TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

938 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Civil Engineering Department

CE 510
Foundation Engineering

ALDUB NATION
LAB REPORT #3

SUBMITTED BY:
BAYSA, PETERSON
DEDASI, JESREL
FRADES, JOPHET
GOMEZ, JOHN
JALLORES, JOSEPH
LAROT, WILSON
MILLARES, JOM
OLINAN, KENNETH
POLINAG, GEANNO

CE52FC1

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. RHONNIE ESTORES
Instructor

September 19, 2019

 Experiment No. 3
UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

1. Objective(s):
The activity aims to introduce to the student a method of determining the shear strength of cohesive soils using
unconfined compression test.
2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
The students shall be able to:
 determine the shear strength of cohesive soil.
 describe the main feature of unconfined compression test.

3. Discussion:
The unconfined compression test is the simplest of the shear test performed on soils. It is similar to the
compression test on wood, steel, concrete and other materials. It consists of applying a gradually increasing vertical
pressure to a carefully prepared cylindrical or prismatic soil specimen and making simultaneous measurements of the
vertical strain to failure.

It is used primarily to determine the shear strength of cohesive soils, which is equal to about one-half of the
unconfined compression testing devices, the “controlled-stress” device and “controlled-strain” device. The controlled-
stress device is one in which the sample is loaded in increments. The usual procedure for loading the sample is to
“load on the minute and read on the half minute”. The test is run with a stopwatch or second timer and increments of
load are applied on the even minutes and the readings of the vertical strain are taken on the half minutes.

The controlled strain type of testing device applies a strain on sample at a controlled rate. The usual
procedure form testing is to apply the strain to the sample at a uniform rate and to read the load at increments of the
vertical dial movement. For example, the load might be read at every 10 divisions of vertical dial movement. This test
method covers the determination of the unconfined compression strength of soil in the undisturbed, remolded or
compacted condition, using the “ controlled-strain” application of the axial load.

Undisturbed samples are used for strength determination, sometimes, these are remolded and similarity
tested to get the lost strength or what is known as “Sensitivity”. Sensitivity is defined as the ratio of the undisturbed
compressive strength to the corresponding remolded strength of cohesive soils.

4. Resources:

1. Unconfined compression machine.

2. Sample molder and tamper
3. Extensometer Assembly.
4. Protractor and caliper
5. Wax Paper.
6. Oven with temperature control
7. drying cans
8. balances
9. pans.

5. Procedure:
A. SIZE OF SAMPLE
Min. diameter – 30 mm (1.3 inches) to max. diameter 72 mm (2.8 inches)
Min. height to diameter ration shall be 2 to 2.5
B. SAMPLE PREPARATION:

B.1. Undisturbed Sample:

1. Prepare sample in accordance with Experiment no. 4

2. Trim and cut to the desired size as specified in A.

B.2. Remolded Sample:

1. After testing the undisturbed sample, wrap in wax paper or any non-absorptive material. Break up the sample
and knead thoroughly with the fingers until it is uniform.
Note: Avoid entrapping air in the specimen and preserve the natural water content of the soil
2. Place sample in the cylindrical mold in successive layers. Each layer should be sufficiently tamped in order to
obtain a uniform density in the entire sample.
3. Remove the sample form mold with an extruder and square both ends and determine the mass and dimensions
of the test specimen.
4. Start the test immediately.

C. TESTING OF SAMPLE: (Remolded or Undisturbed)

1. Place the specimen in the loading device so that it is centered on the bottom platen. Adjust the loading device
carefully so that the upper platen just makes contact with the specimen. Zero the deformation indicator (dial).
2. Apply the load so as to produce an axial strain at a rate of ½ to 2% per minute.
3. Record load, deformation and time values at sufficient interval (usually at every 30 seconds) to define the shape
of the stress-strain curve (usually 10 to 15 points are sufficient).
Note: The rate of strain should be chosen so that the time to failure does not exceed about 15
minutes.

a. For softer materials that will exhibit larger deformation at failure should be tested at a higher rate of
strain.
b. Stiff or brittle materials that will exhibit small deformations at failure should be tested at a lower rate of
strain.

4. Continue loading until the load values decreases with increasing strain, or until 15% strain is reached.
5. Remove specimen from the machine, and take it to the moist room. Make a sketch of the test specimen at failure
showing the slope angle of the failure surface if the angle is measurable, with respect to the horizontal plane.
6. Determine the water content of the test specimen using the entire specimen.

