Evaluation of soil strength parameters by

Triaxial shear Test

Dr. Mahesh G. Kalyanshetti

( mgkalyanshetti @witsolapur. org)
Associate Professor, Dept of Civil Engineering

Walchand Institute of Technology, Solapur

(www.witsolapur.org)
 Learning Outcome

At the end of this session,

Students will be able to perform the Triaxial Shear Test to
evaluate soil strength parameters i.e. cohesion (C) and soil
internal friction angle (Ø )

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Determination of shear strength parameters of soils
(C, Ø)
Field tests
Laboratory tests on specimens taken
from representative undisturbed
samples 1. Vane shear test
2. Pressuremeter
Most common laboratory tests to 3. Static cone penetrometer
determine the shear strength 4. Standard penetration test
parameters are,
1.Direct Box shear test
2.Triaxial shear test

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 svc + Ds
Laboratory Test 4

Simulating field conditions in the laboratory shc shc

svc
0
svc + Ds

0 0 shc shc
svc

svc t
0
Representative soil Step 1- Set the t
sample taken from specimen in the
the site apparatus and apply Step 2- Apply the svc
the initial stress corresponding field
condition stress conditions

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Triaxial shear Test

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Triaxial shear Test- sampling

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder

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 Triaxial shear Test- sampling

Edges of the sample Setting up the sample

are carefully trimmed in the triaxial cell
 Triaxial shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sample withis covered a rubber Cell is completely filled with water

membrane and sealed
Triaxial shear Test

Proving ring to measure

the deviator load

Dial gauge to measure

vertical displacement
Triaxial shear Test- Loading stages

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1
Review Question
1. The main advantage of triaxial compression test is
a)Failure takes place on weakest plane.
b)Complete control over drainage conditions.
c)Stress distribution on failure plane is uniform.
d)All of these.
2. Strength envelope of purely cohesive soil is

a) Horizontal b) vertical stress

c) inclined d) Curvilinear

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2
Answer
1. 25.The main advantage of Triaxial compression test is
a) Failure takes place on weakest plane.
b) Complete control over drainage conditions.
c) Stress distribution on failure plane is uniform.
d) All of these.
2. Strength envelope of purely cohesive soil is

a) Horizontal b) vertical stress

c) inclined d) Curvilinear

Walchand Institute of Technology, Solapur

 Triaxial shear Test- Drainage condition
UU (unconsolidated undrained) test: In this, cell pressure is applied without
allowing drainage. Then keeping cell pressure constant, deviator stress is
increased to failure without drainage.

CU (consolidated undrained) test: In this, drainage is allowed during cell

pressure application. Then without allowing further drainage, deviator stress is
increased keeping cell pressure constant.

CD (consolidated drained) test: This is similar to CU test except that as

deviator stress is increased, drainage is permitted. The rate of loading must be
slow enough to ensure no excess pore water pressure develops.

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 Triaxial shear Test deviatoric stress

Step 1 sc Step 2
(Ds = q)

sc sc sc
sc

sc sc+ q
Under all-around cell pressure sc Shearing (loading)

Is the drainage valve open? Is the drainage valve open?

yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated Drained Undrained

sample sample loading loading
 Drainage condition in Triaxial shear Test
Step 1 Step 2

Under all-around cell pressure s c Shearing (loading)

Is the drainage valve open? Is the drainage valve open?

yes no yes no

Consolidated Unconsolidated Drained Undrained

sample sample loading loading

CD test UU test

CU test
Triaxial shear Test – Drainage condition

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 Triaxial shear Test- Advantages

• The soil samples are subjected to uniform stresses and strains.

• Different combinations of confining and axial stresses can be applied.
• Drained and undrained tests can be carried out.
• Pore water pressures can be measured in undrained tests.
• The complete stress-strain behavior can be determined.

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Box shear Test- Comments

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Box Shear Test Triaxial shear Test

