Example 1: σ3 = 276 kN/m2 and (Δσd)f = 276 kN/m2
a) Determine friction angle
b) Determine ϴ at failure plane
c) Find σ' and τ at failure plane
d) Determine σ' on the plane of maximum shear stress
e) Why shear failure took place along a plane with ϴ not along the
plane of maximum shear stress?
Solution :
σ1' = σ3 + (Δσd)f = 276 + 276 = 552 kN/m2
σ3' = σ3 = 276 kN/m2
𝜎′1 − 𝜎′3
𝐴𝐵 𝜎1′ − 𝜎3′ 552−276
a) Sinφ = = 2
𝜎′1 + 𝜎′3
= = = 0.333
𝑂𝐴 𝜎1′ + 𝜎3′ 552+276
2
φ = 19.45°
b) ϴf = 45 + φ/2 = 45 + 19.45/2 = 54.73°
c) For a plane of an angle ϴ from the major principal plane,
𝜎1′ + 𝜎3′ 𝜎1′ − 𝜎3′
σ'= + cos2ϴ
2 2
𝜎1′ − 𝜎3′
τ= sin2ϴ
2
σ'f = 368 kN/m2 τf = 130 kN/m2 on failure plane.
d) For max shear stress , ϴ = 45°
𝜎1′ + 𝜎3′ 𝜎1′ − 𝜎3′
σ'= + cos2ϴ = 414 kN/m2
2 2
𝜎1′ − 𝜎3′
τ= sin2ϴ = 138 kN/m2
2
e) For failure along the plane with ϴ = 45°
τf = σ'tan φ = 414 * tan(19.45) = 146.2 kN/m2
Since τ = 138 kN/m2 < 146.2 kN/m2 (=τf)
The sample did not fail along the plane of maximum shear stress.
Example 2: The shear box test results of two samples of the same soil
but with different iinitial unit weights are shown in the table. Sample A
did not show any peak values but sample B did.
Determine the following:
a. φcs'
b. φp' at vertical forces of 200N and 400N for sample B.
Solution :
Plot a graph of the vertical forces versus failure horizantal forces for
each sample.
Extract φcs'. All the plotted points for sample A fall on a straight line
through the origin. Sample A is a nondilatant soil, possibly a loose
sand or a normally consolidated clay. The effective friction angle is
φcs' = 30°.
Determine φp'. The horizontal forces at 200 N and 400 N for sample
B do not lie on the straight line corresponding to φcs'. Therefore, each
of these forces has a φp' associated with it.
175
(φp')200 N = tan-1 ( ) = 41.2°
200
248
(φp')400 N = tan-1 ( ) = 31.8°
400
Example 3: An unconfined compression test was conducted on
saturated clay. The maximum load the clay sustained was 127N. The
size of the sample was 38 mm diameter x 76 mm long. Determine the
undrained shear strength. Draw Mohr’s circle of stress for the test and
locate Su. The vertical displacement was 0.8 mm.
Solution:
Determine the sample area at failure.
Diameter D0 = 38 mm, length, H0 = 76 mm.
π∗ 𝐷02 π∗ 0.0382 𝛥𝑧 0.8
A0 = = = 11.3 * 10-4 m2 , ε1 = = = 0.01
4 4 𝐻0 76
𝐴0 11.3∗10−4
A= = = 11.4 * 10-4 m2
1− 𝜀1 1−0.01
Determine the major principal stress at failure.
𝑃𝑧 127 ∗10−3
(σ1)f = = = 111.4 kPa
𝐴 11.4∗10−4
Calculate Su.
(σ1)f −(σ3)f 111.4−0
Su = = = 55.7 kPa
2 2
Draw Mohr’s circle.
(σ3)f = 0, (σ1)f = 111 kPa, Su = 56 kPa
Example 4: The results of three CD tests on a soil at failure are as
follows:
Test Number σ3'(kPa) Deviatoric stress (kPa)
1 100 250 (peak)
2 180 362 (peak)
3 300 564 (no peak observed)
Determine the friction angle for each test.
Solution :
Determine the friction angles. Use a table to do the calculations.
Test No σ3' σ1' – σ3' σ1' σ1' + σ3' φ' = sin-1( σ1′ – σ3′ )
p
(kPa) (kPa) (kPa) σ1′ + σ3′
Test 1 100 250 350 450 33.7°
Test 2 180 362 542 722 30.1°
Test 3 300 564 864 1164 29°
Alternatively, plot Mohr’s circles and determine the friction angles as
shown for Test 1 and Test 2 in the below.