NOTES ON MOHRS CIRCLES AND SHEAR STRENGTH

A
A
cos n
sin
cos
cos
A
A
FH 0 n cos sin n cos cos

0 1 A n

From (2):

n A tan n A

From (1):

1 A
1

= n A n A tan 2
n 1 tan 2

cos 2 sin 2
1
n

cos 2

2
1 cos n

1
1+cos2
2

1cos 2tan

1sincos

1
2

sin 2

1
2

Plot of n vs n for various values of .

From the geometry of the circle,

n
n

1 1
2

1
2

cos 2

sin 2

When the soil sample has confining pressure, 3 , as well as axial pressure, 1 ; the normal
and shear stresses are:
3 1 3 cos 2
n 1
2
2

n 1 3 sin 2
2

The normal and shear stress curves move apart

Plot of n vs n

The equations for normal and shear stress can be found from the geometry of the circle
3 1 3 cos 2
n 1
2
2

n 1 3 sin 2
2
Shear strength comes from two sources
1. CohesionCohesive shear strength, c
2. Friction Angle of internal friction,
or Angle of shearing resistance

For Unconfined Test,

n 1 1 2 1 2 cos 2
n 1 2 sin 2

2 f 90 '

For Confined Test,

3 1 3
n 1

cos 2
2
2

n 1 3 sin 2
2

Strength of Clay

Effective Stress:

'= -u
1'= 1 -u
3'= 3 -u
if 3' > 3 , then,
3'- 3 u is positive
u = negative

c
sin '

3' x c

c
c
sin '
1

1
sin '

3' c
3 0

1 sin '

sin '

3' 3 u c

Suppose, ' = 30
c 5 psi
1 0.5
u 5 psi
0.5
u 5 psi
In fact, the cohesion in clay (all soils, actually) is due to the negative porewater pressure
in that soil.
Strength of Sand
In the absence of pore water, the strength of sand is due almost entirely to friction.

SAND STRENGTH

Strength Tests for Sand

1. Direct Shear (Poor test)
2. Triaxial Test (Much better test)
-Uniform stress: fields in the center of the sample
-Uniform strain: fields in the center of the sample

Most soils are a mixture of fine and coarse grained sizes so they usually have both c and
properties. How much c depends on whether the sample is loaded slowly enough to
allow the pore water pressure to dissipate. Tests are classified by the rate with which
-Confining pressure
-Deviator stress
are applied.
Rate of Application
Confining
Symbol for
Deviator Stress
Type of Test
Pressure
Test
(drainage permitted
(consolidation
during test)
prior to test)
Q

(UU)

Rapidly

Rapidly

Unconsolidated Undrained c,

(CU)

Slowly

Rapidly

Consolidated- Undrained (may

make measurements of pore water
pressures)

(CD)

Slowly

Slowly

Consolidated- Undrained c', '

Total Stress properties are measured in the UU test

Effective pressure properties are measured in the CD test
Effective pressure properties may be determined in the CU test if pore water pressures are
measured during the undrained portion of the test.
There are 3 pairs of quantities: 1, 3 ;

f, f (failure plane);

c,

The radiusof the circle is r = (1-3)/2

The projection of the failure line is x=c/tan
Normally, if you are given any three of the quantities you can find the other three.
1. Suppose you know 1, 3 and c
Find expressions for f, f and or tan

2. Suppose you know 1, f and f

Find expressions for 3, c and
3. Suppose you know 1, f and c
Find expressions for 3, f and
Problem 01
Given : 1 15 kPa

3 5 kPa
c 2 kPa
Find : f 8.45 kPa

f 4.76 kPa
18
Solution:
r

1 3 15 5 5 kPa

2
f 5cos

f 10 5sin
x

2
tan

2
R sin sin (10 x) 10
sin 5
tan

10sin 2 cos 5
2
5
cos
10
10
20 :
0.529 0.5
sin

18 :
0.499 0.5
f 5cos 4.76 kPa
f 10 5sin 8.45 kPa

Problem 02

Given : 1 20 kPa

f 9 kPa
f = 7 kPa
c 2.80 kPa

Find :

25
3 4.54 kPa
Solution:
c 7 9 tan
20 3
2
c
7
x

9
tan tan
20 r r sin 9
r

20 r r 1 sin 9
20 3
20 3
c
R sin

sin r

tan
2
2
20 3
20 3
sin c cos
2
2
20 3
20
(1 sin ) 9
1
2
20 3
20 3
sin 7 9 tan cos
2
2
From 1 :
20 3
(1 sin )
2
2(20 9)

20 3
(1 sin )

20-9

From 2 :

