Shear Strength

Eng. Ahmed Yahiya Barakat Mohamed

Shear Failure Theory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkjVWkyLfig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS4H_u0ARpo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tSnA9I6uL4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc0i6BQguV0
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion


 f = c +  tan 


friction angle
cohesion
f
c




f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without failure, under
normal stress of .
12
Mohr Circles & Failure Envelope

Y
X
X

Y Soil elements at
different locations
X ~ failure

Y ~ stable
Mohr Circles & Failure Envelope
The soil element does not fail if
the Mohr circle is contained
within the envelope

GL


c
c
Y
c c+

Initially, Mohr circle is a point
Mohr Circles & Failure Envelope
As loading progresses, Mohr
circle becomes larger…

GL


c
c
Y
c

.. and finally failure occurs

when Mohr circle touches the
envelope
1- 3 Relation at Failure
1

X 3

soil element at failure

3 1

1 =  3 tan (45 +  / 2) + 2c tan( 45 +  / 2)

2

 3 = 1 tan (45 −  / 2) − 2c tan( 45 −  / 2)

2
 Stress Point
v

h X

 t
stress point
stress point

(v-h)/2

h v  s

(v+h)/2
v −h
t=
2
v +h
s=
2 17
 Stress Path
During loading…

Stress path

is the locus
t
of stress
points

Stress path

 s

Stress path is a convenient way to keep track of the

progress in loading with respect to failure envelope.

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 Failure Envelopes

 t failur
e
 tan-1 (sin )

c c cos  stress path

 s

During loading (shearing)….

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