Laboratory Report #5

Direct Shear Test of Dry Sand

Date

California State University, Fullerton

Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Soil Mechanics Laboratory

Laboratory Memorandum
_________________________________________________________________________
From: Ala Twiet, Group 1
To: Pankaj Bhattarai
Date: April 26, 2013
Subject: Direct Shear Test of Dry Sand
_________________________________________________________________________
Dear Pankaj Bhattarai

With reference to the subject cited above, Group 01 has conducted the direct shear tests in
Soils Mechanics Laboratory at California State University, Fullerton on 14 April 2014. This test is
performed to determine the consolidated-drained shear strength of a sandy to silty soil. 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 soils 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.
The direct shear box with dimension of 100 mm x 100 mm was used in the laboratory. The
experiment was performed with the help of software. The different parameters were recorded
during the experiment i.e. vertical displacement, horizontal displacement etc. These were then
used to calculate the cohesion and angle of friction for soil. Normal stress was applied to the
soil sample with values of 50, 100, 150 and 200 kPa. Then the graphs were plotted among
different parameter to shown the soil behavior.
The peak shear stress are 40.6 kPa ,88.7 kPa, 137.3 kPa, 175.9 kPa against the normal stress of
50 kPa, 100 kPa, 150 kPa and 200 kPa respectively. The cohesion and angle of friction of soil
calculated from the failure envelope are 3 kPa and 42.270.
If you have any question or concern regarding the report, please contact me. Your support for
performing the experiment is highly admired. Thanks
Sincerely,

Ala Twiet

Calculations: Normal Stress=50 kPa

Data and Results:
Void Ratio Calculation
Size of Shear Box
Sample Height
Sample Area
Sample Volume
Mass of Soil

100 mm
25.4 mm
10,000 mm2
254000 mm3
408.2 g

H
A
V
Ms

16.08 kN/m3

Dry Density
Specific Gravity
Water Density

Gs

2.65
9810 N/m3

Void Ratio

0.6169

Table 1: Data and Results for Normal Stress of 50 kPa

Horizontal
Deformation
(mm)

Vertical
Deformation
(mm)

Force
(N)

Shear Stress
(kPa)

Shear
Strain

0.000
0.054
0.109
0.155
0.201
0.247
0.295
0.343
0.389
0.435
0.481
0.528
0.574
0.632
0.693
0.750
0.810

0.000
-0.001
-0.002
-0.003
-0.004
-0.005
-0.005
-0.005
-0.006
-0.006
-0.006
-0.006
-0.006
-0.007
-0.008
-0.008
-0.009

0
39
54
60
70
75
80
85
91
96
100
106
109
115
122
127
132

0.00
3.90
5.40
6.00
7.00
7.50
8.00
8.50
9.10
9.60
10.00
10.60
10.90
11.50
12.20
12.70
13.20

0.000
0.002
0.004
0.006
0.008
0.010
0.012
0.014
0.015
0.017
0.019
0.021
0.023
0.025
0.027
0.030
0.032

0.868
0.923
0.981
1.037
1.092
1.150
1.206
1.261
1.319
1.375
1.431
1.488
1.545
1.602
1.661
1.707
1.764
1.822
1.880
1.941
1.999
2.045
2.103
2.149
2.207
2.266
2.325
2.383
2.440
2.499
2.558
2.617
2.663
2.721
2.767
2.813
2.873
2.932
2.991
3.051

-0.009
-0.010
-0.010
-0.010
-0.010
-0.011
-0.012
-0.014
-0.014
-0.014
-0.014
-0.014
-0.014
-0.016
-0.016
-0.018
-0.018
-0.018
-0.018
-0.018
-0.018
-0.020
-0.020
-0.021
-0.022
-0.022
-0.022
-0.022
-0.022
-0.023
-0.023
-0.023
-0.023
-0.025
-0.024
-0.025
-0.026
-0.026
-0.026
-0.026

137
142
149
158
163
168
173
179
184
190
198
204
210
215
220
225
230
235
241
246
254
256
261
267
267
276
281
284
291
292
298
303
307
309
313
318
318
323
329
331

13.70
14.20
14.90
15.80
16.30
16.80
17.30
17.90
18.40
19.00
19.80
20.40
21.00
21.50
22.00
22.50
23.00
23.50
24.10
24.60
25.40
25.60
26.10
26.70
26.70
27.60
28.10
28.40
29.10
29.20
29.80
30.30
30.70
30.90
31.30
31.80
31.80
32.30
32.90
33.10

