EAG 345 – GEOTECHNICAL

ANALYSIS

(iv) Determination of shear strength

parameters of soils

By: Dr Mohd Ashraf Mohamad Ismail

 Determination of shear strength parameters of soils
(c, f or c’, f’)
Shear Strength Parameters

Laboratory tests on specimens Field tests

taken from representative
undisturbed samples

1. Vane shear test

Most common laboratory tests to 2. Torvane
determine the shear strength parameters 3. Pocket penetrometer
are: 4. Fall cone
1.Direct shear test 5. Pressure meter
2.Triaxial shear test 6. Static cone penetrometer
7. Standard penetration test
Other laboratory tests include,
Direct simple shear test, torsional ring shear
test, plane strain triaxial test, laboratory vane
shear test, laboratory fall cone test
 Laboratory tests
Field conditions

A representative
soil sample
z z
svc svc + Ds

shc shc shc shc

svc svc + Ds

Before construction After and during

construction
 Laboratory tests

How to take undisturbed samples

 svc + Ds
Laboratory tests
Simulating field conditions in shc shc
the laboratory
0 svc svc + Ds

svc
0 0 shc shc
t

0 svc t

Representative Step 1 svc

soil sample Set the specimen in Step 2
taken from the the apparatus and Apply the
site apply the initial corresponding field
stress condition stress conditions
 Direct shear test
Schematic diagram of the direct shear apparatus
 Direct shear test
Direct shear test is most suitable for consolidated drained tests
specially on granular soils (e.g.: sand) or stiff clays

Preparation of a sand specimen

Porous
plates

Components of the shear box Preparation of a sand specimen

 Direct shear test
Preparation of a sand specimen Pressure plate

Leveling the top surface of Specimen preparation

specimen completed
 Direct shear test
P Steel ball
Test procedure
Pressure plate

Porous
plates

Proving ring to
measure shear
force

Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation
 Direct shear test
P Steel ball
Test procedure
Pressure plate

Porous
plates

Proving ring to
measure shear
force

Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation

Step 2: Lower box is subjected to a horizontal displacement at a constant rate

 Direct shear test
Dial gauge to
measure vertical
Shear box displacement

Proving ring to
measure shear
force

Loading frame to Dial gauge to measure

horizontal displacement
apply vertical load
 Direct shear test
Analysis of test results

Normal force (P)

s  Normal stress 
Area of cross section of the sample

Shear resistance developed at the sliding surface (S)

t  Shear stress 
Area of cross section of the sample

Note: Cross-sectional area of the sample changes with the horizontal displacement
 Direct shear tests on sands
Stress-strain relationship

Dense sand/ OC

Shear stress, t
clay
tf
Loose sand/ NC
tf clay

Shear displacement
Expansion
Change in height of

Dense sand/OC Clay

the sample

Shear displacement
Compression

Loose sand/NC Clay

 Direct shear tests on sands
How to determine strength parameters c and f

Normal stress = s3
Shear stress, t

Normal stress = s2
Normal stress = s1
tf2
tf1
tf3
Shear displacement
Shear stress at failure, tf

Mohr – Coulomb failure envelope

Normal stress, s
 Direct shear tests on sands

Some important facts on strength parameters c and f

of sand:

Sand is cohesionless hence c = 0

Direct shear tests are drained and pore water

pressures are dissipated, hence u = 0

Therefore,
f’ = f and c’ = c = 0
 Direct shear tests on clays
In case of clay, horizontal displacement should be applied at a very slow rate to allow
dissipation of pore water pressure (therefore, one test would take several days to finish)

Failure envelopes for clay from drained direct shear tests

Overconsolidated clay (c’ ≠ 0)

Shear stress at failure, tf

Normally consolidated clay (c’ = 0)

f’

Normal force, s
 Interface tests on direct shear apparatus
In many foundation design problems and retaining wall problems, it is required to
determine the angle of internal friction between soil and the structural material
(concrete, steel or wood)
P

Soil
S

Foundation material

t f  ca  s ' tan 
Where,
ca = adhesion,
 = angle of internal friction
 Advantages of direct shear apparatus

