UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

&
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TEST
PRSENTED BY:
ANJALI BOSE A
S2, GEOTECH
ROLL NO. 1
TRIAXIAL TEST
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TEST
Used for determiningσ shear characterstics of all types
of soil under different drainage conditions.
Cylinder specimen is stressed under conditions of axial
symmetry.
1st stage(consolidation stage)—subjected to an all
round confining pressure σc on the sides and at the top
& bottom.
2nd stage(shearing stage)—deviator stress, σd applied
on top of the specimen.
Total stress in the axial direction at
the time of shearing is σc + σd
When axial stress increases , shear
stress develop due to compressive
stress on the top.
Vertical sides of specimen are
principal planes, as there are no shear
stress on the sides.
Confining pressure=minor principal
stress
Top & bottom planes are major
principal planes.
Total axial stress , σc+ σd =major
principal stress
APPARATUS
Consist of a circular base that has a central pedestal.
Pedestal has 1 or 2 holes
1. Drainage of specimen in drained test
2. Pore water measurement in undrained test
 Triaxial cell is fitted to top of base plate with 3 wing
nuts.
 Triaxial cell is a perspex cylinder which is
permanently fixed to top cap and bottom brass collar
 3 tie rodes supports the cells
 Top cap is a bronze casting.
Ram is designed that it has minimum of friction and at
the same time doesnot permit any leakage.
Air release valve in top cap kept open when the cell is
filled with water for applying the confining pressure.
Oil valve is also provided in the top cap to fill light
machine oil in the cell to reduce the leakage of water
Apparatus is mounted on a loading frame.
Triaxial test apparatus has following special attachments
 Mercury control system
 Pore water pressure measurement device
 Volume change measurement
MERCURY CONTROL SYSTEM
MERCURY CONTROL SYSTEM
Cell pressure is a triaxial test with self compensating
mercury control system.
Consists of 2 limbs of water mercury manometer
Pressure in the water of triaxial cell develops due to
difference in levels o mercury in 2 pots
Water pressure at center of the specimen at a height of
h3 above datum can be calculated using theory of
manometer
Mercury surface in upper pot is open to atmosphere,
hence pressure there is zero
Manometer eqn,
Upper pot is supported by a spring
When volume of specimen decreases, water flow from
lower pot to cell.mercury level in lower pot increases
by a small amount ∆h.
Mercury level in the upper pot falls by same amount if
the 2 pots are of same cross sectional area.
Difference in mercury level is maintained by the
spring.
PORE WATER PRESSURE
MEASREMENT DEVICE
PORE WATER PRESSURE
MEASREMENT DEVICE
Consist of a null indicator with 2 limbs
No flow condition is maintained by the null indicator
No flow condition is essential because flow of water
from specimen to gauge would modify actual
magnitude of pore water pessure.
Null indicator is a U tube partially filled with mercury.
One end is connected to specimein triaxial cell.
Other end connected to pressure gauge
Control cylinder filled with water attached to system
Water in control cylinder is displaced by a piston.
Whole system is filled with deaired water.
Tube connecting specimen and null indicator must not
undergo volume change under pressure & must be free
from leakage
Change in Pore water pressure in the specimen tends
to cause a movement of mercury level in null indicator.
No flow condition is maintained by making a
corresponging change in other limb by means of
control cylinder.
Thus, mercury level in 2 limbs remain contant.
Pressure applied by control cylinder is recorded by the
pressure gauge or manometer.
If specimen is partially saturated,a special fine, porous
ceramic disc is placed below the sample in triaxial cell.
In modern equipments,pore water pressure is measured
by means of a transducer and not by conventional null
indicator.
VOLUME CHANGE MEASUREMENTS
Volume changes in a drained test and during
consolidation stage of a consolidated undarined test are
measured by means of a burette connected to the
specimen in triaxial test.
For accurate measurement, water level in burette
should be approximately at the level of centre of the
specimen
During consolidation stage, volume of the specimen
decreases and the water level in burette increases.