0.034
0.036
0.039
0.041
0.043
0.045
0.047
0.050
0.052
0.054
0.056
0.059
0.061
0.063
0.065
0.067
0.069
0.072
0.074
0.076
0.079
0.081
0.083
0.085
0.087
0.089
0.092
0.094
0.096
0.098
0.101
0.103
0.105
0.107
0.109
0.111
0.113
0.115
0.118
0.120

3.097
3.155
3.212
3.259
3.317
3.378
3.435
3.494
3.553
3.612
3.669
3.727
3.785
3.843
3.899
3.958
4.015
4.073
4.131
4.188
4.244
4.303
4.361
4.420
4.480
4.539
4.599
4.660
4.718
4.780
4.826
4.885
4.943
5.002
5.049
5.107

-0.026
-0.027
-0.027
-0.027
-0.027
-0.028
-0.028
-0.029
-0.029
-0.030
-0.030
-0.030
-0.030
-0.030
-0.030
-0.031
-0.031
-0.031
-0.031
-0.032
-0.031
-0.032
-0.032
-0.032
-0.033
-0.034
-0.033
-0.033
-0.033
-0.033
-0.032
-0.032
-0.032
-0.032
-0.031
-0.031

Sample Shear Stress Calculation

334
339
344
344
349
351
355
356
360
364
365
366
370
375
377
380
382
385
386
391
391
396
396
399
401
404
406
406
406
405
401
400
396
396
396
396

33.40
33.90
34.40
34.40
34.90
35.10
35.50
35.60
36.00
36.40
36.50
36.60
37.00
37.50
37.70
38.00
38.20
38.50
38.60
39.10
39.10
39.60
39.60
39.90
40.10
40.40
40.60
40.60
40.60
40.50
40.10
40.00
39.60
39.60
39.60
39.60

0.122
0.124
0.126
0.128
0.131
0.133
0.135
0.138
0.140
0.142
0.144
0.147
0.149
0.151
0.153
0.156
0.158
0.160
0.163
0.165
0.167
0.169
0.172
0.174
0.176
0.179
0.181
0.183
0.186
0.188
0.190
0.192
0.195
0.197
0.199
0.201

Secant Friction Angle Calculation

(

( )

Calculations: Normal Stress=100 kPa

Data and Results:
Void Ratio Calculation
Size of Shear Box
Sample Height
Sample Area
Sample Volume
Mass of Soil

100 mm
25.4 mm
10,000 mm2
254000 mm3
408.23 g

H
A
V
Ms

15.77 kN/m3

Dry Density
Specific Gravity
Water Density

Gs

2.65
9810 N/m3

Void Ratio

0.6480

Table 2: Data and Results for Normal Stress of 100 kPa

Horizontal
Deformation
(mm)

Vertical
Deformation
(mm)

Force
(N)

Shear Stress
(kPa)

Shear
Strain

0.000
0.050
0.102
0.156
0.213
0.269
0.325
0.380
0.437
0.494
0.554

0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.001
0.001

0
136
167
193
219
240
257
277
292
313
324

0.00
13.60
16.70
19.30
21.90
24.00
25.70
27.70
29.20
31.30
32.40

0.000
0.002
0.004
0.006
0.008
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.017
0.019
0.022

0.613
0.669
0.728
0.787
0.847
0.904
0.962
1.021
1.079
1.140
1.196
1.255
1.314
1.374
1.434
1.493
1.549
1.610
1.667
1.727
1.786
1.841
1.899
1.956
2.013
2.071
2.126
2.185
2.241
2.296
2.351
2.407
2.462
2.517
2.572
2.628
2.683
2.738
2.793
2.851

0.001
0.002
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.006
0.005
0.005
0.004
0.004
0.005
0.005
0.005
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.005
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.003
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.003
0.004
0.004
0.004
0.003
0.004

339
355
365
376
390
401
407
415
428
433
444
449
459
470
475
480
485
493
501
506
512
522
527
532
543
548
553
553
563
566
574
579
585
590
595
600
606
611
616
618

33.90
35.50
36.50
37.60
39.00
40.10
40.70
41.50
42.80
43.30
44.40
44.90
45.90
47.00
47.50
48.00
48.50
49.30
50.10
50.60
51.20
52.20
52.70
53.20
54.30
54.80
55.30
55.30
56.30
56.60
57.40
57.90
58.50
59.00
59.50
60.00
60.60
61.10
61.60
61.80

