Unconfined compression (UC) Test

Purpose:
The primary purpose of this test is to determine the unconfined compressive
strength, which is then used to calculate the unconsolidated undrained shear
strength of the clay under unconfined conditions. According to the ASTM
standard, the unconfined compressive strength (qu) is defined as the compressive
stress at which an unconfined cylindrical specimen of soil will fail in a simple
compression test. In addition, in this test method, the unconfined compressive
strength is taken as the maximum load attained per unit area, or the load per unit
area at 15% axial strain, whichever occurs first during the performance of a test.

In the unconfined compression test, the cylindrical soil specimen loaded axially
(compressive axial stress,σ1) without a lateral support, which is mean that the
minor principal stress σ2 & σ3 (confining pressure) is zero as shown in Fig.(1).

Figure 1: A small cylindrical element subjected to only σ1 axial compression.

The Mohr circle can be drawn for stress condition at failure . As the minor
principal stress is zero , the Mohr circle passes through the origin as shown in
Fig . ( 2 ) . The failure envelope is horizontal (Φ = 0 ) . The cohesion intercept is
equal to the radius of the circle.

Figure 2: Mohr circle of the unconfined compression test in terms of total stress

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 Types of failure:
There are three types of failure:
1- Plastic Failure: the specimen bulges laterally into a barrel shape without
splitting as in Fig.3(a).
2- Brittle Failure: the specimen shears along one or more well defined surfaces
as in Fig.3(b).
3- Semi-plastic Failure: failure in a manner intermediate between (a) and (b) as
in Fig.3(c).

Figure 3: Typs of failure in unconfined compression test.

(a) bulging (b) Shearing (c) Shearing & bulging

Figure 4: Types of failure with their corresponding stress-strain plot

Standard Reference:
ASTM D 2166 - Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive Strength of
Cohesive Soil

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 Significance:
For soils, the undrained shear strength (Su) is necessary for the determination of
the bearing capacity of foundations, dams, etc. The undrained shear strength (Su)
of clays is commonly determined from an unconfined compression test. The
undrained shear strength (Su) of a cohesive soil is equal to one-half the
unconfined compressive strength (qu) when the soil is under the φ= 0 condition
(φ= the angle of internal friction). The most critical condition for the soil usually
occurs immediately after construction, which represents undrained conditions,
when the undrained shear strength is basically equal to the cohesion (c). This is
expressed as:

qu
Su = C =
2
Then, as time passes, the pore water in the soil slowly dissipates, and the
intergranular stress increases, so that the drained shear strength (S), given by
S = c + σ'tan φ, must be used. Where σ' = intergranular pressure acting
perpendicular to the shear plane; and σ' = (σ - u),σ = total pressure, and u = pore
water pressure; c' and (φ' are drained shear strength parameters).

Equipment:
Compression device, Load and deformation dial gauges, Sample trimming
equipment, Balance, Moisture can.

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Test Procedure:
(1) Extrude the soil sample from Shelby tube sampler. Cut a soil specimen so that the
ratio (L/d) is approximately between 2 and 2.5.
Where L and d, are the length and diameter of soil specimen, respectively.

(2) Measure the exact diameter of the top of the specimen at three locations 1200
apart, and then make the same measurements on the bottom of the specimen.
Average the measurements and record the average as the diameter on the data sheet.

(3) Measure the exact length of the specimen at three locations 120 0 apart, and then
average the measurements and record the average as the length on
the data sheet.

(4) Weigh the sample and record the mass on the data sheet.

(5) Calculate the deformation (AL) corresponding to 15% strain (e).

Strain (e) =ΔL/L0

Where L0 = Original specimen length (as measured in step 3).
(6) Carefully place the specimen in the compression device and center it on the
bottom plate. Adjust the device so that the upper plate just makes contact with the
specimen and set the load and deformation dials to zero.

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(7) Apply the load so that the device produces an axial strain at a rate of 0.5%to
2.0% per minute, and then record the load and deformation dial readings on the data
sheet at every 20 to 50 divisions on deformation the dial.

(8) Keep applying the load until (1) the load (load dial) decreases on the
specimen significantly, (2) the load holds constant for at least four deformation dial
readings, or (3) the deformation is significantly past the 15% strain that was
determined in step 5.

(9) Draw a sketch to depict the sample failure.

(10) Remove the sample from the compression device and obtain a sample for
water content determination. Determine the water content as in Experiment

Analysis:
Convert the dial readings to the appropriate load and length units , and enter these
values on the data sheet in the deformation and total load columns.
(Confirm that the conversion is done correctly, particular Iy proving dial gage
readings conversion into load)

(2) Compute the sample cross-sectional area A0 (d/2)2 . π

(3) Compute the strain, e =ΔL/L0

(4) Computed the corrected area, A= A0/(1-e)

(5) Using A', compute the specimen stress, Sc = P/A

(Be careful with unit conversions and use constant units)

(6) Compute the water content, w%.

(7) Plot the stress versus strain. Show qu as the peak stress (or at 15% strain) of
the test. Be sure that the strain is plotted on the abscissa.

(8) Draw Mohr's circle using qu from the last step and show the undrained shear
strength, Su = c (or cohesion) = qu/2.
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 Unconfined compression (UC) Test
Data Sheet:
Date Tested: August 30, 2002
Tested By: CEMM 315 Class, Gr. A

ProjectName-CEMM315Lab
Sample Number: ST-1 8-10
Visual Classification: Brown silty claw medium plasticity, moist CL.

Sample data:
Diameter (d) = 7.29 cm
Length (L0) = 14.78 cm
Mass = 1221.4 gm

Table 1: Moisture Content determination

Sample no. ST-1, 8-10

Moisture can number - Lid number A

MC = Mass of empty, clean can ± lid (gams) 15.6

MCMS = Mass of can, lid, and moist soil (grams) 45.7

MCDS = Mass of can, lid, and dry soil (grams) 39.5

Ms = Mass of soil solids (grams) 23.9

Mw = Mass of pore water (grams) 6.2

W = Water content, w% 25.94

Area= P/4 (7.29)2 = 41.74 cm2

Volume= P/4 (7.29)2. (14.78)= 616.9gm
Wet density = 1221.4 / 616.9=1.98 gm/cm3
Water content (w%) = 25.9%

Dry density(?d = =1.57gm/om3

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 Axial Strain (%)

C=qu/2

20 40 60 80

Normal Stress (σ), kPa

From the stress-strain curve and Mohr's circle:

Unconfined compressive strength (qu) = 72.0 KPa

Cohesion (c) = 36.0 kpa

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 Unconfined compression (UC) Test
Data Sheet:
Tested By:
Project Name:
Sample Number:
Visual Classification:

Sample data:
Diameter (d) =
Length (L0)
Mass =

Table 1: Moisture Content determination

Sample no.
Moisture can number - Lid number
MC Mass of empty, clean can + lid (grams)
MCMS = Mass of can, lid, and moist soil (grams)
MCDS = Mass of can, lid, and dry soil (grams)
Ms = Mass of soil solids (grams)
Mw Mass of pore water (grams)
W = Water content, w%

Area
Volume
Wet density
Watercontent(w%)
Dry density = ?

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10
 180

Axial Strain (%)

100

Normal Stress (kPa)

From the stress-strain curve and Mohr's circle:

Unconfined compressive strength (qu) =?

Cohesion (c) =?

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