INTRODUCTION

A triaxial shear test is a common method to measure the mechanical properties of many deformable
solids, especially soil (e.g., sand, clay) and rock, and other granular materials or powders. There are several
variations on the test.

In a triaxial shear test, stress is applied to a sample of the material being tested in a way which results
in stresses along one axis being different from the stresses in perpendicular directions. This is typically
achieved by placing the sample between two parallel platens which apply stress in one (usually vertical)
direction, and applying fluid pressure to the specimen to apply stress in the perpendicular directions.

The application of different compressive stresses in the test apparatus causes shear stress to develop in
the sample; the loads can be increased and deflections monitored until failure of the sample. During the
test, the surrounding fluid is pressurized, and the stress on the platens is increased until the material in the
cylinder fails and forms sliding regions within itself, known as shear bands. The geometry of the shearing
in a triaxial test typically causes the sample to become shorter while bulging out along the sides. The stress
on the platen is then reduced and the water pressure pushes the sides back in, causing the sample to grow
taller again. This cycle is usually repeated several times while collecting stress and strain data about the
sample. During the test the pore pressures of fluids or gasses in the sample may be measured using
Bishop's pore pressure apparatus.

In this experiment, the test used is unconsolidated undrained triaxial test. For this test, the loads are
applied quickly, and the sample is not allowed to consolidate during the test. The sample is compressed at a
constant rate which mean the strain is controlled.

Figure 1.0: common triaxial test set up

OBJECTIVE

 to determine the shear strength parameter of unsolidated undrained soil

APPARATUS & MATERIAL

Wire saw

Sample holder

Rubber membrane

Weighing balance

O ring
Moisture can

Universal pressure and priming panel ELE Traxial test apparatus

Membrane stretcher Trimming knife
SAMPLE PREPARATION

1. The soil sample soaked in the water for at least overnight

2. The sample then shaped into a cylindrical shape and placed in the cutter

3. The cutter was used to shape the sample into a perfect cylinder shape

4. The length of the sample was cut into 7.6cm for each sample

PROCEDURE

1. The loading ram was brought into contact with the loading cap. Then

cautiously the TRIAXIAL cell was raised to bring the loading ram in contact with the proving ring.

2. A cell pressure was then applied, this was done by opening the cell pressure supply valve.

3. Proper adjustment was giving to the proving ring's position, to make contact

with the loading ram, then zero the dial gauge.

4. The strain rate was set to 1% min, after this the machine was turned on.

5. The proving ring dial gauge readings (divisions) were recorded subsequent to the vertical defection.

6. The machine is to be switched off when either the proving ring gauge goes backwards or if a 16mm
deformation is achieved. In this lab test, the machine was switched off when the proving ring gauge started
going backwards.

7. The cell pressure valve was closed and drained of water into the water cylinder. Then cautiously the cell
was lowered and the loading ram discharged. Then the Perspex cylinder top was removed and the soil
sample extracted.

8. The whole tested soil specimen was then used to determine a water content.

9. Then the above steps were repeated with cell pressure of 80kPa.
RESULT & CALCULATION

Specimen diameter, D = 3.8cm

Specimen length,
l0 = 7.6cm

2
D
Cross-sectional area of specimen=
π
2 () = 1.134×10 m
−3

Proving ring constant = 1.35 N/div

A0
Area of correction, A= (1−∈)

Δl
∈=
Strain, l0

P
σ=
Deviator stress, A

Table 1.0: data collected from UU test

Stress applied (kPa) 40 80

Mass of empty can, M1 (g) 6.8 7.3
Mass of can + wet sample, M2 (g) 142.6 152.7
Mas of can + 24hrs oven dry sample, M3 (g) 114.1 122.5
Mass of oven dry sample, M3-M1 (g) 107.3 115.2
Moisture loss, M2-M3 (g) 28.5 30.2
M 2−M 3 26.56 26.22
×100(%)
Moisture content, M 3−M 1

CALCULATION

For 40kPa

when ΔL=0 .30 mm

 −3
Δl 0.30×10 m
=
The strain, = l 0 7 .6×10−2 m = 0.0039

A0 1. 134×10−3 m2
= =1 . 138×10−3 m
Then the area correction, A= (1−∈) (1−0. 0039 )

P×10−3 14×10−3
=
Deviator stress = A 1 .138×10−3 m =12.30 kPa

*calculation for the other Δl and 80kpa sample are the same and shown in table 2.0 & 3.0