0.024
0.026
0.029
0.031
0.033
0.036
0.038
0.040
0.042
0.045
0.047
0.049
0.052
0.054
0.056
0.059
0.061
0.063
0.066
0.068
0.070
0.072
0.075
0.077
0.079
0.082
0.084
0.086
0.088
0.090
0.093
0.095
0.097
0.099
0.101
0.103
0.106
0.108
0.110
0.112

2.908
2.966
3.023
3.079
3.136
3.192
3.248
3.303
3.359
3.419
3.476
3.533
3.591
3.648
3.704
3.762
3.822
3.880
3.939
3.997
4.056
4.116
4.176
4.235
4.296
4.358
4.417
4.476
4.540
4.600
4.660
4.723
4.783
4.844
4.904
4.965
5.025
5.084
5.144
5.206

0.003
0.003
0.004
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.002
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002

621
621
626
626
632
642
647
653
658
662
663
668
673
679
686
689
698
700
705
710
710
715
715
720
726
726
731
736
741
745
752
752
761
762
769
773
778
783
787
788

62.10
62.10
62.60
62.60
63.20
64.20
64.70
65.30
65.80
66.20
66.30
66.80
67.30
67.90
68.60
68.90
69.80
70.00
70.50
71.00
71.00
71.50
71.50
72.00
72.60
72.60
73.10
73.60
74.10
74.50
75.20
75.20
76.10
76.20
76.90
77.30
77.80
78.30
78.70
78.80

0.114
0.117
0.119
0.121
0.123
0.126
0.128
0.130
0.132
0.135
0.137
0.139
0.141
0.144
0.146
0.148
0.150
0.153
0.155
0.157
0.160
0.162
0.164
0.167
0.169
0.172
0.174
0.176
0.179
0.181
0.183
0.186
0.188
0.191
0.193
0.195
0.198
0.200
0.203
0.205

5.267
5.326
5.388
5.450
5.509
5.573
5.633
5.696
5.756
5.818
5.884
5.942
6.004
6.065
6.129
6.193
6.257
6.318
6.382
6.446
6.510
6.574
6.638
6.699
6.762
6.813
6.874
6.937
7.001
7.065
7.128
7.190
7.256
7.319
7.379
7.443

0.002
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.002
0.002
0.002
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.003
0.002
0.003
0.002

794
799
804
804
809
811
814
820
825
829
830
835
835
840
842
842
846
847
851
851
850
851
851
856
861
861
861
861
866
867
872
877
877
877
882
887

79.40
79.90
80.40
80.40
80.90
81.10
81.40
82.00
82.50
82.90
83.00
83.50
83.50
84.00
84.20
84.20
84.60
84.70
85.10
85.10
85.00
85.10
85.10
85.60
86.10
86.10
86.10
86.10
86.60
86.70
87.20
87.70
87.70
87.70
88.20
88.70

0.207
0.210
0.212
0.215
0.217
0.219
0.222
0.224
0.227
0.229
0.232
0.234
0.236
0.239
0.241
0.244
0.246
0.249
0.251
0.254
0.256
0.259
0.261
0.264
0.266
0.268
0.271
0.273
0.276
0.278
0.281
0.283
0.286
0.288
0.291
0.293

Sample Shear Stress Calculation

Secant Friction Angle Calculation

(

( )

Calculations: Normal Stress=150 kPa

Data and Results:
Void Ratio Calculation
Size of Shear Box
Sample Height
Sample Area
Sample Volume
Mass of Soil

100 mm
25.4 mm
10,000 mm2
254000 mm3
408.23 g

H
A
V
Ms

16.28 kN/m3

Dry Density
Specific Gravity
Water Density

Gs

2.65
9810 N/m3

Void Ratio

0.5970

Table 3: Data and Results for Normal Stress of 150 kPa

Horizontal
Deformation
(mm)

Vertical
Deformation
(mm)

Force
(N)

Shear Stress
(kPa)

Shear
Strain

0.000
0.046
0.093
0.146
0.193
0.245
0.303

0.000
0.005
0.009
0.017
0.026
0.034
0.043

0
131
177
261
324
372
418

0.00
13.10
17.70
26.10
32.40
37.20
41.80

0.000
0.002
0.004
0.006
0.008
0.010
0.012

0.359
0.406
0.453
0.500
0.549
0.599
0.649
0.699
0.748
0.795
0.844
0.894
0.946
0.998
1.051
1.101
1.151
1.205
1.258
1.309
1.363
1.417
1.470
1.523
1.577
1.627
1.680
1.731
1.784
1.834
1.888
1.938
1.989
2.042
2.092
2.145
2.196
2.249
2.299
2.353

