Experiment No 1

Direct Shear Test

Objective
To determine shear strength strain characteristics of soils especially, cohesion-less
soils.
To determine shear strength parameter of cohesion-less soils.
Theory
This test is performed to determine the consolidated-drained shear strength of soils.
The shear strength is one of the most important engineering properties of a soil, because it is
required whenever a structure is dependent on the soils shearing resistance. The shear
strength is needed for engineering situations such as determining the stability of slopes or
cuts, finding the bearing capacity for foundations, and calculating the pressure exerted by a
soil on a retaining wall.

Direct Shear Test Machine

Procedure
Weigh the initial mass of soil in the pan.
Take the sandy soil samples and place them inside the shear box of standard
dimensions and level off the top.
Complete the assembly of the direct shear device and initialize the three gauges
(Horizontal displacement gage, vertical displacement gage and shear load gage) to
zero.
Apply normal load in terms of dead weights to stimulate the structural load to be
safely transferred to the foundation.
Apply shear load using the machine under strain controlled conditions.
Take the shear displacement gauge, vertical displacement gage and shear load gage
readings.
Continue taking readings until the horizontal shear load peaks and then falls.
Finally manipulate the data you recorded to come up with the required output.
Sample size

Required parameters
to plot the shear strain and stress characteristics
to plot Mohrs circle and determine shear strength parameters
Apparatus
1. Direct shear Test Machine

2. Balance

3. Dry Oven

4. Desolator

5. Caliper

6. Moisture Content can

Calculations
Ao = 6cm * 6cm = 36cm2
Ao = 36 *(10-4)m2
P = F/A ;

F = P*A = 1 * A;

F = 300 KN/m2 * (36 * 10-4) m2 = 1080N

F = mg;

m = F/g;

m = 1080N / 10m/s2 = 108kg

Correction Factors for loading = 0.7N/division
Correction Factors For deformation = 10-2mm/division
Dis
place
ment
(mm)

Corrected

vertical stress (300 KPa)

vertical stress (300 KPa)

vertical stress (300 KPa)

area
(mm2)

Proving

Shear

Shear

Proving

Shear

Ring

load

stress

Ring

load

Reading

(N)

(KPa)

Reading

(N)

Shear
stress (KPa)

Proving

Shear

Shear

Ring

load

stress

Reading

(N)

(KPa)

3600

0.5

3570

45

31.5

8.823529

111

77.7

21.76471

80

56

15.68627

3540

98

68.6

19.37853

188

131.6

37.17514

200

140

39.54802

1.5

3510

120

84

23.93162

235

164.5

46.8661

290

203

57.83476

3480

139

97.3

27.95977

245

171.5

49.28161

365

255.5

73.41954

2.5

3450

158

110.6

32.05797

266

186.2

53.97101

428

299.6

86.84058

3420

164

114.8

33.56725

295

206.5

60.38012

505

353.5

103.3626

3.5

3390

179

125.3

36.96165

317

221.9

65.45723

530

371

109.4395

3360

178

124.6

37.08333

328

229.6

68.33333

540

378

112.5

4.5

3330

182

127.4

38.25826

326

228.2

68.52853

538

376.6

113.0931

3300

185

129.5

39.24242

315

220.5

66.81818

520

364

110.303

5.5

3270

186

130.2

39.81651

299

209.3

64.00612

510

357

109.1743

3240

185

129.5

39.96914

510

357

110.1852

6.5

3210

181

126.7

39.4704

510

357

111.215

3180

178

124.6

39.18239

120

Shear Stress (KPa)

100
80
100

60

200
40

300

20
0
0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

Axial Strain

Stress Strain Diagram

120
y = 0.3656x + 0.7396
R = 0.9843

100
80
60
40
20
0
0

100

200

300

400

Y-intercept = Cohesion = 73.96Pa

Slope = tan = 0.3656
= 20.08o

Experiment No -2
Unconfined Compressive Test
Objective:
To determine unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils which can stand by
themselves without lateral support
To determine stress-strain characteristics
To determine un drained compressive strength of cohesive soil
Theory
For soils, the un-drained shear strength is necessary for the determination of the
bearing capacity of foundations, dams, etc. The un-drained shear strength of clays is
commonly determined from an unconfined compression test. The most critical condition for
the soil usually occurs immediately after construction, which represents un-drained
conditions, when the un-drained shear strength is basically equal to the cohesion.
Then, as time passes, the pore water in the soil slowly dissipates, and the inter-granular
stress increases, so that the drained shear strength, given by = c + tan, must be used.
Where = inter-granular pressure acting perpendicular to the shear plane; and = ( - u),
= total pressure, and u = pore water pressure; c and are drained shear strength
parameters.

