EXPERIMENT 3

DIRECT SHEAR TEST

I. INTRODUCTION:

Applicable ASTM Standard

D 3080 98: Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils under Consolidated
Drained Conditions

Purpose of Measurement

This test method covers the determination of the consolidated drained shear strength of a
soil material in direct shear.

Definitions and Theory

The direct shear test is suited to the relatively rapid determination of consolidated drained
strength properties because the drainage paths through the test specimen are short, thereby
allowing excess pore pressure to be dissipated more rapidly than with other drained stress
tests. The test can be made on all soil materials and undisturbed, remolded or compacted
materials.

The test results are applicable to assessing strength in a field situation where complete
consolidation has occurred under the existing normal stresses. Failure is reached slowly
under drained conditions so that excess pore pressures are dissipated. The results from
several tests may be used to express the relationship between consolidation stress and
drained shear strength.

During the direct shear test, there is rotation of principal stresses, which may or may not
model field conditions. Moreover, failure may not occur on the weak plane since failure is
forced to occur on or near a horizontal plane at the middle of the specimen. The fixed
location of the plane in the test can be an advantage in determining the shear resistance
along recognizable weak planes within the soil material and for testing interfaces between
dissimilar materials.

II. EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

The following equipment and materials are required for moisture content measurements:

Direct shear apparatus with porous stone in base, and load cap with porous stone;
Load device with lever arm;
Weights;
Filter;
Scale capable of measuring to the nearest 0.01 g;
Oven;
 Soil Containers;
Marker for labeling containers;
Ruler

III. PROCEDURE

Test Preparation

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 the soil.
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 the 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)
8) Start the motor with selected speed (0.1 in/min) so that 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.
10) Record the readings on the data sheet.
11) Continue taking readings until the horizontal shear load peaks and then falls, or the
horizontal displacement reaches 15% of the diameter.

IV. DATA AND RESULTS

I. TEST DETAILS
Soil source location:
Soil description:
Direct shear serial number:

II. MEASUREMENT AND CALCULATIONS

Table 1 Soil properties and initial conditions

Container ID Sandy soil sample Clay soil sample
1 2 3 1 2 3
Mass Density of
Solids, (g/cm3)
Box Height (cm)
Box dimensions
(cm)
Area of Soil, A
 Container ID Sandy soil sample Clay soil sample
Lever Arm Ratio
(LAR)
Initial Dial
Reading (mm)

Table 2 Direct shear test results for sandy soil

Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3
Initial Final Initial Final Initial Final
conditions conditions conditions conditions conditions conditions
Height of Soil
Sample, Ht
(cm)
Volume of Soil
(cm3)
Mass of Wet
Soil + mold (g)
Mass of mold
(g)
Mass of Wet
Soil, Mt (g)
Mass of Wet
Soil (g)
Mass of Dry
Soil (g)
Mass of Water
(g)
Water Content,
(%)
Wet Density,
(g/cm3)
Dry Density, d
(g/cm3)
Mass of Dry
Soil, Ms (g)
Mass of Water,
Mw = Mt - Ms
(g)
Void Ratio, e
Degree of
Saturation, S
(%)
 Table 3 Direct shear test results for clay soil

Sample 4 Sample 5 Sample 6

Initial Final Initial Final Initial Final
conditions conditions conditions conditions conditions conditions
Height of Soil
Sample, Ht
(cm)
Volume of Soil
(cm3)
Mass of Wet
Soil + mold (g)
Mass of mold
(g)
Mass of Wet
Soil, Mt (g)
Mass of Wet
Soil (g)
Mass of Dry
Soil (g)
Mass of Water
(g)
Water Content,
(%)
Wet Density,
(g/cm3)
Dry Density, d
(g/cm3)
Mass of Dry
Soil, Ms (g)
Mass of Water,
Mw = Mt - Ms
(g)
Void Ratio, e
Degree of
Saturation, S
(%)
 Table 4 Normal stress, shear stress and deformation
SANDY SOIL
Sample 1
Normal Normal Shear Shear stress Vertical Horizontal
Force (kN) stress Force (kN/m2) Displacement Displacement
(kN/m2) (kN) (mm) (mm)

Sample 2
Normal Normal Shear Shear stress Vertical Horizontal
Force (kN) stress Force (kN/m2) Displacement Displacement
(kN/m2) (kN) (mm) (mm)

Sample 3
Normal Normal Shear Shear stress Vertical Horizontal
Force (kN) stress Force (kN/m2) Displacement Displacement
(kN/m2) (kN) (mm) (mm)

CLAY SOIL
Sample 4
Normal Normal Shear Shear stress Vertical Horizontal
Force (kN) stress Force (kN/m2) Displacement Displacement
(kN/m2) (kN) (mm) (mm)

Sample 5
Normal Normal Shear Shear stress Vertical Horizontal
Force (kN) stress Force (kN/m2) Displacement Displacement
(kN/m2) (kN) (mm) (mm)

Sample 6
Normal Normal Shear Shear stress Vertical Horizontal
Force (kN) stress Force (kN/m2) Displacement Displacement
(kN/m2) (kN) (mm) (mm)
 EQUATIONS AND CALCULATION SPACE

Calculations for the soil mass-volume, time-deformation and load-deformations properties are
given in the equations and tables that follow.

Dry density of the soil in Equation 1:

d = (1)
1+

Void ratio of the soil in Equation 2:

e= 1 (2)
d

Normal stress in Equation 3:

= (3)

Shear stress in Equation 4:

= (4)

III. ILLUSTRATIONS

Shear stress vs normal stress graph

Shear stress vs horizontal displacement

IV. OBSERVATION

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V. CONCLUSION

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VI. RECOMMENDATION

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