3/7/2022

SOIL MECHANICS II

Lecture 6: Shear Strength II

Department of Civil Engineering
Fourth Year
By: Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Awad Mohammed

Shear Strength Parameters

• Angle of internal friction (𝝓): It represents the shear resistance by
interparticle friction.

• Cohesion (𝑪): It comes from cementation or electrostatic attraction between

particles.

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Mohr Coulomb Failure Criterion

Mohr Coulomb Failure Criterion

•As loading progresses, Mohr circle becomes larger.

•Failure occurs when Mohr circle touches the failure envelope.

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Triaxial Test
• Triaxial test is used mainly to determine shear strength parameters for
cohesive soils.

• A cylindrical sample is placed in the triaxial cell.

• All-round stress is applied by water under pressure this pressure is known as

cell pressure (𝜎3) “confining pressure”.

• cell pressure is applied to the top & bottom of the sample which means the
sample is held under an “isotropic stress state”

Triaxial Test

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Triaxial Test
• Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Triaxial Test

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Triaxial Test

Triaxial Test

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Triaxial Test
Loading Conditions:

• Soil loaded through ram at constant rate of strain (i.e. loading is controlled by
the movement of the ram):
a) UNDRAINED test: drain closed

b) DRAINED test: loading at very slow rate with drain open

• The axial force applied on the sample consists of the load from the ram and
the force from the cell pressure.

Types of Triaxial Test

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Unconsolidated Undrained Test (UU)

• In this type of test the cell pressure is applied while the drain is closed, which

means the sample is not allowed to drain. (i.e. Unconsolidated for not

allowing the water drain when applying cell pressure).

• The soil is then loaded with the drain closed until failure occurs.

• In this test, the sample volume is constant, and no dissipation of pore pressure

during the application of cell pressure or deviatoric stress.

Unconsolidated Undrained Test (UU)

• The parameter obtained from
this test are (𝑐𝑢& 𝜙𝑢) undrained
shear strength parameters.

• 𝑐𝑢 is known as undrained shear

strength, also referred to as short
term strength.

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Consolidated Undrained Test (CU)

• In this type of test the cell pressure is applied while the drain is open, which
means the sample is allowed to drain. (i.e. Consolidated for allowing the
water drain when applying cell pressure).

• The soil is then loaded with the drain closed until failure occurs.

• In this test, the sample volume is constant, and the pore water pressure is
measured.

• The parameter obtained from this test are (c& Ø) or (c’& Ø’) .

Consolidated Drained Test (CD)

• In this type of test the cell pressure is applied while the drain is open, which
means the sample is allowed to drain. (i.e. Consolidated for allowing the
water drain when applying cell pressure).

• The soil is then loaded with the drain open until failure occurs.

• In this test, the sample volume is changing, and the pore water pressure is
zero.

• The parameter obtained from this test are (c’& Ø’).

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Interpretation of Data
• The cell pressure remains is
constant during the shearing
phase. (𝜎3 is constant)

• With the increase of loading,

the axial stress increases until
failure. (Radius of Mohr
circle increases)

Determination of Deviatoric Stress

• Deviatoric stress is the difference between the major principle stress (𝜎1) and
the minor principle stress (𝜎3).

• In triaxial test, it is equal to the axial load (N) applied to the specimen divided
by the average cross-sectional area of the specimen at failure (𝐴𝑓).

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Sample Shape
• The shape and dimensions of
sample changes due to two main
reasons:
The squeeze of water out of
sample leads to reduction in
volume (Δ𝑉).
The application of load causes
deformation in sample.

Sample Shape
• Knowing the initial dimensions of sample, axial deformation and change in
volume, the average cross-sectional area of the specimen at failure (𝐴𝑓) can
be given as:

Where:
𝐴𝑜 ≡ Initial cross-sectional area
𝜖𝑣 ≡ Volumetric strain (Δ𝑉/𝑉𝑜)
𝜖𝑎 ≡ Axial strain (Δ𝑙/𝑙𝑜)

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Determination of (c & Ø)

Example 1
A soil sample was tested using the triaxial apparatus, the test was consolidated
undrained test giving the following results:

Determine (c & Ø ) and (c’ & Ø’)

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Example 1
Solution:
For (c & Ø)

Example 1
Solution:
For (c’ & Ø’)

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Unconfined Compression Test

• In unconfined compression
test (UC), the confining
pressure (𝜎3) is equal to
zero.

• This test is suitable for clay

soils.

Unconfined Compression Test

• For unconfined test:

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THANK YOU

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