SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL

CHIDANAND M JADAR
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Acharya Institute of Technology
Bengaluru
 MEANING OF SHEAR STRENGTH
• Shear strength in soils is the resistance to movement between
particles due to physical bonds from:
a. Particle interlocking
b. Atoms sharing electrons at surface contact points
c. Chemical bonds (cementation) such as crystallized calcium carbonate
 NEED FOR STUDY
• Structural strength is primarily a
function of shear strength.
• Shear strength is a soils’ ability to resist
sliding along internal surfaces within
the soil mass.
• Soil failure usually occurs in the form
of “shearing” along internal surface
within the soil.
 INFLUENCING FACTORS ON SHEAR STRENGTH
The shearing strength, is affected by:
• soil composition: mineralogy, grain size and index properties
• Initial state: loose, dense, over consolidated, normally consolidated,
stiff, soft, etc.
• Structure: packed, loose, flocculated or dispersed
 STRESS AT A POINT – MOHR CIRCLE OF STRESS
• Analytical Solution
𝜎1
1   3 1   3
 = + cos 2
2 2
1   3
𝜎 𝜏  = sin 2
2
𝜎3 θ 𝜎3
Major Principle Plane 𝜎
𝜏

𝜎1
θ
𝜎1
Major Principle Plane

𝜎1
 STRESS AT A POINT – MOHR CIRCLE OF STRESS
• Graphical Representation
𝜏
1   3 1   3
 = + cos 2
2 2
σ, 𝜏 1   3
 = sin 2
1   3 2
2 2θ
θ
σ
𝜎3 A 𝐶 𝐸 𝐵 𝜎1

1   3
2
 MOR FAILURE HYPOTHESIS
• Shear stress at failure plane is solely a function of normal stress
𝜎1f

τ ff σ
=f( ff)

𝜏 𝜎𝑓𝑓 𝜏𝑓𝑓

𝜎3f θ 𝜎3𝑓
Minor Principle Plane

𝜎1
σ Major Principle Plane
 MOR FAILURE HYPOTHESIS
• Shear stress at failure plane is solely a function of normal stress

Mohr Coulomb Failure Envelope

Mohr Failure Envelope τ =c + σ tan

f

c
σ
RELATION BETWEEN σ1 and σ3

   
 1 = 3 tan  45    2c tan  45  
2

 2  2
 TERZAGHI’S HYPOTHESIS
• Consideration of Effective Stress

c’ = Effective cohesion parameter

σ’ = Effective normal stress on the plane of rupture
ϕ’ = Angle of shearing resistance referred to effective stress

τ =c' + σ' tan '

f
 DIRECT SHEAR BOX TEST
ATheThis
Then
normal
The forces
Athe top
prepared
(90
and
shear
horizontal failure
and
soil
to the
a normal
abox
top baseto
sample occur
areis
horizontal)
aforce
has
base
extension
load
three
is onload
pushed
placed
piston
parts:
increased ainuntil
isthe
horizontal plane
opposite
applied
the sample between
directions
to
box. the
the soil.
shears top and
in two:
base:

The procedure is repeated two more times

using successively heavier normal loads.
 DIRECT SHEAR BOX TEST
The equation
The
Theτ axis
Fitting
Plottingslope
the of
a best Coulomb’s
interceptfit
angle
shear line
is the
of failure
through
apparent
this
stress line envelope:
isthese
cohesion,
versus points:
the cangle
normalof the of τf
soil.
stress:
we have an internal + σntan
= cCoulomb’s
estimate friction,
of .
 of failure envelope
the soil.
First Test Second Test Third Test

τf
Shear Stress, τ (kPa)

τf

τf


Normal Stress, σn(kPa)

 ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT SHEAR TEST
• Easy and fast to perform
• Inexpensive
• Sample preparation in case of sandy soil is quite easy
 DIS-ADVANTAGES OF DIRECT SHEAR TEST
• Uncontrolled drainage conditions
• Lack of pore water pressure measurement
• Predefined failure plane
• Limited to porous or coarse grained soils
• Field loading conditions are not properly simulated
 TRIAXIAL TEST

