Department of Civil & Construction Engineering

University of Nairobi

FCE 412 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

IIB

1. SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOILS

 1. SHEAR STRENGTH
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS
There are several laboratory methods now
available to determine the shear strength
parameters (i.e., c, , c', ) of various soil
  ' They are as
specimens in the laboratory.
follows:
• Direct shear test
• Triaxial test
• Torsional ring shear test
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
To visualise the normal and shear stresses
acting on any plane within the soil sample, the
Direct Shear Test is a commonly used
techniques for determining the shear strength
parameters.
The direct shear test is the oldest and simplest
form of shear test arrangement. A diagram of
the direct shear test apparatus is shown below.
The test equipment consists of a metal shear
box in which the soil specimen is placed.
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
The soil specimen is square in plan.
The size of the specimen generally used is
about 51 mm X 51 mm or 102 mm x 102 mm
across and about 25 mm high.
The box is split horizontally into halves.
Normal force on the specimen is applied from
the top of the shear box.
Shear force is applied by moving one-half of
the boxes relative to the other to cause failure
in the soil specimen.
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
Depending on the equipment, the shear test
can be either stress controlled or strain
controlled.
In stress-controlled tests, the shear force is
applied in equal increments until the
specimen fails. The failure occurs along the
plane of split of the shear box.
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
After the application of each incremental load,
the shear displacement of the top half of the
box is measured by a horizontal dial gauge.
The change in the height of the specimen
(and thus the volume change of the
specimen) during the test can be obtained
from the readings of a dial gauge that
measures the vertical movement of the upper
loading plate and enables changes in density
and voids ratio during shear to be evaluated.
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
In strain-controlled tests, a constant rate of
shear displacement is applied to one-half of
the box by a motor that acts through gears.
The constant rate of shear displacement is
measured by a horizontal dial gauge.
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
The resisting shear force of the soil
corresponding to any shear displacement can
be measured by a horizontal proving ring or
load cell.
The volume change of the specimen during
the test is obtained in a manner similar to that
in the stress-controlled tests. Fig. Below
shows cross-section of specimen during
shearing.
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION
OF SHEAR STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
Test normally carried on a number of identical
specimens using different vertical stresses so
that a graph of shearing resistance against
vertical stress can be plotted.
 1.4 LABORATORY DETERMINATION OF SHEAR STRENGTH
PARAMETERS
1.4.1 The Direct Shear Test
• Shear box
• Shear box container
• Base plate with cross groves on its top
• Porous stones (2 Nos)
• Plain Grid plates (2Nos)
• Perforated grid plates (2Nos)
• Loading pad with steel ball
• Digital weighing machine
• Loading frame with loading yoke
• Proving ring
• Dial gauges (2 Nos)
• Weights
• Tampering Rod
• Spatula
• Rammer
• Sampler