0.050
0.055
0.060
0.063
0.067
0.070
0.073
0.074
0.075
0.077
0.079
0.079
0.079
0.079
0.079
0.079
0.078
0.078
0.077
0.076
0.076
0.075
0.075
0.074
0.074
0.071
0.069
0.067
0.066
0.062
0.059
0.057
0.054
0.050
0.046
0.044
0.041
0.038
0.035
0.032

464
491
522
548
574
600
621
642
658
679
694
712
731
741
757
773
788
799
809
820
830
840
850
861
872
889
903
915
924
940
945
955
966
971
981
992
997
1008
1018
1028

46.40
49.10
52.20
54.80
57.40
60.00
62.10
64.20
65.80
67.90
69.40
71.20
73.10
74.10
75.70
77.30
78.80
79.90
80.90
82.00
83.00
84.00
85.00
86.10
87.20
88.90
90.30
91.50
92.40
94.00
94.50
95.50
96.60
97.10
98.10
99.20
99.70
100.80
101.80
102.80

0.014
0.016
0.018
0.020
0.022
0.024
0.026
0.028
0.029
0.031
0.033
0.035
0.037
0.039
0.041
0.043
0.045
0.047
0.050
0.052
0.054
0.056
0.058
0.060
0.062
0.064
0.066
0.068
0.070
0.072
0.074
0.076
0.078
0.080
0.082
0.084
0.086
0.089
0.091
0.093

2.403
2.456
2.506
2.560
2.614
2.665
2.717
2.769
2.821
2.875
2.929
2.983
3.033
3.086
3.140
3.193
3.246
3.297
3.351
3.404
3.458
3.512
3.566
3.620
3.674
3.727
3.781
3.835
3.885
3.938
3.993
4.048
4.103
4.154
4.207
4.258
4.310
4.364
4.418
4.472

0.030
0.026
0.023
0.019
0.017
0.014
0.012
0.008
0.005
0.003
0.000
-0.004
-0.007
-0.009
-0.012
-0.016
-0.019
-0.021
-0.025
-0.026
-0.029
-0.032
-0.034
-0.037
-0.039
-0.043
-0.045
-0.045
-0.050
-0.052
-0.054
-0.056
-0.057
-0.058
-0.058
-0.060
-0.061
-0.061
-0.060
-0.061

1034
1046
1055
1055
1062
1072
1080
1086
1095
1102
1107
1114
1122
1128
1133
1140
1145
1153
1159
1162
1169
1175
1180
1184
1185
1194
1195
1201
1211
1211
1211
1213
1216
1222
1227
1232
1237
1242
1240
1242

103.40
104.60
105.50
105.50
106.20
107.20
108.00
108.60
109.50
110.20
110.70
111.40
112.20
112.80
113.30
114.00
114.50
115.30
115.90
116.20
116.90
117.50
118.00
118.40
118.50
119.40
119.50
120.10
121.10
121.10
121.10
121.30
121.60
122.20
122.70
123.20
123.70
124.20
124.00
124.20

0.095
0.097
0.099
0.101
0.103
0.105
0.107
0.109
0.111
0.113
0.115
0.117
0.119
0.121
0.124
0.126
0.128
0.130
0.132
0.134
0.136
0.138
0.140
0.143
0.145
0.147
0.149
0.151
0.153
0.155
0.157
0.159
0.162
0.164
0.166
0.168
0.170
0.172
0.174
0.176

4.526
4.579
4.629
4.683
4.737
4.788
4.840
4.894
4.947
4.999
5.053
5.109
5.162
5.216
5.270
5.328
5.382
5.436
5.492
5.545
5.599
5.653
5.708
5.764
5.822
5.876
5.930
5.987
6.041
6.098
6.159
6.213
6.270
6.324
6.381
6.436
6.493
6.551
6.608
6.662

-0.061
-0.061
-0.061
-0.062
-0.065
-0.065
-0.066
-0.068
-0.069
-0.069
-0.070
-0.070
-0.071
-0.072
-0.074
-0.074
-0.074
-0.074
-0.072
-0.070
-0.070
-0.070
-0.069
-0.069
-0.069
-0.069
-0.069
-0.069
-0.070
-0.070
-0.068
-0.066
-0.066
-0.065
-0.065
-0.066
-0.065
-0.065
-0.063
-0.062

