
ated soil mass at a point where the total normal stress is 295 kN/m2 and the pore
water pressure 120 kN/m2? The effective stress parameters of the soil for the
appropriate stress range are c0 ¼ 12 kN/m2 and 0 ¼ 30 .
4.2 A series of drained triaxial tests were carried out on specimens of a sand pre-
pared at the same porosity and the following results were obtained at failure.
Determine the value of the angle of shearing resistance 0 .

All-round pressure (kN/m2) 100 200 400 800

Principal stress difference (kN/m2) 452 908 1810 3624

4.3 In a series of unconsolidated–undrained triaxial tests on specimens of a fully

saturated clay the following results were obtained at failure. Determine the
values of the shear strength parameters cu and u .

All-round pressure (kN/m2) 200 400 600

Principal stress difference (kN/m2) 222 218 220

4.4 The effective stress parameters for a fully saturated clay are known to be
c0 ¼ 15 kN/m2 and 0 ¼ 29 . In an unconsolidated–undrained triaxial test on a
specimen of the same clay the all-round pressure was 100 kN/m2 and the prin-
cipal stress difference at failure 170 kN/m2. Assuming that the above parameters
are appropriate to the failure stress state of the test, what would be the expected
value of pore water pressure in the specimen at failure?
134 Shear strength

4.5 The results below were obtained at failure in a series of consolidated–undrained

triaxial tests, with pore water pressure measurement, on specimens of a fully saturated
clay. Determine the values of the shear strength parameters c0 and 0 . If a specimen of
the same soil were consolidated under an all-round pressure of 250 kN/m2 and the
principal stress difference applied with the all-round pressure changed to 350 kN/m2,
what would be the expected value of principal stress difference at failure?

3 (kN/m2 ) 150 300 450 600

1  3 (kN/m2 ) 103 202 305 410
u (kN/m2) 82 169 252 331

4.6 The following results were obtained at failure in a series of drained triaxial tests
on fully saturated clay specimens originally 38 mm in diameter by 76 mm long.
Determine the secant parameter 0 for each test and the values of tangent
parameters c0 and 0 for the stress range 300–500 kN/m2.

All-round pressure (kN/m2) 200 400 600

Axial compression (mm) 7.22 8.36 9.41
Axial load (N) 565 1015 1321
Volume change (ml) 5.25 7.40 9.30

4.7 Derive Equation 4.12.

In an in-situ vane test on a saturated clay a torque of 35 N m is required to shear
the soil. The vane is 50 mm wide by 100 mm long. What is the undrained strength
of the clay?
4.8 A consolidated–undrained triaxial test on a specimen of saturated clay was
carried out under an all-round pressure of 600 kN/m2. Consolidation took place
against a back pressure of 200 kN/m2. The following results were recorded
during the test.

1  3 (kN/m2 ) 0 80 158 214 279 319

u (kN/m2 ) 200 229 277 318 388 433

Draw the stress paths and give the value of the pore pressure coefficient A at
failure.
4.9 In a triaxial test a soil specimen is allowed to consolidate fully under an all-round
pressure of 200 kN/m2. Under undrained conditions the all-round pressure is
increased to 350 kN/m2, the pore water pressure then being measured as 144 kN/m2.
Axial load is then applied under undrained conditions until failure takes place,
the following results being obtained.

Axial strain (%) 0 2 4 6 8 10

Principal stress difference (kN/m2) 0 201 252 275 282 283
Pore water pressure (kN/m2) 144 244 240 222 212 209

Determine the value of the pore pressure coefficient B and plot the variation of
coefficient A with axial strain, stating the value at failure.