Problem 1:

The foll. results were obtained from drained shear box tests on specimen of
sandy clay. The cross section of the shear box was 60 mm. x 60 mm.
Normal load (N) 200 400 800
Shearing force at failure (N) 204 260 356
If a specimen of the same soil is tested in tri axial compression with a cell
pressure of 100 kPa.
1. Find the cohesion of the sandy clay.
2. Find the angle of shearing resistance.
3. Find the total axial stress at which failure will be expected to occur.

Problem 2:
It is believed that the shearing strength of a soil under certain conditions in
the field soil under certain conditions in the field wherein c = 0.2 tons/sq.ft.
(cohesion) and ø = 22˚ (angle of internal friction.
1. What minimum lateral pressure would be required to prevent failure
of the soil at a given point if the vertical pressure were 4.5 tons/sq.ft.
2. Compute the shear stress at the plane of failure.
3. Compute the angle of shear failure with respect to the horizontal.

Problem 3:
A consolidated drained tri-axial test was conducted on a normally
consolidated clay. The results were as follows:
Chamber confining pressure = 300 kPa
Deviator stress = 400 kPa
1. Compute the angle of friction of the clay sample.
2. Compute the shear stress on the failure plane.
3. Compute the effective normal stress on the plane of max. shear.

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Problem 4:
A consolidated drained tri-axial test was conducted on a normally
consolidated clay. The results were as follows:
Chamber confining pressure = 138 kPa
Deviator stress = 258 kPa
1. Compute the friction angle of the soil.
2. Compute the normal stress at failure.
3. Compute the shear stress at failure.

Problem 5:
A cohesionless soil has a friction angle of 30˚ and deviator stress at failure
of 400 kPa.
1. Find the angle that the failure plane makes with the major principal
plane.
2. Find the confining pressure.
3. Find shear stress at the point on the failure plane.

Problem 6:
A tri-axial test on a normally consolidated soil sample has a confining
pressure of 300 kPa and a deviator stress of 300 kPa.
1. Compute the effective normal stress on the plane of max. shear.
2. Compute the stress angle of friction.
3. Compute the normal stress on the failure plane.

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Problem 7:
A specimen of saturated sand was subjected to a tri-axial test under a
chamber pressure of 400 kPa. The soil sample is cohesionless. If the
drained friction angle is 34˚.
1. Compute the total axial stress at which failure will be expected to
occur.
2. What would be the deviator stress at failure.
3. Compute the shearing stress at the plane of failure.

Problem 8:
In a tri-axial test for a normally consolidated soil, the normal stress at failure
is equal to 450 kPa and the shear stress at failure is equal to 300 kPa.
1. Compute the angle of friction.
2. Compute the angle of the failure plane with the major principal axis.
3. Compute the max. principal stress at failure.

Problem 9:
A normally consolidated soil was tested in a tri-axial test to determine the
angle of shearing resistance. A confining pressure equal to 50 kPa is used.
The sample fails when the axial load causes a stress of 160 kPa.
1. Compute the value of the deviators stress.
2. Compute the angle of the failure plane with the major principal axis.
3. Compute the value of the max. shear stress.

Problem 10:

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A tri-axial test was conducted on a normally consolidated soil and tabulated
the results as follows.
Sigma 1= 140 kPa and sigma 3 = 60 kPa
1. Compute the angle of internal friction.
2. Compute the value of the deviator stress.
3. Compute the shear stress on the failure.

Problem 11:
A normally consolidation soil was subjected to a tri axial test under a
chamber pressure of 300 kPa. If the drained angle of friction is 36˚
1. Compute the max. axial stress that causes failure.
2. Compute the deviators stress.
3. Compute the shear stress at the failure plane.

Problem 12:
The foll. data were obtained from tri axial test of a normally consolidated
soil.
Deviator stress at failure = 200 kPa
Angle to failure plane from the major principal plane = 58˚.
1. Compute the value of the lateral pressure in the cell.
2. Compute the shearing stress at the failure plane.
3. Compute the normal stress at the failure plane.

Problem 13:
A soil specimen is subjected to a tri axial test. The soil specimen is
cohesionless. If the shear stress that causes failure is 280 kPa and the
normal stress at failure is only 480 kPa.

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 1. Determine the angle of shearing resistance.
2. Determine the angle that the failure plane measured from the major
principal plane.
3. Determine the total axial stress at which failure is expected to occur.

Problem 14:
A sample of dry cohesionless soil is subjected to a tri axial test. The angle
of internal friction of the soil is 37˚. If the minor principal stress is 14 kPa.
1. Compute the max. deviator stress.
2. Compute the major principal stress if the sample is likely to fail.
3. Compute the max. shearing stress.

Problem 15:
The normal stress on the plane of max. shear in a tri axial test is equal to
480 kPa. The soil specimen tested was normally consolidated soil with a
max. principal stress failure equal to 640 kPa.
1. Chamber confining pressure:
2. Compute the angle that the failure plane makes with the principal
plane.
3. Compute the normal stress at the plane of failure.