 Due to the smaller thickness of the sample, rapid drainage can be achieved

 Can be used to determine interface strength parameters

 Clay samples can be oriented along the plane of weakness or an identified failure
plane

Disadvantages of direct shear apparatus

 Failure occurs along a predetermined failure plane

 Area of the sliding surface changes as the test progresses

 Non-uniform distribution of shear stress along the failure surface

 Triaxial Shear Test
Piston (to apply deviatoric stress)

Failure plane
O-ring

impervious
membrane
Soil sample at Soil
failure sample
Porous
Perspex stone
cell
Water

Cell pressure
Back pressure Pore pressure or
volume change
pedestal
 Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder
 Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Edges of the sample are Setting up the sample in the

carefully trimmed triaxial cell
 Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sample is covered with a

rubber membrane and sealed Cell is completely filled
with water
 Triaxial Shear Test

Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

 Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Proving ring to
measure the
deviator load

Dial gauge to
measure vertical
displacement
Types of Triaxial Tests deviatoric stress

sc
(Ds = q)
Step 1 Step 2

sc sc
sc sc

sc s c+ q
Under all-around cell pressure sc Shearing (loading)

Is the drainage valve open? Is the drainage valve open?

yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated Drained Undrained

sample sample loading loading
 Types of Triaxial Tests
Step 1 Step 2

Under all-around cell pressure sc Shearing (loading)

Is the drainage valve open? Is the drainage valve open?

yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated Drained Undrained

sample sample loading
loading

CD test UU test

CU test
 CD, CU and UU Triaxial Tests
Consolidated Drained (CD) Test

 no excess pore pressure throughout the test

 very slow shearing to avoid build-up of pore

pressure
Can be days!
 not desirable
 gives c’ and f’

Use c’ and f’ for analysing fully drained

situations (e.g., long term stability,
very slow loading)

27
 CD, CU and UU Triaxial Tests
Consolidated Undrained (CU) Test

 pore pressure develops during shear

Measure  s’

 gives c’ and f’

 faster than CD (preferred way to find c’ and f’)

28
 CD, CU and UU Triaxial Tests
Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Test

 pore pressure develops during shear

= 0; i.e., failure envelope is
Not measured horizontal
s’ unknown
 analyse in terms of s  gives cu and fu

 very quick test

Use cu and fu for analysing undrained

situations (e.g., short term stability,
quick loading)

29
 Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Total, s = Effective, s’
Neutral, u +
Step 1: At the end of consolidation
sVC s’VC = sVC

shC 0 s’hC = shC

Drainage

Step 2: During axial stress increase

sVC + Ds s’V = sVC + Ds = s’1

shC 0 s’h = shC = s’3

Drainage

Step 3: At failure
sVC + Dsf s’Vf = sVC + Dsf = s’1f

shC 0 s’hf = shC = s’3f

Drainage
 Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

s1 = sVC + Ds

s3 = shC

Deviator stress (q or Dsd) = s1 – s3

 Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Volume change of sample during consolidation

Expansion
Volume change of the

Time
sample

Compression
 Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Dense sand or
OC clay
Deviator stress, Dsd (Dsd)f
Loose sand or NC
(Dsd)f Clay

Axial strain
Expansion
Volume change of

Dense sand or
OC clay
the sample

Axial strain
Compression

Loose sand or NC
clay
CD tests How to determine strength parameters c and f
(Dsd)fc
s1 = s3 + (Dsd)f
Deviator stress, Dsd

Confining stress = s3c

Confining stress = s3b
Confining stress = s3a s3
(Dsd)fb
(Dsd)fa

Axial strain

f
Mohr – Coulomb
Shear stress, t

failure envelope

s or s’
s3a s3b s3c s1a s1b s1c
(Dsd)fa (Dsd)fb
CD tests
Strength parameters c and f obtained from CD tests

Since u = 0 in CD tests, s = s’

