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DIRECT SHEAR TEST

OBJEVTIVES
To determine the angle of internal friction ( ) for a given cohesion less soil (sand) sample.

INTRODUCTION
The test is carried out on either undisturbed samples or remolded samples. To facilitate the remolding
purpose, a soil sample may be compacted at optimum moisture content in a compaction mold. Then
specimen for the direct shear test could be obtained using the correct cutter provided. Alternatively,
sand sample can be placed in a dry state at a required density, in the assembled shear box.
A normal load is applied to the specimen and the specimen is sheared across the pre-determined
horizontal plane between the two halves of the shear box. Measurements of shear load and shear
displacement are recorded. The test is repeated foe two or more identical specimens under different
normal loads. From the results, the angle of internal friction ( ) can be determined.

THEORY
The general shear strength equation (Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion) in terms of effective stresses is

where = is shear strength,


c' =is the effective apparent cohesion,
' =is the effective angle of friction,
'=is the effective stress ( u) and subscript f represents shear stress at failure.

For cohesion less soil (sand, etc) the effective cohesion (c') is zero and the shear equation reduces to

The direct shear test set up consists of placing a soil sample in a split box having a cross-sectional
area (A) and subjecting the test sample to a vertical normal load (N). Testing proceeds by displacing
the lower half of the split box and measuring the horizontal shear forced (T) transmit through the soil
to the upper portion of the box. Testing continues by displacing the lower box horizontally until the
shear force increases to a maximum value and then decreases or remains essentially constant.

During testing it is often assumed that the sample cross-sectional shear area (A) remains constant.
Therefore, the normal stress 'f on the failure plane may be calculated using

The shear stress () on the shear plane may also be calculate using

The maximum shear stress on the shear plane may be determined using

APPARATUS

Figure 01- Direct shear apparatus

Figure 02- Parts of the shear box

PROCEDURE

1. Assemble the shear box


2. Compact the soil sample in mold after bringing it to optimum moisture condition
3. Carefully transfer the sample into shear box
4. Place the loading plate on top of the upper porous plate. After recording the weight of the loading
carrier place it is on the loading cap.
5. Position all dial gauges and set the readings to zero. Remove the alignment screws which hold
two halves of the shear box together
6. Tighten the remaining, two diagonally opposite screws, until there is a small gap between upper
and lower boxes to reduce the frictional force
7. Apply the desired normal load. If there is any vertical displacement, wait till the dial gauges
indicate a constant reading and then reset the dial gauge to zero
8. Check that screws have been removed and then start the motor to produce the desired constant
rate of shearing
9. Take readings of Shear displacement (i.e. Horizontal displacement)
10. Stop the test when the shear load starts to reduce or remains constant for at least three readings
11. Remove the soil and repeat the procedure with different normal loads at least for another

REFERENCES
1. Principles of Direct Shear Test , Chap 7.4 of Experimental Soil Mechanic Bardet, J. P.,
Experimental Soil Mechanics, 1997, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
2. Detailed description of Direct Shear Test with photos and an example data Engineering
Properties of Soils Based on Laboratory Testing, Experiment 11: Consolidation, Prof.
Krishna Reddy, UIC
3. Direct Shear Test on Wikipedia
4. Civilblog.org
5. Lecture notes

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