Shear Strength of Soils and laboratory

tests

1
Mass Wasting: Shear Failure

2
Shear Failure
Shear Failure
 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.
5
Shear failure

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

No crushing of
individual grains.

6
 Shear failure mechanism




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

reaches the shear strength (f).
7
 Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion


 f  c   tan 
lope 
enve
re
failu
friction angle
cohesion
f
c


f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take
without failure, under normal stress of . 8
 Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
(in terms of total stresses)


 f  c   tan 
elope 
env
re
failu
Friction angle
Cohesion
f
c



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

failure, under normal stress of . 9
 Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
(in terms of effective stresses)


 f  c' ' tan  '

 '  u
elope ’
re env u = pore water
failu pressure
Effective
cohesion Effective
f friction angle
c’
’ ’

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

failure, under normal effective stress of ’. 10
 Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
Shear strength consists of two components:
cohesive and frictional.


f
 f  c' ' f tan  '
’f tan ’ frictional
’ on en t component
comp
e
c’ c’ esiv
coh
’f '

11
 Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
Shear strength consists of two components:
cohesive and frictional.


f
 f  c   f tan 
f tan 
 onent frictional
comp component
e
c esiv
c coh

f 
c and  are measures of shear strength.
12
Higher the values, higher the shear strength.
13
Determination of shear strength parameters of
soils (c, f or c’, f’)

Laboratory tests on Field tests

specimens taken from
representative undisturbed
samples

Most common laboratory tests 1. Vane shear test

to determine the shear strength 2. Pocket penetrometer
parameters are, 3. Fall cone
4. Pressuremeter
1.Direct shear test 5. Static cone penetrometer
2.Triaxial shear test 6. Standard penetration test
Other laboratory tests include,
Direct simple shear test, torsional
ring shear test, plane strain triaxial
test, laboratory vane shear test, 14
laboratory fall cone test
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 15
 svc + Ds
Laboratory tests
t shc shc
Simulating field conditions s
l te
in the laboratory i a
0 svc ax
Tr svc + Ds

Di svc
re
0 0 shc shc c ts
he t
ar
te
st
0 svc t

Representative Step 1 svc

soil sample Step 2
Set the specimen in
taken from the
the apparatus and Apply the
site
apply the initial corresponding field
stress condition stress conditions 16
Direct shear test
Schematic diagram of the direct shear apparatus

17
 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

18
Direct shear test
Preparation of a sand specimen Pressure plate

Leveling the top surface Specimen preparation

of specimen completed

19
 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

20
 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 constant21

rate
 Direct Shear Test
Normal Load
Sharing Force

Sharing Force Soil Specimen

Normal Load
Sharing Force

Sharing Force
 Direct Shear Test
Normal Load
Sharing Force

Normal Stress = Normal load / the

Soil Specimen
specimen’s cross-sectional area

Shear stress = Shearing Force / the

Test with different Normal Load specimen’s cross- sectional area
Shear Stress

The graph can be used to determine the

f
given soil’s shear strength for any load

c Problem: Shear failure is forced to occur

along a predetermined plane, which is
not necessarily the weakest plane of the
Normal Stress soil specimen tested.
f: angle of internal friction
c: cohesion
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

24
 Direct shear test
Analysis of test results

Normal force (P)

  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

25
Direct shear tests on sands
Stress-strain relationship

Shear stress, t
Dense sand/
OC clay
tf
Loose sand/
tf NC clay

Shear displacement
Expansion
Change in height
of the sample

Dense sand/OC Clay

Shear displacement
Compression

Loose sand/NC Clay

26
Direct shear tests on sands
How to determine strength parameters c and f
Shear stress, t

Normal stress = s3
Normal stress = s2
Normal stress = s1
tf2
tf1
tf3
Shear displacement
Shear stress at failure, t f

Mohr – Coulomb failure envelope

f

27
Normal stress,
s
Laboratory Van shear test
Vane shear test
This is one of the most versatile and widely used devices used for investigating
undrained shear strength (Cu) and sensitivity of soft clays

