Geotechnical Engineering-II Lab

CE-313L
CH (0+1)

Instructor: Engr. Zia Ullah

Email: zia_uet@yahoo.com

Department of Civil Engineering

UET Peshawar
 Class Outlines
• Shear strength in soils
– Introduction
– Definitions
• Mohr-Coulomb Failure criterion
• Direct shear test
– Objective
– Need and Scope
_ Procedure
_ Analysis
 Shear strength of Soil
• The shear strength of a soil is its resistance to shearing
stresses.

• It is a measure of the soil resistance to deformation by

continuous displacement of its individual soil particles

• Depends primarily on interactions between particles

• Shear failure occurs when the stresses between the

particles are such that they slide or roll past each other
 Shear strength of Soil Cont.,,

Soil derives its shear strength from two sources

1. Cohesion between particles (stress independent component)
• Cohesion is the component of shear strength of a rock or
soil that is independent of interparticle friction.

In soils, true cohesion is caused by following:

• Electrostatic forces in stiff over-

consolidated clays (which may be lost
through weathering)
• Cementing by Fe2O3, CaCO3, NaCl, etc.
Shear strength of Soil Cont.,,

2. Frictional resistance between particles (stress

dependent component)
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
• This theory states that a material fails because of a
critical combination of normal stress and shear stress,
and not from their either maximum normal or shear
stress alone.

Shear
Stress
 Shear Strength in terms of Total Stresses

τf = c + σf tan ø

Where
– τf = Shearing resistance of soil at failure
– c = Apparent cohesion of soil
– σf = Total normal stress on failure plane
– ø = Angle of shearing resistance of soil (angle of
internal friction)
Shear Strength in terms of Effective Stresses

τf = c’ + σf ’ tan ø’

Where

 c’ = Apparent cohesion of soil in terms of effective

stresses
 σf ’ = Effective normal stress on failure plane
 ø’ = Angle of shearing resistance of soil (angle of
internal friction) in terms of effective stresses
 σf ’ = σf _uf
 Uf = Pore water pressure on failure plane
Direct Shear Test
 Direct Shear Test
• A direct shear test is a laboratory test used by
geotechnical engineers to measure the shear
strength properties of soil

• The test is performed on three or four specimens

from a relatively undisturbed soil sample

• Can be used for both cohesive and cohesion-less

soils
Objective
• To determine the shearing strength of the soil
using the direct shear apparatus.

Need and Scope

• The angle of internal friction and cohesion of
the soil involved are required In many
engineering problems, such as
– Design of foundation
– Retaining walls
– Sheet piling
 Apparatus
1. Direct shear box apparatus, and Loading frame (motor
attached)
2. Dial gauge for vertical deformation measurement
3. Dial gauge for horizontal deformation measurement
4. Proving ring for Shear force measurement. Loads are
kept in loading frame for application of Normal stress
5. Components of shear box with porous stone, filter
paper etc.
Apparatus
Direct Shear Box
Shear Box
 Procedure
 Check the inner dimension of the soil container, and put the
parts of the soil container together.

 Calculate the volume of the container. Weigh the container.

 Place the soil in smooth layers (approximately 10 mm thick). If

a dense sample is desired tamp the soil.

 Weigh the soil container, and find the weight of soil. Calculate
the density of soil.

 Plane the top surface of soil, and put the upper grating stone
and loading block on top of soil.
Procedure Cont.…
 Measure the thickness of soil specimen.

 Apply the desired normal load and Remove the shear pin.

 Attach the dial gauge which measures the change of volume.

 Record the initial reading of the dial gauge and calibration values.

 Check all adjustments to see that there is no connection between

two parts except sand/soil.

 Start the motor. Take the reading of the shear force and volume
change till failure.
Procedure Cont.…
• Add 5 kg normal stress 0.5 kg/cm2 and continue the
experiment till failure

• Record carefully all the readings. Set the dial gauges

zero, before starting the experiment
 Data Collection and Analyses
Horizontal Vertical Proving Horizontal / Vertical Shear Shear
Gauge Dial Gauge Ring Shear Deformati Force, Stress=
Reading Reading Reading Deformation= on= (Kg)= Col (6)/
(1) (2) (3) Col(1)×L.C of Col(2)×L.C Col (3) × Area of
Dial Gauge of Dial P.R.C the
(4) Gauge (6) specimen
(5)

50

100

150

200
 Advantages of Direct Shear Test
 It is easy to test sands and gravels

 Due to the smaller thickness of the sample, rapid

drainage can be achieved

 Large samples can be tested in large shear boxes, as

small samples can give misleading results due to
imperfections such as fractures and fissures, or may
not be truly representative

 Samples can be sheared along predetermined planes,

when the shear strength along fissures or other
selected planes are needed.
 Disadvantages of Direct Shear Test

 The failure plane is always horizontal in the test,

and this may not be the weakest plane in the
sample. Failure of the soil occurs progressively
from the edges towards the center of the sample

 Area under the shear and vertical loads does not

remain constant throughout the test.

 Non-uniform distribution of shear stress along

the failure surface