• Can be performed on all types of soil, moist or dry and can consolidate
sample to in situ conditions by tracking pore water pressures.
• Measures vertical stress applied to soil sample and confining pressure.
• Shear stress on failure plane must be calculated from principal stresses.
 TRIAXIAL TEST
The specimenvaries
Preparation is mounted
with betweenproperties
material 2 platens (clay
and then
vs inserted
sand
Cylindrical
Specimens specimens
The specimen
are weighed are
is thenand prepared
placed
dimensionsfrom sampled
in a plexiglas
measured soil.vs
chamber.
first.
into a latex
cohesive sleeve.
granular).

diameter

lengt
h
 TRIAXIAL TEST
Once the cell is filled with water, the air release valve is closed
Then
Water isand
The For
the the
forced
The intocell
achamber
drained
specimen is
assembly
For pressure
test
an
cell
is the
is
themounted
then drain
placed
withonthe
undrained is
the
mounted increased
valve
on isthe
pedestal
supply
test,
onthe opened
the of
valvebase
drainthe toas
and the
pore
and
chamber
compression
open
valve is
well desired
water
locked
base
closed.
testing as
as the value
collected.
into
shown.
machine.
air release for
place.
valve.
the test.
loading ram
air release valve

plexiglas chamber

water supply for cell loading cap

(confining) pressure latex sleeve
drainage or pore
specimen
water pressure
measurement
porous disc
pedestal
 TYPES OF TRIAXIAL TEST

Consolidated
STAGE -1(During application
of cell pressure)
Un Consolidated

Drained
STAGE-2(During application
of additional axial)
Undrained
 TYPES OF TRIAXIAL TEST

• Unconsolidated Undrained Test (UU - Test)

• Consolidated Undrained Test (CU Test)
• Consolidated Drained Test (CD Test)
UNCONSOLIDATED – UNDRAINED TEST [UU-Test]

ϕ Total stress envelop

σ
σ'3 uf σd = σ1 – σ3

σ3
Saturated Soil
UNCONSOLIDATED – UNDRAINED TEST [UU-Test]

τ Soil approaches saturation

σ
uf σd = σ1 – σ 3

Partially Saturated Soil (Total Stress Envelop)

UNCONSOLIDATED – UNDRAINED TEST [UU-Test]
τ ϕ

c
σ
uf σd = σ1 – σ3

Partially Saturated Soil (Effective Stress Envelop)

CONSOLIDATED – UNDRAINED TEST [CU-Test]
τ
ϕ'

σ
uf σd = σ1 – σ3

Partially Saturated Soil (Effective Stress Envelop)

 CONSOLIDATED – DRAINED TEST [CD-Test]
τ
Over consolidated
ϕ‘CD

Mormally
consolidated
c’CD
σ
uf σd = σ1 – σ3

Partially Saturated Soil (Effective Stress Envelop)

CHARACTERISTICS OF CLAY in (CD TEST)

Increase
Volume Over Consolidated

Axial Strain, ε (%)

Decrease
Volume

Over Consolidated
CHARACTERISTICS OF CLAY in (CD TEST)

Over consolidated
σ1 – σ3

Normally consolidated

Axial Strain, ε (%)

 CHARACTERISTICS OF CLAY in (CU TEST)

Normally consolidated
(+)

Shear Strength (τ)

u

ε (%)
u (-)

Peak Strength Residual

Over consolidated (τf) Strength
(τr)
Axial Strain ε
 CHARACTERISTICS OF SAND in (CD TEST)

+∆ V
Peak Stress Dense
Deviator Stress

Dense Sand

Void Ratio (e)

Loose

el
Ultimate

-∆ V
Stress Axial Strain

ecr
ε (%)
Loose Sand

ed
Loose Dense
Axial Strain, ε (%)

-∆ V
Shear Strain
 UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST
• Zero cell pressure
• Cell and rubber membrane are not required
• Quick test
• Water is not allowed to drain out of the sample
• Used only for cohesive soil
i.e., u  u 
2 
 1 = 3 tan  45    2cu tan  45  
 2  2
As ϕu = 0 and σ3= 0
 1 =2cu qu =2cu
 UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST
τ

ϕu= 0

cu τf= cu = qu /2
45o

σ3f σ1f σ

σ1f = qu