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5
Shear Strength
Contents
1. Shear Strength of Soils
2. Test Conditions
3. Measurement of Shear Strength
Parameters
N
Shea
a ce
f
r
u
s
r
F
N
Relative
displacement
of soil mass
Shear strength f at failure is some function of the total stress normal (n) to that plane
f = c + ntan
where c & = experimentally determined constants
c= 0
ntan
frictional soil
no cohesion
f= ntan
shear stress
(fkN/m2
ntan = 0
= 0 undrained strength envelope
cohesive soil
no friction
c
normal stress (nkN/m2
f= c
Experiment has shown that this general expression is correct for a wide
range of soils for a limited range of stresses
f = c + n tan
Coulombs equation (1773)
General Case
Sand + Clay
shear stress
(fkN/m2
c
normal stress ( kN/m2
stress
Effective Stress
Force
Area
= u
Shear strength of a soil can be expressed in terms of effective stress
f = c + ntan
shear stress
(fkN/m2
c
normal stress ( kN/m2
2. Test Conditions
Values of used in design will normally
have been obtained from laboratory or insitu tests
It is essential that the conditions of the tests are
reported
Undrained = total stresses (u uu
Drained or Undrained with PWP measured =
effective stresses (
This is the simplest form of laboratory shear strength test and is often referred to as the direct shear
test as it relates the shear stress at failure directly to the normal stress, thus the failure envelope may
be plotted directly from the results.
In the direct shear box the sample is caused to shear along the plane dividing the upper and lower
pieces by applying a horizontal load to the upper piece while the lower piece is held in position. The
load is generally applied via a proving ring, hence the load causing the sample to shear can be read
directly and the shear stress, is the load causing shear divided by the plan area of the box.
The test is repeated several times on different specimens of the same sample using different normal
loads. The results are then be plotted, to give the shear strength envelope, form which a value of
may be obtained.
The apparatus, comprises a square box construction in two separate pieces, an upper piece and a
lower piece. The vertical normal load is applied directly through the upper pressure plate and it is
divided by the plan area of the box to give the normal stress .
The volumetric behavior of the soil can also determine during the test by measuring the amount of
horizontal displacement and vertical displacement using dial gauges.
By using either porous or impervious platens above and below the sample, both drained and
undrained tests may be performed. It is not possible to measure the pore water pressures during the
test. Consequently, the shear box provides a simple method of measuring total stress in clay samples
and the total and effective stress of free draining granular deposits.
The shear strength of samples with a pre-formed shear plane can also be established. This parameter,
which is known as residual shear strength, is of use when assessing the stability of failed slopes.
Shear box
Medium
(80kN/m2)
(80kN/m2)
f
n=80kN/m
(40kN/m2)
Loose
(40kN/m2)
(20kN/m2)
n=40kN/m
Dense
f
(20kN/m )
2
20
Medium
Loose
Ultimate or
residual shear
strength
n=20kN/m2
40
Normal Stress n
80
Volumetric Displacement
Compression
volume decrease
Vertical
Displacement
(mm)
n=20kN/m2
n=40kN/m2
n=80kN/m2
Dilation volume
increase
Typical Results
' peak
' ult
55
35
40
32
47
32
35
30
Shaley CLAY
35
35
21
15
Material
Example 1 the following results were recorded during a shear box test on a cohesive soil:
Normal load (N)
Shear load at failure (N)
73
109
191
139
309
170
427
197
545
227
If the specimen size was 60mm x 60mm, plot the failure envelope and determine the
apparent cohesion and angle of shearing resistance.
Area of shear box = 60 x 60 = 3600mm2
stress
or 3600/(1000x1000) = 3.6x10-3m2
Load
Area
Shear stress f
73 103
3.6 10
109 103
3.6 10
= 20.3 kN/m2
= 30.3 kN/m2
20.3
53.1
85.8
118.6
151.4
30.3
38.6
47.2
54.7
63.1
20.3
53.1
85.8
118.6
151.4
30.3
38.6
47.2
54.7
63.1
70
60
= 14o
50
40
30
20
C = 25 kN/m2
10
0
0
50
100
150
2
200
Test Sample
The vertical load on the specimen is increased until failure occurs, the vertical strain
being recorded at the same time using a dial gauge. The test is repeated on different
specimens from the same soil, using different values of cell pressure.
