GEOTECH 2 Module 1

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING II (CE 513)
Module No. 1: Compressibility & Shear Strength of Soil

Prepared by: Engr. Jefferson P. Basista, RMP
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
After completing this module, the student must be able to:
1. Understand the principles of soil compressibility as applied to different types of soil profiles.
2. Discuss the procedures on how to solve problems regarding the effective stress concepts that
include vertical stress on a point below the ground surface, subsurface stress below water
surface and other different current conditions of soil.
3. Analyze the effects of vertical and horizontal stresses of soil on the structure that is to be
constructed at a depth below the ground surface.
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
COMPRESSIBILITY OF SOIL
INTRODUCTION
Structures are built on soils. They transfer loads to the subsoil through the foundations. The effect of
the loads is felt by the soil normally up to a depth of about four times the width of the foundation. The
soil within this depth gets compressed due to the imposed stresses. The compression of the soil mass
leads to the decrease in the volume of the mass which results in the settlement of the structure. If the
settlement is not kept to tolerable limit, the desire use of the structure may be impaired and the design
life of the structure may be reduced. It is therefore important to have a mean of predicting the amount
of soil compression or consolidation.
COMPRESSIBLITY
The settlement is defined as the compression of a soil layer due to the loading applied at or near its top
surface.
The total compression of soil under load is composed of three categories (i.e. elastic or immediate
settlement, primary consolidation settlement, and secondary consolidation settlement).
The three categories of settlement:
1. Immediate or Elastic Settlement (Se): caused by the elastic deformation of dry soil and of
moist and saturated soils without change in the moisture content.
2. Primary Consolidation Settlement (Sc): volume change in saturated cohesive soils as a

result of expulsion of the water that occupies the void spaces.
3. Secondary Consolidation Settlement (Ss): volume change due to the plastic adjustment of
soil fabrics under a constant effective stress (creep).
Coarse-grained soils do not undergo consolidation settlement due to relatively high hydraulic
conductivity compared to clayey soils. Instead, coarse-grained soils undergo immediate settlement.
RELATIONS FOR ELASTIC SETTLEMENT CALCULATION
Page 1 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
The variations of 𝐹1 and 𝐹2 with 𝑚′ and 𝑛′ are given in Tables 11.1 and 11.2 of “Principles of Geotechnical
𝐷
Engineering, 8th Ed. Book by Das & Sobhan”. Also, the variation of 𝐼𝑓 with 𝑓⁄𝐵 and 𝜇𝑠 is given in Table 11.3 of
the said book. Note that when 𝐷𝑓 = 0, the value of 𝐼𝑓 = 1 in all cases.
Due to nonhomogeneous nature of soil deposits, the magnitude of 𝐸𝑠 may vary with depth. For that reason, Bowles
(1987) recommended using a weighted average value of 𝐸𝑠 ,
Page 2 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
The elastic settlement of a rigid foundation can be estimated as:
Sample Problem
Calculate the elastic settlement at the center of the 1m x 1m rigid shallow foundation shown in the
figure.
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand” – Confucius
Try to solve this problem!

A rigid foundation is subjected to a vertical column load, P = 355kN, as shown in the figure. Estimate
the elastic settlement due to the net applied pressure, ∆𝜎, on the foundation. Given: B = 2m; L = 3m;
𝐷𝑓 = 1.5𝑚; H = 4m; 𝐸𝑠 = 13.5𝑀𝑃𝑎; and 𝜇𝑠 = 0.4. Answer to this problem: 4.93mm
Page 3 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
COMPACTION VS. CONSOLIDATION
COMPACTION CONSOLIDATION
Instantaneous Process Time-dependent process
(applicable to all soils) (applicable to clayey soils
only). Can occur over 100s
of years
Applicable to unsaturated Applicable to saturated soils.
soils. Decrease in air voids Decrease in water voids (air
(not water voids ). voids do not exist)
Dry density increases, water Dry density increases, water
content does not change content decreases.
PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT

