University of Bolton

Ras Al Khaimah Campus

Shear Box Test

NAME : Nour El deen Adham

STUDENT NUMBER : 1409485
MODULE TITLE : CIE5005- GROUND & WATER STUDIES
MODULE TUTOR : JITTINA JACOB
PROGRAMME LEVEL : HE 5
SUBMISSION DATE : 14/08/2015
Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. OBJECTIVE 3

3. APPARATUS 3

4. THEORY 4

5. PROCEDURE 4

6. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 6

6.1 TEST NO.1 6

6.2 TEST NO.2 7
6.3 TEST NO.3 9
6.4 SAMPLE CALCULATION 10

7. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 11

8. GENERAL DISCUSSION 11

8.1 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SHEAR BOX TEST 11

9. ERRORS 11

10. CONCLUSION 12

REFERENCE 13

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1. Introduction
The shear box test is used to measure the shear strength of the soil sample.
The shear strength is one of the most important engineering properties of a
soil, because it is required whenever a structure is dependent on the soil’s
shearing resistance. The shear strength is needed for engineering situations
such as determining the stability of slopes or cuts, finding the bearing capacity
for foundations, and calculating the pressure exerted by a soil on a retaining
wall.

2. Objective
The objective of the shear box test is to measure the soils shear strength
parameters, which are the soil cohesion and the angle of friction, and can be
done on both cohesive and non-cohesive soils, in this report the samples
tested were all of consolidated drained soil. The shear strength of soil is one
of the major engineering properties of soil and is required whenever a
structure is built.

3. Apparatus
Apparatus used to carry out the shear box test is as follows:
 Direct shear device
 Inner and outer box.
 Load and deformation dial gauges
 Balance
 Soil sample
 Fixing screw
Shear box inner box dimensions are 60mm x 60mm x 50mm.

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4. Theory
The soils shear strength is basically its maximum resistance to shearing
stresses. The shear box test is one of the oldest and most common strength-
measuring tests of soil. The shear box test can be used on cohesive and non-
cohesive soil samples.
The shear strength is composed of friction, which is the resistance due to the
friction between particles at their contact points and interlocking particles. The
shear strength of soil depends on the effective stress, drainage conditions and
the density of the particles.
Cohesive soil is a sticky soil such as clay or slit and shear strength of
cohesive soils equals almost half of the unconfined compressive strength
obtained.
Non-cohesive soil is a loose, sandy soil, which does not bond together.
In this test non-cohesive soil is used (sand).
The formulas used to calculate the desired values are as follows:
Horizontal Movement =𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑑𝑖𝑣)/100
Vertical Deflection =𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑑𝑖𝑣)/ 100
Shear Strain = (ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡/ 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒) × 100
Plan Area (cross-sectional area) = 60 × 60
Shear Load =𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 × 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
Shear Stress =𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑/𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
Normal stress= 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑/𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
Proving ring constant is 3.74 for all three tests done in the laboratory. A
sample calculation will be provided below using the formulae’s above.

5. Procedure
The procedure of the test as done in the laboratory is as follows:

 Fix the upper part of the box to the lower part by the fixing screw. Attach
the base plate to the lower part.
 Place the grid plate on the stone, keeping the serrations on the grid at
right angle to the direction of shear.
 Weigh the box with base plate and grid plate (2.712 kg).

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 Fill the shear box with the sand (compacting it in 3 layers).
 Weigh the box with soil specimen (2.889 kg).
 Place the upper grid and pressure pad in the order on soil specimen.
 Place the box inside the counter and mount it on loading frame.
 Adjust the screw jack by hand so that it comes into contact with the
lower half of the box.
 Mount the loading yoke on the ball placed on the loading pad.
 Bring the upper of half of the box in contact with proving ring assembly.
A slight movement of proving ring dial gauge observes contact. Record
the proving ring constant.
 Mount one gauge on the yoke to record the vertical movement and
another dial gauge on top of the container to record the shear
movement.
 Adjust the entire three-dial gauge to read zero.
 Put the weight on the loading yoke to apply the required normal stress.
 Remove the fixing screw from the box and raise slightly the upper half
box with the help of spacing screws. Remove the spacing screw also.
 Start the motor to apply shear load at a constant rate of strain.
 Record reading of proving ring dial gauge and vertical and shear
movement dial gauges until proving ring dial gauge readings decrease,
i.e. sample failure.
 Repeat the test twice under different normal loads.