Applied
Torque, T Disturbed Rupture
soil surface
Bore hole
(diameter = DB)

h > 3DB)
Vane T
H Vane

PLAN VIEW

Rate of rotation : 60 – 120 per minute

Test can be conducted at 0.5 m vertical
D intervals
Vane shear test T = Ms + Me + Me = Ms + 2Me
Ms – Shaft shear resistance along the
circumference

Me – Assuming a uniform distribution

of shear strength

d d 2h
Cu M s  dhCu  Cu
2 2
d 2 h Cu d 3
T  Cu  2
2 12
Cu  d 2h d3 
T  Cu 
 2  6  
 
Since the test is very fast,
Unconsolidated Undrained T
(UU) can be expected
Cu 
 d 2h d 3 
   

 2 6 
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
Back pressure Pore pressure or
pedestal volume change

36
37
Triaxial Compression Test

Wrap the specimen

with rubber
membrane
Triaxial Compression Test

Enclose the
specimen in a
chamber filled with
water
Triaxial Compression Test

Apply a specific
s3 pressure using water

s3 s3

s3
Triaxial Compression Test
p
Apply a vertical load
s3 and increase until the
specimen fails

Use different lateral

pressure, conduct the
same experiment
s3 s3

s3
p
Triaxial Compression Test
s3 : Minor principal
p stress
s3
Dp : Deviator stress at
failure axial = (Load at
failure / cross-sectional
area)

s3 s3

s3

p
Triaxial Compression Test
s3 : Minor principal
1   3   p stress

Dp : Deviator stress at
failure axial = (Load at
failure / cross-sectional
area)

s3 s3 s1 = s3 + Dp; major
principal stress

How to obtain cohesion

and angle of internal
friction?
1   3   p
 Triaxial Compression Test

s3 s1= s3+Dp

s3 s3 s3 s3

s3 s1= s3+Dp

Before After
 Triaxial Compression Test
First Test
Shear Stress

A B
Normal Stress

(s3)1 (Dp)1
(s1)1
 Triaxial Compression Test
Second Test
Shear Stress

A B C D
Normal Stress

(s3)1 (Dp)1
(s1)1
(s3)2 (Dp)2
(s1)2
Shear Stress Triaxial Compression Test

Strength Envelop

A B C D
Normal Stress

(s3)1 (Dp)1
(s1)1
(s3)2 (Dp)2
(s1)2
Shear Stress Triaxial Compression Test

Strength Envelop

A B C D
Normal Stress

(s3)1 (Dp)1
(s1)1
(s3)2 (Dp)2
(s1)2
Shear Stress Triaxial Compression Test

Strength Envelop
F

c A B C D
Normal Stress

(s3)1 (Dp)1
(s1)1
(s3)2 (Dp)2
(s1)2
 Example

• Given
– Triaxial compression tests on three specimens of a soil sample
were performed. Each test was carried out until the specimen
experienced shear failure. The test data are tabulated as follows:
• Required
– The soil’s cohesion and angle of internal friction

Specimen Minor Principal Stress Deviator Stress at Failure

Number (kips/ft2) (kips/ft2)
1 1.44 5.76
2 2.88 6.85
3 4.32 7.50
 Example

Minor Principal Deviator Stress

Specimen Major Principal
Stress at Failure
Number Stress (kips/ft2)
(kips/ft2) (kips/ft2)
1 1.44 5.76 7.2
2 2.88 6.85 9.73
3 4.32 7.50 11.82
 Example
8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
 Example
8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
 Example
8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
 Example
8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
 Example
2
tan  
8 4
1  2 
 tan  
4 2
6
 26
c  0.9kip / ft 2
4 4

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder58
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Edges of the sample Setting up the sample

are carefully trimmed in the triaxial cell
59
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sample is covered
with a rubber Cell is completely
membrane and sealed filled with water
60
Triaxial Shear Test

