EGC 2173 - 6G2

Lecturer: MS HASLINDA BINTI A.KARIM

Experiment 6 Direct Shear Test

Lee Ee Yern I14006837

Contents
1.0 Objective .............................................................................................................................. 2
2.0 Equipment ............................................................................................................................ 2
3.0 Procedure ............................................................................................................................. 2
4.0 Results and Calculation ........................................................................................................ 2
5.0 Discussion............................................................................................................................. 7
6.0 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 7
1.0 Objective
To familiarize with a procedure for rapidly determining the strength parameters ( and c)
of soil.

2.0 Equipment
Direct Shear Device

3.0 Procedure
1. A sample of soil was weighed and prepared.
2. The shear box was assembled and fixed into position.
3. The area of the shear box was then measured.
4. Sand was placed into the shear box till around 5mm from the top and the loading block
was placed and leveled.
5. A normal load of 5kg was applied.
6. The horizontal loading was started (strain rate of 1mm/min), and the readings from the
proving ring were recorded at the horizontal displacement at every 10 seconds until the
sample failed.
7. The procedure was repeated for an additional 2 tests with an additional loading of 5kg
each time.
8. The results were tabulated and calculated.

4.0 Results and Calculation

Sample Weight:
Initial weight of container = 1124g
Final weight of container + soil = 1234g
Weight of soil used = 110g

Shear specimen data:

Sample Dimensions:
Area = 21cm2
Volume = 147cm3
 Sample 1:
M = 5kg
Loading Rate = 465mm/min
Normal Stress, n = 2.38 kPa
Proving Ring Constant = 2.81 x 10-3 kN/div

Table 1

Horizontal Horizontal Proving Ring Horizontal Shear Stress Vertical

Dial Reading Displacement Dial Reading Shear Force , kPa Dial
(x 0.01mm) H (N) Reading
13 0.13 11 30.91 1.472 0
37 0.5 18 50.58 2.408 2
68 1.18 20 56.2 2.676 3
97 2.15 22 61.82 2.943 4
122 3.37 23 64.63 3.077 5
155 4.92 23 64.63 3.077 6
186 6.78 24 67.44 3.211 8
218 8.96 24 67.44 3.211 11
247 11.43 25 70.25 3.345 14
275 14.18 25 70.25 3.345 17
305 17.23 25 70.25 3.345 20

Example Calculation for 2nd row:

H = 0.13+0.37 = 0.5
Horizontal Shear Force = Proving Ring reading x Proving ring constant =18x2.81-3= 50.58 N
Shear Stress = Shear force / A = 50.58/21cm2 = 2.408
Sample 2:
M = 10kg
Loading Rate = 465mm/min
Normal Stress, n = 4.76 kPa
Proving Ring Constant = 2.81 x 10-3 kN/div

Table 2

Horizontal Horizontal Proving Ring Horizontal Shear Stress Vertical

Dial Reading Displacement Dial Reading Shear Force , kPa Dial
(x 0.01mm) H (N) Reading
0 0 1 2.81 0.134 0
16 0.16 5 14.05 0.690 0
26 0.42 11 30.91 1.471 98
33 0.75 15 42.15 2.007 95
55 1.3 21 59.01 2.810 94
79 2.09 27 75.87 3.612 95
104 3.13 31 87.11 4.148 96
131 4.44 34 95.54 4.549 98
156 6 36 101.16 4.817 0
187 7.87 38 106.78 5.084 4
217 10.04 40 112.4 5.352 8
249 12.53 43 120.83 5.753 12
283 15.36 44 123.64 5.887 16
315 18.51 45 126.45 6.021 21
346 21.97 45 126.45 6.021 26
381 25.78 45 126.45 6.021 28
Sample 3:
M = 15kg
Loading Rate = 465mm/min
Normal Stress, n = 7.14 kPa
Proving Ring Constant = 2.81 x 10-3 kN/div

Table 3

Horizontal Horizontal Proving Ring Horizontal Shear Stress Vertical

Dial Reading Displacement Dial Reading Shear Force , kPa Dial
(x 0.01mm) H (N) Reading
2 0.02 2 5.62 0.268 0
6 0.08 9 25.29 1.204 98
33 0.41 12 33.72 1.605 97
44 0.85 15 42.15 2.007 94
48 1.33 16 44.96 2.141 93
62 1.95 24 67.44 3.211 90
88 2.83 31 87.11 4.148 87
113 3.96 36 101.16 4.817 86
136 5.32 40 112.4 5.352 87
162 6.94 43 120.83 5.753 89
192 8.86 47 132.07 6.289 92
222 11.08 52 146.12 6.958 95
254 13.62 56 157.36 7.493 98
291 16.53 59 165.79 7.894 2
320 19.73 63 177.03 8.430 8
354 23.27 64 179.84 8.563 13
382 27.09 66 185.46 8.831 18
 200

180

160

140
Shear Force, N

120

100 Sample 1

80 Sample 2
Sample 3
60

40

20

0
0 5 10 15 20
Horizontal Displacement, mm

Graph of Horizontal Displacement vs Shear Force

= 26
c = 2.8
5.0 Discussion
Observing the shear stress parameters from the graph:
Shear strength of the soil, S = Normal stress tan
= 7.14 tan 26
= 3.48 kPa

6.0 Conclusion
Therefore the objectives of this experiment were concluded. The strength parameters ( and c)
of a soil were successfully found.