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 6. Results and analysis
Three tests are done on three deferent samples, from the same specimen.
The three tests results will be provided in a tabulated form along with the
maximum shear stress against normal stress for each test.

6.1 Test No.1

Normal stress of sample= 255.06 kN/m2
Observed Readings Calculated Values
Time Proving Proving Horiz. Vertical Horiz. Vert. Shear Plan Shear Shear
M: SS ring ring Movemen Defln. Movement defln. strain Area (m2) load (kN) Stress
Reading (Divs) t (Divs) (Divs) (mm) (mm) % (kN/m2)
0:00 0 0 0 47.5 0 0.475 0 3.6x10-3 0 0

0:15 0 0 33 50 0.33 0.50 0.66 3.6x10-3 0 0

0:30 5 25 57 55 0.57 0.55 1.14 3.6x10-3 9.35x10-2 25.97

0:45 8 40 86 51 0.86 0.51 1.72 3.6x10-3 1.5x10-1 41.67

1:00 8.2 4.1 113 54 1.13 0.54 2.26 3.6x10-3 1.63x10-3 45.28

1:15 7.6 3.8 143 56 1.43 0.56 2.86 3.6x10-3 1.14x10-1 31.67
Table 1

Vertical Defln. /Strain (1)

0.58
Vertical Defln. (mm)

0.56
0.54
0.52
0.5
0.48
0.46
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Shear Strain (%)

Figure 1

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 Stress/strain (1)
50
Shear Stress (kN/m2)
40

30

20

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
Shear Strain (%)

Figure 2

6.2 Test No.2

Normal stress of sample=206 kN/m2
Observed Readings Calculated Values
Time Proving Proving Horiz. Vertical Horiz. Vert. Shear Plan Shear Shear
M: SS ring ring Movement Defln. Movement defln. strain Area (m2) load (kN) Stress
Reading (Divs) (Divs) (Divs) (mm) (mm) % (kN/m2)
0:00 0 0 0 39 0 0.39 0 3.6x10-3 0 0

0:15 1.8 9 34 36 0.34 0.36 0.68 3.6x10-3 3.4x10-2 9.44

0:30 6.4 32 60 44 0.60 0.44 1.20 3.6x10-3 0.12 33.33

0:45 6.4 32 93 44 0.93 0.44 1.86 3.6x10-3 0.12 33.33

1:00 7 35 124 48 1.24 0.48 2.48 3.6x10-3 0.13 36.11

1:15 7.2 36 153 45 1.53 0.45 3.06 3.6x10-3 0.134 37.22

1:30 7.6 38 185 46 1.85 0.46 3.70 3.6x10-3 0.114 31.67

1:45 7.4 37 215 46 2.15 0.46 4.30 3.6x10-3 0.14 38.89

Table 2

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 Stress / Strain (2)
45
40
Shear Stress (kN/m2)

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Shear Strain (%)

Figure 3

Vertical Defln. /Strain (2)

0.6

0.5
Vertical Defln. (mm)

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Shear Strain (%)

Figure 4

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 6.3 Test No.3
Normal stress of sample= 152 kN/m2
Observed Readings Calculated Values
Time Proving Proving Horiz. Vertical Horiz. Vert. Shear Plan Shear Shear
M: SS ring ring Movement Defln. Movement defln. strain Area (m2) load (kN) Stress
Reading (Divs) (Divs) (Divs) (mm) (mm) % (kN/m2)
0:00 0 0 0 21 0 0.21 0 3.6x10-3 0 0

0:15 0.8 4 31 24 0.31 0.24 0.62 3.6x10-3 0.015 4.17

0:30 2.5 12.5 59 26 0.59 0.26 1.18 3.6x10-3 0.047 13.06

0:45 2.7 13.5 92 28 0.92 0.28 1.84 3.6x10-3 0.05 13.89

1:00 2.5 12.5 119 28 1.19 0.28 2.38 3.6x10-3 0.047 13.06
Table 3

Stress / Strain (3)