Normally Consolidated Clays
- Those whose present effective overburden pressure is the maximum pressure that the soil was
subjected to in the past. The maximum effective past pressure is called the preconsolidation
pressure.
𝐶𝑐 𝐻 𝜎 ′ 𝑜 + ∆𝜎 ′
𝑆𝑐 = log ( )
1 + 𝑒𝑜 𝜎 ′𝑜
Where:
𝑆𝑐 = 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝐶𝑐 = 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥
𝑒𝑜 = 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑢 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
𝐻 = 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑪𝑳𝑨𝒀 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟
∆𝜎 ′ = 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟
𝜎 ′ 𝑜 = 𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑑 − ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟
Values of Compression Index:
Skempton’s Equation (Standard formula for Compression Index, when there is no given condition)
𝐶𝑐 = 0.009(𝐿𝐿 − 10)
Rendon-Herrero
1.2 1 + 𝑒𝑜 2.38
𝐶𝑐 = 0.141𝐺𝑠 ( )
𝐺𝑠
Nagaraj & Murty

𝐿𝐿
𝐶𝑐 = 0.2343 ( )𝐺
100 𝑠
Park & Koumoto

𝑛𝑜
𝐶𝑐 = 𝑛𝑜 = 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑢 𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦
371.747 − 4.275 − 𝑛𝑜
Over Consolidated Clays

- Those whose present effective overburden pressure is less than that which the soil experienced
in the past.
a) When 𝜎 ′ 𝑜 + ∆𝜎 ′ < 𝜎 ′ 𝑐 , Where 𝜎 ′ 𝑐 = 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎 ′ 𝑜 + ∆𝜎 ′
𝑆𝑐 = log ( )
1 + 𝑒𝑜 𝜎 ′𝑜
Page 4 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
b) When 𝜎 ′ 𝑜 + ∆𝜎 ′ > 𝜎 ′ 𝑐
𝐶𝑠 𝐻 𝜎′𝑐 𝐶𝑐 𝐻 𝜎 ′ 𝑜 + ∆𝜎 ′
𝑆𝑐 = log ( ′ ) + log ( )
1 + 𝑒𝑜 𝜎𝑜 1 + 𝑒𝑜 𝜎′𝑐
Swell Index (Cs ):
Nagaraj & Murty
0.0463𝐿𝐿
𝐶𝑠 = 𝐺𝑠
100
Sample Problem
If a uniformly distributed load, ∆𝜎, is applied at the ground surface, what is the settlement of the clay
layer of the soil profile shown caused by primary consolidation if
a. The clay is normally consolidated
b. The preconsolidation pressure = 200 kN/𝑚2
c. The preconsolidation pressure = 150 kN/𝑚2
1
Use 𝐶𝑠 ≈ 𝐶𝑐
5
“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.” – Bruce Lee
Estimate the primary consolidation settlement in the clay layer of the figure shown. Given: ∆𝜎 = 85𝑘𝑃𝑎;
𝐻1 = 2𝑚; 𝐻2 = 4𝑚; 𝐻3 = 6𝑚. Soil Characteristics are as follows:
Sand: 𝑒 = 0.65; 𝐺𝑠 = 2.66
1
Clay: 𝐿𝐿 = 54; 𝑒 = 0.98; 𝐺𝑠 = 2.74; 𝜎 ′ 𝑐 = 150𝑘𝑃𝑎; 𝐶𝑠 = 6 𝐶𝑐
Answer to this problem: 13.8cm
Page 5 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
SECONDARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT
In conducting One-Dimensional Laboratory Consolidation Test, it will show that at the end of primary
consolidation (that is, after complete dissipation of excess pore water pressure) some settlement will
be observed because of the plastic adjustment of soil fabrics. This stage of consolidation is called
secondary consolidation.
𝐶𝛼 𝐻 𝑡2
𝑆𝑠 = log ( )
1 + 𝑒𝑝 𝑡1
Where:
𝑆𝑠 = 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑆𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
∆𝑒
𝐶𝛼 = 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑥 = 𝑡
log ( 2⁄𝑡 )
1
𝜎 ′ 𝑜 + ∆𝜎 ′
∆𝑒 = 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 = 𝐶𝑐 log ( )
𝜎 ′𝑜
𝑒𝑝 = 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑒0 − ∆𝑒
𝑡2 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
𝑡1 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
Sample Problem
Solution:
Page 6 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” – Vince Lombardi
From the soil profile shown, the ground surface is subjected to a uniformly distributed load of 40kPa.
The thickness of the over consolidated clay is 2.5m. The in-situ void ratio of the clay is 0.8 with a liquid
limit of 45%. Specific gravity of clay is 2.71. The in situ effective burden pressure is 120kPa. Compute
the secondary consolidation settlement 6 years after the completion of primary consolidation settlement.
Time for completion of primary settlement is 1.8 years. Secondary compression index is 0.03.
Answer to this problem: 23mm
TIME RATE OF CONSOLIDATION
The total settlement caused by primary consolidation resulting from an increase in the stress on a soil
layer can be calculated by the use of one of the formulas given on the previous pages. However, they
do not provide any information regarding the rate of primary consolidation. Terzaghi (1925) proposed
the first theory to consider the rate of one-dimensional consolidation for saturated clay soils.
𝐶𝑣 𝑡
𝑇𝑣 = = 𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
(𝐻𝑑𝑟 )2
𝐶𝑣 = 𝐶𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑡 = 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝐻𝑑𝑟 = ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠
𝐻𝑑𝑟 = 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑓 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦
Sample Problem
The time required for 50% consolidation of a 25-mm-thick clay layer (drained at both top and bottom)
in the laboratory is 3 min 15 sec. How long (in days) will it take for a 2-m-thick clay layer of the same
clay in the field under the same pressure increment to reach 50% consolidation? In the field, sand layers
are present at the top and bottom of the clay layer.
Page 7 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
“You can have results or excuses. Not Both.” – Unknown
A 3-m-thick layer (double drainage) of saturated clay under a surcharge loading underwent 90% primary
consolidation in 75 days. Find the coefficient of consolidation of clay for the pressure range.
𝟐
Answer to this problem: 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟐𝟗𝟒 𝒄𝒎 ⁄𝒔𝒆𝒄
SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL

