Shear Strength of Soil

Soil Shear Strength

Soil in weak in shear

To determine the shear strength of soil Mohr-Coulomb Yield Criterion is used

= c + n tan Yield Surface

Angle of Friction
Soil Cohesion tan
c n

c
n

Determination of soil strength parameters ( c and ) in the lab

1- Direct Shear Test

2- Unconfined Compression Test
3- Triaxial Compression Test
Direct Shear Test

Normal
Force

Shearing = N/A
= Horizontal Displacement
Force

Failure

Direct Shear Test

Failure
Failure Failure

Test # Normal Stress (n) Shear at Failure ()

1
2
3

tan
c n

c
n
Unconfined Compression Test

Deviator Stress

Failure

cu

Cuqu/2

qu
qu = Unconfined compressive strength
Cu = Unconfined shear strength
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TEST

Failure Surface
 Triaxial Compression Test
Deviator Stress
1- Consolidated Undrained Test (CU)


Step 1 Step 2

Failure

Confining
Pressure u

tan
n
c

cu

n

 Triaxial Compression Test
2- Consolidated Drained Test (CD) Deviator Stress


Step 1 Step 2

Failure

Confining

Pressure

d

tan
n
c

cd
n



 Triaxial Compression Test
3- Unconsolidated Undrained Test (UU)
Deviator Stress


Step 1 Step 2

Failure

Confining
Pressure

cu

n

Triaxial Compression Test 1- Applying
Confining
2- Loading 3- At Failure

Stresses Axial
= 1 stress
Deviator stress = f
+ +
2 2 Confining stress = 2

Each Circle 2 2 2 2 2 2
=
One Test
2 2 2 Failure
+ + Surface
f
1 = Major Principle Stress =1
2 = Minor Prencipal Stress = deviator stress

Failure Surface

Cohesion = c
2 2 1 1 1
2 n
Triaxial Compression Test
Consolidated Undrained Compression Test 1- Applying 2- Loading 3- At Failure
Confining (Undrained) (Undrained)

total = eff + u Stresses

(Consolidation)
Axial
= 1 stress
Total Deviator stress = f
Stresses
= total + +
2 2 Confining stress = 2
Pore Water
Pressure
Effective =u

Stresses
= eff 2 2 2 2 2 2

2 2 2
+ +
Pore f
Water 1 = Major Principle Stress
Pressure =1
( u)
2 = Minor Prencipal Stress = deviator stress

Total
Ceff or C Stress
Circle
Effective
Stress
Cohesion = c Circle
2 2 1 1
n
ufailure ufailure
By Kamal Tawfiq, Ph.D., P.E.