SHEARING RESISTANCE AND

STRENGTH OF SOILS

07/09/21
 Strength of different
materials

Steel Concrete Soil

Tensile Compressive Shear

strength strength strength

Presence of pore water

Complex
behavior
07/09/21
SHEARING RESISTANCE AND STRENGTH OF
SOILS
The property that enables a material to remain in
equilibrium when its surface is not level is called shearing
strength. All solids have this property to some extent.

Shearing strength is the major structural property of

soils. It is this property, which provides supporting
ability or bearing capacity, and permits slopes to be
stable.
Generally, Shear strength is the magnitude of the
shear stress that a soil can sustain.
07/09/21
SHEAR FAILURE MECHANISM

failure surface

The soil grains slide

over each other along
the failure surface.

No crushing of
individual grains.
 Shear failure of soils
Soils generally fail in shear

Embankment

Strip footing

Failure surface

Mobilized shear
resistance

At failure, shear stress along the failure

surface (mobilized shear resistance) reaches
the shear strength.
  BASIC CONCEPT OF SHEARING RESISTANCE AND
SHEARING STRENGTH
 The basic concept of shearing resistance and
shearing strength can be made clear by studying
first the basic principles of friction between solid
bodies.
Ps = Pn tanᶲ Pn
(Ps /A)=(Pn/A) tanᶲ
S = σ tanᶲ
Ps

Pf
Where:ᶲ = angle of internal friction 
s= is the shear strength R
Pr m=
σ= is the normal stress
tanᶲ=is the coefficient of 07/09/21
friction
 SHEARING STRENGTH OF GRANULAR
SOIL

 In sands and in other cohesionless granular materials the

resistance to sliding on any plane through the material is
made up of: -

 a) Sliding friction : is closely similar to frictional resistance

of solids in contact

 b) Rolling friction and

 c) Interlocking

07/09/21
 S = σ1 tanᶲd

S = σ1 tanᶲL

d L

σ1 Normal stress, 

.The angle of internal friction for dry granular soil is sometimes taken as
identical with the angle of repose of soil.

 The angle of repose is defined as the angle between the horizontal and the
maximum slope at which a loose soil may remain stable.

Angle of repose,

07/09/21
 Shearing Strength of Saturated Granular Soils

 Since the normal stress is affected by pore water

pressure, the shearing strength of sand in a
saturated condition is always less than that of dry
condition. WHY???

 S = (-u) tan  = ’ tan 

07/09/21
 THE COULOMB EQUATION
 The fundamental shear strength equation proposed by the
French Engineer Coulomb is
S = C+  tan 
 This equation expresses the assumption that the cohesion C is
independent of the normal stress  acting on the plane of
failure.
 At zero normal stress the shear strength of the soil is
expressed as
S=C
 C and  are measures of shear strength
 Higher the values of C and , higher the shear
strength.
07/09/21
Shearing n 
a
strength, S ’ t
Mohr – Coulomb
strength envelop


Normal stress, 

Shear strength consists of two components:

cohesive and frictional.

07/09/21
 MOHR STRESS CIRCLE
 Principal Planes and Principal Stresses
 Through every point in a stressed body, there are three planes
at right angles to each other, which are unique as compared to
all other planes passing through the point, because they are
subjected only by normal stresses with no accompanying
shearing stresses.
 The three planes are
 Major Plane
 Intermediate Plane and
 Minor principal planes
 And the corresponding stresses are;
 Major principal stress ( ) ,
1
 Intermediate principal stress ( ) ,
2
 Minor principal stress ( )
3
07/09/21
  Principal stresses at a point in a stressed body are important
because, once they are evaluated the stresses on any other
plane through the point can be determined.
 Stress at a Point

Consider a small prismatic soil element P acted upon by a system of forces

Minor Principal
Plane. GL
D C
E 
P 3 c= 3 1

 Major p c = 3
A B Principal
Plane.
1
Let AB and BC be the major and minor principal planes
Consider a plane AE through the element making an angle 
With the major principal plane and let this be the plane on07/09/21
which
the normal and shear stresses are needed.
 E  sec 
E
 sec 
 3
3
tan 

A 

B A B
1
Let AB= 1 unit Then BE= tan  and AE = Sec
1
 Sum of all the forces along normal  Sum of all forces parallel to AE
direction
 sec = 1 cos  + 3 tan  cos (90-)  sec  = 1 sin  - 3 tan  cos 
= 1 cos  + 3 tan  sin 
 = 1 cos 2  + 3 sin 2   = 1 sin  cos  - 3 sin  cos 
But cos 2  = 1+ cos2 and sin 2  = 1- cos2
 3 
2 2   1 sin 2 ….. 2
Thus,  = 1 (1+ cos2 )+ 3 (1- cos2 )  2 
2 2
 3  3  07/09/21
   1  cos 2 ……..1
1

2  2 
 Normal stress, 

Shear stress, 
Stress
1

3

00 150 300 450 600 750 900

Angle of inclination of plane, 

From the above curves it is clear that :

1.The greatest and least principal stresses are respectively the max. and min.
normal stresses on any plane through the point in question.
2. The max. shear stress occurs on plane 45o to the principal planes
07/09/21
 Mohr Circle
 Squaring eqn 1 and 2 and adding the result gives
2
 1    1  
2

 2
   3
 

3


 2   2 
 

 1  3 
This is the equation of a  1   3  and whose  
circle whose center has  ,0 radius is  2 
2  
the co-ordinates  
Minor Principal
Plane.

