Kuat Geser Tanah (Shear Strength)

- Triaxial Test (Courtesy of COSC 323: Soils in Construction)

oleh:
A. Adhe Noor PSH, ST., MT
Staf Pengajar Program Studi Teknik Sipil
Jurusan Teknik Fakultas Sains dan Teknik
Universitas Jenderal Soedirman

Triaxial Shear Test

Piston (to apply deviatoric stress)

Failure plane

O-ring
impervious
membrane

Soil
sample

Soil sample at
failure
Perspex
cell

Porous
stone
Water

Cell pressure
Back pressure
pedestal

Pore pressure or
volume change

Triaxial Shear Test

Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder

Triaxial Shear Test

Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Edges of the sample are

carefully trimmed

Setting up the sample in

the triaxial cell

Triaxial Shear Test

Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sample is covered with a

rubber membrane and
sealed

Cell is completely
filled with water

Triaxial Shear Test

Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Proving ring to
measure
the
deviator load

Dial
gauge
to
measure
vertical
displacement

Types of Triaxial Tests

c
Step 1
c

deviatoric stress
( = q)
Step 2

c + q

c
Under all-around cell pressure c
Is the drainage valve open?
yes

Consolidated
sample

Shearing (loading)
Is the drainage valve open?
yes

no

no

Unconsolidated

Drained

Undrained

sample

loading

loading

Types of Triaxial Tests

Step 2

Step 1
Under all-around cell pressure c

Shearing (loading)

Is the drainage valve open?

yes

Consolidated
sample

Is the drainage valve open?

no

yes

Unconsolidated
sample

CD test

Drained

Undrained

loading

loading

UU test
CU test

no

Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

Total,

Neutral, u

Effective,

Step 1: At the end of consolidation

VC

VC = VC

hC

Drainage

hC = hC

Step 2: During axial stress increase

VC +
hC

Drainage

V = VC + =1

h = hC =3

Step 3: At failure

VC + f
Drainage

hC

Vf = VC + f=1f

hf = hC =3f

Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

1 = VC +

3 = hC

Deviator stress (q or d) = 1 3

Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

Expansion

Time
Compression

Volume change of the

sample

Volume change of sample during consolidation

Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Deviator stress,

Dense sand or
OC clay

d)f
d)f

Loose sand or
NC Clay

Expansion
Compression

Volume change of
the sample

Axial strain

Dense sand or
OC clay
Axial strain
Loose sand or
NC clay

CD tests
d

Deviator stress,

How to determine strength parameters c and

d)fc

1 = 3 + (d)f
Confining stress = 3c
Confining stress = 3b
Confining stress = 3a

d)fb

d)fa
Axial strain

Mohr Coulomb
failure envelope

3a

3b 3c 1a
(d)fa
(d)fb

1b

1c

or

Shear stress,

CD tests
Strength parameters c and obtained from CD tests

Since u = 0 in CD
tests, =

Therefore, c = c
and =
cd and d are used
to denote them

CD tests Failure envelopes

For sand and NC Clay, cd = 0

Mohr Coulomb
failure envelope

3a

1a

or

Shear stress,

(d)fa
Therefore, one CD test would be sufficient to determine d of
sand or NC clay

CD tests Failure envelopes

For OC Clay, cd 0
NC

OC

(d)f

or

Some practical applications of CD analysis for

clays
1. Embankment constructed very slowly, in layers over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

= in situ drained shear

strength

Some practical applications of CD analysis for

clays
2. Earth dam with steady state seepage

Core

= drained shear strength of

clay core

Some practical applications of CD analysis for

clays
3. Excavation or natural slope in clay

= In situ drained shear strength

Note: CD test simulates the long term condition in the field.
Thus, cd and d should be used to evaluate the long
term behavior of soils

Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

Total,

Neutral, u

Effective,

Step 1: At the end of consolidation

VC

VC = VC

hC

Drainage

Step 2: During axial stress increase

V = VC + u =1

VC +
No
drainage

hC

hC = hC

h = hC u =3

Step 3: At failure
Vf = VC + fuf =1f

VC + f
No
drainage

hC

uf

hf = hC uf =3f

Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

Expansion

Time
Compression

Volume change of the

sample

Volume change of sample during consolidation

Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Deviator stress,

Dense sand or
OC clay

d)f
d)f

Loose sand or
NC Clay

Axial strain

Loose sand
/NC Clay

Axial strain
Dense sand or
OC clay

CU tests

Shear stress,

d)fb

1 = 3 + (d)f
Confining stress = 3b
Confining stress = 3a

3
d)fa
Total stresses at failure
Axial strain

cu

Mohr Coulomb failure

envelope in terms of
total stresses

3a

3b

(d)fa

1a

1b

or

Deviator stress,

ccu

How to determine strength parameters c and

Shear stress,

How to determine strength parameters c and

1 = 3 + (d)f - uf

Mohr Coulomb failure

envelope in terms of
effective stresses

Effective stresses at failure

Mohr Coulomb failure

envelope in terms of
total stresses

ccu

3a

3b
3a

ufa

3b

=3 - uf

uf

1a
(d)fa

cu

ufb

1b
1a

1b

or

CU tests

CU tests
Strength parameters c and obtained from CD tests

Shear
strength
parameters in terms of
total stresses are ccu and
cu

Shear
strength
parameters in terms of
effective stresses are c
and

c = cd and = d

CU tests Failure envelopes

For sand and NC Clay, ccu and c = 0
Mohr Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
effective stresses

