Cebu Technological University Foundation Engineering

Danao By: Engr. Frances Noel Carvajal

SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL Normal Stress ()

The shear strength of a soil mass is the internal resistance per unit area that the soil mass can offer to resist failure F
σ=
and sliding along any plane inside it. A

The shear strength of soil may be attributed to three basic components: Shear Stress (τ)
1. Frictional resistance to sliding between solid particles. V
τ=
2. Cohesion and adhesion between particles. A
3. Interlocking and bridging of solid particles to resist deformation.
Mohr’s Strength of Soil
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion The shear strength of soil is generally regarded as the resistance to deformation by continuous shear displacement
of soil particles along surfaces of rapture. 1
𝛕𝐟 = 𝐜 + 𝛔 𝐭𝐚𝐧 ∅

Where:
τf = 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
c = cohesion 
σ = normal stress on the failure plane
3  3 < σ1
∅ = angle of internal friction

For Saturated Soil

𝛕𝐟 = 𝐜 ′ + 𝛔′ 𝐭𝐚𝐧 ∅′ 

DIRECT SHEAR TEST

Direct shear test is the oldest and simplest form of shear test arrangement. The test equipment consists of a metal
box in which the soil sample is placed. The soil sample may be square or circular in cross-section. The sizes of the 1
sample used are usually 50 mm  50 mm or 100 mm  100 mm across and about 25 mm to 30 mm high. The
box is split horizontally into halves. A normal force is applied from the top of the shear box. The normal stress on
the sample can be as great as 1000 kPa. The shear force is applied by moving half of the box relative to cause 
failure in soil sample.

 r

2
 c

3 1

∅
θ = 45 +
Direct shear test to determine interface friction angle 2
Cebu Technological University Foundation Engineering
Danao By: Engr. Frances Noel Carvajal

Triaxial Shear Test - General Consolidated-Drained Triaxial Test (CD Test)

The triaxial shear test is one of the most reliable methods available for determining shear strength parameters. In consolidated-drained test, the specimen is first subjected to an all-around confining pressure, 3, by
compression of the chamber fluid. As the deviator stress on the sample is increase at a very slow rate, the
In this test, a soil specimen about 36 mm in diameter and 76 mm (3 in.) long generally is used. The specimen is drainage connection is kept open and the slow rate of deviator stress application allows complete dissipation of
encased by a thin rubber membrane and placed inside a plastic cylindrical chamber that usually is filled with water any pore water pressure, thus consolidation will occur.
or glycerine. The specimen is subjected to a confining pressure by compression of the fluid in the chamber.
(Note: Air is sometimes used as a compression medium.) To cause shear failure in the specimen, one must apply COHESIONLESS SOIL
axial stress (sometimes called deviator stress) through a vertical loading ram. (Sand, Normally Consolidated Soil, Silt)
1

3 3

Mohr’s Strength
Envelope
 1
Plane of
Failure


r
 max

 2


3 d

1

∅
Connections to measure drainage into or out of the specimen, or to measure pressure in the pore water (as per the θ = 45 +
2
test conditions), also are provided. The following three standard types of triaxial tests generally are conducted:
σ1 − σ3
r = τmax =
1. Consolidated-drained test or drained test (CD test) 2
2. Consolidated-undrained test (CU test)
3. Unconsolidated-undrained test or undrained test (UU test)
Cebu Technological University Foundation Engineering
Danao By: Engr. Frances Noel Carvajal

COHESIVE SOIL Consolidated-Undrained test (CU Test)

(Clay, Over-Consolidated Soil) The consolidated-undrained test is the most common type of triaxial test. In this test, the saturated soil specimen
1 is first consolidated by an all-round chamber fluid pressure, 3, that results in drainage. After the pore water
pressure generated by the application of confining pressure is completely dissipated, the deviator stress
on the sample is increase to cause shear failure. During this phase of the test, the drainage line from the
sample is kept closed. Since drainage is not permitted, the pore water pressure will increase.
3 3 Effective stress Total stress
 Failure Envelope Failure Envelope

 Mohr’s Strength D
Mohr’s Strength 1 Envelope
U
 Envelope

Plane of
Failure

Undrained
Condition

r 
 max
3 3 1 1
c  2

 u u

3 d

1
Unconsolidated-Undrained test (UU Test)
In unconsolidated-undrained test, drainage from the soil is not permitted during the application of chamber
pressure. The test specimen is sheared to failure by the application of deviator stress without allowing
where: drainage. Since drainage is not allowed at any stage, the test can be performed very quickly. The added deviator
1 = Major principal stress at failure (Total vertical pressure). stress at failure is practically the same regardless of the chamber confining pressure. The failure envelope for this
3 = Minor principal stress at failure (Lateral pressure, Confining pressure, Cell pressure). type of test becomes a horizontal line thus giving a value of  (angle of internal friction) equal to zero.
 = Shear stress
c = Cohesion of soil
 = Angle of Internal friction (angle of shearing resistance, angle of failure envelope).
 = Angle that the failure plane makes with the major principal plane.
d = Deviator stress or Added stress
Cebu Technological University Foundation Engineering
Danao By: Engr. Frances Noel Carvajal

SAMPLE PROBLEM

1
1. The following are the results of direct shear tests performed on two identical samples of the soil. In test one, the
sample shears at a stress of 71 kPa when the compressive normal stress is 95 kPa. In test two, the sample shears
at a stress of 104 kPa when the normal stress is 150 kPa.
=0 3 = 0 3 = 0 a. Determine the value of the apparent cohesion. 14 kPa
b. Determine the angle of internal friction for the moist sand. 30.96°

2. A consolidated-drained triaxial test was conducted on a normally consolidated clay. The results are as follows:
1 3 = 276 kN/m2
r
CU d = 276 kN/m2
Determine,
a) The angle of friction, . 19.47°

1 b) The angle that the failure plane makes with the major principal plane. 54.74°
3 = 0
c) The shear stress and normal stress at failure. 130.11 kPa, 368 kPa
d) Maximum shear stress 138 kPa
σ1
cu = r =
2 3. The table shows the result of consolidated-undrained tri-axial tests with pore water measurement for two samples
qu = 2 cu
at failure.
Where: Sample Confining Pressure Total Vertical Pore
qu = unconfined compression strength (3) Pressure (1) Pressure
cu = undrained cohesion or undrained shearing resistance. 1 10 kPa 40 kPa -5 kPa
2 50 kPa 100 kPa 10 kPa
a. Compute the undrained angle of friction. 11.54°
b. Compute the value of undrained cohesion. 10.21 kPa
c. Compute the drained angle of friction. 16.60°
d. Compute the value of drained cohesion. 6.71

4. During a unconsolidated-undrained tri-axial test on a clayey soil specimen, the minor and major principal stress
at failure were 100 kPa and 180 kPa, respectively.
a. Find the angle of friction for the unconsolidated tri-axial test. 0
b. Find the cohesion for the simlar specimen if subjected to an unconfined compression test. 40 kPa
c. What will be the axial stress at failure if a similar specimen is subjected to an unconfined compression test. 80
kPa