1250
1253
1258
1269
1271
1279
1284
1292
1295
1300
1305
1305
1310
1310
1316
1316
1316
1316
1320
1316
1321
1329
1331
1331
1333
1336
1342
1342
1347
1347
1346
1347
1347
1352
1357
1361
1359
1363
1364
1368

125.00
125.30
125.80
126.90
127.10
127.90
128.40
129.20
129.50
130.00
130.50
130.50
131.00
131.00
131.60
131.60
131.60
131.60
132.00
131.60
132.10
132.90
133.10
133.10
133.30
133.60
134.20
134.20
134.70
134.70
134.60
134.70
134.70
135.20
135.70
136.10
135.90
136.30
136.40
136.80

0.178
0.180
0.182
0.184
0.186
0.189
0.191
0.193
0.195
0.197
0.199
0.201
0.203
0.205
0.207
0.210
0.212
0.214
0.216
0.218
0.220
0.223
0.225
0.227
0.229
0.231
0.233
0.236
0.238
0.240
0.242
0.245
0.247
0.249
0.251
0.253
0.256
0.258
0.260
0.262

6.718
6.774
6.831
6.884
6.942
6.999
7.056
7.114
7.172
7.226
7.272
7.329
7.385
7.441
7.494
7.551
7.605
7.663
7.716
7.774
7.831
7.886
7.941

-0.062
-0.059
-0.058
-0.058
-0.057
-0.056
-0.054
-0.053
-0.050
-0.050
-0.049
-0.045
-0.045
-0.041
-0.041
-0.040
-0.039
-0.038
-0.037
-0.036
-0.034
-0.033
-0.030

Sample Shear Stress Calculation

Secant Friction Angle Calculation

(

1369
1372
1373
1383
1378
1378
1378
1373
1373
1378
1372
1369
1373
1372
1373
1378
1378
1378
1378
1378
1378
1378
1378

( )

136.90
137.20
137.30
138.30
137.80
137.80
137.80
137.30
137.30
137.80
137.20
136.90
137.30
137.20
137.30
137.80
137.80
137.80
137.80
137.80
137.80
137.80
137.80

0.264
0.267
0.269
0.271
0.273
0.276
0.278
0.280
0.282
0.284
0.286
0.289
0.291
0.293
0.295
0.297
0.299
0.302
0.304
0.306
0.308
0.310
0.313

Calculations: Normal Stress=200 kPa

Data and Results:
Void Ratio Calculation
Size of Shear Box
Sample Height
Sample Area
Sample Volume
Mass of Soil

100 mm
25.4 mm
10,000 mm2
254000 mm3
408.23 g

H
A
V
Ms

15.77 kN/m3

Dry Density
Specific Gravity
Water Density

Gs

2.65
9810 N/m3

Void Ratio

0.6484

Table 4: Data and Results for Normal Stress of 200 kPa

Horizontal
Deformation
(mm)

Vertical
Deformation
(mm)

Force
(N)

Shear Stress
(kPa)

Shear
Strain

0.014
0.072
0.125
0.184
0.234
0.286
0.339
0.392
0.447
0.502
0.558
0.614
0.669
0.727
0.782
0.840
0.899

0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.001

140
329
402
465
512
558
595
637
667
700
726
756
783
809
835
856
872

14.00
32.90
40.20
46.50
51.20
55.80
59.50
63.70
66.70
70.00
72.60
75.60
78.30
80.90
83.50
85.60
87.20

0.001
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.009
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.018
0.020
0.022
0.024
0.026
0.029
0.031
0.033
0.035

0.953
1.011
1.068
1.123
1.179
1.237
1.292
1.350
1.405
1.461
1.518
1.572
1.631
1.685
1.739
1.795
1.849
1.906
1.960
2.015
2.070
2.124
2.178
2.232
2.287
2.341
2.396
2.450
2.505
2.559
2.615
2.672
2.726
2.781
2.837
2.894
2.948
3.002
3.061
3.120

-0.001
0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000

898
921
942
966
987
1005
1023
1039
1059
1075
1091
1107
1117
1130
1143
1159
1175
1190
1201
1211
1221
1232
1244
1257
1263
1273
1283
1291
1300
1310
1321
1331
1336
1347
1356
1363
1373
1383
1383
1389

