Page |1

Shear strength
Note : while solving numericals, always take same scale on X – axis and Y – axis.
Problems on Direct shear test ( DST)
Problem 1. A specimen of clean dry cohesionless soil is tsted in shear box and the soil is failed at shear stress of
40 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2 When the normal load on the specimen was 50 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2 . Determine

a) The angle of shearing resistance

b) Principal stresses during the failure
c) The direction of the principal planes.
OR
A specimen clean dry sand tested in shear box and the soil failed at a shear stress of 40 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2

When the normal load on specimen is 50 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2. Determine

a) Angle of shearing resistance

b) Magnitude and direction of principal stresses
OR
In DST , on dry sand the sample failed at shear stress of 40 and the normal stress of 50
Determine
1) Shear strength parameters
2) Principal stresses and their orientation of these planes.
OR
For DST on the soil failed at shear stress of 40 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2 when normal stress is 50 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2

Determine C , ∅ and principal stresses.

ANSWER : following are steps (procedure) to solve above problem .
1) On X axis : 1 cm = 10 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2 , on Y Axis :1 cm = 10 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2

2) Mark the ordinate C (50,40) .as the specimen fails at shear stress of 40 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2

3) Draw the line passing through C and intersect to Y – Axis. Here in this case, line connects at origin.
Because soil is cohesionless or sandy soil (Cohesion = C = Zero)
4) Draw perpendicular line from point C , we get point E .
5) With origine E and distance EC , draw semicircle . we get points B and D
6) Draw horizontal straight line from Pt. C , we get point P ( Pole)
7) Connect Points B and D to the pole ( p) .
 Page |2

8) Now, PD = major principal plane with orientation 𝜃1 and

9) PB = minor principal plane with orientation 𝜃2

Cohesion = C = 0 ; major principal stresss = 𝜎1 = 136 KN/m2

minor principal stresss = 𝜎3 = 32 KN/m2 : 𝜃1 = 650 and 𝜃2 = 250

 Page |3

Problem 2 following are the observations for direct shear test of size 6 cm x 6 cm .
Normal load (N) 100 200 300 400
Shear load (N) 90 181 270 362
Determine shear strength parameters :

ANSWER : Area = 6 x 6 = 36 𝑐𝑚2

Normal Shear load 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑

𝜎= 𝑁⁄ 𝜏 = 𝑁⁄
load (N) (N) 𝐴 𝑐𝑚2 𝐴 𝑐𝑚2

100 90 2.78 2.5

200 181 5.56 5.03
300 270 8.34 7.5
400 362 11.11 10.06

Cohesion = C = 0.2 N/cm2

Angle of shearing resistance or angle of internal friction = ∅ = 410

 Page |4

Problem 3. A shear box test carried out on the sample gave :

Test No. 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝐾𝑁⁄ Shear 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝐾𝑁⁄

𝑚2 𝑚2
1 100 80
2 200 144
3 300 216
Determine the magnitude of the major and minor principal stresses at failure when the normal ( horizontal)
stresses on the sample was 200 𝐾𝑁⁄ . determine also the inclination to the horizontal of these stresses.
𝑚2

ANSWER : following are steps (procedure) to solve above problem .

1) On X axis : 1 cm = 25 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2 , on Y Axis : 1 cm = 25 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2

2) Mark the all three ordinates on graph i.e. (100,80) , (200,144) , (300,216 ) respectively.
3) Draw the line passing through these all three points and further it will intersect to Y – Axis.
4) major and minor principal stresses at failure when the normal ( horizontal) stresses on the sample was 200
𝐾𝑁⁄ .
𝑚2
5) Draw perpendicular line from point C , we get point E .
6) With origine E and distance EC , draw semicircle . we get points B and D
7) Draw horizontal straight line from Pt. C , we get point P ( Pole)
8) Connect Points B and D to the pole ( p) .
9) Now, PD = major principal plane with orientation 𝜃1 and
10)PB = minor principal plane with orientation 𝜃2

Cohesion = C = 0 ;
major principal stresss = 𝜎1 = 425 KN/m2 with orientation 𝜃1 = 580

minor principal stresss = 𝜎3 = 125 KN/m2 with orientation 𝜃2 = 320

Angle of shearing resistance or internal friction = ∅ = 340

 Page |5

Problem 4. Following results were obtained when loose sand was tested in shear box test.:

Normal stress 𝑘𝑛⁄𝑚2 125 235 345

Shear stress 𝑘𝑛⁄𝑚2 95 160 231

Draw mohr’s circle and strength envelope

Determine : 1) shear strength parameters
2) Principal stresses 3) orientation of principal streses.
 Page |6

ANSWER : following are steps (procedure) to solve above problem .

