Date of

Course No: CE 363 29/12/2020

Testing:

Lab. No. and Title of Test: Lab Session 10, Unconfined Compression Test

Section: 4 Section: 4
Registered Attended*
Lab Group: 7 Lab Group: 7

Surname, Name of Student: Tahhan, Naim

Student Number: 2300580

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1)Introduction
Aim of the experiment is to achieve the specimens shear strength properties
through a test in which there is no confining lateral stress (no all around
pressure) and only an axial compressive load applied. The link of stress-strain-
strength is utilized in the test. Unconfined compressive test is only applicable
to fully saturated undrained clays so it is known that the internal friction
number equals to zero. It is widely used since it is very cheap and fast.

2)Calculations
Applying the calculations for the row of δ = 10

Axial deformation x Dial gage constant

Axial strain =
Initial height
cd 0.01
ε = δx = 10 ∗ = 1.19 ∗ 10−3
𝐻0 84

Initial area
Area at failure (Corrected area) =
1 − Axial strain
A0 994.88
A= = = 996.065 mm2 = 996.065 ∗ 10−6m2
1 − ε 1 − 1.19 ∗ 10−3
𝐷02 35.62
A0 = 𝜋 ∗ =𝜋∗ = 994.88 𝑚𝑚2
4 4

Axial load = Provided ring deformeation ∗ provided ring constant ∗ 9.81

∗ 10−3

P = Δ x cp x g x 10−3 (for the unit of kN)

P = 5 ∗ 0.075 ∗ 9.81 ∗ 10−3 = 3.678 ∗ 10−3 𝑘𝑁

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 𝐴𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑
𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 =
𝐶𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
P 3.678 ∗ 10−3
σ= = = 3.69 kPa
A 996.065 ∗ 10−6

And calculating for all other data the table below was acquired;

After calculating these values, one can get the below stress table so as to
achieve the maximum compressive undrained strength of the specimen;

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As seen on the table the unconfined compressive strength, 𝑞𝑢 = 67 𝑘𝑁

Also the undrained shear strength may be computed with the equation of;
𝑞𝑢 67
𝑐𝑢 = = = 33.5 𝑘𝑁
2 2

So the mohr circle will be like;

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In order to obtain 𝐸0 take the initial parts slope, so;
3.69328
𝐸0 = = 3103.597
0.00119

And to obtain 𝐸50 getting the slope of the line which intersects with the Cu
value of the function;

33.5
𝐸50 = = 4466.667
0.0075

This values were achieved from the below graph;

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And if one sketches the failed specimen;

3)Discussion of Results
In the experiment strength properties of a fully saturated undrained soil
through an axial compessive load was measured wihout a lateral confinement
stress as the name implies. As it can be seen from above sketch the height of
the specimen is decreased and because the volume should be constant the
diameter of the section increases to keep the volume stable. Therefore as in
the experiment, corrected area is used when stress is computed. When it fails
in the failure plane max shear stress is applied which is for 45 degrees and with
mohr circle operations different parameters may be measured.Finally, water
content increases the strength of specimen until excessing some value of
water content. After excessing a value of water content strength starts to
decrease with the increasing water content.