Problem 16:
A cohesive soil specimen has a shearing resistance equal to 28˚ and a
cohesion of 32. If the max. shearing stress of the soil sample is equal to 64
kPa.

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 1. Compute the lateral pressure in the cell for a failure.
2. Compute the max. principal stress to cause failure.
3. Compute the normal stress at the point of max. shear.

Problem 17:
The max. stress that causes the failure of a cohesive soil specimen in a tri-
axial test is equal to 220 kPa. The angle of friction is equal to 25˚. If the
deviator stress at failure is equal to 140 kPa.
1. Compute the confining chamber pressure.
2. Compute the cohesion of soil.
3. Compute the shearing stress at the point of the failure plane.

Problem 18:
A tri axial test was performed on a cohesive soil sample. Failure occurred
when the normal stress was 400 kPa. and the shear stress is 300 kPa. The
angle of internal friction is 32˚.
1. Compute the cohesion of the soil.
2. Compute the deviators stress.
3. Compute the chamber pressure.

Problem 19:
The max. principal stress that causes failure of a cohesive soil specimen is
equal to 220 kPa. The angle of shearing resistance of the soil sample is
23˚. If the cell pressure is equal to 80 kPa.
1. Compute the cohesion of soil.
2. Compute the shearing stress at the point of the failure plane.
3. Compute the max. shearing stress.

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Problem 20:
The angle of internal friction of a cohesive soil which was tested using tri-
axial shear test is equal to 26.57˚. Failure occurred when the shearing
stress is 250 kPa and the normal stress is 480 kPa.
1. Compute the deviator stress at failure.
2. Compute the cohesion of soil.
3. Compute the max. principal stress at failure.

Problem 21:
A cohesive soil sample has an angle of shearing resistance of 26˚ and a
cohesion of 22 kPa. The max. principal stress at failure is equal to 600 kPa.
1. Compute for the minor principal stress.
2. Compute the principal stress at the point of failure plane.
3. Compute the shearing stress at the point of failure plane.

Problem 22:
In a drained tri-axial compression test, a saturated specimen of
cohesionless sand fails at a deviator stress of 450 kN/m2 when the cell
pressure was 135 kPa.
1. Find the effective angle of shearing resistance of sand.
2. Find the angle of inclination of the failure plane with the horizontal.
3. Find the shearing stress at the plane of failure.

Problem 23:
A granular soil is subjected to a minor principal stress of 200 kPa. If the
angle of internal friction is 30˚, compute the following:

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 1. The inclination of the plane of failure with respect to the direction of
the major principal stress.
2. The normal stress on the plane of failure.
3. The shear stress on the plane of failure.
4. The max. shear stress included.

Problem 24:
A tri-axial shear test is performed on a cohesionless soil sample. Failure
occurred when the normal stress is 6300 psi and the shear stress is 4200
psi.
1. Compute the angle of internal friction.
2. Compute the angle of the failure plane.
3. Compute the maximum principal stress.

Problem 25:
A series of shear tests were performed on a soil. Each test was carried out
until the sample sheared and the principal stresses for each test were as
follows.
Test Minor Major
No. Principal Stress Principal Stress
(kN/m2) (kN/m2)
1 200 600
2 300 900
3 400 1200
1. Compute the angle of friction of the soil.
2. Compute the cohesion of the soil.
3. Compute the shear stress at a depth of 4 m. below the formation of
the soil if the unit weight of dry soil is 16.4 kN/m3. Water table is
located at a depth of 4 m. below the ground surface sp.gr. = 2.60.
Assume the dry and saturated soil have the same void ratio.

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Problem 26:
The data shown in the following table were obtained in tri-axial
compression tests of three identical soil specimens.
Specimen Minor Major
Number Principal Stress Principal Stress
(kPa) (kPa)
1 50 230
2 100 385
3 150 540
1. Compute the angle of internal friction.
2. Compute the soils cohesion.
3. Compute the shearing stress at a depth of 6 m. below the ground if a
ground water table is located 2 m. below the ground surface if the soil
has a dry unit weight of 16 kN/m3 and a saturated unit weight of 20
kN/m3.

Problem 27:
A particular soil failed under a major principal stress of 300 kPa with a
corresponding minor principal stress of 100 kPa. If for the same soil the
minor principal stress had been 200 kPa.
1. Determine the major principal stress when the angle of internal
friction is 30˚.
2. Determine the angle of the failure plane from the major principal
plane.
3. Determine the major principal stress when the angle of internal
friction is ø = 0˚.

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Problem 28:
A sample of dry sand is subjected to a tri axial test. The angle of internal
friction is 37˚. The minor principal stress is 200 kPa.
1. What is the deviators stress when the failure occurs.
2. At what major principal stress will the soil fail.
3. Compute the effective normal stress at the point where shear occurs
at the failure plane.

