Soil mechanics laboratory manual

5.3 Direct shear test BS 1377: part 7 1990

Scope of the test The direct shear test is used to measure shear strength, friction angle and cohesion of soils for stability analysis of foundation, slopes, and retaining walls The test may ta!e place under drained, undrained or consolidated" undrained conditions

#ig $ 3"1 1"#rame %& '("007 '"Thyristor controlled dri)e unit 3"*ear bo+ ,"&oad ring $"-eight hanger ."&e)er arm /beam0 with counter balance 7"1isplacement transducer ("&oading yo!e During the practical we will execute the unconsolidated undrained test!

Description of test The direct shear test is used to determine the shear strength of soils on predetermined failure surfaces The principle of the direct shear test is illustrated in #ig, $ 3 ' The soil sample confined inside the upper and lower rigid bo+es is sub2ected to the normal load 3 This load is applied by the yo!e which is placed on the loading cap and by putting weight on the hanger the specimen is loaded a+ially Because of the length of the beam the applied weight has to multiply with a factor 11

Soil mechanics laboratory manual

#ig $ 3 ' The shear force T shears the sample4 this force is applied by the motorised dri)e unit and measured with help of the load ring 5f 6 is the area of surface 71, the shear stress - acting on surface 71 is e8ual to T96, and the normal stress : is e8ual to 396 The soil shear strength is the shear stress - that causes the soil to slip on surface 71 5t can be defined by ;ohr"7oulomb theory:

- = C + : tan 5
-here c is the cohesion and 5 is the friction angle

1uring the test, the stress state is not completely defined: - and : are only measured on the hori<ontal surface, but are undetermined on other surfaces Therefore, the stress path during direct shear cannot be represented =owe)er, the ;ohr circle can be drawn at failure, assuming that the failure plane is hori<ontal and the stress state is uniform Sample preparation Specimens of either cohesi)e or non"cohesi)e soil may be tested in the shear bo+ >reparation procedures depend on the type of soil The si<e of the largest particle shall not e+ceed one"tenth of the height of the specimen &oss or gain of moisture by the sample shall be a)oided at all stages of preparation 3ormally three similar specimens are prepared, for testing under three different normal pressures Preparation of specimen of undisturbed cohesi e soil, 10?10?' cm /other si<es are possible0 " >lace the bottom plate " >lace the lower porous plate " 1etermine the weight of the sample cutter " >ush the sample cutter in the soil sample4 trim it with the wire saw and spatula " -eight the specimen in the cutter to 0 1 g, and calculate the initial mass /;o 0 of the specimen " >ush the specimen out of the cutter and into the shear bo+ !eeping its upper face hori<ontal, until it is bedded on to the lower porous plate Preparation of specimen of cohesion less soil. The procedure depends on whether the soil is dry and can be poured, or damp and needs to be tamped, or saturated The sample shall not contain a significant amount of material passing a .3 >m test sie)e,

Soil mechanics laboratory manual

to a)oid segregation of fine particles, and is therefore referred to as sand

Soil mechanics laboratory manual

1ry sand: " 1etermine the depth from the top surface of the upper half to the top of the base plate /h10 " 1etermine the combined thic!ness of plates to be used for the test /tp0 " >repare a 8uantity of soil somewhat larger than re8uired and determined its mass to 0 1 g " >lace the bottom plate " >lace the lower groo)ed plate " >lace or pour the sand directly into the assembled shear bo+ until the appropriate thic!ness " &e)el the surface " >lace the upper groo)ed plate firmly on the specimen " ;easure the distance from the top of the shearbo+ to the surface of the groo)ed plate /h'0 " -eight the total of the unused soil, and determined the initial mass of the specimen /mo0 Saturated sand: " 1etermine the depth from the top surface of the upper half to the top of the base plate /h10 " 1etermine the combined thic!ness of plates to be used for the test /tp0 " >lace the bottom plate " >lace the lower porous plate " >lace the groo)ed plate " >repare a 8uantity of soil somewhat larger than re8uired and determined its mass to 0 1 g " Boil the sand in water for 10 minutes " >lace the saturated sand into the shearbo+ and compact it by )ibration to achie)e the desired density " >lace the upper groo)ed plate firmly on the specimen " >lace the upper porous plate " ;easure the distance from the top of the shearbo+ to the surface of the porous plate /h'0
" " %+ecution of the test
o

