Kuat Geser Tanah (Shear Strength)

- Triaxial Test -
(Courtesy of COSC 323: Soils in Construction)
oleh:
A. Adhe Noor PSH, ST., MT
Staf Pengajar Program Studi Teknik Sipil
Jurusan Teknik Fakultas Sains dan Teknik
Universitas Jenderal Soedirman
Triaxial Shear Test
Soil sample at
failure
Failure plane
Porous
stone
impervious
membrane
Piston (to apply deviatoric stress)
O-ring
pedestal
Perspex
cell
Cell pressure
Back pressure
Pore pressure or
volume change
Water
Soil
sample
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Sampling tubes
Sample extruder
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Edges of the sample are
carefully trimmed
Setting up the sample in
the triaxial cell
Triaxial Shear Test
Sample is covered with a
rubber membrane and
sealed
Cell is completely
filled with water
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Proving ring to
measure the
deviator load
Dial gauge to
measure vertical
displacement
Types of Triaxial Tests
Is the drainage valve open?
yes
no
Consolidated
sample
Unconsolidated
sample
Is the drainage valve open?
yes no
Drained
loading
Undrained
loading
Under all-around cell pressure o
c

o
c
o
c
o
c
o
c
Step 1
deviatoric stress
(Ao = q)
Shearing (loading)
Step 2
o
c
o
c
o
c
+ q
Types of Triaxial Tests
Is the drainage valve open?
yes
no
Consolidated
sample
Unconsolidated
sample
Under all-around cell pressure o
c

Step 1
Is the drainage valve open?
yes no
Drained
loading
Undrained
loading
Shearing (loading)
Step 2
CD test
CU test
UU test
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Step 1: At the end of consolidation
o
VC
o
hC
Total, o
=
Neutral, u Effective, o
+
0

Step 2: During axial stress increase
o
VC
=

o
VC
o
hC
=

o
hC
o
VC
+ Ao
o
hC
0

o
V
=

o
VC
+

Ao = o
1
o
h
=

o
hC
= o
3
Drainage
Drainage
Step 3: At failure
o
VC
+ Ao
f
o
hC
0

o
Vf
=

o
VC
+

Ao
f
= o
1f
o
hf
=

o
hC
= o
3f
Drainage
Deviator stress (q or Ao
d
) = o
1
o
3
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
o
1
= o
VC
+ Ao
o
3
= o
hC

V
o
l
u
m
e

c
h
a
n
g
e

o
f

t
h
e

s
a
m
p
l
e

E
x
p
a
n
s
i
o
n

C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n

Time
Volume change of sample during consolidation
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

A
o
d

Axial strain
Dense sand or
OC clay
(Ao
d
)
f
Dense sand or
OC clay
Loose sand or
NC clay
V
o
l
u
m
e

c
h
a
n
g
e

o
f

t
h
e

s
a
m
p
l
e

E
x
p
a
n
s
i
o
n

C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n
Axial strain
Stress-strain relationship during shearing
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Loose sand or
NC Clay
(Ao
d
)
f
CD tests
How to determine strength parameters c and |
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

A
o
d

Axial strain
S
h
e
a
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

t

o or o
|
Mohr Coulomb
failure envelope
(Ao
d
)
fa
Confining stress = o
3a
(Ao
d
)
fb
Confining stress = o
3b
(Ao
d
)
fc
Confining stress = o
3c
o
3c
o
1c
o
3a
o
1a
(Ao
d
)
fa
o
3b
o
1b
(Ao
d
)
fb
o
1
= o
3
+ (Ao
d
)
f

o
3

CD tests
Strength parameters c and | obtained from CD tests
Since u = 0 in CD
tests, o = o
Therefore, c = c
and | = |
c
d
and |
d
are used
to denote them
CD tests Failure envelopes
S
h
e
a
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

t

o or o
|
d
Mohr Coulomb
failure envelope
o
3a
o
1a
(Ao
d
)
fa
For sand and NC Clay, c
d
= 0
Therefore, one CD test would be sufficient to determine |
d
of
sand or NC clay
CD tests Failure envelopes
For OC Clay, c
d
0
t

o or o
|

o
3
o
1
(Ao
d
)
f
c
o
c
OC
NC
Some practical applications of CD analysis for
clays
t
t = in situ drained shear
strength
Soft clay
1. Embankment constructed very slowly, in layers over a soft clay deposit
Some practical applications of CD analysis for
clays
2. Earth dam with steady state seepage
t = drained shear strength of
clay core
t
Core
Some practical applications of CD analysis for
clays
3. Excavation or natural slope in clay
t = In situ drained shear strength
t
Note: CD test simulates the long term condition in the field.
Thus, c
d
and |
d
should be used to evaluate the long
term behavior of soils
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Step 1: At the end of consolidation
o
VC
o
hC
Total, o
=
Neutral, u Effective, o
+
0

