CVP321 Geotechnical Engineering Lab 2023

Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test

Sumeet Kumar Sinha (Assistant Professor, IIT Delhi)

1
 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test

Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) just like the Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS) Test is a quick test to
determine the undrained shear strength (su) of clays. The UU test is conducted on saturated soil samples
whereas for UCS test the sample may not be saturated. The shear strength obtained from the UU test is
also used for evaluating the short-term stability of structures.

Phreatic
Surface Line
Surcharge

Staged construction of an embankment or a dam Earthquake Loading

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 2

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test

The test is performed in a triaxial cell in two stages Proving Ring

(load measurement, P)
a) Saturation Stage: Saturation of the sample with application of cell pressure σ3
b) Shearing Stage: Application of deviatoric stress (q) i.e., σ1 = σ3 + σd σd Dial Gauge
(displacement
measurement, 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥)
𝑃𝑃 (1−𝜀𝜀)
𝐴𝐴𝑜𝑜

σ3
deviatoric stress, 𝜎𝜎𝑑𝑑 =

porous stone

σ3 σ3
soil
specimen

σ3
𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥 cell pressure pore pressure
axial strain, 𝜀𝜀 = back pressure
𝐿𝐿𝑜𝑜

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 3

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test

The test is performed in a triaxial cell in two stages Proving Ring

(load measurement, P)
a) Saturation Stage: Saturation of the sample with application of cell pressure σ3
b) Shearing Stage: Application of deviatoric stress (q) i.e., σ1 = σ3 + σd σd Dial Gauge
(displacement
measurement, 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥)

σ3
porous stone

σ3 σ3
soil
specimen

σ3
cell pressure pore pressure
back pressure

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 4

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test

The test is performed in a triaxial cell in two stages Proving Ring

(load measurement, P)
a) Saturation Stage: Saturation of the sample with application of cell pressure σ3
b) Shearing Stage: Application of deviatoric stress (q) i.e., σ1 = σ3 + σd σd Dial Gauge
(displacement
measurement, 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥)
The test is performed at different confining stresses (σ3 < σ3 < σ3)
to determine the shear strength parameters
σ3
porous stone
τ

σ3 σ3
soil
specimen

𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑢
σ3
cell pressure pore pressure
σ3 σ1 σ3 σ1 σ3 σ1 σ back pressure

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 5

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test: Standards

Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) just like the Unconfined Compression Strength Proving Ring
(UCS) Test is a quick test to determine the undrained shear strength (su) of clays. (load measurement, P)

Test Standards σd Dial Gauge

 IS 2720 (PART XI) – Determination of the Shear Strength Parameters of a (displacement
Specimen tested in Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Compression measurement, 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥)
 ASTM D2850-23 – Standard Test Method for Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial
Compression Test of Cohesive Soil
σ3
porous stone
Sample Dimensions
• Height (H) = 76 mm
• Diameter (D) = 38 mm
σ3 σ3
• Compression Rate = 1.25 mm/minute soil
specimen
Failure Condition
• sample fails or 𝜀𝜀 = 20%, whichever is achieved earlier

Strength Determination σ3
• Using Mohr circle of stress state during failure cell pressure pore pressure
back pressure

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 6

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test: In Today’s Lab

In this test, three types of clays will be tested at three confining stresses and Proving Ring
their corresponding undrained shear strength parameters will be determined. (load measurement, P)

σd Dial Gauge
(displacement
A) Sample Preparation by Trimming measurement, 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥)

σ3
porous stone

(a) σ3 σ3
Soil cake
soil
specimen
(b) (c) (d) (e) (f)
Soil Cake on Trimming of Sample Trimmed Sample of Place Sample on Trim Sample for
Sample Farmer Diameter 38 mm the Cradle Length of 76 mm

σ3
cell pressure pore pressure
back pressure

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 7

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test: In Today’s Lab

In this test, three types of clays will be tested at three confining stresses and Proving Ring
their corresponding undrained shear strength parameters will be determined. (load measurement, P)

σd Dial Gauge
(displacement
B) Performing the test measurement, 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥)

σ3
porous stone

σ3 σ3
soil
specimen

σ3
cell pressure pore pressure
back pressure

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 8

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test: In Today’s Lab

In this test, three types of clays will be tested at three confining stresses and Proving Ring
their corresponding undrained shear strength parameters will be determined. (load measurement, P)

Lab σd Dial Gauge

Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
Group (displacement
Week 1 Dhanauri Dhanauri Jhajjar Kaolinite measurement, 𝛥𝛥𝛥𝛥)

Jhajjar Jhajjar Dhanauri Jhajjar

50% Jhajjar + 50% Jhajjar + 50% Jhajjar + σ3
Week 2 50% Jhajjar +
50% 50% 50% porous stone
50% Kaolinite
Dhaunauri Dhaunauri Dhaunauri

Three subgroups will test the same soil (as indicated above) with σ3 σ3
different confining stress soil
specimen
• Subgroup 1: σ3 = 100 kPa
• Subgroup 2: σ3 = 200 kPa
• Subgroup 3: σ3 = 300 kPa
σ3
Each subgroup must submit a copy of the data before leaving the lab.
cell pressure pore pressure
back pressure

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 9

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test: Discussion Points

 Describe the UU test and discuss why it is a total stress analysis and not an effective stress
analysis. Why it is not useful to measure the pore pressure in this test.
 Describe the stress-strain behavior and the failure pattern of the soil specimens observed during
the UU test.
 Discuss the shear strength parameters of the soils obtained from the test. How does the confining
stress affect the UU shear strength. Also discuss how does the shear strength parameters varied for
different soils and its interpretation for civil engineering applications.

Unconoslidated Undrained (UU) Compression Test 10