CALCULATIONS:

1. Axial Strain (unit strain) = L/Lo x 100 + 

Where:
L = length change of specimen as read from deformation indicator, mm
Lo = initial length of test specimen, mm
 = axial strain

2. Corrected Area (A):

 At + 2Ab + Am
A = Ao / (1-) ; Ao =
4
Where:
Ao = initial average cross-sectional area of the specimen, mm2
 = Axial strain
At = Area at top of sample
Ab = Area at bottom of sample
Am = Area at middle of sample

3. Axial Compression Stress (c) (Normal stress)


c = P/A
Where:
P = given applied load
A = corresponding ave. cross-sectional area (corrected), mm2
P = A1 = proving ring dial movement
Kpr = proving-ring constant in N/mm (Ib/in)

4. Sensitivity = peak undisturbed strength

Peak remolded strength

If there is no peak strength, use strength at 15% strain.

5. Shearing Stress = peak undisturbed compressive strength

2
6. Plotting:
Construct a graph showing the relationship between compressive stress (ordinate) and axial strain
(abscissa).

Course: CE510 Experiment No.: 3

Group No.: ALDUB NATION Section: CE52FC1
Group Leader: OLINAN, KENNETH Date Performed: SEPTEMBER 11, 2019
Group Members: Date Submitted: SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
1. BAYSA, PETERSON Instructor: ENGR. RHONNIE ESTORES
2. DEDASI, JESREL
3. FRADES, JOPHET
4. GOMEZ, JOHN
5. JALLORES, JOSEPH
6. LAROT, WILSON
7. OLINAN, KENNETH
8. POLINAG, GEANNO
6. Data and Results:

Description of Sample: Medium Brown, mixed with stones at medium size

Sample at:___BRGY. PINYAHAN, V.LUNA AVE. AFVHSC QUEZON CITY
Diameter of Sample mm (inch):___<4.76 mm (0.187 in.)_________________________________
Initial Area, (Ao) mm2:__1963.49541 mm2____________________________________________
Initial Height, (Lo) mm:__12 mm____________________________________________________
Water Content, (w) %:___14.64705% (20g reduced to 17g when oven dried)_________________

Unit Strain = L/Lo x 100 +  =________________ A = Ao / (1-) =

Elapsed Load dial Axial Load Strain dial Total Unit Strain Corrected Stress
time Strain Area
0:10 4 0.0019 70 0.70 8.90 2028.712 1.325545
0:20 41 0.0204 169 1.69 9.89 2154.041 7.715882
0:30 89 0.0442 252 2.52 10.82 2248.366 17.27769
0:40 118 0.0587 355 3.55 11.85 2300.925 23.10666
0:50 139 0.0691 450 4.50 12.80 2328.942 27.23231
1:00 156 0.0776 575 5.75 13.78 2352.403 30.69496
1:10 177 0.0880 679 6.79 14.82 2379.262 34.45927
1:20 198 0.0985 775 7.75 15.68 2411.502 38.36501
1:30 217 0.1080 881 8.81 16.82 2433.470 41.08354
1:30 234 0.1150 970 9.70 17.66 2461.669 43.23835
1:40 241 0.1178 1070 10.70 18.47 2502.149 44.56781
1:50 251 0.1217 1150 11.50 21.78 2531.687 45.46478
2:00 258 0.1244 1257 12.57 22.44 2551.848 45.63433
2:10 261 0.1256 1366 13.66 25.02 2618.692 48.42112

Proving ring number: __WF 6450 (1 KN Ring)_________

Strain rate:____7.04______________%/min
7. Conclusion:

COHESION IS THE COMPONENT OF SHEAR STRENGTH OF A ROCK OR SOIL THAT IS INDEPENDENT OF

INTERPARTICLE FRICTION. IN SOILS, TRUE COHESION IS CAUSED BY FOLLOWING. COHESIVE SOIL
MEANS CLAY OR SOIL WITH A HIGH CLAY CONTENT, WHICH HAS COHESIVE STRENGTH. COHESIVE SOIL
DOES NOT CRUMBLE, CAN BEEXCAVATED WITH VERTICAL SIDESLOPES, AND IS PLASTIC WHEN MOIST.

8. Pictures of Evidences

PREPARATION OF SAMPLE DOING OUR DIFFERENT TASKS

TESTING OUR SAMPLE PUTTING THE SAMPLE TO THE MOLD

9. Assessment (Rubric for Laboratory Performance):

Performance Beginner Acceptable Proficient

Score
indicator 1 2 3
Identify the Designs an experiment Designs an experiment
Fails to design an
procedures involved satisfying the minimum exceeding the
experiment following
in designing the requirements of the requirements of the
procedures
experiment procedures procedures
Develops a protocol to Develops a protocol to
Develop a protocol Fails to develop a
conduct an experiment conduct an experiment
to conduct an protocol to conduct an
satisfying the minimum exceeding the
experiment experiment
requirements minimum requirements
Total Score
Mean score=(Total Score/2)
Percentage Score= (Total Score/6) x 100%

10. References
Budhu, M. (2008). Foundations and Earth Retaining Structures. New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons

American Society for Testing and Materials (2000). Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil (D-2166).
Pennsylvania: ASTM International