INTRODUCTION
The shear strength of a soil mass is the internal resistance per unit area that the soil mass can offer to
resist failure and sliding along any plane inside it. One must understand the nature of shearing
resistance in order to analyze soil stability problems, such as bearing capacity, slope stability, and
lateral pressure on earth-retaining structures.
MOHR–COULOMB FAILURE CRITERION
where:
c = cohesion
𝜙 = 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝜎 = 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒/𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒
𝜏𝑓 = 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠
In saturated soil, the total normal stress at a point is the sum of the effective stress (𝜎 ′ ) and pore water
pressure (𝑢), or
𝜎 = 𝜎′ + 𝑢
Page 8 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
The effective stress 𝜎 ′ is carried by the soil solids. The Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion, expressed in
terms of effective stress, will be of the form
𝜏𝑓 = 𝑐 ′ + 𝜎 ′ 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜙 ′
where 𝑐 ′ cohesion and 𝜎 ′ friction angle, based on effective stress.
The value of 𝑐 ′ for sand and inorganic silt is 0. For normally consolidated clays, 𝑐 ′ can be approximated
at 0. Over consolidated clays have values of 𝑐 ′ that are greater than 0. The angle of friction, 𝜙 ′ , is
sometimes referred to as the drained angle of friction. Typical values of 𝜙 ′ for some granular soils are
given in Table 12.1.
DIRECT SHEAR TEST
The direct shear test is the oldest and simplest form of shear test arrangement. A diagram of the direct
shear test apparatus is shown in the figure. The test equipment consists of a metal shear box in which
the soil specimen is placed. The soil specimens may be square or circular in plan. 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. The box is split horizontally into halves. Normal force on the specimen is applied from the top of
the shear box. The normal stress on the specimens can be as great as 1050 kN/m2. Shear force is
applied by moving one-half of the box relative to the other to cause failure in the soil specimen.
For a given test, the normal stress can be calculated as

𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝜎 = 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 =
𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛
Page 9 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
For a given test, the normal stress can be calculated as
𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝜎 = 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 =
The resisting shear stress for any shear displacement can be calculated as
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝜏 = 𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 =
Sample Problem
Direct shear tests were performed on a dry, sandy soil. The size of the specimen was 50 mm. x 50
mm. x 19 mm. Test results are as follows:
“Practice is a Talent. Perseverance is a Talent. Hard Work is a Talent.” –Abhinav Bindra

A dry sand sample is tested in direct shear. The test procedure includes having a normal stress of
200kPa imposed while the sample undergoes shearing. The sample fails when the shear stress reaches
135kPa. Determine the angle of internal friction for this soil. Answer to this problem: 34 degrees
Page 10 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
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 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.
Connections to measure drainage into or out of the specimen, or to measure pressure in the pore water
(as per the test conditions), also are provided. The following three standard types of triaxial tests
generally are conducted:
1. Consolidated-drained test or drained test (CD test)

2. Consolidated-undrained test (CU test)
3. Unconsolidated-undrained test or undrained test (UU test)
CONSOLIDATED-DRAINED TEST
- Also called slow test.

- 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.
- This test simulates long term shear strength for cohesive soils.
Page 11 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
CONSOLIDATED-UNDRAINED 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 simulate long term as well as short term shear strength for cohesive soils if pore
water pressure is measured during the shearing phase
UNCONSOLIDATED-UNDRAINED TEST
- This test is also called the quick test.
- 𝜎3 and Δ𝜎 are applied fast so the soil does not have time to settle or consolidate.
- The test is performed with the drain valve closed for all phases of the test. (Water is not allowed
to drain)
- UU test simulates short term shear strength for cohesive soils.
- For this test, 𝜙 = 𝜙 ′ = 0
Sample Problem
Page 12 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
“Translate goals into practice + repetition = success!” –Keith Ferrazzi

A cohesionless soil has a friction angle of 30 degrees and deviator stress at failure of 400 kPa. Find
the shear stress at the point on the failure plane. Answer to this problem: 173.2 kPa
SUGGESTED READINGS:
1. Mc Carthy, David F. 2001. Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations: Basic

Geotechnics, 6th Edition. New Jersey, USA : Prentice Hall.
2. Liu, Cheng. 2000. Soils and Foundations. New York, USA : John Wiley & Sons.
3. Terzaghi, Karl et. al. 1995. Soil Mechanics For Engineering Practice. John Wiley and Sons,
Inc.
Page 13 of 14
\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\///
4. Sowers, George F., Sowers, George B. 1979. Introductory Soil Mechanics and Foundation.
Macmillan, New York.
5. Bowles, Joseph. 1995. Foundation Analysis and Design, 5 th Edition. USA.
6. Das, Braja. 1999. Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering. Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
REFERENCES:
1. Das, Braja M., Sobhan, Khaled 2010. Principles of Geotechnical Engineering, 8 th Edition
2. Orabi, Abdulmannan, Lecture on Compressibility & Consolidation, International University for
Science & Technology
3. Soil Properties, Testing, Measurement, and Evaluation, C. Liu, J. Evett
Page 14 of 14

GEOTECH 2 Module 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

GEOTECH 2 Module 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING II (CE 513)

Module No. 1: Compressibility & Shear Strength of Soil

The three categories of settlement:

2. Primary Consolidation Settlement (Sc): volume change in saturated cohesive soils as a

RELATIONS FOR ELASTIC SETTLEMENT CALCULATION

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand” – Confucius

Try to solve this problem!

PRIMARY CONSOLIDATION SETTLEMENT

Nagaraj & Murty

Park & Koumoto

Over Consolidated Clays

TIME RATE OF CONSOLIDATION

SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL

MOHR–COULOMB FAILURE CRITERION

where 𝑐 ′ cohesion and 𝜎 ′ friction angle, based on effective stress.

DIRECT SHEAR TEST

For a given test, the normal stress can be calculated as

“Practice is a Talent. Perseverance is a Talent. Hard Work is a Talent.” –Abhinav Bindra

1. Consolidated-drained test or drained test (CD test)

- Also called slow test.

“Translate goals into practice + repetition = success!” –Keith Ferrazzi

1. Mc Carthy, David F. 2001. Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations: Basic

You might also like