CH-10 ,Shear strength of soil

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Shear strength
It governs:
 Bearing capacity of foundation
 Liquefaction potential
 Slope failure

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 Strength of different materials

Steel Concrete
Soil

Tensile Compressive
Shear
strength strength
strength

Presence of pore water

Complex
behavior
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Concept of Shear strength
Field conditions

A representative
soil sample
z z
svc svc + Ds

shc shc shc shc

svc svc + Ds

Before construction After and during

construction 4
Applied stress on soil mass :
Vertical stress and horizontal stress

The applied stress induced two stress on any plane within soil mass:
a)Shear stress
b)Normal Stress

Shear stress(τ) :
induced stress acting along or parallel to plane which try to make failure of soil
mass along that plane

Normal stress(σ ):
Induced stress acting normal to plane

Shear strength(S): Inherent property of soil which can resist maximum shear stress
up to failure condition is termed as shear strength. It varies soil to soil.

S = τf
τf : shear stress at failure condition of soil

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Causes of Shear strength in soil mass

Shear strength in soils is the resistance to movement

between particles due to physical bonds from:
a. Particle interlocking: only at dense sand or OC clay
b. Cohesive force between fine particles
 Atoms sharing electrons at surface contact points
 Chemical bonds (cementation) such as crystallized
calcium carbonate
 Measured in term of cohesion(C)
C. Friction between coarse particles
Measured in term of angle of internal friction(ϕ)
C,ϕ : are shear strength parameters of soil
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Influencing Factors on Shear Strength
• The shearing strength, is affected by:
• soil composition: mineralogy, grain size and grain size
distribution, shape of particles, pore fluid type and
content, ions on grain and in pore fluid.

• Initial state: State can be describe by terms such as: loose,

dense, over-consolidated, normally consolidated, stiff, soft,
etc.

• Structure: Refers to the arrangement of particles within the

soil mass; the manner in which the particles are packed or
distributed. Features such as layers, voids, pockets,
cementation, etc, are part of the structure.

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Slope Stability: Failure is an Example of
Shearing Along
Internal Surface

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Mass Wasting: Shear Failure

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Shear Failure: Earth Dam

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Shear Failure Under Foundation Load

Shear failure surface

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Shear failure
Soils generally fail in shear

embankment

strip footing

mobilized shear
resistance

failure surface

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface

reaches the shear strength.
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Shear failure

failure surface
The soil grains slide over
each other along the
failure surface.

No crushing of
individual grains.

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Shear failure mechanism

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface ()

reaches the shear strength (f).

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Shear failure of soils
Soils generally fail in shear

Retaining
wall

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 Shear failure of soils
Soils generally fail in shear

Mobilized
Retaining
shear
wall
resistance

Failure
surface

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface

(mobilized shear resistance) reaches the shear strength.
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Principal Plane and Principal stress
Three mutual perpendicular plane can be found within
soil mass on which no shear stress is developed i.e. τ =
0, are known as principal plane. The normal stress(σ )
acting on principal plane are known as Principal stress.
Types: depending on value of Normal stress
σ1 > σ 2 > σ 3

Principal plane Principal stress

1) Major principal plane 1) Major principal stress(σ1)
2) Intermediate Principal plane 2) Intermediate principal stress (σ2 )
3) Minor principal plane 3) Minor principal stress (σ3 )

In plane stress analysis σ1 and σ3 are taken as

principal stress.
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 Mohr circle
Mohr gave the graphical method to determine shear
stress and normal stress on any plane induced due to
applied load, which is Mohr circle concept. The Mohr
circle always represent the applied stress.

Mohr circle can be drawn using σx ,

σy ,τxy = τyx

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Radius of circle(R) =

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On any plane AA

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Mohr – coulomb theory
Mohr:
Initially Mohr states that shear strength of soil is function of normal stress(σ) on
failure plane
τ = f(σ) this gives curved failure line i.e. failure envelope : locus of shear
strength or locus of shear stress at failure

Coulomb:
Later coulomb added that shear strength is not only function of normal stress, it also depends
On surface force between soil particles i.e. cohesion(C).

