BFC21702

CHAPTER 6.0
SOIL SHEAR STRENGHT

6.0 SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOILS

i.

Stress-strain relationship and Mohr-Coulomb

failure criteria

ii.

Shear strength parameters; drained and undrained

iii.

Shear strength of cohesive and non-cohesive

soils

iv.

Laboratory and field shear strength tests

v.

The application of shear strength in design

6.0

INTRODUCTIONS

All failures in soils are shear failures due to compression.

Shear strength= the maximum resistance to shear; generally expressed as shear stress ().
Shear stress- usually used in the assessment of slope stability, designs of embankments, foundations

and retaining structures, etc.

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.1

Stress-strain Relationship

The shear stress strain

relationship of soils is similar
to that of other engineering
materials.

At
small
relationship
elastic.

As yielding occurs- strain

increases and a peak shear
stress is reached (failure).

strains,
is linear

the
and

The
curve
then
drops
significantly (reduction of
stress)- reaches ultimate shear
stress.
The shear stress reduces
gradually
with
increasing
strain- approaches residual
stress.

peak

ultimate
residual

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.1

Stress-strain Relationship

Principal stresses.

Principal plane= a plane acted on by a normal stress (perpendicular to

the plane); the stress is called a principal stress.

Any stress may be equated to a principal stress (N) and a shear stress
(t).
N
P
=
+

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.1

Stress-strain Relationship

Similarly, an element of soil (in a soil mass) has several principal

and shear stresses acting on it .

The major principal stress is 1, and the minor principal stress is 3.

The intermediate stress, 2, is usually ignored in normal analysis.

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.2

Mohr-Coulumb Failure Criteria

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.2

Mohr-Coulumb Failure Criteria

Failure envelopes in terms of total & effective stresses

f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without failure,
under normal stress, and normal effective stress, .

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.2

Mohr-Coulumb Failure Criteria

Shear strength parameters

The value of c for sand and inorganic silt is 0.

For normally consolidated clays, c can be approximated at 0.
Overconsolidated clays have values of c that are greater than 0.

* c and are measures of shear strength. Higher the

values, higher the shear strength

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.2

Mohr-Coulumb Failure Criteria

True VS Apparent cohesion

True Cohesion

Apparent Cohesion

Cementation
Due to the presence of
cementing agents such
as calcium carbonate or
iron oxide
Electrostatic and
electromagnetic attractions
Primary valence bonding
(adhesion)
Occurs primarily during
overconsolidation

Negative pore water

pressure
Negative excess pore water
pressures due to dilation
(expansion)
Apparent mechanical
forces
Cannot be relied on for soil
strength

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.2

Mohr-Coulumb Failure Criteria

Relationship of and

6.1 STRESS-STRAIN RELATIONSHIP & MOHR COULUMB

FAILURE CRITERIA
6.1.2

Mohr-Coulumb Failure Criteria

Relationship of , and failure stresses [f , (n)f]

The angle BCO=

represents
the
inclination of the
failure plane (BC)

6.2 SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS FOR DRAINED AND

UNDRAINED

The drained or undrained condition of soil depends on several

factors:
i.
ii.
iii.

soil type
geological formation (sand layers in clay, fissures, etc.)
loading rate

Drained condition- dissipation of excess pore water pressure

developed during loading of a soil (u = 0, where u is the pore water
pressure).

Undrained condition- excess pore water pressure cannot drain

quickly from the soil (u = 0).
i.

Volume changes- suppressed under undrained condition.

a.

Soil with a tendency to compress would build up excess

pore water pressures (+u).

b.

Soil with a tendency to expand would show negative

excess pore water pressures or suction (-u).

