PCE414

GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING 1
By: ENGR. MARIA YSABELLA MOSCOSO
12 SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL
I. Direct Shear Test

is a laboratory or field test used by

geotechnical engineers to measure
the shear strength properties of soil or
rock material, or of discontinuities in soil
or rock masses.
12 SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL
I. Direct Shear Test A. Normally Consolidated Soil
σn

Shear stress
at failure
ts
ts tS
σn
σn Effective normal stress

F
σn = tan =
tS
A σn
V
tS = tS = σn tan
A
12 SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL
B. Overly Consolidated/ Cohesive Soil
c
tan =
Shear stress
x
at failure
c
x=
tS tan
c
x σn
tS
Effective normal stress tan =
x+ n
Where:
F = Normal force tS
tan = c
V = Shear force + n
tan
n = Normal stress
tS = Shear stress
= Angle of internal friction
c = Cohesion of clay tS = c + n tan
 EXAMPLE 10 Direct Shear Test Problem
QUESTION:
A dry sand sample is tested in direct shear. The test procedure includes
having a normal (compressive) stress of 200 kPa imposed while the sample
undergoes shearing. The sample fails when the shear stress reaches 135 kPa.
a. Determine the angle of internal friction for this soil.
b. A second sample of the same sand is also to be tested in direct shear but the
applied normal stress will be 145 kPa. What shear stress is expected to cause the
sample to fail?
c. Determine the shear stress at a depth of 5m. If the unit weight of soil is 15.8 kN/m3.

FIGURE:

tS1
=135 kPa

σn1 =200kPa
EXAMPLE 10 Direct Shear Test Problem

FIGURE: = 15.8 kN/m3 SOLUTION:

s
b. If σn is 145 kPa, What
a. Angle of internal
friction for this soil. shear stress is expected to
tS1 cause the sample to fail?
tS2 =135 kPa
tS1
tan = tan =
tS2
σn2 =145kPa σn1 σn2
σn1 =200kPa 135 kPa tS2
tan = tan 34.019° =
200 kPa 145 kPa
= 34.019° tS2 = 97.874 kPa
c. Shear stress at
a depth of 5m.
tS3
tan =
σn3 = σn3
shs
tS3
σn3 = (15.8 kN/m3)(5m) tan 34.019° =
79 kPa
σn3 = 79 kPa tS3 = 53.324 kPa
EXAMPLE 11 Direct Shear Test Problem
QUESTION:
In a direct shear test, the soil was determined to have an angle of
internal friction of 31° and cohesion of 26 kPa of the normal stress is 150 kPa,
determine the ff:
a. Total shear stress
b. Force required to cause failure in shear when the sample has a dimension of
50mmx50mm and height of 75mm.

SOLUTION:
FIGURE:
a. t b. V
tan = c S tS =
+ n A
tan V
=31° 116.129 =
tS tan 31° =
tS (0.050x0.050)
c=26kPa 26 + 150 V = 0.290 kN
tan31°
V = 290 N
x σn =150kPa tS = 116.129 kPa
EXAMPLE 12 Direct Shear Test Problem
QUESTION:
A sample of soil is subjected to direct shear testing at its normal
water content. Two test are performed. For one of the test, the sample fails
at a shear stress of 3000 psf when the normal stress is at 4000 psf. In the
second test, the sample shear at a stress of 4000 psf when the normal stress
is 6000 psf. From these data, determine the ff,
a. Angle of internal friction
b. Cohesion of soil

FIGURE:

tS1 tS1
=3000psf =4000psf
c
x σn1 =4000psf
σn2 =6000psf
EXAMPLE 12 Direct Shear Test Problem

SOLUTION:
FIGURE:
a. Angle of internal friction

tS1 tS1 tS1 tS2

=4000psf tan = =
c
=3000psf x + n1 x + n2
x σn1 =4000psf 3000 4000
=
σn2 =6000psf x + 4000 x + 6000
x = 2000 psf
b. Cohesion of soil
tS1
c tan =
tan = x + n1
x
c 3000
tan 26.565° = tan =
2000 2000 + 4000
c = 1000 psf
= 26.565°