1) On X axis : 1 cm = 50 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2 , on Y Axis : 1 cm = 50 𝐾𝑁⁄𝑚2

2) Mark the all three ordinates on graph i.e. C1, C2, C3 respectively.
3) Draw the line passing through these all three points and further it will intersect to Y – Axis.
4) Draw perpendicular line from points C1, C2, C3 , we get point E1, E2, E3 .
5) With origine E1, E2, E3 and distance E1C1, E2C2, E3C3, , draw semicircle . we get points B and D finaly.
6) Draw straight line from C3 and it will intersect somewhere on semicircle , we get point P ( Pole).
7) Connect Points B and D to the pole ( p) .
8) Now, PD = major principal plane with orientation 𝜃1 and
9) PB = minor principal plane with orientation 𝜃2
 Page |7

Since the soil is sandy soil , hence Cohesion = C = 0

Angle of shearing resistance or internal friction = ∅ = 320

(300+530+775)
Average major principal stresss = 𝜎1 = = 535 KN/m2
3
(75+150+220)
Average minor principal stresss = 𝜎3 = = 148.33 KN/m2
3
orientation of major principal plane with horizontal 𝜃1 = 620
orientation of minor principal plane with horizontal 𝜃2 = 280

Problem :5 :
From direct shear test of soil sample . the following data have been obtained ; determine shear strength
parameters. If the same soil sample is subjected to normal stress of 100 𝑘𝑛⁄𝑚2 .. determine shear strength , major

and minor principal stresses.

Normal stress 𝑘𝑛⁄𝑚2 70 96 114

Shear stress 𝑘𝑛⁄𝑚2 138 156 170

Answer :

From graph, we get shear strength parameters as

Cohesion = C = 87 KN/m2 and ` Angle of shearing resistance or internal friction = ∅ = 350

Page |8
Page |9
 P a g e | 10

Problems on Unconfined Compression test

Problem :6 :
An unconfined compression test was conducted on saturated clay specimen 38 mm ∅ and 76 mm in length . the
vertical deformation is measured to be 10 mm at failure load of 0.25 KN . compute Cohesion ( C ) ?
Answer :

Problem :7 :
An unconfined compression test on saturated clay, yhe unconfined compression strength was found to be 160
𝑘𝑛⁄
𝑚2 . It is known that the same soil showed an angle of shearing resistance f 10 . in consolidated undrained
0

𝑞
test . what is the % error and is conservative or not . conservative to use Cu = 𝑢⁄2
Answer :
P a g e | 11
 P a g e | 12

Problems on Triaxial shear test

Important Notes :
Minor principal stress (𝝈𝟑 ) = radial stresss =cell pressure=confining pressure.
Major principal stress (𝝈𝟏 ) = axial stress.= 𝝈𝟑 + 𝝈𝒅
where, 𝝈𝒅 - deviator stress.
Problem 8. A soil sample of dry coarse sand is tested in triaxial apparatus in undrained condition under a cell
𝑘𝑔⁄ 𝑘𝑔⁄
pressure of 2 𝑐𝑚2 . The sample fails when deviator stress reached at 4.38 𝑐𝑚2 .
Determine :

1) Shear strength parameters

𝑘𝑔⁄
2) At what deviator stress , will be soil fail if the cell pressure be 3 𝑐𝑚2 .
P a g e | 13
 P a g e | 14

Problem 9. The shear strength parameters of the given soil are C = 0.26 kg/cm2 and ∅ = 210 .
Undrained triaxial shear test can be carried out on specimen.
Determine :
1) Daviator stress at which failure will occur if the cell pressure be 2.5 kg/cm2
2) The cell pressure during this test , if sample fails when the deviator stress reaches 1.68 kg/cm2
Answer :
 P a g e | 15

Problem 10. A specimen of non cohesive soil are to be tested . angle of shearing resistance of the soil is

300 If the cell pressure in test is 160 KN/m2 , what would be the axial stress at failure.

Answer :

