Module -4
Shear Strength of Soils
Syllabus
• Concept of Shear Strength
• Mohr Coulomb Failure Criteria
• Total and effective shear strength parameters
• Factors affecting shear strength
• Thixotropy and Sensitivity
• Measurement of shear strength (Direct shear, unconfined compression
test, triaxial test and field vane shear test)
• Test under different drainage condition
2
3
Shear Strength
• The strength of a material is the greatest stress it can sustain
• The safety of any geotechnical structure is dependent on the strength
of the soil
• If the soil fails, the structure founded on it can collapse.
• Understanding shear strength is the basis to analyze soil stability
problems like:
1. Lateral pressure on earth retaining structures
2. Slope stability and
3. Bearing capacity
4
Shear Failure in Soils
5
Slope Failure in Soils
6
Bearing Capacity Failure
7
Applications
8
Applications
9
Applications
10
Shear Strength in Soils
• The shear strength of a soil is its resistance to shearing stresses.
• It is a measure of the soil resistance to deformation by continuous
displacement of its individual soil particles.
• Shear strength in soils depends primarily on interactions between
particles
• Shear failure occurs when the stresses between the particles are such
that they slide or roll past each other
11
Shear Strength in Soils
Soil derives its shear strength from two sources:
• Cohesion between particles (stress independent component)
1. Cementation between sand grains
2. Electrostatic attraction between clay particles
• Frictional resistance between particles (stress dependent component)
12
Shear Strength of Soils: Cohesion
Cohesion (C), is a measure of the forces
that cement particles of soils
1. Dry sand with no cementation
2. Dry sand with some cementation
3. Soft clay
4. Stiff clay
13
Shear Strength of Soils; Internal Friction
Internal Friction angle (φ), is the measure of the shear strength of
soils due to friction
14
15
Mohr Circle Of Stress
16
Mohr-coulomb’s Strength Theory
• Coulomb (1776), in his investigations observed that one component
of the shearing Strength, called the intrinsic cohesion (apparent
cohesion) is constant for a given soil and is independent of the
applied stress.
• The other component, namely, the friction resistance, varies directly
as the magnitude of the normal stress on the plane of rupture.
• The shear strength of a soil at a point on a particular plane was
expressed by coulomb as a linear function of the normal stress on
that plane, as
S=C+ σ tan Ф Where,
S = Shear strength of the soil
C= Apparent Cohesion
σ= Normal stress on the failure plane Ф= Angle of internal friction
• C and Ф are also referred to as the shear strength parameters of soil.
17
18
19
TYPES OF SOIL BASED ON TOTAL STRENGTH
1. Cohesion less soil (Ф- Soil)
These are the soils which do not have cohesion.
(C=0)
These soils derive the shear strength from the
intergranular friction.
These soils are also called frictional soils.
Examples: Sands and gravels.
Equation for strength is,
S= σ . Tan Ф
20
2. Purely cohesive soil: (C-Soil)
•These are the soils which exhibit cohesion but,
the angle of shearing resistance, Ф=0
•These soils are called C-Soils.
•Example: Saturated clays
•Equation for shear strength is
S=C
3. Cohesive frictional soil: (C-Ф soil)
• These are composite soil having c and Ф
both.
•These are also called C-Ф soils.
Example: Clayey sand, silty sand, sandy clay
• The equation for shear strength is,
S= C + σ tan Ф 21
Measurement of Shear Parameters
• The following tests are used to measure the shear strength of the soil
1. Direct shear test
2. Triaxial compression test
3. Unconfined compression test
4. Vane shear test
• Depending upon the drainage conditions, there are three types of tests
1. Unconsolidated-Undrained condition
2. Consolidated – Undrained condition
3. Consolidated-Drained condition
22
Shear Test Based On Drainage Condition
Unconsolidated un-drained test:
• In this type of test, no drainage is permitted during the consolidation stage. The drainage
is permitted in the shear stage.
