SOIL STRENGTH

& TESTS
 Soil Strength
Soils are essentially frictional materials.

Strength is controlled by effective

stresses.

Soil strength depends if the soil is

drained or undrained.
The shear strength of soil, defined in terms of effective stress, is

σ’ = effective normal stress on plane of shearing

c’ = cohesion, or apparent cohesion
ϕ = effective stress angle of friction
Direct Shear Test
Dry sand can be conveniently tested
by direct shear test. The sand is placed
in a shear box that is split into two
halves. First a normal load is applied to
the specimen. Then a shear force is
applied to the top half of the shear box
to cause failure in the sand.
Direct Shear Test
The normal and shear stresses
at failure are
Angle of Friction of Sand

For sand, the angle of friction

ranges from 26° to 45°,
increasing with the relative
density of compaction.
Range of Friction Angle for Sand
In 1970, Brinch Hansen gave the following correlation for ϕ’ of
granular soils

Dᵣ = relative density
Cᵤ = uniformity coefficient
D₅₀= mean grain size, in mm
Tefera (1975) suggested the following empirical correlation
based on a large data base:

e = void ratio
a = 2.101 + 0.097 (D₈₅/D₁₅)
b = 0.845 - 0.398a
Triaxial Test
Triaxial tests can be conducted on
sands and clays. Essentially, the test
consists of placing a soil specimen
confined by a rubber membrane into
a lucite chamber and then applying
an all-around confining pressure to
the specimen by means of the
chamber fluid. An added stress is
also applied in the axial direction to
cause failure.
Phase 1 - Consolidation : Drainage Conditions
Phase 2 - Shear : Drainage Conditions
Types of Triaxial Test
Advantages over Direct Shear Test
TIME TO SOLVE!
A specimen of saturated sand was subjected
to a tri-axial test under a chamber pressure
of 400 kPa. The soil sample is cohesionless. If
the drained friction angle is 34°,
A specimen of saturated sand was
subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil
sample is cohesionless. If the drained
friction angle is 34°,

Compute the total axial stress

at which failure will be
expected to occur.
A specimen of saturated sand was
subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil
sample is cohesionless. If the drained
friction angle is 34°,

What would be the deviator of

stress at failure?
A specimen of saturated sand was
subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil
sample is cohesionless. If the drained
friction angle is 34°,

Compute the shearing stress

at the plane of failure.
A specimen of saturated sand was
subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil
sample is cohesionless. If the drained
friction angle is 34°,

Compute the normal stress at

the point of failure.
A specimen of saturated sand was
subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil
sample is cohesionless. If the drained
friction angle is 34°,

Find the maximum shearing

stress.
A specimen of saturated sand was
subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil
sample is cohesionless. If the drained
friction angle is 34°,

Compute the normal stress at

maximum shear.
A specimen of saturated sand was
subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil
sample is cohesionless. If the drained
friction angle is 34°,

Compute the angle of failure.

A cohesive soil specimen has a shearing
resistance equal to 28° and a cohesion of 32
kPa. If the maximum shearing stress of the
soil sample is equal to 64 kPa,
A cohesive soil specimen has a shearing
resistance equal to 28° and a cohesion of
32 kPa. If the maximum shearing stress of
the soil sample is equal to 64 kPa,

Compute the lateral pressure

on the cell.
A cohesive soil specimen has a shearing
resistance equal to 28° and a cohesion of
32 kPa. If the maximum shearing stress of
the soil sample is equal to 64 kPa,

Compute the maximum principal

stress to cause failure
A cohesive soil specimen has a shearing
resistance equal to 28° and a cohesion of
32 kPa. If the maximum shearing stress of
the soil sample is equal to 64 kPa,

Compute the normal stress at

the point of maximum shear.
An unconsolidated undrained test was
conducted on a saturated clay. The cell
pressure was 200 kPa and failure occurred
under a deviatoric stress of 220 kPa,
An unconsolidated undrained test was
conducted on a saturated clay. The cell
pressure was 200 kPa and failure
occurred under a deviatoric stress of 220
kPa,

Determine the angle of shearing

resistance.
An unconsolidated undrained test was
conducted on a saturated clay. The cell
pressure was 200 kPa and failure
occurred under a deviatoric stress of 220
kPa,

Determine the maximum

principal stress at failure.
An unconsolidated undrained test was
conducted on a saturated clay. The cell
pressure was 200 kPa and failure
occurred under a deviatoric stress of 220
kPa,

Determine the undrained shear

strength.
An unconfined compression test was carried
out on a saturated clay sample. The
maximum load the sample sustained was 127
N and the vertical displacement was 0.8 mm.
The size of the sample was 38 mm diamter
and 76 mm long.
An unconfined compression test was carried out
on a saturated clay sample. The maximum load the
sample sustained was 127 N and the vertical
displacement was 0.8 mm. The size of the sample
was 38 mm diamter and 76 mm long.

Determine the sample area

of failure.
An unconfined compression test was carried out
on a saturated clay sample. The maximum load the
sample sustained was 127 N and the vertical
displacement was 0.8 mm. The size of the sample
was 38 mm diamter and 76 mm long.

Determine the major principal

stress at failure.
An unconfined compression test was carried out
on a saturated clay sample. The maximum load the
sample sustained was 127 N and the vertical
displacement was 0.8 mm. The size of the sample
was 38 mm diamter and 76 mm long.

Determine the undrained shear

strength.
The in plane stress element is shown.
A. Calculate the maximum tensile
stress on the element.
B. Calculate the maximum shearing
stress on the element.
C. Calculate the normal stress
exerted on oblique face “ef” of the
shaded triangular face.
D. Calculate the shearing stress
exerted on oblique face “ef” of the
shaded triangular face.
THANK YOU!
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