Cell is completely filled with

water 61
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Proving ring to
measure the
deviator load

Dial gauge to
measure vertical
displacement

62
Orientation of Failure Plane
Failure plane
Y oriented at 45 + /2
to horizontal
45 + /2
GL
45 + /2

c

c 90+
Y
c c+
 Envelopes in terms of  & ’
Identical specimens
initially subjected to f
different isotropic stresses
(c) and then loaded c c
axially to failure
c c

uf
Initially… Failure

c, 

in terms of 
At failure,
3 = c; 1 = c+f c’, ’
 3 ’ =  3 – u f ;  1 ’ =  1 - uf in terms of ’
 Types of Triaxial Tests
deviatoric stress ()

Under all-around Shearing (loading)

cell pressure c

Is the drainage valve open? Is the drainage valve open?

yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated Drained Undrained

sample sample loading loading
65
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Dense sand or

Deviator stress, Ds d
OC clay
(Dsd)f
Loose sand or
NC Clay
(Dsd)f

Axial strain
Expansion
Volume change of

Dense sand or
OC clay
the sample

Axial strain
Compression

Loose sand or
NC clay
CD tests How to determine strength parameters c and f
(Dsd)fc
s1 = s3 + (Dsd)f
Deviator stress, Ds d

Confining stress = s3c

Confining stress = s3b
Confining stress = s3a s3
(Dsd)fb
(Dsd)fa

Axial strain

f
Shear stress, t

Mohr – Coulomb
failure envelope

s or s’
s3a s3b s3c s1a s1b s1c
(Dsd)fa (Dsd)fb
 Types of Triaxial Tests
Depending on whether drainage is allowed or not during

 initial isotropic cell pressure application, and

 shearing,
there are three special types of triaxial tests that have
practical significances. They are:

Consolidated Drained (CD) test

Consolidated Undrained (CU) test
Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) test

68
1- 3 Relation at Failure
1

X 3

soil element at failure

3 1

 1   3 tan ( 45   / 2)  2c tan( 45   / 2)
2

 3   1 tan ( 45   / 2)  2c tan( 45   / 2)
2
Unconfined Compression Test
1
• For clay soils
• Cylindrical
specimen
• No confining 3 = 0

stresses
(i.e. 3 = 0)
Uniaxial Compression
• Axial stress = 1
71
72
Unconfined Compression Test
1

3=0

Uniaxial Compression
Unconfined Compression Test
Data
l
Strain = 
l0

A0
Area corrected = Ac 
1   

P
Stress = 
Ac
Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

s1 = sVC + Ds

s3 = 0

Confining pressure is zero in the UC test

75
Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

s1 = sVC + Dsf

Shear stress, t
s3 = 0

qu

Normal stress, s

τf = σ1/2 = qu/2 = cu
76
• Resilient Modulus The primary engineering property used in the
mechanistic empirical design of pavement structures is the resilient
modulus (Mr). The apparatus used for estimating resilient modulus

• The resilient modulus is equal to the peak applied repeated axial

stress divided by the recoverable axial strain occurring within the
specimen. The resilient modulus can be calculated with the following
equation

77
Determination of resilient modulus values from laboratory tests using
triaxial shear testing equipment are difficult and time consuming. Due to
this reason, the resilient modulus is estimated from CBR values and
resistance, R-values. The conversion between the CBR values

The above conversion factors are valid only for resilient modulus values
less then 30,000 lb/in2 .

Also, several studies have shown the resilient modulus, Mr values

estimated from resistance, R-values are not accurate

78
A number of parameters can influence resilient modulus values. Changes in
temperature, particularly those that cause freeze-thaw cycles, can cause
significant differences in Mr values. Studies have shown values of the resilient
modulus can decrease up to 3.5 times in clay and fine sands after thawing
and before freezing.

Self determination:-
1) How resilient modulus is determined in laboratory
2) What is importantance of resilient modulus in case of road pavement.

79