Shear Strength of Soil

Direct Shear Test:

Problem 1: Following data are given for a direct shear test conducted on a dry sand:
• Specimen dimensions: 63 mm x 63 mm x 25 mm (height)
• Normal stress: 105 kN/m 2
• Shear force at failure: 300 N
a. Determine the angle of friction
b. For a normal stress of 180 kN/m 2, what shear force is required to
cause failure?

Given:
𝜎 = 105 𝑘𝑃𝑎

𝜏
25 mm

63 mm
 Shear force, v = 300 N

Required:
a. φ
b. v, if σ = 180 kN/m2

Solution:
For sandy soil:
c' ≈ 0, therefore, the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria line will intersect the origin (0,0)

a. For angle of internal friction:

Shear Stress, 𝜏:
v
τ = A; for A = consider the shear area

1 kN
300 N( )
1000 N
τ= 1m 2 = 75.59 kPa
(63 mm × ) From the diagram:
1000 mm
τ 75.59 kPa
tanϕ′ = = ;
σ′ 105 kPa
𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 75.59
ϕ′ = tan−1 ( )
105
o
ϕ′ = 35.75

75.59 𝑘𝑃𝑎 ∎ Using the Mohr-Coulomb failure equation:

τf = c′ + σ′tanϕ′
75.59
ϕ′ = tan−1 ( )
105
𝜙′ ϕ′ = 35.75 o
𝑐′ ≈ 0
105 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎
b. For the shear force to cause failure:
- by similar concept with letter a, the point lies on the same Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria line, therefore
From the diagram:
τ
𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 tanϕ′ = ;
σ′
τ = σ′tanϕ′ = (180kPa)(tan35.75)
𝜏 =? ∎ v
τ = 129.58 kPa =
A
kN
v = τA = (129.58 2 ) (0.063 m)2
m
v = 0.5143 kN = 514.3 N

Using the Mohr-Coulomb failure equation:

𝜙′ = 35.75𝑜
𝑐′ ≈ 0 τf = c′ + σ′tanϕ′
τf = τ = σ′tanϕ′ = (180kPa)(tan35.75)
180 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 v
τ = 129.58 kPa =
A
kN
v = τA = (129.58 2 ) (0.063 m)2
m
v = 0.5143 kN = 514.3 N

For Practice problem:

- The horizontal and vertical axis interval and increment must be the same, start at the origin (0,0)
- Plot the points and draw/consider mean line until it intersects the vertical axis
- The intersection at the vertical axis = cohesion, c
- measure the angle of the line (using protractor) with respect to the horizontal, the angle is the angle of internal
friction, φ

Consolidated-Drained (CD) Triaxial Test

Problem 1: For a normally consolidated clay specimen, the results of a drained triaxial test are as follows:
• Chamber-confining pressure 125 kN/m 2
• Deviator stress at failure 175 kN/m 2
Determine the soil friction angle.

Given:
σ3 = 125 kPa
(∆𝜎𝑑 )f = 175 kPa ≈ diameter of the Mohr’s circle

Required:
φ

Solution:
For normally consolidated clay: c = c’ = 0
- thus the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria line will intersect the origin (0,0)
From the diagram:
𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 - using the right triangle

𝑅
𝜙′
𝜎3 + 𝑅
𝑅 R
sinϕ′ =
2𝜃 σ3 + R
𝑐′ ≈ 0 𝜙′ R
ϕ = sin−1 (
′
)
𝑅 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 σ3 + R
𝜎3 = 125 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝜎1 (Δσd )𝑓 175 kPa
(Δ𝜎𝑑 )𝑓 = 175 𝑘𝑃𝑎 R= = = 87.5 kPa
2 2

87.5 kPa
ϕ′ = sin−1 ( )
125 kPa + 87.5 kPa
′ o
ϕ = 24.32

Problem 2: In a consolidated-drained triaxial test on a clay, the specimen failed at a deviator stress of 124 kN/m 2. If
the effective stress friction angle is known to be 31°, what was the effective confining pressure at failure?

