8/14/2013

SHEAR TEST

Prof. K. G. Sharma
Department of Civil Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India

Shear Test
Shear strength can be defined as the breaking shearing stress
applied to an imposed plane with no normal stress, i.e.,
T
τf =
A
Shear Strength by Torsion
† Stress distribution is pure shear
† It is equivalent to the biaxial stress state of pure compression
in one direction and pure tension in transverse direction.
16T
τf =
πD 3
where T is twisting moment and D is the diameter of specimen.

14 August 2013 2

1
 8/14/2013

Torsion

14 August 2013 3/186

Shear Tests with Normal Stress is Zero

(i) Single Shear Test
† Occurrence of bending stresses which cannot be measured.
† Several repetitions of tests with same specimen.
T
τf =
A
(ii) Double Shear Test
† Shearing caused by flat end cutter occupying space between
supports.
† Bending stresses are reduced but stress concentrations at the
cutting
tti edges.
d
† No repetitions of test on same specimen.
T
τf =
2A
14 August 2013 4

2
 8/14/2013

Single Shear test Double Shear test

Shear Tests with Normal Stress is Zero

(iii) Punch Test
† Flat disc on a ring shaped support
† Shearing by a cylindrical plunger
T
τf =
πdt
where d is the diameter of the plunger and t is the
thickness of the disc.

14 August 2013 6

3
 8/14/2013

Shear Tests with Normal Stress

T N
τ= σn =
A A

Triaxial test results are the best for intact

or jointed rock. Sliding shear test for
strength along joints/ fault planes

14 August 2013 7

Shear Test: Stress-Deformation Curves

14 August 2013

4
 8/14/2013

Design Tests – Ring Shear

The ring shear test is a

relatively
y simple
p confined shear
test involving direct biaxial
loading.

The shear strength is

determined as:
τ = 2 P / π d2
where
h P is
i th
the peak
k plunger
l
load.

Direct Shear Test of Rock Core Kenty (1970)

T
τ=
A
Block A
N
σn =
A

Block B

14 August 2013 10/186

5
 8/14/2013

Oblique Shear Test

N = P cosθ
T = P sinθ

P sin θ P cos θ
τ= σn =
bl bl
A plot is made between τ and σn and shear strength
parameters are obtained.

Oblique Shear Test of Rock Cores

Wedges A to set
Shearing Angle θ

Test Blocks B

14 August 2013 12/186

6
 8/14/2013

Direct Shear Test of Irregular Specimen

14 August 2013 13/186

Testing Irregularly Shaped Specimens (Protodyakonov 1969)

14 August 2013 14/186

7
 8/14/2013

Direct Shear Test

i1 = Macroscopic asperities or First order (Primary)
Irregularities
i2 = Microscopic asperities or Second order (Secondary)
Irregularities
g
Insitu sliding occurs on First Order Irregularities
Size Effect
Specimen of 6 cm x 6 cm gives shear strength 20% higher
(unsafe) than 30x30 cm specimen.

T′ = T cos i – N sin i
N′ = T sin i + N cos i
T′ = N′ tanφ

14 August 2013 15

First & Second Order Irregularities

14 August 2013 16/186

8
 8/14/2013

Shearing on Joints

Horizontal Plane Inclined Plane Rough Plane

Shear Strength Variation

With R
Roughness
h

14 August 2013 17/186

Typical Shear Test to Residual State

14 August 2013 18/186

9
 8/14/2013

Direct Shear Test Contd..

cos i tan φ + sin i tan φ + tan i
T=N =N
cos i − sin i tan φ 1 − tan φ tan i

or T = N tan (φ+i)
Movement up the Plane: T = N tan (φ+i)
Movement down the Plane: T = N tan (φ-i)
tan i = ∆v/∆u

14 August 2013 19

Direct Shear
Testing of Rock
Specimens

14 August 2013

10
 8/14/2013

Direct Shear Testing of Rock Specimens

Roctest Equipment, Montreal

14 August 2013

Shear Strength of Joints

τ p = c + σ n tan φ

Hoek, 2000

11
 8/14/2013

Shear Strength of Joints

τ r = σ n tan φb

Hoek, 2000

Shear Testing Machine

Hoek, 2000

12
 8/14/2013

Shear Testing Machine

Hoek, 2000

13