CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Vane Shear Test

Objectives
(i)

To determine the undrained strength of saturated soft clay specimens in the laboratory

(ii)

To determine effects of strength anisotropy in vertical and horizontal directions

(iii) To compare the determined shear strength value from vane tests with unconfined compression
tests.

Background

Vane shear test is commonly used to determine the undrained shear strength of soft clays (i.e., u
= 0) both in the laboratory and the field.

Laboratory Vane Test

Field Vane Test

The laboratory vane shear test is useful for determining the shear strength of soils typically less
than 100 kPa (very soft to slightly stiff clays) in accordance with the procedures described in
ASTM D 2488. The shear strength values for undisturbed and remoulded samples can be used for
evaluating the sensitivity of soil. The laboratory vane test is also an ideal tool for determining the
strength anisotropy (vertical and horizontal directions) of soil specimens collected in the field.

The vane shear test apparatus consists of four-blade vanes which can be inserted into an
undisturbed tube specimen or a remolded specimen and rotating it at a constant rate to determine
the torque required to cause a cylindrical surface to be sheared by the vane. This torque is
converted to a unit shearing resistance of the cylindrical surface area. The torque is measured by

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

a calibrated spring that is attached directly to the vane. The remolded zone around the vane
blade is assumed to be small and have little or no effect on the stressstrain properties. In reality,
the volume of the soil disturbed by the insertion of the blade into the assumed cylindrical volume
of the soil being tested may be significant. It is recommended that the vane displacement be no
more that 15 % of the soil being tested as defined by the vane area ratio.

Apparatus

Vane Blade: The vane blade assembly consists of four rectangular blade vanes. It is
recommended that the height of the vane be twice the diameter (2:1). Vane blade diameters vary
from 0.5 inch (12.5 mm) to 1 inch (25.4 mm).

Vane Devise: The vane devise is a motorized machine that rotates the torque spring at a constant
rate of speed which is about 60o /min. The vane spring rotation devise has an indicator to display
the rotation angle as the spring torque is increased with time.

Crank For Lowering

Vane Into Specimen.

Vane
Head

Motor Drive

Vane
Spring

Scale

Vane

Vane
Frame

Specimen
Holder

Specimen
Holder

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

Vane Crank

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

The rotational head of the vane shear machine has two degree scales (see Fig below). The inner
scale, 0o 359o provides a scale for reading the torque of the spring while the outer scale, 0 o 90o
provides a scale for reading the actual vane rotation.

Spring Torque
Scale

Vane Rotation
Indicator

Vane Torque
Indicator

Vane Rotation
Link Rod

Spring Torque
Indicator

Vane
Spring

Vane
Lock

Vane
Blades

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Theoretical & Design Considerations

When a soil specimen is sheared using a vane blade, the soil is sheared along both the horizontal
and vertical planes. We will assume that vertical plane is along the height and horizontal is across
the ends.

The ratio of horizontal to vertical areas of shear for a 2:1 blade is about 8:1 and for a 1:1 blade is
about 4:1.

Many types of clay are typically anisotropic with respect to strength both in horizontal and vertical
directions.

It is important to maintain the recommended ratio of height to diameter to determine the horizontal
and vertical strengths separately to reduce the errors associated with the measurements.

In the laboratory test, we will conduct the experiment in two different directions, along the axis of
the specimen and across it. We will use two different ratios of vane blades, 2:1 and 1:1.

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Procedure
1.

Select a tube specimen, unwrap and extract enough material to get an undisturbed specimen at
the end of the tube. Trim the specimen material flush with the end of tube.

2.

Using the pocket vane, determine the estimated undrained shear strength of the specimen to be
used, as described by the instructor

3.

Extract and re-trim the specimen.

4.

Crank the vane head to the top of the vane frame.

5.

Install the 12.5 x 19 mm vane in the vane apparatus.

6.

Prepare a tube specimen and install vertically in vane apparatus.

7.

Select the appropriate spring for the specimen and vane combination.

8.

Install the belt drive and set the vane indicators.

9.

Lower the vane into the specimen until the top of the vane is one blade height below the surface
of the specimen.

10. Take note of the initial readings. Adjust if necessary.

11. Turn on the vane motor and take readings every 2 to 3 degrees of vane rotation. Record on data
sheet.
12. Repeat steps 4 to 12 using the 12.5 x 19 mm vane. However this time we will extract
approximately 10 cm of specimen and install the extracted specimen within the split tube
specimen holder and place the assembly horizontally within the vane frame.

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Calculation Procedure for Todays Experiment

Assuming the distribution of the shear strength is uniform across the ends of a cylinder and
around the perimeter
T

TT

D D2 H
TS DHsu ,v
su ,v
2
2
D/ 2
2 su ,h D 3
TB 2 dr su ,h r
0
3
8
if ,su ,v su ,h su

TS

D3 H

1
su
2 D 3
2T
T
su

H 1 K
D3
D 3

T TS 2TB
TB
D

2
D
D H
K

6
110 2 3H

(m3: D and H are in cm)

dr
D

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Report

Address all the questions below when you write your report

1.

Comment on the difference between vertical and horizontal vane shear strength for the same
vane.

2.

Why do we label the vane strength as undrained shear strength? Give reasons.

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Determination of the Undrained Shear Strength Of Clay
Using the Laboratory Vane
Shaded cells are for raw or observed data
Student Number
Date
Sample Description
Sample Colour
Estimated Depth
Sample Orientation

Test
Clock
Time

Vert. or Hor.

Blank cells are for calculated data

Lab Day
Vane Diameter
Vane Height
Vane Constant KV

cm
cm
m3

Spring Number
Spring Constant KS

Nm

Note: Instructor will demostrate the procedure for determining the spring constant
Vane
Spring
Actual Vane
Actual Spring
Rotation Rotation
Rotation
Rotation
Spring Torque Shear Stresss
RV
Rs
DRV = RVn - RV0
DRS = RSn - RS0
T =DRV x KS t = T x K V
(min)
(deg)
(deg)
(deg)
(deg)
(Nm)
(Pa)
0

Elapse
Time

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa

CVG 3109: Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Determination of the Undrained Shear Strength Of Clay

Using the Laboratory Vane
Shaded cells are for raw or observed data

Test
Clock
Time

Blank cells are for calculated data

Student Number
Date
Sample Description
Sample Colour

Lab Day
Vane Diameter
Vane Height
Vane Constant KV

cm
cm
m3

Estimated Depth
Sample Orientation

Spring Number
Spring Constant KS

Nm

Vert. or Hor.

Note: Instructor will demostrate the procedure for determining the spring constant
Vane
Spring
Actual Vane
Actual Spring
Rotation Rotation
Rotation
Rotation
Spring Torque Shear Stresss
RV
Rs
DRV = RVn - RV0
DRS = RSn - RS0
T =DRV x KS t = T x K V
(min)
(deg)
(deg)
(deg)
(deg)
(Nm)
(Pa)
0

Elapse
Time

Geotechnical Laboratory, University of Ottawa