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Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

 f  c  s tan 


friction angle
cohesion
f
c
s
s
f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take
without failure, under normal stress of s. 24
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
(in terms of total stresses)


 f  c  s tan 


Friction angle
Cohesion
f
c
s
s

f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without

failure, under normal stress of s. 25
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
(in terms of effective stresses: modified by Terzaghi)


 f  c's ' tan  '

s ' s u
’
u = pore water
Effective
pressure
cohesion Effective
f friction angle
c’
s’ s’

f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without

failure, under normal effective stress of s’. 26
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
Shear strength consists of two
components: cohesive and frictional.


f
 f  c's ' f tan  '
s’f tan ’ frictional
’ component

c’ c’
s’f s'

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Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
Shear strength consists of two
components: cohesive and frictional.


f
 f  c  s f tan 
sf tan  frictional
 component
c c
sf s
c and  are measures of shear strength.
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Higher the values, higher the shear strength.
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Relation of Principal stress at failure
The size of Mohr circle increases with increase in applied
stress, the soil mass fails when it touches the failure
envelope.

P=
R=

At failure

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Failure plane

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Determination of shear strength parameters of
soils (c,  or c’, ’)

Laboratory tests: Field tests

on specimens taken from
representative undisturbed
samples

Most common laboratory tests to

1. Vane shear test
determine the shear strength
2. Flato Dialatometer test
parameters are,
3. Pressuremeter Test
4. Static cone penetrometer
1.Direct shear test
5. Standard penetration test
2.Unconfined compression test
3.Triaxial Test
4.Vane shear test
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Laboratory tests
Field conditions

A representative
soil sample
z z
svc svc + Ds

shc shc shc shc

svc svc + Ds

Before construction After and during

construction 36
 svc + Ds
Laboratory tests
shc shc
Simulating field conditions
in the laboratory
0 svc svc + Ds

svc
0 0 shc shc


0 svc 

Representative Step 1 svc

soil sample Step 2
taken from the Set the specimen in
site the apparatus and Apply the
apply the initial corresponding field
stress condition stress conditions37
Direct shear test
Schematic diagram of the direct shear apparatus

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Principle of direct shear test

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Direct shear test
Direct shear test is most suitable for consolidated drained tests
specially on granular soils (e.g.: sand) or stiff clays

Preparation of a sand specimen

Porous
plates

Components of the shear box Preparation of a sand specimen

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Direct shear test
Preparation of a sand specimen Pressure plate

Leveling the top surface Specimen preparation

of specimen completed

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Direct shear test
P Steel ball
Test procedure
Pressure plate
Porous
plates

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation

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Direct shear test
P Steel ball
Test procedure
Pressure plate
Porous
plates

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation

Step 2: Lower box is subjected to a horizontal displacement at a constant rate

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Direct shear test
Dial gauge to
measure vertical
Shear box displacement

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Loading frame to Dial gauge to

apply vertical load measure horizontal
displacement

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 Direct shear test
Analysis of test results

Normal force (P)

s  Normal stress 
Area of cross section of the sample

Shear resistance developed at the sliding surface (S)

  Shear stress 
Area of cross section of the sample

Note: Cross-sectional area of the sample changes with the horizontal

displacement

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Direct shear tests on sands
Stress-strain relationship

Shear stress, 
Dense sand/
OC clay
f
Loose sand/
f NC clay

Shear displacement
Expansion
Change in height
of the sample

Dense sand/OC Clay

Shear displacement
Compression

Loose sand/NC Clay

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Direct shear tests on sands
How to determine strength parameters c and 
Shear stress, 

Normal stress = s3
Normal stress = s2
Normal stress = s1
f2
f1
f3
Shear displacement
Shear stress at failure, f

Mohr – Coulomb failure envelope



Normal stress, s 47
Direct shear tests on sands

Some important facts on strength parameters c and 

of sand
 Sand is cohesion less hence c = 0
 Direct shear tests are drained and pore water
pressures are dissipated, hence u = 0
 Therefore,
f’ = f and c’ = c = 0

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Direct shear tests on clays
In case of clay, horizontal displacement should be applied at a very
slow rate to allow dissipation of pore water pressure (therefore, one
test would take several days to finish)

Failure envelopes for clay from drained direct shear tests

Shear stress at failure, f

Overconsolidated clay (c’ ≠ 0)

Normally consolidated clay (c’ = 0)

’

Normal force, s

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Interface tests on direct shear apparatus
In many foundation design problems and retaining wall problems, it
is required to determine the angle of internal friction between soil
and the structural material (concrete, steel or wood)
P

Soil
S
Foundation material

 f  ca  s ' tan 
Where,
ca = adhesion,
 = angle of internal friction50
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Unconfined compression test