• As no time is allowed for consolidation for dissipation of excess pore water Pressure the
test can be conducted quickly in a few minutes.
• The test is also known as quick test (Q-test)
Consolidated un-drained test:
• In this type of test, the specimen is allowed to consolidated in the first stage. The
drainage permitted until the consolidation is complete.
• In the second stage, when the specimen is sheared, no drainage is permitted.
• The test is also known as R test. Q used for quick test, S used for slow test and R falls
between Q and S.
23
Shear Test Based On Drainage Condition
Consolidated Drainage test:
• In this type of test, drainage is permitted in both the stages.
• The sample is allowed to consolidated in the first stage.
• When the consolidation is complete, is sheared at a very slow rate to
ensure that ensure that fully drained condition exist and the excess
pore water is zero.
• The test is also known as drained test or slow test (S test).
24
Direct Shear Test
• Direct shear test is Quick and Inexpensive
• Shortcoming is that it fails the soil on a designated plane which may
not be the weakest one
• Used to determine the shear strength of both cohesive as well as non-
cohesive soils
• ASTM D 3080
25
Direct Shear Test
26
Direct Shear Test
27
Direct Shear Test
• The test equipment consists of a metal box in which the soil specimen
is placed
• The box is split horizontally into two halves
• Vertical force (normal stress) is applied through a metal platen
• Shear force is applied by moving one half of the box relative to the
other to cause failure in the soil specimen
28
29
30
31
Direct Shear Test
32
Direct Shear Test: Procedure
1. Measure inner side or diameter of shear box and find the area
2. Make sure top and bottom halves of shear box are in contact and fixed together.
3. Weigh out 150 g of sand.
4. Place the soil in three layers in the mold using the funnel. Compact the soil with
20 blows per layer.
5. Place cover on top of sand
6. Place shear box in machine.
7. Apply normal force. The weights to use for the three runs are 2 kg, 4 kg, and 6 kg
if the load is applied through a lever arm, or 10 kg, 20 kg, and 30 kg, if the load is
applied directly.
Note: Lever arm loading ratio 1:10 (2kg weight = 20 kg)
33
Direct Shear Test: Procedure
8. Start the motor with selected speed (0.1 in/min) so that the rate of
shearing is at a selected constant rate
9. Take the horizontal displacement gauge, vertical displacement gage
and shear load gage readings. Record the readings on the data sheet.
10. Continue taking readings until the horizontal shear load peaks and
then falls, or the horizontal displacement reaches 15% of the diameter.
34
Horizontal Displacement Volumetric
Horizontal Dial Guage(Div) Proving Ring Reading (Div) Vertical Dial Guage(Div) Shear Strain(%) Shear Force(kN) Shear Stress τ (kPa) Vertical Displacement (mm)
(mm) Strain(%)
0 0 2271 0 0.00 0.000 0.00 0.000 0.000
25 23 2237 0.25 0.42 0.047 13.03 -0.068 -0.227
50 27 2235 0.5 0.83 0.055 15.30 -0.072 -0.240
75 30 2235 0.75 1.25 0.061 17.00 -0.072 -0.240
100 34 2235 1 1.67 0.069 19.27 -0.072 -0.240
125 43 2235 1.25 2.08 0.088 24.37 -0.072 -0.240
150 50 2235 1.5 2.50 0.102 28.33 -0.072 -0.240
175 50 2270 1.75 2.92 0.102 28.33 -0.002 -0.007
200 51 2287 2 3.33 0.104 28.90 0.032 0.107
225 53 2296 2.25 3.75 0.108 30.03 0.050 0.167
250 53 2321 2.5 4.17 0.108 30.03 0.100 0.333
275 52 2352 2.75 4.58 0.106 29.47 0.162 0.540
300 53 2363 3 5.00 0.108 30.03 0.184 0.613
325 56 2379 3.25 5.42 0.114 31.73 0.216 0.720
350 54 2396 3.5 5.83 0.110 30.60 0.250 0.833
375 54 2410 3.75 6.25 0.110 30.60 0.278 0.927
400 51 2440 4 6.67 0.104 28.90 0.338 1.127
425 46 2448 4.25 7.08 0.094 26.07 0.354 1.180
450 46 2453 4.5 7.50 0.094 26.07 0.364 1.213
475 46 2454 4.75 7.92 0.094 26.07 0.366 1.220
500 42 2454 5 8.33 0.086 23.80 0.366 1.220
525 42 2454 5.25 8.75 0.086 23.80 0.366 1.220
550 43 2454 5.5 9.17 0.088 24.37 0.366 1.220
575 41 2454 5.75 9.58 0.084 23.23 0.366 1.220
600 39 2454 6 10.00 0.080 22.10 0.366 1.220
35
Direct Shear Test: Figures
36
Direct Shear Test: Figures
37
Merits and Demerits of Direct Shear Test
MERITS
• The sample preparation is easy. The test is simple and convenient.