Given:
(∆𝜎𝑑 )f = 124 kN/m2 ≈ diameter of the Mohr’s circle
φ’ = 31°

Required:
σ3

Solution:
For normally consolidated clay: c = c’ = 0
- thus the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria line will intersect the origin (0,0)
 From the diagram:
𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 - using the right triangle

𝜙′ = 31𝑜
𝜎3 + 𝑅
𝑅 R
sinϕ′ =
2𝜃 σ3 + R
𝑐′ ≈ 0 𝜙 ′ = 31𝑜 R
σ3 = −R
𝑅 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 sinϕ′
𝜎3 𝜎1 (Δσd )𝑓 124 kPa
(Δ𝜎𝑑 )𝑓 = 124 𝑘𝑃𝑎 R=
2
=
2
= 62 kPa
62 kPa
σ3 = − 62 kPa
sin31𝑜
σ3 = 58.38 kPa

Problem 3: A consolidated-drained triaxial test was conducted on a normally consolidated clay with a chamber
pressure, 𝜎3 = 172 kN/m2. The deviator stress at failure, (∆𝜎𝑑 )f = 227 kN/m2. Determine:
a. The angle of friction
b. The angle θ that the failure plane makes with the major principal plane
c. The normal stress, 𝜎f, and the shear stress, τf, on the failure plane

Given:
σ3 = 172 kN/m2
(∆𝜎𝑑 )f = 227 kN/m2 ≈ diameter of the Mohr’s circle

Required:
a. φ'
b. θ
c. 𝜎f and τf

Solution:
a. For normally consolidated clay: c = c’ = 0
- thus the Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria line will intersect the origin (0,0)

𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 From the diagram:

- using the right triangle

𝑅
൫𝜎𝑓 , 𝜏𝑓 ൯
• 𝜙′
𝜎3 + 𝑅
𝑅 R
2𝜃 sinϕ′ =
𝑐′ ≈ 0 𝜙′ 180𝑜 − 2𝜃 σ3 + R
′ −1
R
𝑅 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 ϕ = sin (σ3 + R)
𝜎3 = 172 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝜎1
(Δ𝜎𝑑 )𝑓 = 227 𝑘𝑃𝑎 R=
(Δσd )𝑓
=
227 kPa
= 113.5 kPa
2 2

113.5 kPa
ϕ′ = sin−1 ( )
172 kPa + 113.5 kPa
′ o
ϕ = 23.42
 b. The angle θ that the failure plane makes with the major principal plane:
From the diagram:
Total interior angle = 180o
180o = 90o + 23.42o + (180o - 2θ)
2θ = 90o + 23.42o
′ 𝑜
𝜙 = 23.42 𝑜
180 − 2𝜃 θ = 56.71o

(180𝑜 − 2𝜃) = 180𝑜 − 2(56.71𝑜 ) = 66.58𝑜

c. The normal stress, 𝜎f, and the shear stress, τf, on the failure plane:

Method 1: Using the diagram:

𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 Solve for x: (using the orange triangle portion)
൫𝜎𝑓 , 𝜏𝑓 ൯ •
𝑥
𝑅 𝑐𝑜𝑠66.58𝑜 =
𝑅 𝑅
𝜏𝑓

𝜏𝑓
From a: R = 113.5 kPa
66.58𝑜 𝑥 = 𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑠66.58𝑜
𝑥 66.58𝑜 𝑥 = 45.11 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝜎𝑓 𝑥 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎
For shear stress at failure:
τ
sin66.58o = f
𝜎3 + 𝑅 R
τf = Rsin66.58o = 104.15 kPa

For normal stress at failure:

σf = (σ3 + R) − x
σf = (172 kPa + 113.5kPa) − 45.11 kPa
σf = 240.39 kPa

Method 2: Using the equation of normal and shear stresses on plane (Preliminary-Term Topic)

σx = σ3 = 172 kPa

𝜎1 { σy = σ1 = σ3 + (Δσd )f = 172 kPa + 227kPa = 399 kPa

τxy = 0
θ = 56.71o ; 2θ = 113.42o

Normal Stress at failure:

σy +σx σy −σx
σn = + cos2θ + τxy sin2θ
2 2
399kPa+172kPa 399kPa−172kPa
σn = + cos113.42o + (0)sin113.42o
2 2
σf = σn = 240.39 kPa

Shear Stress at failure:

σy −σx
τn = sin2θ − τxy cos2θ
2
399kPa−172kPa
τn = sin113.42o − (0)cos113.42o
2
τf = τn = 104.15 kPa