6.2 SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS FOR DRAINED AND

UNDRAINED
SUMMARY- Drained VS Undrained

6.2 SHEAR STRENGTH PARAMETERS FOR DRAINED AND

UNDRAINED

6.3 SHEAR STRENGHT OF COHESIVE & NON-COHESIVE

SOIL
6.3.1

NON-COHESIVE SOIL (Granular@Loose Soil)

6.3 SHEAR STRENGHT OF COHESIVE & NON-COHESIVE

SOIL
6.3.2

COHESIVE SOIL (Dense Soil)

6.3 SHEAR STRENGHT OF COHESIVE & NON-COHESIVE

SOIL
COMPARISON

6.4LABORATORY AND FIELD SHEAR STRENGTH TESTS

Determination of shear strength parameters of soils (c, or c, )
Field tests

Laboratory tests
Most common laboratory tests to
determine
the
shear
strength
parameters are,
1. Direct shear test
2. Triaxial shear test
Other laboratory tests include,
Direct simple shear test, torsional ring
shear test, plane strain triaxial test,
laboratory vane shear test, laboratory
fall cone test

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Vane shear test

Torvane
Pocket penetrometer
Fall cone
Pressuremeter
Static cone penetrometer
Standard penetration test

vc +

Laboratory tests
Simulating field conditions
in the laboratory
0

vc
0

0
0

Representative
soil sample
taken from the
site

l
a
i
x
a
Tr
Di
r
hc ect
s

hc

t
s
te

hc

hc
vc +

vc
he
ar

vc
Step 1
Set the specimen in
the apparatus and
apply the initial
stress condition

te

st

vc
Step 2
Apply the
corresponding field
stress conditions

6.4 SHEAR STRENGHT TEST (LAB & FIELD)

5.4.1

Lab Test (Direct Shear Test)

Direct shear tests on sands,

Shear stress,

Stress-strain relationship

Peak Shear Strength

Ultimate Shear Strength

Dense sand/
OC clay

f
f

Loose sand/
NC clay

Expansion
Compression

Change in height
of the sample

Shear displacement

Dense sand/OC Clay

Shear displacement

Loose sand/NC Clay

Direct shear tests on sands

Shear stress,

How to determine strength parameters c and

Normal stress = 3
Normal stress = 2

f3

f2

f1

Normal stress = 1

Shear stress at failure, f

Shear displacement

Mohr Coulomb failure envelope

Normal stress,

Direct shear tests on sands

Some important facts on strength parameters c and of sand

Sand is cohesionless hence

c=0

Direct shear tests are

drained and pore water
pressures are dissipated,
hence u = 0
Therefore,
= and c = c = 0

6.4 SHEAR STRENGHT TEST (LAB & FIELD)

5.4.1

Lab Test (Direct Shear Test) On Clay

Advantages of direct shear apparatus

Due to the smaller thickness of the sample, rapid drainage can be achieved
Can be used to determine interface strength parameters
Clay samples can be oriented along the plane of weakness or an identified
failure plane

Disadvantages of direct shear apparatus

Failure occurs along a predetermined failure plane
Area of the sliding surface changes as the test progresses
Non-uniform distribution of shear stress along the failure surface

6.4 SHEAR STRENGHT TEST (LAB & FIELD)

6.4.1

Lab Test (Direct Shear Test) Example

6.4 SHEAR STRENGHT TEST (LAB & FIELD)

6.4.1

Lab Test (Direct Shear Test) Example

6.4 SHEAR STRENGHT TEST (LAB & FIELD)

6.4.2

Lab Test (Triaxial Shear Test)

Piston (to apply deviatoric stress)

O-ring

Failure plane

impervious
membrane

Soil sample
at failure

Soil
sample
Perspex
cell

Porous
stone
Water

Cell pressure
Back pressure
pedestal

Pore pressure or
volume change

Types of Triaxial Tests

3
Step 2

Step 1

3+ q

3
Under all-around cell pressure 3 @ c
Is the drainage valve open?
yes

Consolidated
sample

deviatoric stress
( = q)

no

Shearing (loading)
Is the drainage valve open?
yes

no

Unconsolidated

Drained

Undrained

sample

loading

loading

Types of Triaxial Tests

Step 2

Step 1
Under all-around cell pressure 3

Shearing (loading)

Is the drainage valve open?

yes

Consolidated
sample

Is the drainage valve open?

