DIRECT SHEAR TEST

Name : ……………………………………………………………………………………
Index no : ……………………………………………………………………………………
Date of Performance : ……………………………………………………………………………………
Date of Submission : ……………………………………………………………………………………
OBJECTIVE:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

INTRODUCTION:

The test is carried out to determine the shear strength parameters on either undisturbed samples
or remoulded samples. This is one of the oldest and simplest technique to measure the shear stress
along the predefined failure plane. The shear strength parameters are used to define the stress
strain - behavior of the soil which is essential in the design and the modelling of geotechnical
problems such as embankments, deep excavation, retaining walls, foundations etc. On the
completion of the experiment students would be able understand the constitutive behavior of the
soil and would be able to identify the Mohr- Coulomb failure criterion for the soil.

TEST APPARATUS DIAGRAM FOR SHEAR TEST:

1
METHODOLOGY:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

2
OBSERVATIONS
Tester:
Date:
Sample: Loose/ Dense Sand

Test condition
Dimensions of box (mm x mm x mm) =
Area of sample (mm2) =
Proving Ring No =
Weight of the sample =
Calibration Constant (N/div) =

Record the shear force and vertical dial gauge readings for given horizontal displacements
Test No. 1 2 3
Normal load, kg
Density of Sample
(t/m3)
Prov. ring Vertical Prov. ring Vertical Prov. ring Vertical
Horizontal Displ. reading Displ. reading Displ. reading Displ.
(mm) (division) (mm) (division) (mm) (division) (mm)
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
2.25
2.50
2.75
3.00
3.25
3.50
3.75
4.00
4.25
4.50
4.75
5.00
5.25
5.50
5.75
6.00

3
Specimen Calculation

4
DATASHEET
Tester:
Date:
Sample: Loose/Sand

Test No. 1 2 3
Normal stress, s
(kPa)
τ Shear Stress ratio τ Shear Stress ratio τ Shear Stress ratio
Horizontal Displ. stress τ/ s stress τ/ s stress (kPa) τ/ s
(mm) (kPa) (kPa)
0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75
1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
2.25
2.50
2.75
3.00
3.25
3.50
3.75
4.00
4.25
4.50
4.75
5.00
5.25
5.50
5.75
6.00

5
For each specimen, plot the following graphs

a) A summary plot showing the stress ratio versus horizontal displacement for all the tests (i.e. for both
dense and loose samples). You can plot it in an Excel spreadsheet. From the plot, determine the
ultimate shear stress for each test.
b) A summary plot showing the vertical displacement versus horizontal displacement for all tests.
c) A plot of ultimate shear strength (stress) versus normal stress. Show the data from all the tests
on a single plot. Determine the ultimate shear strength parameters for the sand.

CONCLUSIONS:

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
DISCUSSIONS:

a) Please provide clear and rational explanations if there were unexpected errors in the experimental
results.
b) Advantages and disadvantages of the direct shear test
c) Influence of density on shear strength and on the volumetric strain changes during the shearing.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
6
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...