FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

Soil Mechanics (ECG413)

EXERCISE 3

Shear Strength of Soils

Shear Strength of Soils

QUESTION 1
(a)

What is the shear strength of a soil? What factors affect the shear strength of soils?
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(6 marks)

(b)

The results given below were obtained from a series of undrained shear box test on silty
clay.

i)

Normal stress (kN/m2)

100

200

300

400

Shear stress at failure (kN/m2)

79

122

159

197

Determine the undrained shear strength parameters cu and u of the soil.

ii) Determine the value of the apparent cohesion that would be expected from an
unconfined compression test on the same soil.
iii) Using the graph plotted in part (b) above, determine the expected deviator stress at
failure if another specimen of the same soil is tested undrained in a triaxial
compression apparatus at a cell pressure of 170 kN/m2.
(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(14 marks)

QUESTION 2

(a)

The Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria for a give soil can be expressed as;

= c + n

tan

Explain each of the terms in the equation and sketch its relationship for the following
conditions:
i)
ii)

cohesive soil,
cohesionless soil, and

iii)

Cohesive-frictional soil.

(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(6 marks)

(b)

The results shown below were obtained from a series of undrained triaxial compression
test on three specimens of an undisturbed soil sample.

Test number

Cell pressure (kPa)

150

300

450

Deviator stress at failure (kPa)

192

341

504

Pore pressure at failure (kPa)

80

154

222

i)

Plot Mohr circles representing these results and determine the total and effective
shear strength parameters.

ii)

If another sample of the same soil was tested at a cell pressure of 250 kPa and failed
at a deviator stress of 292 kPa, what was the pore pressure at failure.

(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(14 marks)

QUESTION 3

(a)

List out TWO (2) advantages and disadvantages of carrying out a triaxial test over a shear
box test in determining the shear strength parameters of a soil. With the help of simple
sketches explain the different modes of shear failures that are normally observed from a
triaxial test on soil samples.
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(7 marks)

(b)

A consolidated-undrained triaxial test carried out on an undisturbed soil sample yielded an

effective cohesion of 30 kN/m2 and an angle of internal friction of 25 degrees. Using these
results determine the following:
i)

The effective cell pressure at failure of another specimen of the same soil which was
again tested and failed at a deviator stress of 300 kPa.

ii) The expected major principal stress at failure of another specimen of the same soil
tested at a cell pressure of 200 kPa and found to shear at pore pressure of 95 kPa.
(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(9 marks)

(c)

Discuss TWO (2) field applications of the shear strength parameters in geotechnical
design.
(CO4-PO3) (C5-C6)
(4 marks)

QUESTION 4
(a)

Sketch a typical Mohr-Stress circle and failure envelopes for the following shear strength
tests conducted on saturated cohesive soil:
i) Unconsolidated-undrained
ii) Consolidated-undrained
iii) Consolidated-drained
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(6 marks)

(b)

Samples of compacted, clean, dry sand were tested in a shear box, 60 mm by 60 mm in

plan, and the following results were obtained:

i)

Normal Load (N)

100

200

350

Shear force at peak (N)

96.6

193.1

338.0

Shear force at ultimate (N)

62.5

125.0

218.7

Draw the shear stress versus normal stress graphs for the above results and
determine the critical and the peak angles of friction of the soil.

ii) If a loose sample of the soil is sheared in the shear box under a normal load of 300 N,
what is the expected shear force at failure?
(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(10 marks)

(c)

Explain the four stages that a soil sample would have to undergo in a consolidated
isotropically undrained (CIU) test.
(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(4 marks)

QUESTION 5
(a)

Discuss the differences in the analysis of triaxial test data using the Mohr Coulomb failure
criteria as opposed to the stress paths methods.
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(6 marks)

(b)

A consolidated undrained triaxial test on a specimen of saturated clay was carried out
under an all-round pressure of 600 kPa. The cell pressure was raised from 300 kPa. The
following results were recorded during the shearing process.
Deviator Stress
(kPa)

50

100

140

180

220

260

300

329*

Pore Pressure
(kPa)

295

312

328

342

354

362

368

366

354*

* at failure

i)
ii)

Plot and show clearly the effective and total stress paths for the specimen using the
half difference versus half sum plot.
Another specimen of the same soil was then tested, the following data were obtained
at failure:
Cell pressure
= 1100 kPa
Deviator stress
= 550 kPa
Pore pressure
= 585 kPa
Using these data together with the relevant data in the table above, determine the
total and effective shear strength parameters of the soil tested. Deduce the type of
soil tested and indicate the stress point failure envelope on your graph.

(CO4-PO1) (C3-C4)
(14 marks)

QUESTION 6
(a)

What are the peak strength, critical shear strength, and residual shear strength?
(CO1-PO1) (C1-C2)
(6 marks)

(b)

Extract the relevant data from Question 5 part (b) above and plot Mohr circles to
determine the total and effective shear strength parameters for the soil. Comment on your
results obtained from Question 5 part (b).

(c)

Using the Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope obtain from part (b) of this question, determine
for the following:
i)

The expected major principal stress at failure if another specimen of the same soil
was again tested at a cell pressure of 350 kPa and the pore pressure at failure was
found to be 75 kPa.

ii)

The pore pressure at failure if another specimen of the same soil was further tested
at a cell pressure of 300 kPa and the deviator stress at failure was found to be 400
kPa.

(CO4-PO3) (C5-C6)
(14 marks)

Compiled by
AP Abd Rahman Mahamood
September 2012