Cell Pressure
1= 3+P/A
The deviator stress is the load on the specimen, P, divided by the cross sectional area of the specimen.
However, as the sample is compressed during the test, the cross sectional area will increase. Therefore,
in calculating the deviator stress an allowance for the change in area must be considered.
For the calculation of deviator stress, it is assumed that the volume of the specimen remains
constant and that the sample will deform as a cylinder,
Strain
where
X
100%
Lo
P
1 3
Deviator stress
Volume (Vo ) Ao Lo AL A Lo X )
or
Vo
Lo X
or
Ao
1
Deviator Stress
(kN/m2)
Brittle failure
(shear)
Plastic failure
(barrelling)
Strain () %
Having tested three specimens from the same sample at three different cell pressures,
the shear strength parameters may be assessed using a construction known as a Mohr
circle diagram. This diagram may be explained by way of the following example.
Example 2; The stress/strain graphs for three specimens taken from a single sample of
silty clay are shown below. Calculate the shear strength parameters for the clay.
Deviator Stress
(kN/m2)
672
Sample
573
A
B
C
425
Deviator Stress
(1-3)=P/A
425
573
672
Major principal
Stress 1
425+100 = 525
573+200 = 773
672+300 = 972
1
Strain () %
P
3
A
Sample
A
B
C
Deviator Stress
(1-3)=P/A
425
573
672
Major principal
Stress 1
425+100 = 525
573+200 = 773
672+300 = 972
Shear Stress
( kN/m2
400
Sample C
Sample B
300
200
cu = 130 100
kN/m2
0
Sample A
1-3
Diameter of Circle
1=972
1000
1 3
Radius of Circle =
Shear stress
(fkN/m2
= cu
= 0 undrained strength envelope
cu
normal stress (nkN/m2
Consolidated drained
24hrs
The various triaxial compression tests area described in detail in the following parts of BS 1377, 1990;
Test Type
Part No
Para.
1 Undrained triaxial compression test
7
8&9
2 Consolidated undrained triaxail compression test with pore water pressure measurement
8
7
3 Consolidated drained triaxail compression test
8
8
Undrained test:
Drainage is prevented throughout the test, so that no dissipation of pore pressure is
possible.
Parameters obtained: cu and u
Typical site problem: immediate bearing capacity of foundations in saturated clay.
The vane test is a simple insitu test suitable for use on saturated clay at the
bottom of a trialpit or borehole on site: The vane is driven or pushed into the
soil and a measured torque (T) applied to it until it rotates. The failure surface
is the curved surface plus the flat ends of the cylinder of soils whose diameter
and height are that of the vane. The torque required to cause failure in a
saturated clay is:
d2
Torque T c
h d / 3
2
where:
T = Torque
c = Cohesion
d = Diameter
h = height of vane
5. Vertical Stress
GL
depth = d
= unit weight of soil
v = D x
kN/m2 = m x kN/m3
Sand
Unit weight = 18kN/m3
Unit weight = 19.5kN/m3
7m
(2.5x18)+(19.5x0.5)+(2x21.5) = 97.75kN/m2
Clay
water table
PWP
2
(2.5x9.81) = 24.5kN/m
Effective stress
v = v - u
97.75 - 24.5 = 73.2kN/m2
or Effective stress
(2.5x18)+((19.5-9.81)x0.5)+((21.5-9.81)x2 )
= 73.2kN/m2
3m
5m
Sand
3 x 17 = 51 kN/m2
v = v - u
2 x 9.81 = 19.6 kN/m2
(3 x 17) + (2 x 20) = 91 kN/m2
total stress
water
table
9m
Clay