1 - 3
(, ) 2

Major Principal
 2 Plane.
3 1 
1 + 3
2
07/09/21
1 - 3
 Mohr Circle of stress
’1

’
’3 ’3

Soil element 
’1

Resolving forces in  and  directions,

 1'   3'
 Sin2 ' 2
' 2
   
'
2  '  
'

         
2 1 3
  
1 3

 2 
' ' ' '
 '  1 3  1 3 Cos 2  2   
2 2
 Mohr Circle of stress
’1

’
’3 ’3

Soil element 
’1

' 2 ' 2
    
'
 '  
'  1'   3'
   
2 1 3
  
1 3
 2
2  2 
    ’
 3'  1'   3'  1'
2
 Mohr Circle of stress
’1

’
’3 ’3

Soil element 
’1


’, 

' 2 ' 2
    
'
 '  
'  1'   3'
   
2 1 3
  
1 3
 2
2  2  
    ’
 3'  1'   3'  1'
2

PD = Pole w.r.t. plane

THE FOLLOWING FACTS ARE CLEAR FROM MOHR
CIRCLE
1.The maximum shearing stress, also called principal
shearing stress is equal to ½ (1- 3), which is also equal to
the radius of the Mohr circle. The maximum shearing
stress occurs on planes inclined at 450 either to the major
or the minor principal plane.
2.Shearing stresses on planes inclined at 900 to each other
are numerically equal but opposite in sign. These are also
called conjugate shearing Stresses.
3.The magnitude of resultant stress on any plane is equal
to  (2 +2 ) and its obliquity equal tan –1 (/)

07/09/21
4. The maximum value of obliquity angle is m. This can be
determined by drawing a tangent to the circle through the
origin (m=, if failure is developed).

Failure plane

 1 - 3
2

m= 
3 1 
1 + 3
2

07/09/21
5. A relationship between principal stresses on a plane of
maximum obliquity can be derived as follows

1
1   3 3
1
sin   
1
1   3 1
3

 1  1 1
  1 sin   1  (1  sin  )  1  sin 
3  3 3
 
11  sin 
 
 3 1  sin  07/09/21
6. The angle at which the critical plane or the failure
plane makes with the major principal plane ()
can be expressed in terms of maximum obliquity
() as follows:

 1 - 3
2

2
3 1
1 + 3
2

 = 45 + /2 07/09/21
  The normal stress on a critical plan can be worked out in
terms of principal stresses as follows:
 We know that
Substitute  
1   3 1   3    45  
  cos 2  2
2 2

1   3 1   3  1  3 1  3
  cos 2( 45  )   cos(90   )
2 2 2 2 2
1   3  1   3 
   sin 
2  2 
1 3  1  sin  
 (1  sin  )  (1  sin  ) but  1   3  
2 2  1  sin  

3 3
 (1  sin  )  (1  sin  ) = 3 (1+ sin ) 07/09/21
2 2
Similarly

 1  sin  
 3   1 
 1  sin  

1 1
  (1  sin  )  (1  sin  ) =1 (1 - sin )
2 2

Therefore

 = 1 (1-sin) =  3 (1+ sin )

07/09/21
 Relationship Between the Principal Stresses
and Cohesion (C)
 If the shearing resistance, S, of a soil depends on
both friction and cohesion, sliding failure occurs in
accordance with the coulomb equation, that is when
S = C + tan 

Shearing
Strength, S

( 1   3 )
2
σ3 σ1
( 1   3 ) Normal Stress, 
2
07/09/21
 1   3
From AOF 1   3 (1  a )  ( 3  a )
sin   2  
1   3
a 1   3  2a (  a )  (  a )
2 1 3
1  a
1  1  a 1  sin 
3  a 
sinᶲ 
1  a    a 1  sin 
1 3
3  a

1  sin 
1  sin  1  ( 3  a)  a
 1  a  ( 3  a )  1  sin 
1  sin 

 1  sin   1  sin  
1   3    a   1   1   3  1  sin    a  2 sin  
 1  sin   1  sin    1  sin    1  sin  

cos  1  sin 2 
but a  C cot   C C
sin  sin 
07/09/21
 then

 1  sin   1  sin 2   2 sin     1  sin    2C 1  sin 

 1   3    C   3 
 1  sin   sin  1  sin    1  sin   1  sin 

2    
1   3 tan  45    2C tan 45  
 2  2
Similarly

 1  sin   1  sin 
 3   1   2C
 1  sin   1  sin 


2  
 3   1 tan  45    2C tan  45  
 2  2 07/09/21
 SHEAR TESTS
 The shear strength parameters C and  of soils
either in the undisturbed or remoulded states
may be determined by any of the following
methods
 Direct shear test
 Triaxial shear test
 Unconfined compression test