Step 2: During axial stress increase
o
VC
=

o
VC
o
hC
=

o
hC
o
VC
+ Ao
o
hC
Au

Drainage
Step 3: At failure
o
VC
+ Ao
f
o
hC
No
drainage
No
drainage
Au
f
o
V
=

o
VC
+

Ao Au = o
1
o
h
=

o
hC
Au

= o
3
o
Vf
=

o
VC
+

Ao
f
Au
f
= o
1f
o
hf
=

o
hC
Au
f
= o
3f
V
o
l
u
m
e

c
h
a
n
g
e

o
f

t
h
e

s
a
m
p
l
e

E
x
p
a
n
s
i
o
n

C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n

Time
Volume change of sample during consolidation
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

A
o
d

Axial strain
Dense sand or
OC clay
(Ao
d
)
f
Dense sand or
OC clay
Loose sand
/NC Clay
A
u

+

-

Axial strain
Stress-strain relationship during shearing
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Loose sand or
NC Clay
(Ao
d
)
f
CU tests
How to determine strength parameters c and |
D
e
v
i
a
t
o
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

A
o
d

Axial strain
S
h
e
a
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

t

o or o
(Ao
d
)
fb
Confining stress = o
3b
o
3b
o
1b
o
3a
o
1a
(Ao
d
)
fa
|
cu
Mohr Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
total stresses
c
cu
o
1
= o
3
+ (Ao
d
)
f

o
3

Total stresses at failure
(Ao
d
)
fa
Confining stress = o
3a
(Ao
d
)
fa
CU tests
How to determine strength parameters c and |
S
h
e
a
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

t

o or o
o
3b
o
1b
o
3a
o
1a
(Ao
d
)
fa
|
cu
Mohr Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
total stresses
c
cu
o
3b
o
1b
o
3a
o
1a
Mohr Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
effective stresses
|

C

u
fa
u
fb
o
1
= o
3
+ (Ao
d
)
f
-

u
f

o
3
= o
3
-

u
f

Effective stresses at failure
u
f
CU tests
Strength parameters c and | obtained from CD tests
Shear strength
parameters in terms of
total stresses are c
cu
and
|
cu
Shear strength
parameters in terms of
effective stresses are c
and |


c = c
d
and | = |
d

CU tests Failure envelopes
For sand and NC Clay, c
cu
and c = 0
Therefore, one CU test would be sufficient to determine |
cu

and |(= |
d
) of sand or NC clay
S
h
e
a
r

s
t
r
e
s
s
,

t

o or o
|
cu
Mohr Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
total stresses
o
3a
o
1a
(Ao
d
)
fa
o
3a
o
1a
|

Mohr Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
effective stresses
Some practical applications of CU analysis for
clays
t
t = in situ undrained
shear strength
Soft clay
1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit
Some practical applications of CU analysis for
clays
2. Rapid drawdown behind an earth dam
t = Undrained shear strength
of clay core
Core
t
Some practical applications of CU analysis for
clays
3. Rapid construction of an embankment on a natural slope
Note: Total stress parameters from CU test (c
cu
and |
cu
) can be used for stability
problems where,
Soil have become fully consolidated and are at equilibrium with the
existing stress state; Then for some reason additional stresses are
applied quickly with no drainage occurring
t = In situ undrained shear strength
t
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Data analysis
o
C
= o
3
o
C
= o
3
No
drainage
Initial specimen condition
o
3
+ Ao
d
o
3
No
drainage
Specimen condition
during shearing
Initial volume of the sample = A
0
H
0
Volume of the sample during shearing = A H
Since the test is conducted under undrained condition,
A H = A
0
H
0
A (H
0
AH) = A
0
H
0
A (1

AH/H
0
) = A
0
z
A
A
c
=
1
0
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Step 1: Immediately after sampling
0

0

= +
Step 2: After application of hydrostatic cell pressure
Au
c
=

B Ao
3
o
C
= o
3
o
C
= o
3
Au
c

o
3
=

o
3
- Au
c
o
3
=

o
3
- Au
c
No
drainage
Increase of pwp due to
increase of cell pressure
Increase of cell pressure
Skemptons pore water
pressure parameter, B
Note: If soil is fully saturated, then B = 1 (hence, Au
c
= Ao
3
)
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Step 3: During application of axial load
o
3
+ Ao
d
o
3
No
drainage
o
1
=

o
3
+

Ao
d
- Au
c
Au
d


o
3
=

o
3
- Au
c
Au
d

Au
d
=

ABAo
d
Au
c

Au
d
= +
Increase of pwp due to increase
of deviator stress
Increase of deviator stress
Skemptons pore water
pressure parameter, A
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Combining steps 2 and 3,
Au
c
=

