Qu

Unconfined compressive strength (Qu) is a means of determining the ability of a soil to

withstand loading pressures. It is an important consideration in the design of structures that will
be supported by the soil, as it is used in calculating how much stress, or weight, the soil will
initially support.

Saturated soils are more prone to failure than unsaturated soils, and building on a soil can
proceed quickly enough that the soil can't immediately expel its pore water - effectively
rendering the soil saturated, as the water is being 'squeezed out.'

The strength of the soil in this condition is referred to as Undrained shear strength, Su. Once the
pore water has been expelled, the soil gains strength, but its initial strength must be sufficient to
support construction as it is being done, as well as conditions in which the soil may subsequently
become saturated.

The greater the Qu (and therefore the Su), the more weight the soil will support.

To determine Qu, pressure is applied to a cylinder of the soil until the soil fails, the data gathered
is charted, the moisture content of the sample is determined, and the unconfined compressive
strength is derived. (For an example of the procedure and calculations, see this lab writeup by
Prof. Krishna Reddy at UIC.)

Qu = P / A where P is compressive force and A is the cross-sectional area. Qu is measured in

tons/sq ft or lb/sq ft and can be used as a measure of the consistency of the soil.

Some sample ranges in lb/sq ft are: weak (0-500), soft (500-1000), medium (1000-2000), stiff
(2000-4000), very stiff (4000-8000).

The full procedure is also listed under ASTM test D2166. From this value, the undrained shear
strength is obtained (one-half of the value of the unconfined compressive strength value).

In the field, less formal methods, such as a thumb penetration test, are sometimes used to assess
the safety of an excavation for individuals on site, but these methods are not sufficient for use in
structure design.

(See OSHA manual for discussion of onsite excavation concerns.)