Soil Mechanics

Practical 2: Shear box test

To determine the ultimate shear strength parameters of loose sand using the shear box test.

Procedure:

1. Measure the mass and the internal dimensions of the empty shearbox.
2. Pour the sand sample into the shearbox and level, place the cap of the box in place so as to
not compact the sample and weigh it.
3. Place the shear box in the loading frame and apply 5kg to the box and remove screws
holding box sections together.
4. Zero all gauges and engage clutch. Once all gauge readers are ready the motor may be
turned on and record the results of the vertical displacement and the proving ring reading.
Record the horizontal displacement every 0.25mm until a total of 6mm has been achieved.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 for 25kg and 50kg normal load.

Results:

Test No. 1 2 3
Normal load 5.27 25.27 50.27
Density of 1.618 1.658 1.566
sample (t/m)
Horiz. Prov. Ring Vertical Prov.ring Vertical Prov.Ring Vertical
Displacement( reading displacemen Reading displacement Reading Displaceme
mm) t nt
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.25 0 0.013 92 0.01 30 0.06
0.5 0 0.013 93 0.01 52 0.29
0.75 1 0.013 125 0 56 0.69
1 5 0.11 95 0 79 0.88
1.25 7 0.123 22 0 99 0.94
1.5 7.5 0.124 32 0.04 105 1.02
1.75 8 0.11 33 0.03 115 1
2 12 0.07 27.5 0.11 123 0.93
2.25 13 0 31 0.25 128 0.84
2.5 15 -0.004 32 0.36 131 0.73
2.75 17.5 -0.2 39.5 0.42 129 0.6
3 17.5 -0.3 50 0.43 132 0.5
3.25 17.5 -0.48 58 0.4 131 0.39
3.5 17.5 -0.62 68 0.3 133 0.29
3.75 17.5 -0.76 74 0.14 133 0.2
4 17.5 -0.89 78 -0.06 134 0.1
4.25 17.5 -1.03 80 -0.27 133 0
4.5 17.5 -1.16 83 -0.4 130 -0.08
4.75 17.5 -1.26 83 -0.75 131 -0.15
5 17.5 -1.34 82 -1 129 -0.2
5.25 17.5 -1.42 81 -1.23 126 -0.25
5.5 17.5 -1.52 79 -1.4 126 -0.28
5.75 17.5 -1.57 77 -1.6 125 -0.31
6 17.5 -1.64 76 -1.78 125 -0.33

Test no. 1 2 3
Normal Stress 14.54 69.72 138.694
(kPa)
Horiz.Displ. , shear stress Stress , shear stress Stress , shear Stress
(mm) (kPa) ratio(/) (kPa) ratio(/) stress (kPa) ratio(/)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.25 0 0 60.6434 0.8698 250.0579 1.8029
0.5 0 0 61.3026 0.8698 433.4337 3.1251
0.75 0.6592 0.0453 82.3960 0.8793 466.7748 3.3655
1 3.2958 0.2267 62.6209 1.1818 658.4859 4.7478
1.25 4.6142 0.3173 14.5017 0.8982 825.1911 5.9497
1.5 4.9438 0.3400 21.0934 0.2080 875.2027 6.3103
1.75 5.2733 0.3627 21.7525 0.3025 958.5554 6.9113
2 7.9100 0.5440 18.1271 0.3120 1025.2375 7.3921
2.25 8.5692 0.5894 20.4342 0.2931 1066.9138 7.6926
2.5 9.8875 0.6800 21.0934 0.2931 1091.9196 7.8729
2.75 11.5354 0.7934 26.0371 0.3025 1075.2491 7.7527
3 11.5354 0.7934 32.9584 0.3735 1100.2548 7.9330
3.25 11.5354 0.7934 38.2317 0.4727 1091.9196 7.8729
3.5 11.5354 0.7934 44.8234 0.5484 1108.5901 7.9931
3.75 11.5354 0.7934 48.7784 0.6996 1108.5901 7.9931
4 11.5354 0.7934 51.4151 0.6996 1116.9254 8.0532
4.25 11.5354 0.7934 52.7334 0.7375 1108.5901 7.9937
4.5 11.5354 0.7934 54.7109 0.7564 1083.5843 7.8128
4.75 11.5354 0.7934 54.7109 0.7847 1091.9196 7.8729
5 11.5354 0.7934 54.0517 0.7847 1075.2491 7.7527
5.25 11.5354 0.7934 53.3926 0.7753 1050.2433 7.5724
5.5 11.5354 0.7934 52.0742 0.7658 1050.2433 7.5724
5.75 11.5354 0.7934 50.7559 0.7469 1041.908 7.5123
6 11.5354 0.7934 50.0967 0.7280 1041.908 7.5123
 1.5

1
Vertical Displacement (mm)

0.5

0 Series2
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Series3
-0.5
Series4
-1

-1.5

-2
Horizontal Displacement (mm)

6
Stress ratio (/)

5
Series1
4 Series2
Series3
3

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-1 Horizontal Displacement (mm)

Test Conditions:

Dimensions of shear box (mm): 59.34x59.92x42.68

Area of sample(mm): 3555.653mm

Proving Ring No. 47

Calibration Constant(N/div): 2.344

Weight sample 1 - Box weight = 0.246kg

Weight Sample 2 - Box weight = 0.252kg

Weight Sample 3 - Box weight = 0.238kg

=

5.279.81
Normal stress = : = 6060

10

8
Ultimate shear stress

4 Series1
Linear (Series1)
2

0
-50 0 50 100 150
-2
Shear Stress

ult, Ultimate
Normal Stress (kPa) shear stress (kPa)
14.54 0.7934
69.72 1.182
138.694 8.053