TABLE 2.0: result for calculation 40kPa sample

Compression of Strain PR Force,F Area of Deviator stress

specimen,
Δl Reading (div) (N) Correction,A (kPa)
(mm) ∈=
l0
(m)
0.30 0.0039 4.52 14 0.001138 12.30
0.60 0.0079 5.04 14 0.001143 12.25
0.90 0.0118 5.33 17 0.001148 14.80
1.20 0.0158 5.93 17 0.001152 14.76
1.50 0.0197 6.30 19 0.001157 16.42
1.80 0.0237 6.74 20 0.001162 17.21
2.10 0.0276 7.33 21 0.001166 18.01
2.40 0.0316 7.56 23 0.001171 19.64
2.70 0.0355 8.15 23 0.001176 19.56
3.00 0.0395 8.52 26 0.001181 22.02
3.30 0.0434 8.89 26 0.001187 21.90
3.60 0.0474 9.48 29 0.001190 24.37
3.90 0.0513 9.78 29 0.001195 24.27
4.20 0.0553 10.37 32 0.001200 26.67
4.50 0.0592 10.74 32 0.001205 26.56
4.80 0.0632 11.04 32 0.001211 26.42
5.10 0.0671 11.11 32 0.001216 26.32
5.40 0.0711 11.11 32 0.001221 26.208
5.70 0.0750 11.19 32 0.001226 26.10
 6.00 0.0789 11.48 34 0.001231 27.62
6.30 0.0829 11.78 34 0.001237 27.49
6.60 0.0868 11.93 34 0.001242 27.38
6.90 0.0908 12.22 35 0.001247 28.07
7.20 0.0947 12.67 37 0.001253 29.53
7.50 0.0987 13.19 37 0.001258 29.411
7.80 0.1026 13.41 40 0.001264 31.65
8.10 0.1066 14.07 40 0.001269 31.52
8.40 0.1105 14.44 42 0.001275 32.94
8.70 0.1145 14.81 43 0.001281 33.57
9.00 0.1184 14.88 43 0.001286 33.44
9.30 0.1224 15.19 44 0.001292 34.06
9.60 0.1236 15.48 45 0.001298 34.67
9.90 0.1303 15.19 43 0.001304 32.98
10.20 0.1342 15.03 43 0.001310 32.82
10.50 0.1382 15.03 43 0.001316 32.67

TABLE 3.0: result for calculation 80 kPa sample

Compression of Strain PR Force,F Area of Deviator stress

specimen,
Δl Reading (div) (N) Correction (kPa)
(mm) ∈=
l0
(A)

0.30 0.0039 5.19 21 0.001138 18.45

0.60 0.0079 7.41 23 0.001143 20.12
0.90 0.0118 8.15 26 0.001148 22.64
1.20 0.0158 8.96 29 0.001152 25.17
1.50 0.0197 10.37 34 0.001157 29.39
1.80 0.0237 11.703 35 0.001162 30.12
2.10 0.0276 12.44 44 0.001166 37.74
2.40 0.0316 15.63 47 0.001171 40.14
2.70 0.0355 16.89 50 0.001176 42.52
3.00 0.0395 17.78 51 0.001181 43.18
3.30 0.0434 17.78 52 0.001187 43.81
3.60 0.0474 17.78 52 0.001190 43.70
3.90 0.0513 17.78 52 0.001195 43.51
4.20 0.0553 17.85 53 0.001200 44.17
4.50 0.0592 17.85 55 0.001205 45.64
4.80 0.0632 18.52 55 0.001211 45.42
5.10 0.0671 18.89 58 0.001216 47.70
5.40 0.0711 19.26 58 0.001221 47.50
5.70 0.0750 19.63 58 0.001226 47.31
6.00 0.0789 19.63 58 0.001231 47.12
6.30 0.0829 19.63 58 0.001237 46.89
6.60 0.0868 19.63 58 0.001242 46.70
6.90 0.0908 19.85 58 0.001247 46.51
7.20 0.0947 20.00 58 0.001253 46.29
7.50 0.0987 20.15 58 0.001258 46.10
7.80 0.1026 20.59 61 0.001264 48.26
8.10 0.1066 20.67 61 0.001269 48.07
8.40 0.1105 21.41 61 0.001275 47.84
8.70 0.1145 21.41 61 0.001281 47.62
9.00 0.1184 21.41 64 0.001286 49.77
9.30 0.1224 21.48 64 0.001292 49.54
9.60 0.1236 22.15 65 0.001298 50.08
9.90 0.1303 22.22 67 0.001304 51.38
10.20 0.1342 22.44 67 0.001310 51.15
10.50 0.1382 22.74 67 0.001316 50.91
10.80 0.1421 22.89 68 0.001322 51.44
11.10 0.1461 22.89 68 0.001328 51.20
11.40 0.1500 22.89 68 0.001334 50.97
11.70 0.1539 22.89 69 0.001340 51.49
12.00 0.1579 22.89 69 0.001347 51.22
12.30 0.1618 22.89 69 0.001353 51.00
12.60 0.1658 22.89 68 0.001360 50
12.90 0.1697 22.96 70 0.001366 51.24
13.20 0.1737 23.70 67 0.001372 48.83
13.50 0.1776 24.07 71 0.001379 51.48
13.80 0.1816 23.70 72 0.001386 51.95
14.10 0.1855 24.44 72 0.001392 51.72
14.40 0.1895 25.19 72 0.001399 51.47
14.70 0.1934 25.26 73 0.001406 51.92
15.00 0.1974 25.56 73 0.001413 51.66
15.30 0.2013 25.56 74 0.001420 50
15.60 0.2053 25.56 72 0.001427 50.46
15.90 0.2092 25.19 70 0.001434 48.81
16.20 0.2132 25.04 70 0.001441 48.58
16.50 0.2171 24.81 70 0.001448 48.34
GRAPH

