Different types of soil

On the basis of shear strength, the soil can be classified into 3 groups:
1. Cohesion less soil:
The soil which do not have cohesion i.e. C=0 is called cohesion less soil. This
type of soil possesses shear strength due to friction between the particles. This
soil is called frictional soil. Eg. Sand and gravel.
2. Purely cohesive soil :
The soil which has cohesion (C) but angle of shearing resistance i.e ∅ is zero.
Eg. Saturated clay and silt under untrained condition.
3. Cohesive - frictional soil :
This type of soils has both cohesion and angle of shearing resistance. This are
also called C- ∅ soil. E.g. claye sand, silty sand
Sometime cohesive frictional soil is also called cohesive soil. Thus, any soil
having C is called cohesive soil.
Direct shear test

The apparatus required for this test is a shear box of size 60*60*50 mm. It is open
in both top and bottom and divided horizontally into two halves. The lower half of
the box is fixed to the base plate which is rigidly holds in a position in a large
container. A porous stone is placed in the bottom of the box followed by perforated
metal plate. The soil sample is then placed in the

box with another plate and porous stone on its top. Above the porous stone a
pressure pad is placed.
The test is performed by applying a constant vertical load to the sample. The
horizontal force at the constant rate of strain is applied until the sample fails. The

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rate of strain is generally 1mm-2mm per minute. A proving ring is fitted to the
upper half of the shear box measure the horizontal shearing force.
The shear displacement applied shear force (from proving ring) is then noted. This
procedure is repeated on similar soil sample with different vertical load.
A graph is plotted between the shear stress at failure on y-axis and normal stress on
x-axis.
Shear stress is obtained by dividing shear force (indicated by proving ring) by cross
sectional area.
The failure envelop is obtained by joining the point corresponding to shear stress at
different normal stresses. The inclination of failure envelops to the horizontal gives
the value of angle of shearing resistance (∅) and the intercept of failure envelope on
vertical axis gives cohesion ( C ).

Unconfined compression test

 This method is only suitable for clayey soil since sand can’t stand to a height on
its own.
 It consist of two horizontal plate supported on
vertical post. The lower plate is fixed in
position and upper plate is movable vertically
up and down with a angle.
 A proving ring is provided to measure the
compressive force and a dial gauge to measure
the deformation.
 The specimen is placed on bottom plate and
upper plate is lowered until the plate just
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 touches the specimen.
 The compressive load is applied to specimen by turning the handle, as the handle
is turned the lower plate moves downward causing compression to the soil
specimen.
 The handle is turned gradually so as to produce axial strain of 1/2 to 2% per
minute till the specimen fail.
 Compressive force and strain are noted.
 Minor principle stress σ3 = 0, since no lateral force is applied.
 The major principle stress at which the soil fails is called unconfined
compressive strength (qu).
 The Mohr's circle at failure can be drawn as σ3 = 0, Mohr circle passes through
the origin.
The failure envelope is horizontal.
𝒒
Shear strength (S ) = 𝒖
𝟐

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