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Shear Strength Anisotropy on Stratified Soils

L 'A n is o t r o p ie de la R e s is t a n c e au C is a ille m e n t a u x S o ls S tr a tifié s

A .G .A N A G N O S T O P O U L O S Lecturer.
B .P .P A P A D O P O U L O S Assistant, Nat. Tech. University of Athens, Greece

SYNOPSIS
During the stability analysis for a brown-coal (lignite) open-cut a problem of anisotropy, as concerns shearing
strength characteristics on planes with varying inclination to the bedding plane, had to be solved. The pro­
blem consists in estimating the shearing strength characteristics on various planes and in more descriptive
representation of the shear stresses or the available shear strength in each point.
The difficulty of representing the shear strength for anisotropic material by the use of the Mohr circle accor­
ding to the Mohr Coulomb criterion is due to the fact that to each point of the Mohr circle corresponds a
"different envelope" which is a function of the shear strength characteristics (cp,c) of the corresponding plane.
In this case the shear año Strength were represented by the use of polar coordinates, representing the incli­
nation of the plane umber consideration to the bedding plane.
By the use of the above method the results of unconfined compression and direct shear tests, for planes with
varying inclination to the bedding plane, were evaluated and presented.

1. INTRODUCTION
In th-^ stability analysis of a natural slope it is of
special importance to estimate the anisotropy of the
soil material as concerns shearing strength characte­
ristics, especially for stratified soils. The need
for the estimation and representation of the shearing
strength of a brown coal along various directions to
the stratification arised in the stability analysis
of the natural slopes for an open cut in a brown
coal mine, where the material was stratified (in ho­
rizontal layers). The above method of representation
can be extended at first for other stratified soils.
Direct shear tests and unconfined compression tests
were ran on samples in various inclinations to the
direction of stratification. Certain results from
consolidated undrained triaxial tests on respective
brown coal samples, with direction of layers paralle
to the stratification of the area, which were evaluated
by the use of diagrams polar coordinate were taken in­
to account in the analysis of the above results. Frg. 1. Redevance of laboratory shear strength to
shear strength in the field
2. SLOPE STABILITY ANALYSIS The method of evaluation of results in relation with
In Fig. 1 (according Bjerrum 1972) are shown the ne­ the stratification of the specimen is given below,
cessary tests for the determination of the shearing separetely, for the cases of calculating the shearing
strength characteristics depending on the posit ion,of strength parameters from direct shear, unconfined
the point considered.along the assumed slip surface. compression or triaxial compression tests.

3. EVALUATION OF THE TESTS

3.1 Representation of available strength and existing
stress
In Fig. 2 are shown, by the use of polar coordinates
the available shearing strength in each plane (as

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a function of the shearing strength parameters on

the corresponding plane) and the existing shearing
stress. At the moment of failure the respective cur­
ves of Fig.2 touch at one point which corresponds to
the plane of failure. The above representation is »4-
consideted more descriptive from the known represen­ J(l) 0-0
tation with Mohr circles, where to each point and al­
so to the corresponding plane, corresponds a "diffe­
rent envelope" (Fig.3).
(2) 5 -9 0 *

*-4—
(3) *

3.3 Evaluation of undrained triaxial compression

3.2 Evaluation of direct shear results

Fig. 4a represents the results of direct shear on
specimens with various values of the angle 9 - in­
clination of layers to the direction of shear - in
a t - (3 coordinate system.
Fig. *+b gives in polar coordinates separetely the
shearing strength components, c cohesion and S<p = ^
(P (frictional component for a = 1 kg/cm )
as a function of the angle a obviously the shearing
strength at an angle for a normal stress o will be:
Z= Sf

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Fig. 5a represents the results of undrained triaxial
compression tests, for an angle of inclination of
the layers S to the plane perpendicular to the prin­
cipal stress , in polar coordinates (a-x), where
x is the shearing stress on any plane and also on
the plane of failure. For the case of samples failing
by brittle failure, it is possible to measure the in­
clination of the failure planes and determine r. mean
value, from a series of tests. In Fig. 5b, are repre­
sented separetely also in polar coordinates the shea­
ring strength components, C and S(pt l.Efp cp as a fun­
ction of the angle a from a series of tests at vari­
ous angles of inclination of the layers d as in Fig.
5a. The shearing strength at an angle <Xand normal
stress O on the plane under consideration will be:
r- c* cr- s?
Fig. 5 represents respectively results for the spe­
cial case of unconfined compression tests
+40*y/c-y
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4. APPLICATION
According to the above proposals the results for
direct shear undrained triaxial and unconfined
compression tests were evaluated for brown coal
samples from the Megalopolis area (Anagnostopoulos)
for the estimation of the stability of the open-
cut mine natural slopes.The brown coal tested is
earthy sofr and stratified, with horizontal layers
through the whole area of the mine.The natural wa­
ter content of the samples tested is about 150 to
180% (for an over drying at temperature of 60 C con­
stant weigth), saturated at its natural state and
with apparent unit w e i g 1,15 gr/cm3. It’ s co­
lour is brown changing to black when it cones in con­
tact with air. Results from proximate analysis are
given for comparison with other brown-coals (ligni­
tes). Volatiles: from 60 to 54% and fixed carbon:
from 26-40%.
Fig. 7a represents the direct shear test results
on brown coal samples, alonp three directions, and
Fig. 7b represents separetely the cohesion and the
shearing component Sp r V.6pp> along various
directions, as in f 3,2
Fig. 8 represents in polar coordinates the results
of unconfined compression tests on brown coal sam­
ples, loaded along three different directions.
Fig. 9 represents in polar coordinates the variation
of shearing strength of brown coal samples, as a
function of the angle of inclination of the applied
principal (or normal) stresses to the direction of
the stratification.
5. CONCLUSIONS
The above method of presentation for the available
shearing strength, of a stratified anisotropic ma­
terial, for every plane with an inclination a to the
stratification of the material, is considered to
give an immediate and accurate picture for an immedia­
te use, during the calculations of the safety factor
of a slip surface. By this method is given a simple
and representative picture of the shearing strength
anisotropy of the material, along various direction.
REFERENCES
1. Bjerrum L. 1972: Embakments on soft ground
2. Anagnostopoulos A.G. (Unpublished) Mechanical
properties of Megalopolis
lignites
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