89.80
92.10
94.20
96.60
98.70
100.50
102.30
103.90
105.90
107.50
109.10
110.70
111.70
113.00
114.30
115.90
117.50
119.00
120.10
121.10
122.10
123.20
124.40
125.70
126.30
127.30
128.30
129.10
130.00
131.00
132.10
133.10
133.60
134.70
135.60
136.30
137.30
138.30
138.30
138.90

0.038
0.040
0.042
0.044
0.046
0.049
0.051
0.053
0.055
0.058
0.060
0.062
0.064
0.066
0.068
0.071
0.073
0.075
0.077
0.079
0.081
0.084
0.086
0.088
0.090
0.092
0.094
0.096
0.099
0.101
0.103
0.105
0.107
0.109
0.112
0.114
0.116
0.118
0.120
0.123

3.173
3.232
3.291
3.345
3.404
3.462
3.517
3.575
3.633
3.692
3.751
3.809
3.869
3.930
3.988
4.045
4.103
4.160
4.220
4.280
4.340
4.398
4.457
4.516
4.574
4.633
4.691
4.750
4.809
4.867
4.925
4.984
5.043
5.101
5.160
5.218
5.277
5.336
5.395
5.457

0.000
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.001

1396
1404
1410
1419
1424
1430
1441
1451
1456
1467
1477
1483
1483
1492
1498
1508
1514
1524
1530
1535
1542
1550
1557
1562
1569
1577
1582
1587
1592
1603
1608
1613
1618
1624
1629
1634
1642
1649
1654
1660

139.60
140.40
141.00
141.90
142.40
143.00
144.10
145.10
145.60
146.70
147.70
148.30
148.30
149.20
149.80
150.80
151.40
152.40
153.00
153.50
154.20
155.00
155.70
156.20
156.90
157.70
158.20
158.70
159.20
160.30
160.80
161.30
161.80
162.40
162.90
163.40
164.20
164.90
165.40
166.00

0.125
0.127
0.130
0.132
0.134
0.136
0.138
0.141
0.143
0.145
0.148
0.150
0.152
0.155
0.157
0.159
0.162
0.164
0.166
0.168
0.171
0.173
0.175
0.178
0.180
0.182
0.185
0.187
0.189
0.192
0.194
0.196
0.199
0.201
0.203
0.205
0.208
0.210
0.212
0.215

5.515
5.574
5.636
5.696
5.757
5.819
5.882
5.942
5.999
6.062
6.120
6.183
6.244
6.305
6.367
6.429
6.490
6.551
6.614
6.676
6.740
6.801
6.860
6.923
6.985
7.048
7.107
7.169
7.229
7.287

-0.001
-0.001
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
0.000
-0.001
-0.001
-0.001
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
-0.001
0.000

Sample Shear Stress Calculation

Secant Friction Angle Calculation

(

1671
1676
1681
1686
1693
1699
1697
1703
1707
1709
1716
1723
1728
1733
1738
1738
1738
1738
1738
1738
1738
1744
1749
1753
1754
1754
1759
1759
1761
1754

( )

167.10
167.60
168.10
168.60
169.30
169.90
169.70
170.30
170.70
170.90
171.60
172.30
172.80
173.30
173.80
173.80
173.80
173.80
173.80
173.80
173.80
174.40
174.90
175.30
175.40
175.40
175.90
175.90
176.10
175.40

0.217
0.219
0.222
0.224
0.227
0.229
0.232
0.234
0.236
0.239
0.241
0.243
0.246
0.248
0.251
0.253
0.256
0.258
0.260
0.263
0.265
0.268
0.270
0.273
0.275
0.277
0.280
0.282
0.285
0.287

Figure 1: Shear Stress versus Horizontal Displacement

Figure 2: Shear Stress versus Shear Strain

Figure 3: Vertical Displacement versus Horizontal Displacement

Figure 4: Normal Stress versus Shear Stress

Therefore,
Cohesion , c = 3 kPa
Average friction angle , = tan-1(.909) = 42.27
Conclusion:
In this laboratory, a direct shear device is used to determine the shear strength of a
cohesionless soil (i.e. angle of internal friction ). This 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.
The cohesion and friction is calculated through the graphs between the normal stress
and shear stress. The results show the peak shear stresses are 40.6 kPa, 88.7 kPa,
137.3kPa and 175.9 kPa with secant friction angles of 39.08o, 42.57o, 42.47o and 41.33o
from the normal stresses of 50 kPa, 100kPa, 150kPa, and 200 kPa respectively. The
average secant friction angle is 42.27o which shows that the soil test was dense and
loose sand, thus direct shear test is one of the oldest strength tests for soils.