Consolidated-Undrained (CU) Triaxial Test

Problem 1: A consolidated undrained compression test was conducted on a saturated clay soil using a cell pressure
of, 𝜎3, 150 kPa and then incrementally applying loads on the plunger while keeping the cell pressure constant. Failure
was observed when the stress exerted by the plunger (deviator stress) was 160 kPa and the pore water pressure
recorded was 54 kPa.
Determine the:
a. Undrained friction angle
b. Drained friction angle

Given:
σ3 = 150 kN/m2
(∆𝜎𝑑 )f = 160 kN/m2 ≈ diameter of the Mohr’s circle
(𝑢𝑑 )f = 54 kPa

Required:
a. φ
b. φ’

Solution:
a. Total Stress:
From the diagram:
𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 - using the right triangle

𝑅
𝜙
𝜎3 + 𝑅
𝑅 R
sinϕ =
2𝜃 σ3 + R
𝑐≈0 𝜙 R
ϕ = sin−1 ( )
𝑅 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 σ3 + R
𝜎3 = 150 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝜎1 (Δσd )𝑓 160 kPa
(Δ𝜎𝑑 )𝑓 = 160 𝑘𝑃𝑎 R= = = 80 kPa
2 2

80 kPa
ϕ = sin−1 ( )
150 kPa + 80 kPa
ϕ = 20.35o
b. Effective Stress:
- decrease due to the release of pore water pressure
From the diagram:
𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎 - using the right triangle
𝑅

𝜙′
𝜎3′ + 𝑅
R
sinϕ′ =
𝑅 𝜎′3 + R
R
𝑐′ ≈ 0 𝜙′ ϕ′ = sin−1 ( )
𝜎′3 + R
𝜎3′ 𝜎3 𝜎1′ 𝜎1 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎
(u𝑑 )𝑓 (u𝑑 )𝑓 (Δσd )𝑓 160 kPa
R= = = 80 kPa
2 2
(Δ𝜎𝑑 )𝑓 = 160 𝑘𝑃𝑎 80 kPa
ϕ′ = sin−1 ( )
96 kPa + 80 kPa
o
ϕ′ = 27.04
𝜎1 = 𝜎3 + (Δσd )𝑓 = 150 𝑘𝑃𝑎 + 160𝑘𝑃𝑎 = 310 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝜎1′ = 𝜎1 − (𝑢𝑑 )𝑓 = 310 𝑘𝑃𝑎 − 54 𝑘𝑃𝑎 = 256 𝑘𝑃𝑎
𝜎3′ = 𝜎3 − (𝑢𝑑 )𝑓 = 150 𝑘𝑃𝑎 − 54 𝑘𝑃𝑎 = 96 𝑘𝑃𝑎
 Unconfined Compression Test

Problem: The unconfined compression test was carried out on a saturated clay sample. The maximum load the clay
sustained was 127 N and the vertical displacement is 0.8 mm. The size of the sample was 38 mm diameter x 76 mm
long.
Determine:
∆𝐻
a. The axial strain of the soil sample (𝜀 = )
𝐻
𝐴
b. Major principal stress at failure, σ1 (𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑒: 𝐴 = 𝑜 )
1−𝜀
c. The undrained shear strength of the soil sample, c u.

Given:
Initial: Final:
𝜎1
ΔH = 0.8mm
H = 76 mm.

d = 38 mm. 𝜎1
P = 127 N = 0.127 kN

Required:
a. 𝜀
b. σ1
c. cu

Solution:
a. Axial strain of the soil sample:
∆H 0.8 mm
ε= = (100%) = 1.05%
H 76 mm

b. Major principal stress at failure:

P
σ1 =
A
But for A: (Ao = initial area)
π
A (0.038 m.)2
A= o =4 = 0.001146 m2
1−ε 1−0.0105
P 0.127 kN kN 𝜏, 𝑘𝑃𝑎
σ1 = = = 110.8 2
A 0.00146 m2 m
𝜙=0
c. The undrained shear strength of the soil sample:
𝜎1 = (Δσd )𝑓
kN
110.8 2 kN 𝑅 = 𝑐𝑢
𝑐𝑢 = 𝑅 = m = 55.4 2
2 m
𝜎3 = 0 𝜎1 𝜎, 𝑘𝑃𝑎
(Δ𝜎𝑑 )𝑓