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Effective stress

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 Example

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 Example

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 Example

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 Example

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 Example

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 Example

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Unconfined compression Test

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Unconfined compression Test

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 Example

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Vane Shear Test

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Vane Shear Test

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Walchand Institute of Technology, Solapur
1. The shear resistance of a soil is constituted of
a. frictional resistance to translocation between individual soil particles at their point of
contact,
b. cohesion and adhesion between the surface of the soil particles,
c. structural resistance to displacement of the soil because of interlocking of the particles,
d. all of these.
2. Depending on the properties of the material, the failure envelope may
a. be straight or curved,
b. pass through the original of stress,
c. intersect the shear-stress axis,
d. all of these.
3. The advantage of a triaxial shear test over a direct shear test is that
a. it can be performed with complete control under all these drainage conditions;
b. precise measurement of pore pressure and change on volume during the test is not
possible;
c. both (a) and (b) hold;
d. none of these holds.
4. An unconfined compression test is good for
a. granular soils,
b. saturated cohesive soils,
c. both granular and cohesive soils,
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d. none of these.
1. The shear resistance of a soil is constituted of
a. frictional resistance to translocation between individual soil particles at their point of
contact,
b. cohesion and adhesion between the surface of the soil particles,
c. structural resistance to displacement of the soil because of interlocking of the particles,
d. all of these.
2. Depending on the properties of the material, the failure envelope may
a. be straight or curved,
b. pass through the original of stress,
c. intersect the shear-stress axis,
d. all of these.
3. The advantage of a triaxial shear test over a direct shear test is that
a. it can be performed with complete control under all these drainage conditions;
b. precise measurement of pore pressure and change on volume during the test is not
possible;
c. both (a) and (b) hold;
d. none of these holds.
4. An unconfined compression test is good for
a. granular soils,
b. saturated cohesive soils,
c. both granular and cohesive soils,
d. none of these. Walchand Institute of Technology, Solapur
5.Which one of the following is correct for Mohr-Coulomb’s law
a) τ = c – σ tanφ, b) τ = c – σ cotφ,
c) τ = c + σ tanφ, d) τ = c + σ cotφ,
6. The angle of internal friction (φ ) of a soil depends on
a) shape and roughness,
b) state of packing and amount of interlocking,
c) lateral pressure,
d) all of these.
7. The shear test in which full consolidation occurs and no excess pore pressure is set up at any stage is
known as
a)CD test, b) a CU test
c)UU test, d) none of these
8. The shear test in which soil samples are allowed to soften under applied pressure and then
sheared under conditions of no drainage is known as
a) CD test, b) a CU test
c)UU test, d) none of these

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5.Which one of the following is correct for Mohr-Coulomb’s law
a) τ = c – σ tanφ, b) τ = c – σ cotφ,
c) τ = c + σ tanφ, d) τ = c + σ cotφ,
6. The angle of internal friction (φ ) of a soil depends on
a) shape and roughness,
b) state of packing and amount of interlocking,
c) lateral pressure,
d) all of these.
7. The shear test in which full consolidation occurs and no excess pore pressure is set up at any stage is
known as
a)CD test, b) a CU test
c)UU test, d) none of these
8. The shear test in which soil samples are allowed to soften under applied pressure and then
sheared under conditions of no drainage is known as
a) CD test, b) CU test
c)UU test, d) none of these

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9. A clayey soil is having unconfined compressive strength of 40 kPa , its cohesion is
a) 80 kPa b) 20 kPa c)10 kPa d) 90 kPa

10. For sandy soil, the angle of internal friction is 450. If the major principle stress is 60kN/m2 at
failure, then corresponding minor principle stress in will be
a) 15.4kN/m2 b) 10.29kN/m2 c) 18.24kN/m2 d) None

11. The effective friction angle of a saturated cohesionless soil is 380 .

The ratio of shear stress to normal stress on the failure plane is
a) 0.781 b) 0.616 c) 0.488 d) 0.438

12. In a drained triaxial compression test a saturated specimen of a cohesionless sand

fails under a deviator stress of 3 kgf/cm2 when the cell pressure is 1 kgf/cm2. .
The effective angle of shearing resistance of sand is about
a) 370 b) 450 c) 530 d) 200

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9. A clayey soil is having unconfined compressive strength of 40 kPa , its cohesion is
a) 80 kPa b) 20 kPa c)10 kPa d) 90 kPa

10. For sandy soil, the angle of internal friction is 450. If the major principle stress is 60kN/m2 at
failure, then corresponding minor principle stress in will be
a) 15.4kN/m2 b) 10.29kN/m2 c) 18.24kN/m2 d) None

11. The effective friction angle of a saturated cohesionless soil is 380 .

The ratio of shear stress to normal stress on the failure plane is
a) 0.781 b) 0.616 c) 0.488 d) 0.438

12. In a drained triaxial compression test a saturated specimen of a cohesionless sand

fails under a deviator stress of 3 kgf/cm2 when the cell pressure is 1 kgf/cm2. .
The effective angle of shearing resistance of sand is about
a) 370 b) 450 c) 530 d) 200

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References
1. Gopal Ranjan, ‘Basic and Applied soil Mechanics’ , New Age International
Limited, New Delhi

2. Dr. B. C. Punmia, Ashok Kumar Jain, ‘Soil Mechanics and foundations’, Laxmi
Publications, New Delhi

3. C. Venkatramaiah, ‘Geotechnical Engineering’, New Age International Publishers

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Thank You

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