INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GANDHINAGAR

Department of Civil Engineering

Soil Mechanics Laboratory

UNCONSOLIDATED UNDRAINED TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION (UU) TEST

(IS 2720-Part 11-1993) Reaffirmed-2002

CONCEPT:
A cylindrical soil specimen is subjected to three compressive stresses in mutually perpendicular directions and one of these
three stresses being increased until specimen fails in shear. Initially, a confining pressure (3) is applied through water
around the specimen in an impermeable membrane. The vertical stress becomes major principal stress (1) while the
confining pressure 3 acts in other two principal directions. The intermediate principal and minor principal stresses are

equal to each other. Deviator stress (d) is the difference of 1 and 3, acts on specimen while its shear deformation.

NEED AND SCOPE:

The standard unconsolidated undrained test is compression test, in which the soil specimen is subjected under
isotropic all round pressure in the triaxial cell before failure is brought about by increasing the major principal stress. It is
performed without measurement of pore pressure at insitu conditions.

APPARATUS REQUIRED:
1. 3.8 cm (1.5 inch) internal diameter 12.5 cm (5 inches) long sample tubes
2. Rubber O-rings, Stop clock
3. An open ended cylindrical section former, 3.8 cm inside diameter fitted with a small rubber tube on its side
4. Moisture content test apparatus, and
5. Balance of 250 gm capacity and accurate to 0.01 gm
6. Latex membrane
7. Glass platens

THEORY:
1. A loading frame in which the load is applied by yoke acting through an elastic dynamometer, more commonly
called a proving ring which used to measure the load. The frame is operated at a constant rate by a geared screw
jack. It is preferable for the machine to be motor driven, by a small electric motor.
2. A hydraulic pressure apparatus including an air compressor and water reservoir in which air under pressure acting
on the water raises it to the required pressure, together with the necessary control valves and pressure dials.
3. A triaxial cell to take 3.8 cm diameter and 7.6 cm long samples, in which the sample can be subjected to an all-
round hydrostatic pressure, together with a vertical compression load acting through a piston. The vertical load

IIT Gandhinagar, Soil Mechanics Lab Page1

 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GANDHINAGAR
Department of Civil Engineering
Soil Mechanics Laboratory

from the piston acts on a pressure cap. The cell is usually designed with a non-ferrous metal top and base
connected by tension rods and with walls formed of Perspex.

PROCEDURE:
1. The sample is placed in the compression machine and a pressure plate is placed on the top. Care must be taken to
prevent any part of the machine or cell from jogging the sample while it is being setup, for example, by knocking
against this bottom of the loading piston. The probable strength of the sample is estimated and a suitable proving
ring selected and fitted to the machine.
2. The cell must be properly set up and uniformly clamped down to prevent leakage of pressure during the test,
making sure first that the sample is properly sealed with its end caps and rings (rubber) in position and that the
sealing rings for the cell are also correctly placed.
3. When the sample is setup water is admitted and the cell is filled until water escapes from the bleed valve, at the
top, which is then closed.
4. The air pressure in the reservoir is then increased to raise the hydrostatic pressure in the required amount (say 100
kPa, 150 kPa and 300 kPa or100kPa, 200 kPa and 300 kPa as per the depth where the sample is brought and the
application requirements). The pressure gauge must be watched during the test and any necessary adjustments
must be made to keep the pressure constant.
5. The handle wheel of the screw jack is rotated until the underside of the hemispherical seating of the proving ring,
through which the loading is applied, just touches the cell piston.
6. The piston is then moved down mechanically until it is just in touch with the pressure plate on the top of the
sample, and the proving ring seating is again brought into contact for the beginning of the test.

OBSERVATION & RECORDING:

The machine is set in motion (or if hand operated the hand wheel is turned at a constant rate) to give a rate of strain
0.1% to 1% per minute. At particular intervals of strain, dial gauge readings and the corresponding proving ring readings
are taken, and the corresponding load is determined using proving ring constant. The experiment is stopped at the strain
dial gauge reading for 20% of length of the sample or 20% strain.

Data Sheet for Triaxial Test (UU)

Sample No : Length of specimen : cm
Diameter of specimen: cm Initial area of specimen (A0) : cm2
Initial Volume : Strain rate : %/minute
Proving ring constant: N Strain dial least count (const.) : mm

IIT Gandhinagar, Soil Mechanics Lab Page2

 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GANDHINAGAR
Department of Civil Engineering
Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Deformation Strain (%), Proving Load taken Deviator

Cell Dial gauge Corrected area
mm = ring (N) Stress, (d) kPa (=
pressure reading (m2)
(divisions*least (deformation/ht. reading (divisions*proving load taken*corrected
kPa (3) (divisions) = (A0/{1-/100)
count) of (divisions) ring constant) area)/1000
specimen*100)

25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
325
350
100
375
400
425
450
475
500
525
550
575
600
625
650
675
700

IIT Gandhinagar, Soil Mechanics Lab Page3

 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GANDHINAGAR
Department of Civil Engineering
Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Deformation Strain (%), Proving Load taken Deviator

Cell Dial gauge Corrected area
mm = ring (N) Stress, (d) kPa (=
pressure reading (m2)
(divisions*least (deformation/ht. reading (divisions*proving load taken*corrected
kPa (3) (divisions) = (A0/{1-/100)
count) of (divisions) ring constant) area)/1000
specimen*100)

25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
325
350
200
375
400
425
450
475
500
525
550
575
600
625
650
675
700

IIT Gandhinagar, Soil Mechanics Lab Page4

 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GANDHINAGAR
Department of Civil Engineering
Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Deformation Strain (%), Proving Load taken Deviator

Cell Dial gauge Corrected area
mm = ring (N) Stress, (d) kPa (=
pressure reading (m2)
(divisions*least (deformation/ht. reading (divisions*proving load taken*corrected
kPa (3) (divisions) = (A0/{1-/100)
count) of (divisions) ring constant) area)/1000
specimen*100)

25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
325
350
300
375
400
425
450
475
500
525
550
575
600
625
650
675
700

IIT Gandhinagar, Soil Mechanics Lab Page5

 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GANDHINAGAR
Department of Civil Engineering
Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Compressive Moisture Angle of

Sample Bulk density Cell pressure Strain at Shear strength
stress at failure content, shearing
No. (g/cc) (kPa) failure, (%) (kPa)
(kPa) (%) resistance, (0)

1.

2.

3.

* 1 = 3+ d;
* Plot d vs , (Deviatoric stress vs. strain plot);
*Plot p versus q for the peak values from three tests (Modified failure envelope);

GENERAL REMARKS:
a) It is assumed that the volume of the sample remains constant and that the area of the sample increases uniformly
as the length decreases. The calculation of the stress is based on this new area at failure, by direct calculation,
using the proving ring constant and the new area of the sample. By constructing a chart relating strain readings,
from the proving ring, directly to the corresponding stress.
b) The strain and corresponding stress is plotted with stress abscissa and curve is drawn. The maximum compressive
stress at failure and the corresponding strain and cell pressure are found out.

c) The stress results of the series of triaxial tests at increasing cell pressure are plotted as a Modified failure envelope
using p = (1+3)/2 as abscissa and q = (1-3)/2 as ordinate. In this diagram a best fit line is plotted with in which
the slope represents the value of while the intercept represents the value of a.
d) From the relation, sin = tan ,
a = c* cos;
The value of cohesion, c and the angle of shearing resistance, will be determined as the soil shear strength
parameters.

IIT Gandhinagar, Soil Mechanics Lab Page6