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Shear Stress (kN/m2)

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Shear Strain (%)

Figure 5

Vertical Defln. / Strain (3)

0.3
Vertical Defln. (mm)

0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Shear Strain (mm)

Figure 6

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Maximum Shear Stress against normal stress for all three tests:

Max. Shear Stress/ Normal Stress

50
Max. Shear Stress (kN/m2)

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Normal Stress (kN/m2)

Figure 7

From figure.7, equation relating shear stress with normal stress:

𝑡 = 𝑐 + 𝜎 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 can be obtained.
By setting c = 0, the equation obtained by the graph is 𝑦 = 0.167𝑥
ϕ = tan−1(0.167) = 9.48°
Angle of friction (ϕ)= 9.48°

6.4 Sample Calculation

A sample calculation from table 3 for time 0:15
Normal stress= 152 kN/m2
Proving ring constant = 3.74 N/division
Plan area= 60mm x 60mm = 3.6x10-3 m2
Proving ring = 0.8 x 5 = 4
Horizontal movement = 31/100= 0.31
Vertical Deflection = 24/ 100 = 0.24
Shear load = 4x3.74/1000=0.015
Shear strain = 0.31/50 x 100 = 0.62
Shear stress = 0.015/3.6x10-3=4.17

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7. Safety Precautions
According to the laws of the laboratory a couple of personal protective
equipment are mandatory to wear during the test to avoid damages, the
equipment are as listed below:
 Safety boots
 Gloves
 Laboratory Coats

8. General Discussion
The shear box is used to derive the soils properties, properties such as the
frictional angle, the cohesion, the peak shear strength and the residual shear
strength. Other type of determining the shear strength of soils is the vane
shear test, which surpasses the shear box test in determining the shear
strength of undrained soils such as clay or slit.

8.1 Advantages and disadvantages of shear box test

The advantages of the direct shear test over other shear tests are the
simplicity of setup and equipment used, the ability to test under different
saturation, drainage, and consolidation conditions, and the shear box test
represents a cheaper method in determining the shear strength parameters.

The disadvantages of shear box test are the difficulty of measuring pore-water
pressure when testing in undrained conditions, and possible misleading high
results from forcing the failure plane to occur in a specific location.

9. Errors
Some of the errors that might have affected the shear box test include:
 Improper drainage conditions, which might have been affected during
the sample storage.
 Apparatus defects, which might lead to substantial errors.
 Noting the readings down due to the complexity of reading some
gauges.

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10. Conclusion
In conclusion the failure in the direct shear test may be considered to occur at
maximum shear stress against the normal load of each of the samples. The
result values obtained from the maximum stress against normal loads graph
are used to obtain the angle of shearing resistance which is 9.48° and
according to the standard values the density of the sample is classified as
very loose.

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Reference

Direct Shear Test (2015). . 1st ed [online]. Available from:

http://www.uic.edu/classes/cemm/cemmlab/Experiment%2012-
Direct%20Shear.pdf [Accessed 9 May 2015]

Geotechdata.info, (2015) Direct Shear Test - Geotechdata.info [online].

Available from: http://www.geotechdata.info/geotest/direct-shear-test.html
[Accessed 9 May 2015]

Geotechnicalinfo.com, (2015) Angle of Internal Friction on the Geotechnical

Information Website. Available at:
http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/angle_of_internal_friction.html
(Accessed: 13 August 2015).

Jacob, J. (2015) Lab Shear box test [Online]. RAK: Jittina Jacob. Available
from:
http://elearning.bolton.ac.uk/file.php/11626/1_LAB_SHEAR_BOX_TEST.
pdf [Accessed 9 May 2015]

Osano, S. (2015) DIRECT SHEAR BOX AND RING SHEAR TEST

COMPARISON: WHY DOES INTERNAL ANGLE OF FRICTION VARY,
http://www.controls-group.com/. Available at: http://www.controls-
group.com/backend/technology_comm/file_tmp/141007164511_direct_s
hear_box_and_ring_shear_apparatus.pdf (Accessed: 11 August 2015).

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