7ollect all surplus sand, dry and weight it, and determine the dry mass of the specimen /m 0 by difference

>lace the shear bo+ in the sleigh " #ill the shear bo+ from the bottom up with: /see fig $ 3 30 " Bottom plate " >orous drainage plate " *roo)ed plate /groo)es up, at right angles to shear motion0 " Sample, /with help of the wooden push bloc!0 " *roo)ed plate /groo)es down, at right angles to shear motion0 " >orous drainage plate " Top plate with ball bearing 3 B 5n the case of drained e+periments use the groo)ed plates with the holes

Soil mechanics laboratory manual

#ig $ 3 3 " " " " " " " 6pply the normal force by placing the load hanger on the ball bearing The force is applied by placing the slotted weights on the bottom of the hanger #or greater normal forces the slotted weights can put on the hanger from the le)er arm /see fig $ 3"10 Select the shearing speed, for sand a rate of 1 mm9min, for sand the effect of the displacement rate on the friction angle is generally negligible within the range 3 to 0 1 mm9min #or cohesi)e material the shearing speed depends of the type of test, for an undrained test a rate to appro+imately 1mm9min should be fast enough to approach the undrained condition 6d2ust the position of the bo+ such that it is in contact with the screw applying the shearing force and the arm of the top half of the shear bo+ is in contact with the load"measuring de)ice 5nstall the measuring de)ices to obtain the )ertical and hori<ontal displacement, and ta!e the initial reading 6pply the normal force by placing the load hanger on the ball bearing The force is applied by placing the slotted weights on the bottom of the hanger #or greater normal forces the slotted weights may be hung from the le)er arm /see fig $ 3 10 Start the motor and record the readings on the measuring de)ices at regular inter)als /for e+ample, e)ery 30 seconds0 until a constant )alue is obtained for the load"measuring de)ice

Calculate 7alculate the initial moisture content, -o /in @0, from the e8uation

-o

;o " ;d ;d ?100

;o is the initial mass of the specimen /in g0 ;d is the final dry mass of the specimen

7alculate the initial dry density, Ad /in ;g9m30, from the e8uation

Ad

;d ?1000 6=
o

6 is the plan area of the specimen /in mm'0 =o is the initial height of the specimen /=oB h1"h'"tp0 #or an undisturbed sample, = is e8ual to the height of the cutter
o

1etermine the shear force by correlating the load ring displacement with the force using the calibration chart 7alculate the shear stress

B >96 u 1000

/in !>a0

> B Shear force /in 30 6 B 5s the initial plan area of the specimen /in mm'0

>lot the displacement against the shear stress and determine the ma+imum shear stress 7alculate the normal stress at the moment of the ma+imum shear stress /#ailure points0 :n B #96 /in !>a0 # B mass on the hanger /or e8ui)alent mass if a &e)er"arm is used 0

Soil mechanics laboratory manual

1etermine the 7 and 5 )alues by plotting the ma+ Shear stress against the normal stress

Calibration chart for load measuring ring !.5 "# compression.

