GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

LAB REPORT 2
of

Group 1
for

The Department of civil engineering

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

7 September 2009

Contents Page
1. Introduction

Page 2

1.2. Background

Page 2

1.3. Process Followed

Page 2

2. Direct Shear test Analysis

Page 3

2.1. Advantages of direct shear test

Page 3

2.2. Disadvantages of direct shear test

Page 3

3. Obtaining of results

Page 4

4. Summary

Page 4

5. Tabulated Results

Page 5

6. Shear Stress Diagram

Page 6

7. Determination of angle Phi

Page 7

8. Conclusion

Page 8

9. References

Page 9

1. Introduction
1.1.

Background

The direct Shear box test is conducted to attempt to determine the failure strength of the soil in
question with regards to shear. This particular piece of information is of vital importance to a
geotechnical as well as a civil designer in the regards to the design of any earth retaining
structure.
A structural designer may, for example, design a retaining wall to a superb standard but the
design may be flauied if no consideration of the design of the foundation of the retaining wall is
taken into account, the structure may fail. There are a number of other design parameters that
one has to take into account other the ones mentioned within this report to ensure a structure
does not fail, thus it is a very useful asset of information to have at ones disposal when in a
working environment so as to account for all possibilities.
Because of this factor, there are a number of laboratory tests to determine, bearing capacities as
well as shear strength of any and all soils. But for this performed practical, direct shear box test
will be of focus.
1.2.

Process Followed

The test was performed by The Direct Shear Test Equipment.

Firstly, an in-situ soil sample was obtained directly from site. The properties of the soil sample
were maintained by coating the sample with wax, a strengthening cloth and again with another
layer of wax. When this sample arrived at the lab, the students conducted the test in the attempt
to determine the shear strength of the soil.
A core sample was taken of the in-situ soil sample and a total number of three shear boxes
moulds (60 x 60mm) were packed in the prescribed method. The sample was then placed into the
shear box with the addition of the upper and lower porous stones as well as the grip plates so as
to prevent the sample from slipping out of position. A pressure pad is placed on top and the box
itself placed in an outer box that runs horizontally on roller bearings. This process was repeated a
total of three times at altered normal forces.

The following procedure that the students carried out was that of positioning the shear both
within the equipment and fastening the apparatus in position. All sections of the Direct Shear
Test Equipment was then levelled and all reading instruments were positioned in order to record
accurate readings.
The normal force was then applied by means of a static vertical weight hanger and the test is
allowed to begin. A shearing force was applied by a horizontal screw jack at a constant rate of
strain. Readings of the shear force were recorded from the proving ring at an increment as
tabulated within the table to follow. And thus the calculations follow.
2. Direct Shear Test Analysis
The direct shear test is a fairly accurate test to conduct if one requires results in a relatively short
period of time, but there are a number of much more accurate results obtainable but do require
lengthy laboratory test that may take up to a number of days even surpassing an en tire week.
2.1.

2.2.

Advantages of Direct Shear Box Test

Both Shear stress and normal stress on the plane of failure can be measures

directly
It is possible to maintain a constant normal stress throughout the duration of the

test.
It is an easier method to use when testing cohesionless soils
It is easier to measure volume changes to the sample during the test
It is possible, when large displacements are involved to use a reversible shear box

to determine the shear strength of the soils

Disadvantages of Direct Shear Box Test
In the test, the distribution of shear stresses over the plane of failure are assumed

to be horizontal, but in fact are not

During the test, drainage cannot be controlled. Thus pore water pressure cannot
be determined or read. Thus one can only record stress readings expect for when

the shear rate is kept very slow so as to ensure no rise in pore water pressure
The applied normal stress cannot be varied during the test
The shear plane is pre-determined by the machine and the sample is not allowed

to fail on the weakest plane but on the forced plane.

3. Obtaining of Results

It was instructed to the students; because of the limited time available to perform the
tests, that three groups should share readings with one another. So the following was
done in regards to our group.
With the normal force of 20kg, group 1 conducted this test.
With a normal force of 30kg, group 7 conducted that test.
With a normal force of 40kg, group 2 conducted that test.
Therefore it can be concluded that our group conducted the 20kg test and the results of
the 30kg and the 40kg test were merely recorded from the other groups in question.
4. Summary
A soil sample, 60X60 mm was used. The sample was placed in a metal shear box, and then fixed
to the equipment. The box is split into halves. Normal force is applied on the sample, from the
top of the shear box. Shear force is applied by moving one half of the box relative to the other to
cause failure in the soil sample. Strain-controlled direct shear test equipment was used to do the
test. A constant rate of shear displacement was applied to one half of the box by a motor that acts
through gears. The constant rate of shear displacement was measured by a horizontal dial gauge.
Three samples were tested separately, with different weight amounts attached to the equipment,
20kg for the first sample, 30kg for the second sample, and 40kg for the third sample.

8.

Conclusion

On analysis of the results obtained from the shear box test. It is deemed the results are accurate
as well as realistic. The graph obtained in the determination of Phi, is theoretically
understandable and the value obtained for angle Phi is justified.
The direct shear box test is not the most accurate test in the determination of the shear strength of
the soil, but it is indeed one of the quickest and easiest test to conduct. It would dually be the test
recommended to a novice person as the test to use due to the effort required to perform an
irregularity is extremely high because the actual test has got minimal human involvement.

References
Fundamental of geotechnical engineering; third edition; Braja M. Das.