SHEAR STRENGTH of SOIL

Direct Shear Test

The soil specimen in placed in a metal shear box as shown in the figure.
The soil specimens maybe square or circular in cross sections with sizes
usually 50 mm x 50 mm or 100 mm x 100 mm and 25 mm high. The metal
shear box is split into halves. The normal stress is applied from the top of
the shear box, then a shear force is applied by moving one half of the box
relative to the other to cause failure in the soil specimen.

A. Normal stress is computed as follows:

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 B. If there is a shortening of length:

Resisting shear stress is computed as follows:

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RELATION of NORMAL STRESS and SHEAR STRESS
A. For normally consolidated clay, c = 0

𝝉
𝒕𝒂𝒏∅ =
𝝈
𝝉 = 𝝈 𝐭𝐚𝐧 ∅
where:
𝜏 = shearing stress
𝜎 = normal stress
∅ = angle of internal friction.

B. For over consolidated clay

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 h = σ tan ø
𝜏 = c + σ tan ø
where:
𝜏 = shearing stress
c = cohesion of clay
σ = normal stress

1. In loose sand, the resisting shear stress increases with shear

displacement until a failure shear stress is reached. After that, the
shear resistance remains approximately constant for any further
increase in shear displacements.
2. In dense sand, the resisting shear stress increases with a shear
displacements until it reaches a failure stress. This stress is called the
peak shear strength. After failure stress is attained, the resisting
shear stress gradually decreases at shear displacement increases
until it finally reaches a constant value called ultimate shear strength.

Tri – Axial Test

A. Consolidated-drained Test (CD Test)
The figure shows a diagram of a tri-axial test equipment. Soil specimen
about 35 mm if diam. (1.4 inches) and 75 mm (3 in.) long is generally used.
It is encased by a thin rubber membrane and placed inside a plastic
cylindrical chamber that is usually filled with water or glycerine. The soil
specimen is then subjected to a confining pressure by compression of the
fluid in the chamber. An axial stress is applied through a vertical loading
ram in equal increments until it causes failure, this stress is known as the
deviation stress.

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In this test, the specimen is first subjected to an all around confining
pressure by compression of the chamber fluid. As the deviator stress on
the specimen is increased at a very slow rate, the drainage connection is
kept open and the slow rate of deviator stress application allows complete
dissipation of any pore water pressure, thus consolidation will occur.
This type of test may take several days to complete, because it is
necessary to apply deviator stress at a very slow rate to ensure full
drainage from the soil specimen.

1. For normally consolidated clay (noon cohesive soil c –D)

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 Effective stress failure envelope from drainage tests in sand and
normally consolidated clay.
σ3 = chamber confining stress, cell stress, lateral stress.
∆D = deviators stress (diameter of semi-circle)
σ1 = major principal stress at failure
ø = single of interval friction
σ1 = σ2 + σD
𝜎 −𝜎
𝑟= 1 𝐷
2
OA = σ3 + r
𝜎 −𝜎
OA = σ3 + 1 3
2
𝜎1 +𝜎3
OA =
2
𝑟
Sin ø =
𝑂𝐴
𝜎1 −𝜎3
2
Sin ø = 𝜎1 +𝜎3
2
𝜎1 −𝜎3
Sin ø =
𝜎1 +𝜎3

Inclination of the plane of failure caused by shear

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 Ø + 90 + 180 - 2θ = 180˚
2θ = 90 + ø
∅
θ = 45 +
2
θ = angle that the failure plane makes with the major principal stress.

2. Over consolidated clay (Cohesive soil)

x = c cot a
𝐴𝐵
sin ø =
𝑂𝐴
𝜎1 − 𝜎3
2
sin ø = 𝜎1 + 𝜎3
𝑥+
2
𝜎1 −𝜎3
sin ø =
2𝑐 cot ∅+𝜎1 +𝜎3
2𝑐 cos ∅ sin ∅
σ1 – σ3 = + 𝜎1 sin ø + 𝜎3 sin ∅
sin ∅
σ1 – σ1 sin ø = σ3 + σ3 sin ø + 2c cos ø
σ1 (1 – sin ø) = σ3(1 + sin ø) + 2c cos ø
𝜎3 (1+sin ∅) 2𝑐 cos 𝑎
σ1 = +
(1−sin ø) (1−sin ∅)

