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For undrained tests, the denominator of the latter
expression varies so the maximum for the two criteria
do not necessarily occur at the same value of strain.
Unsat9 - 3
Test Results How can we determine the shear strength of
unsaturated soils?
The shear strength of soil is dependent on the net normal
stress and the matric suction.
1) Drained triaxial shear tests:
a) Three-dimensional plots
(
3
u
a
)
(u
a
u
w
)
'
b
'
Plane
c'
= c' + (
3
u
a
) tan ' + (u
a
u
w
) tan
b
= [c' + (u
a
u
w
) tan
b
] + (
3
u
a
) tan '
Unsat9 - 4
b) Two-dimensional plots
'
c'
b
c'
(
3
u
a
)
(u
a
u
w
)
Unsat9 - 5
2) Undrained triaxial shear tests
- Linear and nonlinear behavior likely.
3) Drained direct shear tests
a) linear and nonlinear behavior reported for vs. (
f
- u
a
)
b) nonlinear behavior for
b
vs. (u
a
- u
w
) and for
vs. (u
a
- u
w
)
4) Undrained direct shear tests
- Linear and nonlinear behavior likely
Required Results
Shear strength parameters that give the shear strength as a
function of the net normal stress and the matric suction
pressure for a particular soil for drained or undrained
conditions.
Stress-strain behavior or volumetric strain behavior.
Unsat9 - 6
Shear Strength Equations For Linear Behavior
In terms of net normal stress, (
f
- u
a
):
ff a
f
w
f
b
c
u u
= ' + ( ' + (
u
f a
) tan ) tan
or
ff a
f
c
u
= + ( '
f
) tan
where
c c
u w
f
b
' + (
u
a
= ) tan
If one used the stress state variable (
f
- u
w
):
" tan ) (u + tan ) u - ( +
a a
f w f
ff
u c =
For zero matric suction, the pore air and pore water
pressure are equal. The third term in the equations is
zero. Therefor the friction angle ' is the same.
Setting the two equations equal (for matric sunction > 0):
-u
af
tan' + (u
a
u
w
)
f
tan
b
= - u
wf
tan ' + (u
a
u
w
)
f
tan"
This simplifies to:
tan " = tan
b
- tan '
Since, tan
b
< tan ', " would have to be negative.
Unsat9 - 7
Stress Point Envelopes (Stress Paths)
The top point of the Mohr circle (p
f
, q
f
) is used to
represent failure where:
q = 1/2 (
1
-
3
)
p = 1/2 (
1
+
3
)
3f
1f
p
p
f
q
q
f
a
Comparing Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope with the
stress point envelope, gives:
tan = sin '
a = c' cos '
Using q
f
vs. p
f
to represent failure, a and can be
determine by linear regression (objectively) and then '
and c' can be computed.
Unsat9 - 8
For unsaturated soil, the stresses are given in terms of the
net normal stress to give:
q = 1/2 (
1
-
3
)
p = 1/2 (
1
+
3
) - u
a
f
f
b
q
r
= d' + p ' +
f
tan tan
r
f
= (u
a
- u
w
)
f
Comparing the extended Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope
with the stress point envelope, gives:
tan ' = sin '
d' = c' cos '
tan
b
= tan
b
cos '
Multistage Testing
Testing a single sample under increasing matric suction
using cyclic loading or sustained loading procedure.
Unsat9 - 9
Unsat9 - 10
Mechanics of Unsaturated Soils
Homework Assignment