For clay
Φ=0

Sample preparation:
Form UD soil
D= 38 mm
H = 76 mm

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 Measurement calculation table
Dial Proving Deformation Compressive Strain (ε) Unconfined
gauge ring (Δh) load(Q) = Δh/h compressive
reading reading strength
(div) (div) q=Q /A

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Result and analysis

qu qu = unconfined compressive strength

Cu = undrained cohesion
Su = undrained shear strength

Cu = Su = qu /2
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Triaxial Shear Test
Piston (to apply deviatoric stress)

Failure plane
O-ring

impervious
membrane
Soil sample Soil
at failure sample
Porous
Perspex stone
cell
Water

Cell pressure
pore pressure drainage
pedestal

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Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder
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Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Edges of the sample Setting up the sample

are carefully trimmed in the triaxial cell

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Triaxial Shear Test

Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sample is covered
with a rubber Cell is completely
membrane and sealed filled with water
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Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Proving ring to
measure the
deviator load

Dial gauge to
measure vertical
displacement

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procedure
It consist of two major step:

Application of cell pressure Application of mechanical

( confining Pressure) stress(deviator stress) 60
Types of triaxial test:

Depending on drainage condition in two step of

triaxial test , the test can be classified as
1) Consolidated drained test (CD test)
2) Consolidated Undrained test (CU test)
3) Unconsolidated Undrained Test (UU test)

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Type of triaxle test
CD test
Drainage valve is open in 1st
step and sufficient time is
provided for consolidation
under confining pressure.
Drainage valve is open in 2nd
step also and very slow rate
of vertical loading to give
sufficient time to expel out
water from soil sample before
failure.
No need of pore water
pressure measurement
u = static pore water
pressure(us ) at all time of
test
quick ( Q ) test
CU test
Drainage valve is open in 1st
step and sufficient time is
provided for consolidation
under confining pressure.
Drainage valve is closed in 2nd
step and very fast rate of
vertical loading so that no
water expel out water from
soil sample before failure.
Need of measurement of
pore water pressure. Pore
water pressure changes
during 2nd stage.
R test : intermediate
UU test
Drainage valve is closed and
2nd step is started
immediately after cell
pressure application.
Drainage valve is closed in 2nd
step and very fast rate of
vertical loading so that no
water expel out water from
soil sample before failure.
Need of measurement of
pore water pressure. Pore
water pressure changes
during 2nd stage.
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Slow ( S ) test
Measurement
test σc σc σd uf Uf is
i measure in
CU and UU
ii test
iii

Analysis

σc

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UU test result for saturated clay

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CU test On NC clay

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Vane shear test
Use: on clay

Shear vane is inserted full depth in

to soil applying torque , the
maximum value of torque ( T ) is
measured.

Fig: shear vane whose D and H

Are known

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Shear strength of sand

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• During the test of dense sand peak value of
strength is obtained due to interlocking between
soil particles. After overcome of interlocking the
strength reduces to constant value i.e. known as
residual strength.
• During the test of loose sand the shear stress
increases with strain and reaches to constant value
i.e. residual strength.
• Residual strength is due to friction between soil
particles.

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Shear strength of partially saturated clay
• During the triaxial test of a
partially saturated clay, initially
the applied stress is used to
compress the air void, during this
the inclined failure envelope is
obtained. After complete collapse
of air void the soil sample
becomes saturated , then the
failure envelope becomes
horizontal.
• The shear strength of soil
decreases with increase of
degree of saturation.

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Stress path
During a test of clay sample in triaxial test , the cell pressure is kept constant but
Deviator stress is increased continuously until soil sample failed. If Mohr circle are
Plotted at many instants of this test, a line can be obtained joining the peak of all circle.
The line is termed as stress path i.e. lambe’s stress path.

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Types of stress path
a)Total stress path( TSP)
q =( σ1 + σ3 )/2 VS p =( σ1 - σ3 )/2 plotting
b)Effective stress path(ESP)
q =( σ’1 + σ’3 )/2 VS p =( σ’1 – σ’3 )/2 plotting
c) Total stress minus static pore water pressure(u0 )
Stress path(TSSP)
q = (( σ1 – u0 ) + (σ3 - u0 ))/2 VS p =(( σ1 – u0) –( σ3 –
u0 ) )/2 plotting
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q

p
From drained test q

p
From undrained test: for NC clay

From undrained test: for OC clay 78

The End

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