DCC30093

TOPIC 4
SHEAR STRENGTH
By : Mdm Siti Marlinna Chu Binti Mohd Rizal Chu
Civil Engineering Department
Politeknik Merlimau
What is shear strength?
Shear strength of a soil is the maximum
internal resistance to applied shearing forces.

Why it is important?

The safety if any geotechnical structure dependent on the

strength of the soil. If the soil fails, a structure founded on it can
collapse, endangering lives and causing economic damage.
 SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL
■ The shear strength of a soil is its resistance to shearing stresses.
■ It is a measure of the soil resistance to deformation by
continuous displacement of its individual soil particles
■ Shear strength in soils depends primarily on interactions
between particles.
■ Shear failure occurs when the stresses between the particles are
such that they slide or roll past each other.
■ Near any geotechnical construction (e.g. slopes, excavations,
tunnels and foundations) there will be both mean and normal
stresses and shear stresses. The mean or normal stresses cause
volume change due to compression or consolidation.
■ The shear stresses prevent collapse and help to support the
geotechnical structure. Shear stress may cause volume change.
■ Failure will occur when the shear stress exceeds the limiting
shear stress (strength).
SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL
■ We can define Shearing strength as the resistance to shearing stresses and a resultant propensity
for shear deformation.

■ Soil takes after its shearing strength from the following factors:
1. Resistance because of the interlocking of particles.
2. frictional resistance amongst the individual soil grains.
3. Bond between soil particles or cohesion. The principal planes and principal stresses.

■ At a specific point in a stressed material, each one of the plane will be exposed to a regular or
direct stress and additionally, shearing stress as well.
■ We can define the principal plane as a plane on which case the stress is totally regular or normal
or at least one which would not carry any extent of shearing stress. The normal stress acting
which function on these principal planes are also called principal stresses.
■ There are basically 3 principal planes at any given point in a stressed material.
■ Those three principal planes are equally vertical. On the basis of diminishing magnitude, the
principal planes are chosen as major principal plane, minor principal plane and lastly, the
intermediate principal plane. Similarly, the corresponding principal stresses are also elected in the
same process.
SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL
■ Soil derives it shear from two sources:
1. Cohesion (c), is a measure of the forces that cement particles of soils.

2. Internal Friction angle (θ), is the measure of the shear strength of soils due to friction.
MOHR CIRCLE
■ German scientist named Otto Mohr invented a graphical technique for the ascertain of stresses
on a plane sloped to the major principal planes. We call the graphical construction as Mohr’s
circle. In the following technique, the origin O is chosen and the normal stresses are plotted in
succession alongside the flat axis and the shear stresses on the perpendicular axis.

• For the construction of Mohr circle, first of all note the

major and minor principal stress on X axis, note down
the mid point of that as C.
• After that a circle is illustrated with c as focal point
and CF as radius. All of the point on the circle yields
the stresses ? and ? on a specific plane. The point E is
also called as the pole of the circle.

1. Mohr’s circle could be illustrated for stress system

with principal planes sloped to co-ordinate axes.
2. Stress system with perpendicular and horizontal
planes aren’t the principal planes.
MOHR COULUMB CRITERIA FAILURE
■ Ʈf is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without failure, under normal stress of σ
■ c and θ are measures of shear strength. Higher the values, higher the shear strength.
MOHR CIRCLE
■ In practice, the state of stress in the 2. Direct or simple shear
ground will be complex. Parameters used for analysis:
· shear stress
1. Triaxial (axial symmetry) · shear strain
Parameters used for analysis: · normal stress
· deviator stress · volumetric (normal) strain
· shear strain · void ratio
· normal stress
· volumetric strain ■ It is not possible to draw a Mohr circle
· specific volume for a shear test unless stresses on
vertical planes are measured.
TYPES OF SHEAR TEST
■ The following tests are used to measure the shear strength of the soil

1. Direct shear test

2. Triaxial compression test
3. Unconfined compression test
4. Vane shear test

■ Depending upon the drainage conditions, there are three types of tests

- Unconsolidated-Undrained condition
- Consolidated – Undrained condition
- Consolidated-Drained condition
EXAMPLE 1
■ The following data table gives data obtained from a direct shear
test conducted on samples of compacted sand. The shear box
dimensions are 60mm X 60mm. Determine the parameter of
shear strength of the soils.
Normal load Shear load at failure
(N) (N)

110 95

225 195

340 294
EXAMPLE 2
• A consolidated un-drained test was conducted on a clay sample and the
following rest were obtained:

Cell pressure (kN/m2) 200 400 600

Deviator stress at failure (kN/m2) 118 240 352

Pore water pressure at failure (kN/m2) 110 220 320

• Determine the parameter of shear strength.

EXAMPLE 3
■ The load dial calibration factor is 1.4N per division. Each sample is 75mm
long and 37.5mm diameter. Find by graphical means, the value of
apparent cohesion and angle of internal friction for this soil.

Test Cell pressure (kN/m2) Axial dial reading

(division) at failure
(N)
1 50 66

2 150 106

3 250 147
“Life is very interesting. In the
end, some of your greatest
pains become your greatest
strengths.”
Someone Famous