no

yes

Unconsolidated
sample

a) CD test

Drained

Undrained

loading

loading

c) UU test
b) CU test

no

a) Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

Total,

Neutral, u

Effective,

Step 1: At the end of consolidation

Drainage

1 = 1

3 = 3

Step 2: During axial stress increase

1 +

Drainage

1 = 1 +

3 = 3

Step 3: At failure

1 + f

Drainage

1f = 1+ f

3f = 3

a) Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

1 = VC +

3 = hC

a) Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

Expansion

Time
Compression

Volume change of the

sample

Volume change of sample during consolidation

a) Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

Deviator stress, d

Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Dense sand
or OC clay

d)f
d)f

Loose sand
or NC Clay

Expansion
Compression

Volume change
of the sample

Axial strain

Dense sand
or OC clay
Axial strain

Loose sand
or NC clay

Shear stress,

Deviator stress, d

CD tests

How to determine strength parameters c and

d)fc

1 = 3 + ( d)f
3c
Confining stress = 3b
Confining stress = 3a

Confining stress =

d)fb

d)fa
Axial
strain

Mohr Coulomb
failure envelope

3a

3b 3c 1a
( d)fa
( d)fb

1b

1c

or

a) Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

Strength parameters c and obtained from CD tests

Since u = 0 in CD
tests, =

Therefore, c = c
and =
cd and d are used to
denote them

a) Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)- Example

b) Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

Total,

Neutral, u

Effective,

Step 1: At the end of consolidation

Drainage

1 = 1

Step 2: During axial stress increase

1 +

No
drainage

Step 3: At failure

1 = 1 + u
3 = 3 u

1f = 1 + fuf

1 + f

No
drainage

3 = 3

uf

3f = 3 uf

b) Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

1 = 3 + ( d)f

3
Total stresses at failure

1 = 1 - uf

= 3 - uf
Effective stresses at failure

b) Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

Expansion

Time
Compression

Volume change of the

sample

Volume change of sample during consolidation

b) Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

Deviator stress, d

Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Dense sand
or OC clay

d)f
d)f

Loose sand
or NC Clay

Axial strain

Loose
sand /NC
Clay

Axial strain

Dense sand
or OC clay

Shear stress,

Deviator stress, d

CU tests

ccu

How to determine strength parameters c and

d)fb

1 = 3 + ( d)f
Confining stress =

3b

Confining stress =

3a

3
d)fa

Total stresses at failure

Axial
strain

cu

Mohr

Coulomb
failure envelope in
terms of total stresses

3a

3b

( d)fa

1a

1b

or

Shear stress,

CU tests

How to determine strength parameters c and

1 = 1- uf

Mohr Coulomb failure

envelope in terms of
effective stresses

uf

Effective stresses at failure

Mohr

Coulomb
failure envelope in
terms of total stresses

ccu

3a

3b
3a

ufa

3b

= 3 - uf

1a
( d)fa

cu

1b
1a

ufb

1b

or

b) Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)

Strength parameters c and obtained from CD tests

Shear
strength
parameters in terms of
total stresses are ccu and
cu

Shear
strength
parameters in terms of
effective stresses are c
and

c = cd and = d

CU tests

Failure envelopes

For sand and NC Clay, cu & cd = 0

b) Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)- Example

c) Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Drainage from the soil specimen is not permitted during the application of 3
and sheared to failure by the application of d.
Because drainage is not allowed at any stage, the test can be performed quickly
(Q-test). Because of the application of 3, the pore water pressure in the soil
specimen will increase by Uc.
No
drainage

3 = 3 -uc

C = 3
C = 3

uc

3 = 3 -uc

uc = B 3
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, uc = 3)

c) Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

A further increase in the pore water pressure (Ud) will occur because of the d
application.
No
drainage

1 = 3 + d- uc

3 + d
3

3 = 3 - uc

ud

uc ud

ud = ABd
Increase of pwp due to
increase of deviator stress

Increase
stress
Skemptons pore water
pressure parameter, A

of

deviator

c) Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Hence, the total pore water pressure U in the specimen at any stage of d
application can be given as