Unconfined compression apparatus

Procedure
Weigh the sample and record the mass on the data sheet.
Carefully place the specimen in the compression device and center it on the bottom
plate. Adjust the device so that the upper plate just makes contact with the specimen
and set the load and deformation dials to zero.
Apply the load so that the device produces an axial strain at a rate of 0.5% to 2.0% per
minute, and then record the load and deformation dial readings on the data sheet at
every 100 divisions on deformation the dial.
Keep applying the load until the load (load dial) decreases on the specimen
significantly or the load holds constant for at least four deformation dial readings.
Sample size
Cylindrical specimen with height = 2-2.5 times the diameter

Where

N = Normal/ Compressive load

R = Radial/ Confining load

Required Parameters
to plot the shear strain and stress characteristics
to plot Mohrs circle and determine shear strength parameters
Apparatus and Supplies
1. Un confined compression test machine
2. Cylindrical soil sample ( about 76 mm in length and 38 cm in diameter)
3. Balance
4. Moisture can
5. Load and deformation dial gauges

Observed Data
Axial
deformation
Proving ring
reading

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700
35

59

80

97

109 118 127 133 139 141 142 135 118

98

Calculations
Axial deformation = reading division * 10-2 mm/division
Axial strain = (axial deformation / length of sample)*100
= 2 =

2
4

(38)2
4

b = a * 10-2;
(a)

(b)

=1.134*10-3 m2
c = b/H;
(c)

d = A o / (1-c);

f = e*0.00142; g = f/d

(d)

Displacement
dial (10-2 mm)

Shear
displacement
(mm)

Normal
strain

Corrected
(mm2)

50

0.5

0.006579

100

150

(e)
area

(f)

(g)

Proving
reading

Normal
load (N)

(KPa)

1141.626

35

49.7

43.53441

0.013158

1149.236

59

83.78

72.90057

1.5

0.019737

1156.949

80

113.6

98.18925

200

0.026316

1164.767

97

137.74

118.2554

250

2.5

0.032895

1172.69

109

154.78

131.9871

300

0.039474

1180.722

118

167.56

141.9131

350

3.5

0.046053

1188.865

127

180.34

151.6909

400

0.052632

1197.121

133

188.86

157.7618

450

4.5

0.059211

1205.493

139

197.38

163.7339

500

0.065789

1213.982

141

200.22

164.9283

550

5.5

0.072368

1222.592

142

201.64

164.9283

600

0.078947

1231.325

135

191.7

155.686

650

6.5

0.085526

1240.183

118

167.56

135.1091

700

0.092105

1249.17

98

139.16

111.402

180

160

140

Axial Stress (KPa)

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
0

10

Axial Strain (%)

Stress Strain Diagram

A f = 1249.17 mm2
Pf = 139.16N
q u = 164.9283 KPa
C = q u / 2 = 82.46 KPa

Experiment No 3
Tri-axial shear test
Objective
To determine the shear strength parameter and stress-strain behavior of soils under
controlled situation.
To eliminate all the drawbacks observed in direct shear and unconfined compression
strength test and obtain parameters which are reliable for design.
Theory
The tri-axial shear test is the most reliable method which is now available for
determination of shear strength parameters and is widely used for research and conventional
testing. In this test, the sample to be tested is cylindrical in shape and is covered with rubber
membrane. The sample is placed between two porous stones. Fluid pressure is applied with
in the chamber containing the sample gives uniform stress all over the surface sample. To
cause shear failure in the sample gives uniform stress all over the surface sample. To cause
shear failure in the sample, axial or deviator load (P), the corresponding deviator stress value
can be found out by dividing the load with cross sectional area of the sample.

Tri-axial compression test machine

Procedure
Take undisturbed soil sample
Place the sample inside the chamber
Cover the soil sample using rubber membrane
Place porous discs at the top and bottom of soil sample to saturate and allow
drainage during the test
Fill the chamber with water and apply pressure to stimulate minor principal stress
Apply normal load by load piston/plunger
Using nylon tubes at different directions, allow or reject drainage during
consolidation and shear stages and different types of tests like UU, CU & CD are
possible
By the help of data logger and computer controlled precise data can be obtained for
the required parameters like other tests.
Required parameters
Stress-strain characteristics plot
Mohr circle and associated shear strength parameters

10