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 1+sin ∅ ∅
But = 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 (45 + )
1−sin ∅ 2
cos ∅ ∅
= tan (45 + )
1−𝑆𝑖𝑛 ∅ 2
∅ ∅
σ1 = σ3 tan2 (45 + ) + 2c tan (45 + )
2 2

B. Consolidated Undrained Test (CU Test)

This is the most common type of tri-axial test. The saturated soil
specimen is first consolidated by an all around chamber fluid pressure.
After the pore water pressure generated by the application of confining
pressure is completely dissipated, the deviator stress on the specimen is
increased to cause shear failure. During this phase of the test, the
drainage line from the specimen is kept closed. Since drainage is not
permitted in these test during the application of deviator stress, they can
be performed rather quickly.

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 C. Unconsolidated-Undrained Test (UU Test)
In unconsolidated-undrained test, drainage from the soil is not permitted
during the application of chamber pressure. The test specimen is
sheared to failure by the application of the deviator stress without
allowing drainage. Since drainage is not allowed at any stage, the test
can be performed very quickly. The added deviator stress at failure is
practically the same regardless of the chamber confining pressure. The
failure envelope for this type of test becomes a horizontal line thus
giving a value of ø (angle of friction) equal to zero.

Note:
The ø = 0 concept is applicable only to saturated clays and silts.
∆ud = pore pressure
∆σd = deviators stress
Minor effective stress at failure:
σ31 = σ3 - ∆ud

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Major effective stress at failure:
σ11 = (σ3 + ∆σd) - ∆ud
σ11 = σ1 - ∆ud
Cu = undrained shear strength and is equal to the radius of the Mohrs
circles.

Unconfined Compression Test of Saturated Clay

This is a special type of unconsolidated-undrained test. In this test, the
confining pressure is zero. An axial load is rapidly applied to the specimen
to cause failure. At failure the total minor principal stress is zero and the
total major principal stress σ1.
1
Cu = 𝜎1
2
1
Cu = 𝑞𝑢
2
qu = unconfined compression strength
Cu = undrained shear strength

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Note:
Theoretically, for similar saturated clay specimens, the unconfined
compression test and the unconsolidated-undrained tri-axial test should
yield the same values of undrained shear strength Cu. But in practice, the
unconfined compression tests on saturated clays yield slightly lower values
of Cu than those obtained from unconsolidated undrained tests.

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Problem 1:
A dry sand sample is tested in direct shear. The test procedure includes
having a normal (compressive) stress of 200 kPa imposed while the
sample undergoes shearing. The sample fails when the shear stress
reaches 135 kPa.
1. Determine the angle of internal friction for this soil.
2. A second sample of the same sand is also to be tested in direct shear
but the applied normal (compressive) stress will be 145 kPa. What
shear stress is expected to cause the sample to fail.
3. Determine the shear stress at a depth of 5 m. if the unit wt. of soil is
15.8 kN/m3.

Problem 2:
The following are the results of direct shear tests performed on two
identical samples of the soil. In test one, the sample shears at a stress of
71 kPa when the compressive normal stress is 95 kPa. In test two, the
sample shears at a stress of 104 kPa when the normal stress is 150 kPa.
1. Determine the value of the apparent cohesion.
2. Determine the angle of internal friction.
3. Determine the shear stress at a depth of 4 m.. if the unit wt. of soil is
15.6 kN/m3.

Problem 3:
The following data were obtained in a direct shear test.
Normal pressure = 20 kPa
Tangential pressure = 16 kPa
Angle of Internal friction = 20˚
Cohesion of soil = 8 kPa
1. Compute the angle that the failure plane makes with the horizontal.

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 2. Compute the minimum principal stress.
3. Compute the max. principal stress.

Problem 4:
A sand sample is subjected to direct shear testing at its normal (in situ)
water content. Two test are performed. For one of the test, the samp. When
the normal stress is 4000 psf. In the second test, the sample shears at a
stress of 4000 psf. when the normal stress is 6000 psf. From these data.
1. Determine the angle of internal friction.
2. Determine the value of the apparent cohesion.
3. Compute the shear stress at a depth of 12 ft. if the unit weight of soil
is 150 pcf.