Temperature at calibration '0 8 7 Cing serial number 11$$"7"130(0 *auge reading 0 001mm 3(7 ' $1' ' 770 ' 10'9 . 1'(3 ( 1$,. 0 1(0, , '0.( ' '33' ' '$9. , '9'9 . &oad !3 0 0 1 1 ' ' ' 3 3 , ,

Typical )alues of effecti)e cohesion intercept 7c and effecti)e friction angle 5c for )arious fine"grained soils /drained test0 7ase record Dimola 7anal Trondheim emban!ment Slope failure in )ariegated clay shale &ondon clay failures #ield test in Eslo clay Daolin Se)en Sisters 1i!es Table 1 Andrained shear strength of clays 7onsistency description :ery soft Soft Soft to firm #irm #irm to stiff Stiff :ery stiff or hard Andrained shear strength /!39mF0 G '0 '0 H ,0 ,0 H $0 $0 H 7$ 7$ H 100 100 H 1$0 I 1$0 water 7ontent /@0 $3 " '0 31 30"3( " ,( >lasticity inde+ >5 / @0 '7 '"1, ', $' '3 3' .7 7c /!>a0 ,9 ("'0 7, 1' (( 13 ( 5c /deg0 '( 31"3$ ', '0 ', '$ ( 1$

$.% Consolidation test BS 1377: >art $: 1990

Scope of the test& 7onsolidation can be defined as the plastic deformation or )oid"ratio reduction of a soil mass, which are functions of time and e+cess pore pressure -hen fine grained soils are sub2ected to changes in load due to construction, their deformation ta!es place not only at the time of the load application, but also continues for )ery long time periods which may last se)eral years The long"term settlement of fine grained soil layers is primarily controlled by consolidation, a physical process in which the interstitial water that is under e+cess pressure slowly diffuses through the compressible matri+ of soil particles 6fter the e+cess pore pressure has completely dissipated, fine"grained soils can also deform due to their )iscous nature The properties that characterise the amplitude and rate of deformation are determined in the consolidation test

#ig . 1"1

1" '" 3" ," $" ." 7" ("

7onsolidation frame 7onsolidation cell 1isplacement transducer &oading yo!e 7ounter balance weight Beam Beam support 2ac! -eight hanger

Description of test 6 prepared soil specimen is put in a consolidation cell /fig . 1"'04 which is mounted on the cell platform from the consolidation frame The loading yo!e is placed on the loading cap and by putting weight on the hanger the specimen is loaded a+ially Because of the length of the beam the applied weight has to multiply with a factor /1epending to which hole of the beam the hanger is connected0 The stress is held constant until the primary consolidation has ceased This can ta!e a few hours to a few wee!s, depending of the load and sample material 1uring this process water drains out of the specimen, resulting in a decrease in height which can be measured with the displacement transducer at suitable inter)als Sample preparation The inside diameter of the cutting ring shall be not less than $0 mm and not greater than 10$ mm The height of the ring shall be not less than 1( mm and not greater than 0 , times the internal diameter Andisturbed specimens shall be prepared with the minimum change of the soil structure and moisture content The method of preparation shall depend on whether the sample recei)ed in the laboratory is contained in a tube of the same internal diameter as the specimen to be tested, or in a tube of larger diameter, or as a bloc! sample #or the practical you will get a clay bloc! sample, from which you will prepare a specimen with help from the cutting ring

#ig . 1 ' " " " " " ;easure the diameter and height of the cutting ring, with an accuracy of 0 1 mm -eigh the ring to an accuracy of 0 1 gram &ubricate the inner face of the ring lightly with silicon grease, to minimise side friction >lace the sample on a glass plate >ush the cutting ring into the sample cutting away surplus soil from the outside of the ring as the sample enters it, until the top surface pro2ects a few millimetres abo)e the top of the ring

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7ut of the soil pro2ecting abo)e and below the ring with the wire saw /see fig . 1 '0 and flat ten both sides carefully with the spatula Cemo)e soil particles stic!ing to the outer side of the ring -eigh the specimen with ring

'est procedure 6ssembly of the consolidation cell " >lace the cell body on the cell base " >lace the bottom porous disc on the cell base " >ut the cutting ring with specimen centrally in to the cell with its cutting edge uppermost " #i+ the ring retainer around the ring, so that it is securely held, and tighten the clamping screws " >lace the upper porous disc " >lace the loading cap centrally on top
&oading cap

