Advanced Soil Mechanics

Prof. I Wayan Sengara, Ph.D

1. Given an element with stresses as indicated in Figure 1. Find:

a. The major and minor principal stresses and the planes on which they act.
b. The stresses on a plane inclined at 30o from the horizontal.
c. The maximum shear stress and the inclination of the plane on which it acts.

Figure 1

2. The state of plane stress in a body is described by the following stresses: σ1 = 9000 kPa compression,
σ3 = 2000 kPa tension. Determine by means of the Mohr circle the normal stress and shear stress on a
plane inclined at 10o to the plane on which the minor principal stress acts. Check the results analytically.
(After A. Casagrande).

3. Given the element with stresses as shown in Figure below.

- Find the magnitude and direction of σH and τH
- Find the magnitude and direction of σ1 and σ3.
Be sure to clearly indicate these stresses and their directions on a separate sketch.

Figure 2

4. A specimen of sand is tested in direct simple shear. The stress conditions in the test are as shown in
Figure 4.
Initial conditions:
𝜎 = 4.16 kg/cm2, Ko = 0.5
At failure:
𝜎 = 4.16 kg/cm2, 𝜏 = 2.40 kg/cm2
a. Draw the Mohr circles for both initial and final stress conditions
b. Show clearly the locations of the poles of these circles.
c. Determine the magnitude and orientation of the principal stresses at failure.
d. What is the orientation of the failure plane?
 Advanced Soil Mechanics
Prof. I Wayan Sengara, Ph.D

e. If the shear strain at failure is 10o as shown in the figure, what are the stresses σS and τS on the
sides of the specimen at failure?
Note: τS ≠ τhv

Figure 4

5. Two conventional CD triaxial compression tests were conducted on a dense angular dry sand at the
same void ratio. Test A had a confining pressure of 100 kPa, while in test B the confining pressure was
400 kPa; these stresses were held constant throughout the test. At failure, tests A and B had maximum
principal stress differences of 400 and 1700 kPa, respectively.
a. Plot the Mohr circles for both tests at initial conditions and at failure.
b. Assuming c = 0, determine ϕ.
c. What is the shear stress on the failure plane at failure for both tests?
d. Determine the theoretical orientation of the failure plane in each specimen.
e. What is the orientation of the plane of maximum obliquity?