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Unconfined Compression Test

The unconfined compression test is used to determine the shear strength of cohesive soils. It involves applying increasing vertical pressure to a cylindrical soil specimen and measuring vertical strain until failure. There are two types of testing devices - controlled-stress which loads the sample incrementally, and controlled-strain which applies strain at a uniform rate. The test procedure involves preparing undisturbed or remolded soil samples that meet size requirements, and loading them in the device while recording load and deformation values until failure occurs. Calculations are made to determine axial strain, corrected area, axial compression stress, sensitivity ratio, and shearing stress.

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Thrisha Soquitoso
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76 views3 pages

Unconfined Compression Test

The unconfined compression test is used to determine the shear strength of cohesive soils. It involves applying increasing vertical pressure to a cylindrical soil specimen and measuring vertical strain until failure. There are two types of testing devices - controlled-stress which loads the sample incrementally, and controlled-strain which applies strain at a uniform rate. The test procedure involves preparing undisturbed or remolded soil samples that meet size requirements, and loading them in the device while recording load and deformation values until failure occurs. Calculations are made to determine axial strain, corrected area, axial compression stress, sensitivity ratio, and shearing stress.

Uploaded by

Thrisha Soquitoso
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Unconfined Compression Test

The activity aims to introduce to the student a method of determining the shear strength of cohesive soils
using unconfined compression test. The students shall be able to determine the shear strength of cohesive
soil and describe the main feature of unconfined compression test.

The unconfined compression test is the simplest of the shear test performed on soils. It is similar to the
compression test on wood, steel, concrete and other materials. It consists of applying a gradually
increasing vertical pressure to a carefully prepared cylindrical or prismatic soil specimen and making
simultaneous measurements of the vertical strain to failure.
It is used primarily to determine the shear strength of cohesive soils, which is equal to about one-half of the
unconfined compression testing devices, the “controlled-stress” device and “controlled-strain” device. The
controlled-stress device is one in which the sample is loaded in increments. The usual procedure for
loading the sample is to “load on the minute and read on the half minute”. The test is run with a stopwatch
or second timer and increments of load are applied on the even minutes and the readings of the vertical
strain are taken on the half minutes.
The controlled strain type of testing device applies a strain on sample at a controlled rate. The usual
procedure form testing is to apply the strain to the sample at a uniform rate and to read the load at
increments of the vertical dial movement. For example, the load might be read at every 10 divisions of
vertical dial movement. This test method covers the determination of the unconfined compression strength
of soil in the undisturbed, remolded or compacted condition, using the “controlled-strain” application of the
axial load.
Undisturbed samples are used for strength determination, sometimes, these are remolded and similarity
tested to get the lost strength or what is known as “Sensitivity”. Sensitivity is defined as the ratio of the
undisturbed compressive strength to the corresponding remolded strength of cohesive soils.
Materials for Unconfined Compression Test:
1. Unconfined compression machine.
2. Sample molder and tamper
3. Extensometer Assembly.
4. Protractor and caliper
5. Wax Paper.
6. Oven with temperature control
7. drying cans
8. balances
9. pans

Procedure for Unconfined Compression Test:


A. SIZE OF SAMPLE
Min. diameter – 30 mm (1.3 inches) to max. diameter 72 mm (2.8 inches)
Min. height to diameter ration shall be 2 to 2.5
B. SAMPLE PREPARATION:
B.1.Undisturbed Sample:
1. Prepare sample in accordance with Experiment no. 4
2. Trim and cut to the desired size as specified in A.
B.2.Remolded Sample:
1. After testing the undisturbed sample, wrap in wax paper or any non-absorptive material. Break up the
sample and knead thoroughly with the fingers until it is uniform.
Note: Avoid entrapping air in the specimen and preserve the natural water content of the soil
2. Place sample in the cylindrical mold in successive layers. Each layer should be sufficiently tamped in
order to obtain a uniform density in the entire sample.
3. Remove the sample form mold with an extruder and square both ends and determine the mass and
dimensions of the test specimen.
4. Start the test immediately.
C. TESTING OF SAMPLE: (Remolded or Undisturbed)
1. Place the specimen in the loading device so that it is centered on the bottom platen. Adjust the loading
device carefully so that the upper platen just makes contact with the specimen. Zero the deformation
indicator (dial).
2. Apply the load so as to produce an axial strain at a rate of ½ to 2% per minute.
3. Record load, deformation and time values at sufficient interval (usually at every 30 seconds) to define
the shape of the stress-strain curve (usually 10 to 15 points are sufficient).
Note: The rate of strain should be chosen so that the time to failure does not exceed about
15 minutes.
a. For softer materials that will exhibit larger deformation at failure should be tested at a higher
rate of strain.
b. Stiff or brittle materials that will exhibit small deformations at failure should be tested at a lower
rate of strain.
4. Continue loading until the load values decreases with increasing strain, or until 15% strain is reached.
5. Remove specimen from the machine, and take it to the moist room. Make a sketch of the test specimen
at failure showing the slope angle of the failure surface if the angle is measurable, with respect to the
horizontal plane.
6. Determine the water content of the test specimen using the entire specimen.
CALCULATIONS:
1. Axial Strain (unit strain) = L/Lo x 100 + 
Where:
L = length change of specimen as read from deformation indicator, mm
Lo = initial length of test specimen, mm
 = axial strain
2. Corrected Area (A):
At + 2Ab + Am
A = Ao / (1-) ; Ao =
4
Where:
2
Ao = initial average cross-sectional area of the specimen, mm
 = Axial strain
At = Area at top of sample
Ab = Area at bottom of sample
Am = Area at middle of sample
3. Axial Compression Stress (c) (Normal stress)

c = P/A
Where:
P = given applied load
2
A = corresponding ave. cross-sectional area (corrected), mm
P = A1 = proving ring dial movement
Kpr = proving-ring constant in N/mm (Ib/in)

4. Sensitivity = peak undisturbed strength


Peak remolded strength
If there is no peak strength, use strength at 15% strain.
5. Shearing Stress = peak undisturbed compressive strength 2
6. Plotting:
Construct a graph showing the relationship between compressive stress (ordinate) and
axial strain (abscissa).

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