B Ao
3
Au
d
=

ABAo
d
Au

=

Au
c
+ Au
d
Total pore water pressure increment at any stage, Au
Au

=

B [Ao
3
+ AAo
d
]
Skemptons pore
water pressure
equation
Au

=

B [Ao
3
+ A(Ao
1
Ao
3
]
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Step 1: Immediately after sampling
0

0

Total, o
=
Neutral, u Effective, o
+
-u
r
Step 2: After application of hydrostatic cell pressure
o
V0
=

u
r
o
h0
=

u
r
o
C

o
C
-u
r
+ Au
c
= -u
r
+ o
c
(S
r
= 100%

;

B = 1)
Step 3: During application of axial load
o
C
+ Ao

o
C
No
drainage
No
drainage
-u
r
+ o
c
Au
o
VC
=

o
C
+ u
r
-

o
C
= u
r
o
h
=

u
r
Step 3: At failure
o
V
=

o
C
+

Ao + u
r
- o
c
Au

o
h
=

o
C
+

u
r
- o
c
Au

o
hf
=

o
C
+

u
r
- o
c
Au
f
=
o
3f

o
Vf
=

o
C
+

Ao
f
+ u
r
- o
c
Au
f
= o
1f

-u
r
+ o
c
Au
f
o
C
o
C
+ Ao
f
No
drainage
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Total, o
=
Neutral, u Effective, o
+
Step 3: At failure
o
hf
=

o
C
+

u
r
- o
c
Au
f
=
o
3f

o
Vf
=

o
C
+

Ao
f
+ u
r
- o
c
Au
f
= o
1f

-u
r
+ o
c
Au
f
o
C
o
C
+ Ao
f
No
drainage
Mohr circle in terms of effective stresses do not depend on the cell pressure.
Therefore, we get only one Mohr circle in terms of effective stress for different
cell pressures
t
o
o
3
o
1 Ao
f
o
3b
o
1b
o
3a
o
1a Ao
f
o
3
o
1
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Total, o
=
Neutral, u Effective, o
+
Step 3: At failure
o
hf
=

o
C
+

u
r
- o
c
Au
f
=
o
3f

o
Vf
=

o
C
+

Ao
f
+ u
r
- o
c
Au
f
= o
1f

-u
r
+ o
c
Au
f
o
C
o
C
+ Ao
f
No
drainage
t
o or o
Mohr circles in terms of total stresses
u
a
u
b
Failure envelope, |
u
= 0
c
u
o
3b
o
1b
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Effect of degree of saturation on failure envelope
o
3a
o
1a
o
3c
o
1c
t
o or o
S < 100% S > 100%
Some practical applications of UU analysis for
clays
t
t = in situ undrained
shear strength
Soft clay
1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit
Some practical applications of UU analysis for
clays
2. Large earth dam constructed rapidly with no
change in water content of soft clay
Core
t = Undrained shear strength
of clay core
t
Some practical applications of UU analysis for
clays
3. Footing placed rapidly on clay deposit
t = In situ undrained shear strength
Note: UU test simulates the short term condition in the field.
Thus, c
u
can be used to analyze the short term
behavior of soils
Example
Given
Triaxial compression tests on three specimens of a soil sample
were performed. Each test was carried out until the specimen
experienced shear failure. The test data are tabulated as follows:
Required
The soils cohesion and angle of internal friction
Specimen
Number
Minor Principal Stress
(kips/ft
2
)
Deviator Stress at Failure
(kips/ft
2
)
1 1.44 5.76
2 2.88 6.85
3 4.32 7.50
Example
Specimen
Number
Minor Principal
Stress
(kips/ft
2
)
Deviator Stress
at Failure
(kips/ft
2
)
Major Principal
Stress (kips/ft
2
)
1 1.44 5.76 7.2
2 2.88 6.85 9.73
3 4.32 7.50 11.82
Example
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
2
4
6
8
Example
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
2
4
6
8
Example
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
2
4
6
8
Example
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
2
4
6
8
4
2
2
1
/ 9 . 0
26
4
2
tan
4
2
tan
ft kip c =
=
|
.
|

\
|
=
=

|
|
|
THE END