ExERcrsE 19

Triaxia1 Shear of Cohesive

Soil
Objective:
Discussion:
The test done for Triaxial Shear of Cohesive. Soil may
consist of any of the following: Drained or Shear Test. Consol

idated Undrained or Consolidated Quick Test, the Undrained

or Quick Test. The test that will be selected from among t,tte

three will depend on the type ofdata desired and field conditions

to be encounuered for the particular project in question. Since

the triaxial Tesi is dependent on many factors, close attention

should be given to all factors during the test.

Equipmen'i,:
1. Tliaxial cell
2. Loading machine

3. Tlimming knives and wire saws

4. Soil lathe and steel cutter havi:ng same diameter as

the triaxial ceII Pedestal.

5, Calipers and scale

6. Oven

7. Balance with 2000 g capacity and sensitivity of 0.1 g.

8. Sample membranes

Sample Pieparation
If the sample has been secured in a thin-walled sampler of
tJle appropriate diameter, it will only be necessary to trim the
ends of the specimen so that they will'be flat, parallel and

normal to thb sample axie. When a chunk sample is used or the

tube samplee are not ofthe correct diameter, the specimen can

be trimmed to correct size using either a soil lathe or eteel

95cutter. The selection ofthe method will depend on tJre t1rye of

soil beirg trimmed and can best be determined by a little

experimentation.

-Att hanafng of the specimen should be done in sr.ch a man

ner so as to minimizethe drying out and disturbance of the soil.

"If availabie, all trimming should be done in a humid room; if

not, the trimming should be done as quickly as possible, (but

not at t,}.e cost of disturbing the specimen) and protected

against drying during any delays in setting the test.

1. Tlim sample to correct size

a) Soil Lathe
Trim the sample to approximate size and insert
in the lathe, rrraking. sure that the upper head is
firmly in contact with the soil. Final trimming is
done by
sliding
the knife
or

wire
saw along

the
two

'
vertical
guides
which
are
set

to produce
the
correct

diameter. Cutting should be done both from the top

and the bottom of the sample toward the center. If

cutting is done from top to bottom only, there is a

good possibility that the sample will break out around

.
the bottom. The student should try both the knife and

the sawfor trimmingto determine which one gives the

better result
After each cuttingoperation, the sample is rotated
slightly so that a round sample vri[ be formed. When
the sample has bebn completely rounded, it should be
removed

and

trimmed
to
proper
length

using
a

miter
-
box

so that

the

ends will

be

flat,
parallel
and

normal'
to the axis.

The length of the sample should be 2 to 2.5 times the

diameter.

b) Cutter
Trim.ends of soil chunk so that it will rest flat on the

table and stand in a vertical position, but do not triur

io proper length. Flaee the cutter on top.of the chunk

andtrimto approximate diameter over entire length.

Trim soil a short distance below cutter to diameter
96

97

slightly larger than'that of the cutter and force cutter

down.

Repeat qntil entire sample has been trimmed by the

cutter. Care should be taken so that the sample is not

undercut in advance of the cutter and that the cutter

is not tilted or moved laterally resulting in a broken,

disturbed or misshaPen samPle.

2. Weigh and measure dimensions of sample.

3. Place sample on Iower stone of triaxial cell" If the

specimen is to be saturated, the cell should be attached

to a desired water supply and the entrance lines and

lower st'one satrirated prior to placing the sample

SEE TRINilAL CELL INSTRUCTIONS FOR

CLEANING AND ASSEMBLING INSTRUCTIONS

,
4. Place membrane on specimen. This may bodone by

using membrane stretcher or by pulling the

membrane down over the sample and upper lqading
plate.

5. Ttre membranes should be neatly extended over the

upper and lower plates and bound securely by means
of rubber bandil or O- rings

6. Assemble triaxial cell, place in loadi.g machine and

attach necessarJr air or water lines.

Test Procedure ,
,

Due to the low permeability of cohesive soils, the undrained

condition required for this test can be obtained by conducting

the test in a short period of time. The specimen is simply not

given time to draini

The strength of the sample should be estimated prior to tesL

ing and the approximate ultimate load determined. The test

load increments can be determined bydhviding the estimatedultimate load by the numbei of
points desired

in plotting
the
stregs-strain curve. Generally, ten to twelve
points

will be suf
ficient.

Near the ultimate load, it may be desirable to change the in

crements so as to obtain a more accurate value of the ultimate

load.

l.Bringloadingheadincontactwitht}recellloadingram
and apply confining Pressure'

2.Adjustloadingmachinesothattheramisincontact
with the upper end of the sPecimen'
3. Balance machine for zero load'

4" Set up micrometer fial to measure deflection and

zeto.

5. Check to see if all necessary flstrtSas been obtained

and recorded.

6, Apply predeterdrined load increments at 30-second

intlrvals. Read and record deflection 15 seconds after
each loading.

7. Conti:rue loading until sample has failed or until the

strain has exceeded' L|Vo.

8. Remove sample, clean and reasselble-the triaxial cell

if it is not going to be used imrnediately'

9. Measure anglefailure and sketch the failure condi

tion.

,
10. Conduct moisture content determination on entire
sample or on portions of sample taken along the
failure plane.