SKAB 2012 - G3

UNCONFINED
COMPRESSION
TEST
B Y:

D R . D AYA N G Z U L A I K A A B A N G H A S B O L L A H
Objective
• In an unconfined compression test, a cylindrical specimen of cohesive soil
is subjected to a steadily increasing axial compression until failure occurs.
• The test provides an immediate approximate value of the compressive
strength of the soil
• It is carried out within a short enough time to ensure that no drainage of
water is permitted into or out of the specimen
• It is suitable only for saturated, non-fissured cohesive soils.
Failure Criteria
• The maximum value of the compressive force per unit area at which the
specimen can sustain is referred to as the unconfined compressive strength
of the soil.
• In soils of high plasticity in which the axial stress does not readily reach a
maximum value, an axial strain of 20 % is used as the criterion of failure.
• The unconfined compression test is generally applicable to saturated clays
for which the apparent angle of shearing resistance φu is zero.
Application
• the undrained shear strength (su) is necessary for the determination of
the bearing capacity of foundations, dams etc
• he undrained shear strength (su) of a cohesive soil is equal to one half
the unconfined compression strength (qu) when the soil is under the f =
0 condition (f = the angle of internal friction).
• The most critical condition for the soil usually occurs immediately
after construction, which represents undrained conditions, when the
undrained shear strength is basically equal to the cohesion (c).
 Assumptions
• In the unconfined compression test, we assume that no pore water is
lost from the sample during set-up or during the shearing process.
• A saturated sample will thus remain saturated during the test with no
change in the sample volume, water content, or void ratio.
• Pore pressures are not measured in an unconfined compression test;
consequently, the effective stress is unknown. Hence, the undrained
shear strength measured in an unconfined test is expressed in terms of
the total stress
Procedures
• 1. Determine the mass of the prepared test specimen to the nearest 0.1g.

• 2. Make at least three measurements of length and of the diameter of the specimen to the nearest 0.1 mm,
and determine the average dimensions.

• 3. Place the specimen in the loading device so that it is centred on the bottom platen. Avoid disturbance
especially if the specimen is soft, and avoid loss of moisture from the soil.

• 4. Adjust the loading device carefully so that the upper platen just makes contact with the specimen. (Figure
2G3-1) NOTE: A small seating force indicated by the force-measuring device confirms when contact is
made. The force is included as part of the force applied to the specimen.

• 5. Adjust the axial deformation gauge to read zero or choose an appropriate initial reading. 6. Record the
initial readings of the force and compression gauges
• 7. Select rate of axial deformation such that the rate of axial strain does not exceed 2% / min.

• 8. Apply compression to the specimen at the selected rate and record simultaneous readings of the force-
measuring device and the axial deformation gauges at regular intervals of compression, e.g. corresponding
to each 0.5% strain. Obtain at least 12 sets of readings in order to define the stress-strain curve.

• 9. Continue the test until maximum value of axial stress (calculated as in 3.3) has been passed, or the axial
strain reaches 20 %.

• 10. Remove the load from the specimen and record the final reading of the forces measuring gauge as a
check on the initial reading.

• 11. Sketch the mode of failure of the specime

Apparatus
Data
Analysis
Calculation
Expected Output

• Normal stress vs Axial strain (%) curve: to get maximum

stress at failure or stress at 20% decrease of sample height =
qu
• Mohr Circle: to get shear stress, given by parameter C.
Normal stress vs Axial Strain Curve
Mohr’s Circle
Conclusion
• Conclude what is the maximum stress at failure and shear
stress of the sample.
• Discuss how does soil condition (Undrained or Drained)
influencing the soil parameter
Report Preparation
• Report is INDIVIDUAL and HANDWRITTEN
• Can choose any set of Data (each data contain 2 samples)
• Must contain:
• Objective
• Procedure
• Data and analysis, Calculation example
• Result
• Conclusion and discussion
• MUST attach the front cover, write your NAME, EXPERIMENT NO and GROUP number clearly
• Group leader will COMPILE the report and submit to me
• Only 1 file (pdf) can be uploaded in the learning for submission.
• Due date is 7 days after your experiment.