07/09/21
 1. DIRECT SHEAR TEST
 The direct shear test is the oldest and simplest shear test
arrangement.
 The test equipment consists of a square brass box split
horizontally at the level of the center of the soil sample

Normal Load Compression strain dial gauge

Porous stone
Loading plate Movable
frame

Shearing force (reading from

Dial gauge to Soil Sample proving ring)
measure shear
displacement Shear plane

Porous stone Fixed lower

frame 07/09/21
 

Shear
stress, 
Shearing
strength, S
f3
f3 3 f2
f2 2

f1 f1
1

 3
Shearing 1 2
displacement Normal stress,

07/09/21
3. TRIAXIAL SHEAR TEST
 The triaxial shear test is the most reliable method
now available for determination of shear strength
parameters and is widely used for research and
conventional testing.
 In this test, the sample to be tested is cylindrical in
shape and is covered with rubber membrane.
 The sample is placed between two porous stones.
 Fluid pressure is applied within the chamber
containing the sample gives uniform stress all over
the surface of the sample.
 To cause shear failure in the sample, axial (or
deviator) load is applied through a vertical loading
ram.
07/09/21
 rubber
Soil sample membrane

porous
stone
chamber

water

failure plane

07/09/21

soil sample at failure

 Deviator Stress = d =P/A

 In the triaxial shear test, the applied confining

pressure is equal to the minor principal
stress (3)

 The deviator stress plus the confining

pressure is equal to the major principal
stress (1).
i.e 1 =+3 =P/A + 3 07/09/21
Corrected area
Ao
For drained test For Undrained test A
Vo = Ao Lo , L
V=AL 1
Lo
∆V = Vo - V = Ao Lo - A L

∆V = Ao Lo - A L
Vo A o LO

 ∆V =1- A L , but L = Lo - ∆L
Vo Ao L O


 ∆V =1 - A (Lo - ∆L) = 1- A (1- ∆L )

Vo Ao LO Ao Lo  V 
1
 A  Ao  Vo 

1 - ∆V = A (1- ∆L ) 1 L 
Vo Ao Lo 
 Lo 

07/09/21
Triaxial Compression Test
Identical specimens initially
subjected to different
isotropic stresses (3) and
then loaded axially to failure
f
1
c (3) c (3)

c (3) c (3)

uf
Initially… Failure
07/09/21
 •Mohr diagram for triaxial compression test for
cohesionless soil.

lo mb
C ou lope
h r –
e nve
Mo g t h
en
str

f
 f
31 
32
1   3
2
1
07/09/21
•Mohr diagram for triaxial compression test for C- soil.


C
31 
11
32
12
33
13

07/09/21
 •Mohr diagram for triaxial compression test for purely
cohesive soil.

Failure
planes


C
450 900 450
31 
32
11
12

07/09/21
 3. UNCONFINED COMPRESSION
TEST
 The unconfined compression test is a special case of a triaxial

compression test in which the confining pressure 3 = 0.

 In this simple test, a cylindrical cohesive specimen without any

lateral support is subjected to axial loading, till the sample fails

either due to shear along a diagonal plane or by the lateral

bulging.

07/09/21
07/09/21
 Pf qu
1 = = qu = 2C  C =
Af 2
AO
Af 
Where: Pf = axial load at failure L
and
1
LO

Soil
 sample
area A

C
P
1 
qu =1 07/09/21
 DRAINAGE DURING SHEAR
 The shear strength of saturated soils is influenced by
drainage conditions before and during shear.
 Hence, shear tests have been devised to measure
shear strength of soils under three difference
drainage conditions.
A. UU~Unconsolidated- Undrained Test or Quick Test
B. CU~Consolidated – Consolidated-Undrained Test
C. CD~Consolidated-Drained (CD) or Slow Test

07/09/21
 TYPES OF SHEAR TESTS
deviatoric stress
()
c

c
c
c

Under all-around cell Shearing (loading)

pressure c
Is the drainage valve open?
Is the drainage valve open?
yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated Drained Undrained

sample sample loading loading
07/09/21
 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Test

 pore pressure develops during shear

Not measured = 0; i.e., failure envelope is
’ unknown horizontal

 analyse in terms of   gives cu and u

 very quick test

Use cu and u for analysing undrained

situations (e.g., short term stability,
quick loading)

07/09/21
Consolidated Undrained (CU) Test

 pore pressure develops during shear

Measure  ’
 gives c’ and ’

 faster than CD (preferred way to find c’

and ’)

07/09/21
Shear
stress


(CU)

B
C D
A

`3 3 `1 1 Normal stress

(ud)f (ud)f

07/09/21
 Consolidated Drained (CD) Test

 no excess pore pressure throughout the test

 very slow shearing to avoid build-up of pore pressure

Can be days!
 not desirable

 gives c’ and ’

Use c’ and ’ for analysing fully drained

situations (e.g., long term stability,
very slow loading)

07/09/21
Shear
stress


B
A

3= `3 1= `1 Normal stress

(d)f

07/09/21