60

50

40
deviator stress, kPa

30

20

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Axial strain,
Deviator stress Deviator stress2

Graph 1.0: axial strain against deviator stress for 40kPa and 80 kPa sample

25.96

17.335

σ3 σ1 σ1 =131.
=7

σ3 =
80
Figure 2.0: Mohr coulomb for UU test
CALCULATION:

TABLE 4.0: tabulation of stresses

Minor principal stress, Maximum deviator Major principal stress, Undrained shear stress,

σ 3 (kPa) stress,
σ max (kPa) σ 1 (kPa) S u (kPa)

40 34.67 74.67 17.335

80 51.92 131.92 25.96

For 40 kPa,

Major principal stress,

σ 1 =σ 3 +σ max

= 40kPa + 34.67kPa = 74.67kPa

σ 1 −σ 3
Undrained shear stress,
Su = 2

74 . 67−40
=17. 335 kPa
= 2

For 80kPa

Major principal stress,

σ 1 =σ 3 +σ max

= 80kPa + 51.92kPa = 131.92 kPa

σ 1 −σ 3
S
Undrained shear stress, u = 2

131. 92−80
=25 . 96 kPa
= 2
DISCUSSION

Unconsolidated undrained test is used to determine the undrained shear strength of a fully saturated
soil. The UU test consist of applying of a cell pressure to the soil sample without drainage of pore water
followed by increment of axial stress. The test is completed very quickly because of there is no
consolidation and shearing stages occurs.

From the graph 1.0, the deviator stress for 80kPa sample is greater than the 40kPa sample. From the
graph also, both deviator stress increase rapidly and remain unstable as the axial strain increase.
Throughout this experiment, the cross-sectional area of the soil sample does not remain constant and as the
load is increased the area correction is applied. When the axial load applied increasing, the corrected area
also will increasing

From the mohr coulomb shown, the major principal stress, σ 1 for 40kpa and 80kPa sample is
74.67kPa and 131.92kPa respectively. The undrained shear strength, Su for 40kpa and 80kPa sample is
17.335kPa and 25.96kPa respectively. As for the moisture content, the 40kpa sample is 26.56% meanwhile
for the 80 kPa is 26.22%. as the increase in cell pressure will increase the pore water pressure, the shear
strength will be constant throughout the experiment. Thus the pore water will cancel out the cell pressure
and constant undrained shear strength will be obtained

Throughout the experiment, there are few error occurs that will effect the result outcome of the
experiment. For example, parallax error occurs during the process of taking reading from the proving ring
dial gauge. This is because the dial gauge placed higher and it is hard for the eyes is to parallel with the dial
gauge. This will cause a slight miss reading. Other than that, the accuracy of a typical dial gauge is about
0.001mm for the smaller displacement. This make is hard for taking a accurate reading from the dial gauge.

Other than that, human error also occurs during this experiment. For example, when taking the reading
for the force at every 0.30 axial displacement, the reading is fast changing. Therefore the accuracy of the
reading is slightly decrease.
CONCLUSION

The shear strength of traxial test for 40kpa is 17.335kPa with the moisture content of 26.565.
meanwhile the shear strength of triaxial test for 80kPa is 25.96kPa with the moisture content of 26.22%. In
conclusion, objective is achieved.

REFERENCES

Anonymous. (n.d). shear strength. Retrieved from

http://www.civil.uwaterloo.ca/maknight/courses/CIVE353/Lectures/shear-strength.pdf

Arjun, N. (n.d). triaxial shear strength test on soil. Retrieved from

https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/triaxial-shear-strength-test-procedure-advantages/3422/

Anonymous. (n.d).traxial shear test. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triaxial_shear_test