3
2

3
2

sin

3
2

10sin 7 cos 9sin 10

1 sin 10 10sin 9sin 7 cos

3
2

1 sin 10 1 sin 9sin 7 cos

1 sin
sin
cos
18
14

1 sin
1 sin
1 sin

3 20

22

1 sin

3 20

20 1 sin 22 20 1 sin 18sin 14 cos

1 sin
1 sin
20 20sin 22 20 20sin 18sin 14 cos
22sin 22 14 cos
f
2 f
1 sin 14

cos
22 2 1 f 1 f
1 sin 7
0.636
cos
11
1 sin 0.636 cos

30 :

1 1.051

29 :

1 1.041

25 :

1 0.999

c 7 9 tan 25
c 2.80 kPa

3 20

22
1 sin 25

3 4.54 kPa

Problem 03

Given : 1 20 kPa

f 8 kPa
c = 3 kPa
Find :

3 3.65 kPa
f 7.24 kPa
27.9

Solution:

1
2

f 3 8 tan
20 r r sin 8
20 3
2
3
x
tan

20 3
20 3
3
R sin

sin

tan
2
2
20 3
f
cos
6
2
From 2 :
20 r (1 sin ) 8
20 3
20
(1 sin ) 8
2
20 3

(1 sin ) 20 8 12
2
20(1 sin ) 3 (1 sin ) 24
From 5 :

20 3
20 3

sin 3cos

2
2
10sin

3
2

sin

3
2

3cos 10

3
2

1 sin 3cos 10 10sin 10 1 sin

3 1 sin 20 1 sin 6 cos

3 1 sin 20 1 sin 24

B
From A

20 1 sin 6 cos 20 1 sin 24

20 20sin 20 20sin 6 cos 24
40sin 6 cos 24
20sin 3cos 12
sin 0.15cos 0.6
Trial and Error:

30 :

0.630 0.6

27 :

0.588 0.6

28 :

0.602 0.6

27.9 : 0.6005 0.6

f 8 tan 3
f 7.24 kPa
3 20

24
1 sin

3 3.65 kPa
Problem 01
Draw the sketch of the Mohrs Circle, marking all that is known and all that is to be found.

Solution:

1 3

2
r cos f

1 3 r sin
2

c
tan

1 3
1 3
c

sin r
2
tan
2

1 3 sin c cos 1 3
2
2

2c
sin
cos
1 3

f
f

1 3
2

1 3
2

1 3
1 3

cos

1 3 sin
2

Find by trial and error

Problem 02
Given : 1 , f , f
Draw Sketch
Find :

c, , 3

Solution:
c f f tan
r

1 3

2
c
x
tan

1 r 1 sin 1 r r 1 sin f 1

1 3
2

1 sin

1 3
1 3
c
2 tan sin 2

1 f

1 3
2

(1 sin )

1 3
(1 sin )
1 3
3
sin c cos 1
2
2

1
2

1
2

1
2

sin

1
2

c cos

sin 1 c cos

3
2

3
2

sin

3
2

(1 sin )

sin 1 f f tan cos 1

Then 3 1
And

c=

2
1 f
1 sin

1 3
2

3
1
1
tan
cos
2

1
1 f (1 sin )

1 sin

Find by trial and error

 f cos f sin

1
2

1 sin

1
2

sin 1 1 f

1 sin sin 1 1 f

1
2

2 sin 1 f

f cos f sin f 1 1 sin

f cos f 1 sin 1 1 sin

cos

1 sin

1 f

cos
1 sin

Problem 03
Given : 1 , f , c

3, f ,

Find :

Solution:
r

1 3

2
c
x
tan

3
3
c
R sin 1

sin 1

tan
2
2
c f 1 tan
4

1 3
2

cos

3 1 3
1

sin
2 2
From 6 :

1 1

sin

sin f
2
2
2
1 1 sin 3 1 sin 2 f
2

(1 sin )
(1 sin )

From (3):
c cos

1 3 sin 1 3

c cos

1
2

sin

1 3
2

sin

1 sin 0
2
2
3 1 sin 1 1 sin 2c cos
c cos

1 sin

From (A):

3 1 sin 1 1 sin 2 f
From (B):

3 1 sin 1 1 sin 2c cos

1 1 sin 2 f 1 1 sin 2c cos
2 1 1 sin 2 f 2c cos
f c cos

1 sin

Find by trial and error

Then, f c f tan
And, 3

2 f 1 1 sin

1 sin

Check Derivation
From(6):
1 3 1 3

sin
2 2

f 1 1 3 1 3 sin
2
2 2

f 1

1 3 1 3

sin
2 2

f
f

1 1
2

sin

3
2

3
2

sin

2 f 1 1 sin 3 1 sin
Alternatively,
1 3
1 sin
2

f 1

2 1 f 1 3 1 sin
2 1 f 1 1 sin 3 1 sin

3 1 sin 1 1 sin 2 1 f
3 1 sin 1 1 sin 2c cos

1 1 sin 2 1 f 1 1 sin 2c cos

1 1 sin 1 1 sin 2 1 f 2c cos
2 1 sin 2 1 f 2c cos
sin
sin

1
c cos

c cos
1