Therefore, c = c’ and f = f’

cd and fd are used to denote them

CD tests Failure envelopes

For sand and NC Clay, cd = 0

fd
Mohr – Coulomb
Shear stress, t

failure envelope

s or s’
s3a s1a
(Dsd)fa

Therefore, one CD test would be sufficient to determine fd of sand

or NC clay
CD tests Failure envelopes

For OC Clay, cd ≠ 0

t OC NC
f

c
s or s’
s3 s1 sc
(Dsd)f
 Some practical applications of CD analysis for clays

1. Embankment constructed very slowly, in layers over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

t t = in situ drained shear

strength
 Some practical applications of CD analysis for clays
2. Earth dam with steady state seepage

t
Core

t = drained shear strength of

clay core

End of construction – construction pore pressure usually reaches their maximum

values when the embankment reaches maximum height
Steady-state seepage – after the reservoir has been filled for a long time, pore
pressures are determined by steady state seepage conditions and may be estimated
from a flow net where gravitational flow conditions govern.
 Some practical applications of CD analysis for clays

3. Excavation or natural slope in clay

t = In situ drained shear strength

Note: CD test simulates the long term condition in the field. Thus,
cd and fd should be used to evaluate the long term behavior
of soils
 Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Total, s = Effective, s’
Neutral, u +
Step 1: At the end of consolidation
sVC s’VC = sVC

shC 0 s’hC = shC

Drainage

Step 2: During axial stress increase

s’V = sVC + Ds ± Du = s’1
sVC + Ds
No drainage
shC ±Du s’h = shC ± Du = s’3

Step 3: At failure
sVC + Dsf s’Vf = sVC + Dsf ± Duf = s’1f

No drainage
shC ±Duf s’hf = shC ± Duf = s’3f
 Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Volume change of sample during consolidation

Expansion
Volume change of the

Time
sample

Compression
 Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Dense sand or
OC clay
Deviator stress, Dsd (Dsd)f
Loose sand or NC
(Dsd)f Clay

Axial strain
+

Loose sand /NC

Clay
Du

Axial strain
Dense sand or
-

OC clay
 CU tests How to determine strength parameters c and f
(Dsd)fb s1 = s3 + (Dsd)f
Confining stress = s3b
Deviator stress, Dsd

Confining stress = s3a

s3
(Dsd)fa
Total stresses at failure
Axial strain

Mohr – Coulomb failure fcu

Shear stress, t

envelope in terms of total

stresses

ccu
s or s’
s3a s3b s1a s1b
(Dsd)fa
CU tests How to determine strength parameters c and f
s’1 = s3 + (Dsd)f - uf

s’3 = s3 - uf
Mohr – Coulomb failure uf
envelope in terms of
effective stresses Effective stresses at failure

Mohr – Coulomb failure f’

Shear stress, t

envelope in terms of total

stresses
fcu

ufb
C’ ufa
ccu s’3b s’1b s or s’
s’3a s3a s3b s’1a s1a s1b
(Dsd)fa
CU tests
Strength parameters c and f obtained from CD tests

Shear strength parameters in terms of total stresses

are ccu and fcu

Shear strength parameters in terms of effective

stresses are c’ and f’

c’ = cd and f’ = fd
CU tests Failure envelopes
For sand and NC Clay, ccu and c’ = 0
Mohr – Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
effective stresses

Mohr – Coulomb failure f’ fcu

envelope in terms of total
Shear stress, t

stresses

s or s’
s3a s3a s1a s1a
(Dsd)fa

Therefore, one CU test would be sufficient to determine fcu and f’(=

fd) of sand or NC clay
 Some practical applications of CU analysis for clays

1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

t t = in situ undrained
shear strength
 Some practical applications of CU analysis for clays
2. Rapid drawdown behind an earth dam

t
Core

t = Undrained shear strength of

clay core

Rapid draw down – the upstream slope stability may be critical for the rapid draw
down condition where the water in the reservoir can drop drastically.
 Some practical applications of CU analysis for clays

3. Rapid construction of an embankment on a natural slope

t = In situ undrained shear strength

Note: Total stress parameters from CU test (ccu and fcu) can be used for stability
problems where,
Soil have become fully consolidated and are at equilibrium with the existing stress
state; Then for some reason additional stresses are applied quickly with no
drainage occurring