• As the thickness of the sample is small the drainage is quick and the pore pressure
dissipates very rapidly. Thus CD and CU tests takes relatively small period.
• It is ideally suited for conducting drained tests on cohesion less soils.
• The apparatus is relatively cheap.
38
DEMERITS
• The stress conditions are known only at failure.
• The orientation of the failure plane is predetermined. This may not be
weakest plane.
• Control on the drainage condition is very difficult. Consequently only
drained tests can be conducted on highly permeable soils.
• The measurement of pore water pressure is not possible.
• The side walls of the shear box cause lateral restraint on the specimen
and do not allow it to deform laterally.
39
Unconfined Compression Test
40
Unconfined Compression Test
• The unconfined compression test is a special form of triaxial test in
which the confining pressure is zero.
• The test can be conducted only on clayey soils which can stand
without confinement.
• There are two types of UCC machines machine with a spring and
machine with a proving ring.
• In this test the minor principal stress is zero. The major principal
stress is equal to the deviator stress. The Mohr circle can be drawn for
stress conditions at failure.
41
42
Unconfined Compression Test
Merits
• The test is convenient, simple and quick
• It is ideally suited for measuring the unconsolidated undrained shear
strength of intact saturated clays
• The sensitivity of the soil can be easily determined
Demerits
• The test cannot be conducted on fissured clays
• The test may be misleading for soils of which the angle of shearing
resistance is not zero.
43
Triaxial Compression Test
44
Triaxial Compression Test
• It is used for the determination of shear characteristics of all types of soils
under different drainage conditions.
• In this a cylindrical specimen is stressed under conditions of axial symmetry.
• In the first stage of the test, the specimen is subjected to an all round
confining pressure on the sides, top and bottom. This stage is known as the
consolidation stage.
• In the second stage of the test called shearing stage, an additional axial stress
and deviator stress is applied on the top of the specimen through a ram.
• Thus the total stress in the axial direction at the time of shearing is equal to
the confining stress plus the deviator stress.
45
Triaxial Compression Test
• The vertical sides of the specimen are
principal planes. The confining pressure
is the minor principal stress.
• The sum of the confining stress and
deviator stress is the major principal
stress.
46
Triaxial Compression Test: Results
47
ADVANTAGES OF TRIAXIAL TEST
• The shear tests under all the three drainage conditions can be performed with
complete control.
• Pore pressure and volumetric changes can be measured directly.
• The stress distribution on the failure plane is uniform.
• The specimen is free on the weakest plane.
• The test is suitable foe accurate research work.
DISADVANTAGES OFTRIAXIALTEST
• In case of drained test the test takes longer period as compared with that in a
direct shear test.
• The apparatus is bulky, costly and elaborate.
• It is possible to determine the c/s area of the soil sample accurately at large
strains.
• The consolidation of the soil sample in the test is isotropic whereas in the field the48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
Vane Shear Test
57
Vane Shear Test
58
Thank You
59