7lamping screws Apper porous disc

7ell body

Cing retainer Ander porous disc 7utting ring

7ell base E"ring

#ig . 1"3 " " " " " " " -ith the loading Jo!e swung forward and resting on the beam, place the consolidation cell centrally on the frame platform 6d2ust the counterbalanced loading beam so that when the loading yo!e 2ust ma!e contact with the loading cap the beam is slightly abo)e hori<ontal position Caise the beam a little more abo)e hori<ontal position and hold it there with the support 2ac! Swing the loading yo!e )ertical abo)e the loading cap and slowly lower it 6d2ust the supports 2ac! so that the bull 2ust touches the seating 6dd a small weight to the hanger /the seating pressure on the specimen shall not e+ceed ' !>a0 Bring the displacement transducer in contact with the loading yo!e and set it <ero

5f not otherwise indicated by the laboratory assistant, the test has to be done for tree load increments starting with a load gi)ing a stress of 17, !>a on the sample 3ormal procedure is to double the stress at each stage The applied stress range will therefore be 17,, 3,7, .9, !>a " " " " 6dd the first load to the hanger to gi)e the re8uired pressure of 17, !>a /ta!e away the seating load0 Start -inclips program /trigger on the )ertical displacement transducer, 0 1 mm0 6dd water to the cell ;easure with suitable inter)als the )ertical displacement4 the following periods of elapsed time from <ero are con)enient 0,10,'0,30,,0,$0 s 1,',,,(,1$,30 min 1,',,,(,', hours

">lot the readings of the dial gauge or the settlement against time to a logarithmic scale /See fig . 1",0:

#ig . 1", 6fter ', hours, the decision must be ta!en whether or not to apply the ne+t load increment 5f the dial reading )ersus log"time shows a flattening out from the steep part of the cur)e to a straight line which is less steeply inclined, as in figure . 1",, it indicates that the primary consolidation phase is complete and that the ne+t load increment may be applied 5f the straight line representing secondary compression has not yet been established, the load should be left unchanged for another ', hours -hen it has been established the loading stage may be terminated: " 6pplied the second load on hanger, to gi)e the re8uired new stress /3,7 !>a0

The procedure has to be carried out at the same way as done for the first load increment Cepeat this procedure for a third load increment " 6fter completion the last load increment ta!es out the consolidation ring

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Cemo)e the porous discs carefully, any soil adhering to them should be scraped off and returned to the sample -ipe the outside of the ring dry and weight the sample with the ring >lace sample with ring in the o)en for ', h Ta!e the dry weight, to calculate the moisture content and dry"weight

(eporting 7alculate the bul! mass density and moisture content before and after the test 7alculate the dry density /if no material has been lost during the test0 >lot the settlement )ersus log"time cur)e, and analysis has to be made following 7asagrandes method, to determine the coefficient of consolidation C for each increment of loading The principle of the method is illustrated in fig . 1", &ocate the corrected <ero point by mar!ing off the difference in ordinates between any two points on the initial /con)e+"upwards0 portion of the cur)e ha)ing times in the ratio 1:,, and laying off an e8ual distance abo)e the upper point Cepeat this operation using two other pairs of points ha)ing times in the same ratio, and ta!e the a)erage as the corrected <ero compression point /d o 1raw and e+tend the tangents to the two linear portions of the laboratory cur)e, i e at the point of infle+ion, and the secondary compression portion Their intersection gi)es the compression corresponding to theoretical 100 @ primary compression, denoted by d100 #rom the <ero and 100@ points, locate the $0 @ primary compression point, d on the laboratory cur)e $0, and obtain its time, t /in min0
$0

7alculate the coefficient of consolidation with the following e8uation: 7) B

0 0'. H ' t $0

%+pressed in m'9year

-ith:

H=

H 1 K H ' were, '

=1B =eight of specimen at start of a loading increment ='B =eight of the specimen at the end of that increment t$0 B time for $0 @ consolidation, e+pressed in minutes