Problem 29:
The shearing resistance of a soil is determined by the equation 𝜏 = 𝑐 +
𝜎 tan ∅. The two drained tri-axial tests are performed on the material. In the
first test the all round pressure is 200 kPa and failure occurs at an added
axial stress of 600 kPa. In the second test, all round pressure is 350 kPa
and failure occurs at an added axial stress of 1050 kPa.
1. What is the value of the angle of friction.
2. What is the value of the cohesion of soil
3. What is the shearing resistance of the soil at a depth of 4 m. if it has a
unit weight of 16.4 kN/m3.
Problem 30:
In a tri-axial shear test conducted on a soil sample having a cohesion of 12
kN/m2 and an angle of shearing resistance of 36˚. The cell pressure was
200 kPa.
1. Determine the effective major principal stress.
2. Determine the deviator stress at failure.
3. Determine the shearing stress at the plane of failure.

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Problem 30:
An undisturbed soil sample, 100 mm in diameter and 200 mm high was
tested in a tri-axial machine. The sample failed at an additional axial load of
3 kN with a vertical deformation of 20 mm. The failure plane was inclined at
50˚ to the horizontal and the cell pressure was 300 kPa.
1. Determine the angle of friction of the soil.
2. Determine the cohesion of the soil.

3. A further sample of the soil was tested in a shear box under the same
drainage conditions as used for tri-axial test. If the area of the box
was 3600 mm2 and the normal load was 540 N, what would have
been the failure shear stress.

Problem 31:
A cohesive soil has an angle of shearing resistance of 15˚ and a cohesion
of 30 kN/m2. A specimen of this soil is subjected to a tri-axial compression
test.
1. Find the value of the lateral pressure in the cell for failure to occur at
a total stress of 200 kN/m2.
2. Find the shearing stress at the failure plane.
3. Find the normal stress at the failure plane.

Problem 32:
A tri-axial compression test on a cohesive sample cylicdrical in shape
yields the following effective stresses.
Major principal stress = 8000 kPa

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Minor principal stress = 2000 kPa
Angle of inclination of rupture plane is 60˚ to the horizontal.
1. Find the deviator stress of failure.
2. Find the angle of friction,
3. Find the cohesion of the soil sample.

Problem 33:
The data shown in the following table were obtained in a tri-axial
compression tests of two identical soil specimens.

Specimen Confining Deviator

Problem 34:
Two samples of a soil were subjected to a shear tests. The results were as
follows:
Test No. σ3 (kN/m2) σ1 (kN/m2)
1 100 240
2 300 630
1. Compute the angle of friction of the soil.
2. Compute the cohesion of the soil.
3. In a further sample of the same soil was tested under a minor
principal stress of 200 kN/m2, what value of major principal stress can
be expected at failure?

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Problem 35:
Soil samples were taken from the sites and tri-axial tests were conducted
on soil samples for a consolidated-drained conditions.
Test Confining Total Axial
Pressure Stress at Failure
1 50 kPa 250 kPa
2 100 kPa 400 kPa
3 150 kPa 550 kPa
1. Compute the friction angle.
2. Compute the cohesion of soil.
3. If a fourth test were run on sample, with a confining pressure of 300
kPa, estimate the total axial stress at failure.
4. Compute the angle of shear failure with respect to the horizontal.

Problem 36:
A consolidated-drained triaxial test was conducted on a normally
consolidated clay. The results is as follows:
Chamber confining pressure of cell pressure = 300 kPa
Deviator stress = 250 kPa
1. Compute the angle of friction of the clay sample.
2. Compute the angle that the modified failure enveloped makes with
the hor.
3. Compute the effective normal stress on the plane of max. shear
stress.

Problem 37:
The results of two drained tri-axial tests on a saturated clay follow.
Cell Deviator
Pressure Stress
Specimen A 70 kPa 176 kPa
Specimen B 108 kPa 240 kPa
1. Compute the angle of friction.

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 2. Compute the cohesion of clay sample.
3. Compute the void ratio of the soil when the shearing stress at a depth
of 4 m. from the ground surface is 50 kPa. Sp.gr. of soil = 2.70 kPa.

Problem 38:
A drained triaxial compression test was carried on three specimens
prepared from the same soil. The results are given below:
Cell pressure (kPa) 100 200 300
Deviator stress at
failure (kPa) 224 448 672
1. Determine the angle of shearing resistance for the soil, assuming
zero pore pressure during the test.
2. Determine the drain values of cohesion.
3. Compute the unit weight of soil if the shearing stress at a depth of 6
m. is equal to 60 kPa.

Problem 39:
A shear box test was carried out on a soil sample as follows:
Test Vertical Horizontal
No. Stress Shear Stress
1 100 80
2 200 150
3 300 220
1. Compute the major principal stress at failure when the vertical stress
on the sample was 200 kPa.
2. Compute the minor principal stress at failure when the vertical stress
on the sample was 200 kPa.
3. Determine the inclination to the horizontal of theses stresses.

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Problem 40:
A tri-axial compression test on a cohesive sample cylindrical in shape
yields the following effective sress.
Major principal stress = 8 MN/m2
Minor principal stress = 2 MN/m2
1. Compute the angle of internal friction.
2. Compute the cohesion of the soil sample.
3. Compute the shear stress at the rupture plane.

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