Change in volume of the specimen is equal to the
volume of the water increased in the burette
During shearing of the specimen of dense sand, when
the volume of sample increases, water flow from
burette to specimen.
Increase in volume of the specimen is equal to the
volume of water decreased in burette.
TRIAXIAL TEST ON COHESIVE SOILS
1. CONSOLIDATED UNDRAINED TEST
 Size of specimen : 37.5 mm dia & 75mm height.
 Deaired coarse porous disc
 Filter paper disc
 Specimen
 Deaired vertical filter strips.
 Rubber membrane
 O-rings
Triaxial cell is connected to the base with nuts
Cell is filled with water and some portion with oil
Pressure is applied through mercury pot system
Specimen starts consolidating when pressure applies
on specimen
Specimen connected to burette to note the volume
change
Consolidation is complete when there is no more
volume change
After consolidated , specimen is then set for shearing
Pore water pressure measurement device is connected
Proving ring is set to zero.
Sample is sheared by applying deviator stress by the
loading machine.
Proving ring readings are generally taken
corresponding to axial strains of 1/3%, 2/3%, 1%, 2%,
3%, 4%, 5%....until failure or 20% of axial strain.
2. UNCONSOLIDATED UNDRAINED TEST
Similar procedure
Specimen not allowed to consolidate in first stage
Shearing of specimen is started just after the application
of cell pressure
Second stage similar to consolidated undarined test
3. CONSOLIDATED DRAINED TEST
 Procedure similar to consolidated undrained test
 Only difference is specimen is sheared slowly in
second stage
 It takes 4-5 days as permeability of cohesive soil is
very slow
TRIAXIAL TEST ON COHESIONLESS
SOILS
TRIAXIAL TEST ON COHESIONLESS
SOILS
Test same as that of cohesive soils, only special
preparation for preparation of sample.
Metal former, split mould of dia 38.5 mm internal dia
is used for preparation.
Cohesionless soil is mixed with water in a beaker
Mixture boiled to remove entrapped air
Sample deposited on funnel with a stopper and a glass
rod
Surface is levelled and a porous stone is placed then
loading cap on its top
A small negetive pressure applied by lowering the
burette
Negetive pressure gives rigidity to sample so that it
can stand without any lateral support
After application of negetive pressure, consolidation
occurs
Split mould is removed, then dia and height of sample
is noted
MERITS
No complete control over the drainage conditions
Test can be conducted for all three types of drainage
conditions
Pore water changes & volumetric changes can be
measured directly
Stress distribution on the failure plane is uniform
Specimen is free to fail on the weakest plane
Mohr circle can be drawn at any stages of shear
Test is suitable for accurate research work
DEMERITS
 Apparatus is elaborate ,costly and bulky
Drained test take longer period of time compared with
that in a direct shear test
Strain condition in specimen are not uniform due to
frictional restraint
Can’t determine cross sectional area of the specimen
accurately in large stains
Test simulates only axis-symmetric problems.
Consolidation of specimen in the test is isotropic
whereas in the field, consolidation is anisotropic.
UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST
Special form of triaxial test-confining pressure=0
Test can be conducted only in clayey soil which can stand
without any confinement.
Test generally performed on intact (non fissure), saturated
clay specimen.
Test can be conducted in a triaxial test apparatus test
apparatus as a U U test, but more convenient to perform it
in an unconfined compression testing machine
There are two types of machines
1.Machine with a spring
2.Machine with proving ring
1.MACHINE WITH SPRING
1.MACHINE WITH SPRING
Consist of 2 metal cones fixed on horizontal loading
plates B & C
Upper plate B is fixed and lower plate C is free
Soil placed between 2 metal cones
When handle turned in plate C moves upward as it is
connected to plate A
Strain in specimen is indicated on a chart
2.MACHINE WITH PROVING RING
Proving ring is used to measure compressive force
Compressive load is applied to specimen by turning
the handle
As handle is turned , upper plate moves downward and
causes compression.
Compressive force is determined from the proving ring
reading,and axial is found from the dial guage reading