Problem 5:
A series of undrained shear box test (Area of box = 360 mm2) were carried
out on a soil with the following results.
Normal load (N) Shear Force at Failure (?)
90 70
180 95.5
270 123
1. Determine the cohesion with respect to the total stresses.
2. Determine the angle of friction.
3. If a 30 mm diam. 72 mm long sample of the same soil was tested in a
tri-axial machine, with a cell pressure of 270 kPa, what would be the
additional axial load at failure if the sample shortened by 6.3 mm.

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Problem 6:
The angle of friction of a compacted dry sand is 37˚. In a direct shear test
on the sand, a normal stress of 150 kN/m2 was applied. The size of the
specimen was 50 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm (height).
1. Compute the shearing stress.
2. What shear force will cause shear failure?
3. Determine the shear stress at a depth of 3 m. If the void ratio of the
soil is 0.60, Sp.gr., of sand is 2.70

Problem 7:
The size of sand specimen in a direct test was 50 mm x 50 mm x 30 mm
0.65
(height). It is known that for the sand, tan ø = , where e = void ratio and
𝑒
the specific gravity of solids is 2.65. During the test, a normal stress of 138
kPa was applied. Failure occurred at a shear stress of 104 kPa.
1. Find the void ratio.
2. Find the dry unit weight of sand.
3. Find the weight of the sand specimen.

Problem 8:
A direct shear test was conducted on a specimen of dry sand and with a
normal stress of 142 kPa. Failure occurred at a shear stress of 96 kPa. The
size of the specimen tested was 50 mm x 50 mm x 25 mm(height).
Compute the following:

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 1. Find the angle of friction.
2. For a normal stress of 85 kPa, compute the shearing stress.
3. What shear force would be required to cause failure in the specimen.

Problem 9:
Boreholes reveal that a thin layer of alluvial silt exists at a depth of 15 m.
below the surface of the ground. The soil above this level has an average
dry density of 1.55 Mg/m3 and an average water content of 30%. The water
table is approximately at the surface. Tests on the undisturbed samples of
the silt gives the following data.
Undrained cohesion of soil: Cu = 50 kN/m2
Undrained angle of friction: øu = 13˚
Drained cohesion of soil: C’ = 40 kN/m2
Drained angle of friction: ø” = 23˚
1. Compute the effective pressure at 15 m. depth.
2. Compute the shearing resistance of the silt on a horizontal plane
when the shear stress builds up rapidly.
3. Compute the shearing resistance of the silt when the shear stress
builds up very slowly.

Problem 10:
Clean and dry sand samples were tested in large shear box, 250 mm x 25-
mm and the following results were obtained.
Normal load kN 5 10 15
Peak shear load (kN) 5 10 15
Ultimate shear load (kN) 2.9 5.8 8.7
1. Determine the angle of shearing resistance in the dense state.
2. Determine the angle of shearing resistance in the loose state.

Problem 11:

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The following are the properties of soil on a given soil profile.
Degree of saturation is 50% on the average.
Void ratio = 0.50
Specific gravity = 2.70
Angle of Internal friction = 30˚
1. Calculate the potential shear strength on a horizontal plane at adepth
of 3 m. below the surface in a formation when the water table is at a
depth of 3.5 m. and the soil is cohesionless.
2. Calculate the modified value of shear strength if the water table
reaches the ground surface.
3. Calculate the modified value of the shear strength if the water table
reaches the ground surface but the soil has a cohesion of 12 kPa.

Problem 12:
Three specimens of clay having a small air-void content were tested in the
shear box. Shear loading was started immediately after the application of
the normal load and was completed in 8 minutes. The results are as
follows:
Normal stress (kN/m2) 145 241 337
Shear stress at failure (kN/m2) 103 117 131
1. Find the apparent cohesion of the clay.

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 2. Find the angle of shearing resistance of the clay.
3. What value of c would be obtained from an unconfined compression
test on the same soil?

Problem 13:
A series of direct shear tests was performed on a soil sample. Each test
was carried out until the specimen sheared (failed). The laboratory data for
the tests are tabulated as follows.
Specimen Normal Shearing
No. Stress (kPa) Stress (kPa)
1 200 450
2 400 520
3 600 590
4 1000 730

1. Compute the cohesion of soil.

2. Compute the angle of internal friction.
3. Compute the shear strength of the soil at a depth of 4 m. below the
ground surface if it has a unit weight of 15.8 kN/m3.

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