3a 3a

1a 1a

cu

or

Shear stress,

Mohr Coulomb failure

envelope in terms of
total stresses

(d)fa
Therefore, one CU test would be sufficient to determine cu
and = d) of sand or NC clay

Some practical applications of CU analysis for

clays
1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

= in situ undrained
shear strength

Some practical applications of CU analysis for

clays
2. Rapid drawdown behind an earth dam

Core

= Undrained shear strength

of clay core

Some practical applications of CU analysis for

clays
3. Rapid construction of an embankment on a natural slope

= In situ undrained shear strength

Note: Total stress parameters from CU test (ccu and cu) can be used for stability
problems where,
Soil have become fully consolidated and are at equilibrium with the
existing stress state; Then for some reason additional stresses are
applied quickly with no drainage occurring

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Data analysis
Initial specimen condition

Specimen condition
during shearing

C = 3
No
drainage

C = 3

No
drainage

3 + d

Initial volume of the sample = A0 H0

Volume of the sample during shearing = A H
Since the test is conducted under undrained condition,
A H = A0 H0
A (H0 H) = A0 H0
A (1 H/H0) = A0

A0
A
1 z

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Step 1: Immediately after sampling
0
0
Step 2: After application of hydrostatic cell pressure
3 = 3 -uc

C = 3
No
drainage

C = 3

uc

3 = 3 -uc

uc = B 3
Increase of pwp due
increase of cell pressure

to

Increase of cell pressure

Skemptons pore water
pressure parameter, B

Note: If soil is fully saturated, then B = 1 (hence, uc = 3)

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Step 3: During application of axial load
No
drainage

1 = 3 + d (uc ud )

3 + d
3

3 = 3 (uc ud)

+
uc ud

ud = ABd
Increase of pwp due to increase
of deviator stress

Increase of deviator stress

Skemptons pore water

pressure parameter, A

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Combining steps 2 and 3,

uc = B 3

ud = ABd

Total pore water pressure increment at any stage, u

u = uc + ud
u = B [3 + Ad]
u = B [3 + A(1 3]

Skemptons
pore
water
pressure
equation

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Total,

Neutral, u

-ur

Step 2: After application of hydrostatic cell pressure

No
drainage

C
C

-uruc = -urc
(Sr = 100% ; B = 1)

Step 3: During application of axial load

No
drainage

C +
C

-urc u

C + f
C

h0 = ur
VC = C +ur - C=ur
h = ur
V = C + + ur - c
h = C + ur - c
Vf = C + f+ ur - c

Step 3: At failure

No
drainage

Effective,
V0 = ur

Step 1: Immediately after sampling

-urc uf

uf = 1f

hf = C + ur - c
3f

uf =

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Total,

Neutral, u

C + f
C

Effective,

Vf = C + f+ ur - c

Step 3: At failure

No
drainage

uf = 1f

hf = C + ur - c
3f

-urc uf

uf =

Mohr circle in terms of effective stresses do not depend on the cell pressure.
Therefore, we get only one Mohr circle in terms of effective stress for different
cell pressures

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Total,

Neutral, u

C + f
C

Effective,

Vf = C + f+ ur - c

Step 3: At failure

No
drainage

uf = 1f

hf = C + ur - c
3f

-urc uf

uf =

Mohr circles in terms of total stresses

Failure envelope, u = 0

cu
ub

3a

3b
3

ua

1a
1b
1

or

Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Effect of degree of saturation on failure envelope

S < 100%

3c 3b

S > 100%

c 3a b

a or

Some practical applications of UU analysis for

clays
1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

= in situ undrained
shear strength

Some practical applications of UU analysis for

clays
2. Large earth dam constructed rapidly with no
change in water content of soft clay

Core

= Undrained shear strength

of clay core

Some practical applications of UU analysis for

clays
3. Footing placed rapidly on clay deposit

= In situ undrained shear strength

Note: UU test simulates the short term condition in the field.

Thus, cu can be used to analyze the short term
behavior of soils

Example
Given
Triaxial compression tests on three specimens of a soil sample
were performed. Each test was carried out until the specimen
experienced shear failure. The test data are tabulated as follows:

Required
The soils cohesion and angle of internal friction
Specimen
Number

Minor Principal Stress

(kips/ft2)

Deviator Stress at Failure

(kips/ft2)

1.44

5.76

2.88

6.85

4.32

7.50

Example

Specimen
Number

Minor Principal
Stress
(kips/ft2)

Deviator Stress
at Failure
(kips/ft2)

Major Principal
Stress (kips/ft2)

1.44

5.76

7.2

2.88

6.85

9.73

4.32

7.50

11.82

Example
8

6
4

10

12

14

Example
8

6
4

10

12

14

Example
8

6
4

10

12

14

Example
2
4
2
6 tan 1
4
26
8
tan

c 0.9kip / ft 2
2

10

12

14

THE END