Total pore water pressure increment at any stage, u

u = uc + ud
u = B3 + ABd
u = B [3 + Ad]
u = B [3 + A(1 3]

Skemptons pore
water pressure
equation

c) Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

UU test usually is conducted on clay specimens and depends on a very
important strength concept for cohesive soils if the soil is fully saturated.
The added axial stress at failure (d)f is practically the same regardless of the
3.
Mohrs circles becomes a horizontal line and hence is called a =0 condition.
Therefore;
.
=0 concept is applicable to only saturated clays and silts.

c) Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Effect of degree of saturation on failure envelope

S < 100%

3c 3b

S > 100%

c 3a b

a or

c) Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)- Example

Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

Calculations
Axial strain, = H/H0
Crosssectional area, A0 = d2/4
Average crosssectional area, A = A0/(1 )
Principal stress, 1 = P/A

Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

Examples

Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

Examples- continued

Field tests

a) Vane shear test

This is one of the most versatile and widely used devices used for
investigating undrained shear strength (Cu) and sensitivity of soft clays
Applied
Torque, T

Rupture
surface

Bore hole
(diameter = DB)
h > 3DB)

Vane
Vane

PLAN VIEW

Rate of rotation : 60 120 per minute

Test can be conducted at 0.5 m
vertical intervals

b) Torvane
Torvane is a modification to the vane

c) Pocket Penetrometer
Pushed directly into the soil. The unconfined compression
strength (qu) is measured by a calibrated spring.

d) Pressuremeter
Air

The pressuremeter is used to test hard

clays, dense sands and weathered rock
which cannot be tested with push
equipment.
Coaxial tube

Water

Pre bored or
self bored hole
Guard cell
Measuring cell
Guard cell

e) Static Cone
Penetrometer test

40 mm
40 mm

40 mm
40 mm

Cone
penetrometers
with
pore
water
pressure measurement
capability are known as
piezocones

f) Standard Penetration Test, SPT

SPT is the most widely used test procedure to determine
the properties of in-situ soils
Number of blows for the first 150 mm
penetration is disregarded due to the
disturbance likely to exist at the bottom
of the drill hole

63.5 kg

Various correlations have been

developed
to determine
soil
The test
can be conducted
at every
1m
0.76 (c,
m ect)
vertical
intervals
strength parameters
from
N
Drill rod

0.15 m
0.15 m
0.15 m

Number of blows = N1
Number of blows = N2
Number of blows = N3

Standard penetration resistance (SPT N) = N2 + N3

Standard Penetration Test, SPT

SPT (Manual operation)

6.5 THE APPLICATION OF SHEAR STRENGHT IN DESIGN

Consolidated-drained strength parameters can be used to determine the long

term stability of structures such as earth embankments and cut slope.
Consolidated-undrained strength parameters can be used to study stability
problems relating to cases where the soil initially is fully consolidated and
then there is rapid loading. An excellent example of this is the stability of
earth slopes of earth dams after rapid drawdown.
Unconsolidated-undrained strength parameters can be used to used evaluate
end of construction stability of saturated cohesive soil with the assumption
that the load caused by construction has been applied rapidly and there has
been little time for drainage to take place. The bearing capacity of foundations
on soft saturated clays and the stability of the base of embankments on soft
clays are examples of this condition.

Some practical applications of CD analysis for clays

1. Embankment constructed very slowly, in layers over a soft clay
deposit

Soft clay

= in situ drained
shear strength

Note: CD test simulates the long term condition in the field.

Thus, cd and d should be used to evaluate the long
term behavior of soils

Some practical applications of CU analysis for clays

1. Rapid drawdown behind an earth dam

Core

= Undrained shear

strength
core
Note: Total stress parameters from CU test (ccu and
cu) canof
beclay
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

Some practical applications of UU analysis for clays

1. Embankment constructed rapidly over a soft clay deposit

Soft clay

= in situ

undrained shear
strength

Note: UU test simulates the short term condition in the field.

Thus, cu can be used to analyze the short term
behavior of soils

The End

Tutorial 6 Question 1

Tutorial 6 Question 2

Tutorial 6 Question 3