Problem 11.
Determine shear strength parameters of soil from triaxial test data given
Test
1 2
Cell pressure ( KN/m2)
140 280
Axial stress ( KN/m2)
320 640

Answer :

Cell pressure Axial stress ( KN/m2))/major

Test ( KN/m2)/minor principal principal stress 𝝈𝟏 )
stress (𝝈𝟑 )

140
1 280
320
2 640

Procedure :
1) Take suitable scale on x and y axis .
2) Let us consider that how to draw 1st mohr circle.
 P a g e | 16

We already know that for 1st circle, 𝜎3 = 140 as point C and 𝜎1 = 280 as point D. Mark these points on
X axis.
3) Take ruler or simple scale , measure distance CD and find out its center . say E1.
4) Draw Mohr circle with origine E1 and radius CE1.
5) For 2nd mohr circle, revise and repeat above procedure . we get points K,L, and E2. Draw semicircle.
6) Now, draw the tangent line which connects both circles and further extended to Y axis.
7) Cohesion = C = 0.2 KN/m2 and ` Angle of shearing resistance or internal friction = ∅ = 230
 P a g e | 17

Problem 12
Following results were obtained . from a series of consolidated undrained test of soil. In which a pore water
pressure was not determined. Determine shear strength parameters?

Test Confining pressure ( KN/m2) Deviator stress ( KN/m2)

At failure
1 100 600
2 200 750
3 300 870

Answer : Important Notes :

Minor principal stress (𝝈𝟑 ) = radial stresss =cell pressure=confining pressure.

Major principal stress (𝝈𝟏 ) = axial stress.= 𝝈𝟑 + 𝝈𝒅
where, 𝝈𝒅 - deviator stress.

Minor principal stress = Confining Major principal stress =

Test Deviator stress ( KN/m2)
pressure ( KN/m2)= 𝝈𝟑 ( KN/m2)= 𝝈𝟏
At failure
1 100 600 700
2 200 750 950
3 300 870 1170

Procedure :
8) Take suitable scale on x and y axis .
9) Let us consider that how to draw 1st mohr circle.
We already know that for 1st circle, 𝜎3 = 100 as point B and 𝜎1 = 700 as point D. Mark these points on
X axis.
10)Take ruler or simple scale , measure distance BD and find out its center . say E1.
11)Draw Mohr circle with origine E1 and radius BE1.
12)For 2nd and 3rd mohr circle, revise and repeat above procedure to get E2 and E3 . Draw semicircle.
13)Now, draw the tangent line which connects all three circles and further extended to Y axis.
14)Cohesion = C = 150 KN/m2 and ` Angle of shearing resistance or internal friction = ∅ = 240
 P a g e | 18

Problem 13: A direct shear test was carried out on cohesive soil and following results were obtained.
150 250
Normal stress KN/m2
Shear test at failure KN/m2
110 120

What would be the deviator stress at failure if a triaxial test is carried out on same soil with cell pressure
of 150 KN/m2

Answer :
P a g e | 19
P a g e | 20
P a g e | 21
 P a g e | 22

Problem 14. A series of consolidated undrained triaxial test was conducted on over consolidated clay and following results were obtained

sample Cell pressure ( KN/m2) Deviator stress ( KN/m2) Pore water pressure
( 𝜇 ) ( KN/m2)
1 125 510 -70
2 250 620 -10
3 500 850 120

Plot the strength envelope in terms of total stresses and effective stresses . and hence determine shear strength parameters.

Answer :

Total stress parameters Effective stress parameters

Minor principal stress =
sample Major principal
Confining or cell pressure 𝜇
stress (𝝈𝟏 ) 𝜎3 = 𝜎3 − 𝜇 𝜎1 = 𝜎1 − 𝜇
( KN/m2)= 𝝈𝟑
𝝈𝟏 = 𝝈𝟑 + 𝝈𝒅
125-(-70)=
1 100 600 -70 705
195
2 200 750 -10 260 880
3 300 870 +120 380 1230

Procedure : Refer problem No. 11 and 12 . the procedure is same.

 P a g e | 23

Graph of Total Stresses

Shear strength parameters are :

1) Cohesion = C = 150 KN/m2
2) Angle of shearing resistance or internal friction = ∅ = 200
 P a g e | 24

Graph of effective Stresses

Shear strength parameters are :

1) Cohesion = C = 50 KN/m2
2) Angle of shearing resistance or internal friction = ∅ = 28.50