UNIVERSITY OF DARESSALAAM

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND RESOURCES ENGINEERING
TR232: SOIL MECHANICS
GENERAL PRACTICAL REPORT
YEAR OF STUDY : 2020/2021
S/NO NAME REGISTRATION NO
1 MOTTA, WISDOM G 2019-04-07903
2 MRINA, PONSIAN O 2019-04-08051
3 MRISHO, ADAM H 2019-04-08063
4 MSERY, VERONICA S 2019-04-08175
5 MSHUMBUSI, ADERICK JOSEPHAT 2019-04-08213
6 MTAFUNGWA, ALEX ELIUDI 2019-04-08355
7 MTEMELA, RAYMOND OCTAVIAN 2019-04-08415
8 MTENGA, DOREEN A 2019-04-08422
9 MUGYABUSO, RENATUS RICHARD 2019-04-08518
10 MUKANDALA, RAPHAEL R 2019-04-08538
11 MUNGA, TUPOKIGWE DAVID 2019-04-08565
12 MUNGURE, MAXIE F 2019-04-08572
13 MUNUO, TELVIN ADAM 2019-04-08598
14 MUSHI, DONY GERALD 2019-04-08641
15 MUSHI, ROSEFURAHA V 2019-04-08648

SHEAR VANE TEST

INTRODUCTION
The shear vane test is a test usually done at site with the main aim of determining the un-drained
shear strength SU (kN/m3) of cohesive soils, both in the undisturbed and disturbed stage
(sensitivity St). Basically, field and laboratory tests follow the same measuring principle.
The strength is called un-drained since no moisture content is drained from the soil. It may also
be done in the laboratory by using undisturbed samples.
The shear vane apparatus consist of a four blade stainless steel vane fixed at right angles which
is vertically and slowly inserted in to the soil and rotated until the sample has a shear failure.
The un-drained shear strength of soils in situ can be determined using a vane with bigger
dimensions and by applying a bigger torque
The un-drained shear strength of the soil is proportional to the torque applied hence can be
calculated.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SHEAR STRESS OF SOIL IN ENGINEERING

OBJECTIVE
To determine the un-drained shear strength of given soil samples
APPARATUS
i. Shear vane apparatus
PROCEDURES OF VANE SHEAR TEST
1. The vane shear apparatus was cleaned and grease was applied to the lead screw for better
movement of handles and reduce frictions on the blade
2. The soil specimen sample was kept in a container of diameter 0.65cm and height 1.3 cm
3. The top of the soil sample in container was leveled and then mounted on the base of the
vane shear test apparatus using the screws
4. The vane was lowered gradually into the soil specimen until the top of the vane is at the
depth of 10mm below the top of soil specimen
5. The blades of the vane inside the soil specimen were rotated using torque applying handle
at a rate of 0.1̊ per second
6. The failure of specimen results to the anticlockwise direction of the strain indication
pointer on the circular graduated scale and the reading on the pointer was noted
7. The resulting difference between the readings determines the angle of torque
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
The following data were recorded;
Height of Vane blades, h = 1.3 cm
Radius of Vane blades, r = 0.65 cm
Effective angle through which the shear vane rotated: 600º
Shear vane calibration constant: C = 0.101579 N-cm/º
Thus, Max. measured Torque at failure, MT = 600º × 0.101579 N-cm/º
MT = 60.9474 N-cm
The calculated torque above, is resisted by both side of cylindrical failure surface and two ends
of cylindrical surface. Thus,
Torque M T = Ts + Te, where;
Ts = moment of shear resistance force on the side of the cylindrical failure surface
Te = moment of shear resistance force at the two ends of the cylindrical failure surface
Then, the Shear strength of the soil is calculated as here under;
MT
Su = 2
(2
2 π r h+ r
3 )
Where;
Su = Undrained shear strength of the soil
MT = Maximum torque at failure
h = height of the vane blades
r = radius for the vane blades

60.9474
Su = 2
(
2 π x 0.652 1.3+ x 0.65
3 )
Su = 13.25 N/cm2
Thus,
The Shear strength of the soil is, Su = 132.5 kN/m2
ADVANTAGES OF SHEAR VANE TEST

 This test can be performed either in laboratory or in field directly on the

ground
 The shear vane test is easy and quick
 In situ vane shear test is ideal for the determination of undrained shear
strength of non fissured, fully saturated clay.
 Shear strength of soft clays at greater depths can also be found through shear
vane test
 It can also be used to determine the sensitivity of soil by using vane shear
test results of undisturbed and remolded soil samples