Expt.

No: Date:

UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

As per IS 2720 (Part X)-1985

AIM: To determine the unconfined compressive strength of clay soil

THEORY:
Cylinder specimen of saturated clay (38 mm dia and 76 mm height) is subjected to major
principal stress till it fails due to shearing along a critical plane of failure. This test is essentially
an undrained test. Since there is no confining stress, Mohr's circle passes through origin which is
also the pole.

Substituting the values of φu = 0, σ3 = 0 and a=(45±φ/2) in the equation,

σl = σ3.tan (a) + 2 cu tan (a)

We get, σl = 2.cu

When mohr's circle is drawn, it radius is equal to σ1/2 = cu. The failure envelope is horizontal

The primary purpose of this test is to determine the unconfined compressive strength, which is
then used to calculate the unconsolidated undrained shear strength of the clay under unconfined
conditions. According to the ASTM standard, the unconfined compressive strength (qu) is defined
as the compressive stress at which an unconfined cylindrical specimen of soil will fail in a simple
compression test. In addition, in this test method, the unconfined compressive strength is taken as
the maximum load attained per unit area, or the load per unit area at 15% axial strain, whichever
occurs first during the performance of a test.

For soils, the undrained shear strength (su) is necessary for the determination of the bearing
capacity of foundations, dams, etc. The undrained shear strength (su) of clays is commonly
determined from an unconfined compression test. The undrained shear strength (su) of a cohesive
soil is equal to one-half the unconfined compressive strength (qu) when the soil is under the φ = 0
condition (φ = the angle of internal friction). The most critical condition for the soil usually
occurs immediately after construction, which represents undrained conditions, when the
undrained shear strength is basically equal to the cohesion, c. This is expressed as:
 su = c =2.qu

Then, as time passes, the pore water in the soil slowly dissipates, and the intergranular stress
increases, so that the drained shear strength (s), given by
τ = c + σ.tanφ,
Where τ = intergranular pressure acting perpendicular to the shear plane; and σ‘ = (σ - u),
σ = total pressure, and u = pore water pressure; c’and φ’ are drained shear strength parameters.

3. APPARATUS:
3.1 Compression device,
3.2 Sample ejector,
3.3 Oven,
3.4 Balance

4. PROCEDURE:
Prepare an adequate quantity (approximately 150 kg) of the air-dried material passing the 20 mm
test sieve. Break up lumps of fine material by rolling on a flat surface to pass the 20 mm test
sieve and add to the portion passing the sieve. Mix the material thoroughly and quarter out a
specimen of about 35 kg. This is in turn divided into 5 equal parts of about 7 kg each.
COMPRESSION TEST
1. Measure the initial length and diameter of the specimen. Also determine the weight of the
specimen.
2. Place the specimen in the compression apparatus.
3. Fix the graph paper and pencil
4. Apply compressive load till the sample fails or 20% strain occurs.
5. Measure the angle of failure plane from the horizontal.
6. Determine the moisture content of the soil sample.
7. Also determine bulk density and dry density of the soil sample.

CALCULATION:
Maximum spring extension at failure, (x)=
Spring constant (k) =
Diameter of the specimen =
C/s Area (A) =

Max. comp. Stress at failure =

Cohesion (cu) =

RESULT:

Unconfined compressive strength of the given soil specimen = kg/cm2

Undrained Cohesion = kg/cm2
Data Sheet for Unconfined Compressive Strength Test:-

Initial diameter of the

Initial Length of soil, Lo specimen, Do
Initial volume of
Initial area of the specimen, Ao specimen, Vo
Mass of soil specimen, M Bulk density=M/Vo
Water content, w Dry density
Specific gravity, G Void ratio, e
Degree of saturation, Sr

Vertical Proving Corrected Compressive

SI Time, Deformation, Load, Strain,
dial ring area, stress,
No. t ∆L P e=∆L /Lo
gauge reading A=Ao/(1-e) σ=P/A
Observations and Inference:

Viva-voce Questions:
1. Draw separately Mohr-circle diagrams for UCS and UU tests?

2. For what kind of soils, UCS test is generally applicable?

3. Draw the stress-strain response obtained on normally consolidated and over-consolidated

samples?