INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI

Department of Civil Engineering

CVP321 Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

Grading Rubric Sheet

Group #: 3 Entry Number: 2022CE11548

Student Name: Aadya Shree Lab Instructor: Harsha Vardhan Kurugodu

Cover Memo (8): ______________________________________________

Follow the proper outline of the report
Describe the procedure and exceptions
Describe the results of the obtained data
Refer to and describe all attachments
Detailed discussions on the results obtained and conclusions
Describe major problems/sources of error with the data or laboratory
Describe a summary of the report
Ensure neatness, grammar, and spelling

Graphs & Tables (4): _________________________________________

Graphs, tables, and diagrams and their captions properly formatted
Ensuring the readability of the presented data
Axes labeled with units
Completeness of data

Sample Calculations (2): ______________________________________

Basic equations used presented with appropriate units

Data (4): ____________________________________________________

Quality of data
Accuracy of data processing
Care in documenting all the data

Participation (2): _____________________________________________

Contributing to lab group work
Carefully log the data in your notebook
Processing preliminary data during the lab
Clean up

Comments:

Grade: ___ / 20
 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI
Department of Civil Engineering

CVP321 Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

MEMORANDUM

To: CVP321 LI Date: 19/10/2024

Fr: Aadya Shree

Subject: Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Triaxial Compression Test

Purpose: The purpose of this laboratory exercise is to determine the effect of confining stress on the
shear strength of clays and to determine total stress shear strength parameters (c, ϕ) of the clays.

Materials:
Triaxial Sample framer, wire saw, cradle Seamless rubber membrane and stretcher, O-rings, Triaxial
test cell, plastic end caps, Triaxial test apparatus, spatula, oil/grease, vernier calipers, tin cans,
weighing balance.
Results:
The results obtained are as follows:
1. Confining stress: 100 kPa
Deviatoric stress: 78.778 kPa
σ1 = 178.778 kPa
Strain: 6.182%
2. Confining stress: 200 kPa
Deviatoric stress: 46.087 kPa
σ1 = 246.087 kPa
Strain: 9.868%
3. Confining stress: 300kPa
Deviatoric stress: 58.467 kPa
σ1 = 358.467 kPa
Stain: 10.208%
c = 46.913 kPa
ϕ = 3.066o

Discussion:
The Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial (UU) test is a rapid testing method to determine the shear
strength of a soil sample. In this test, the sample remains unconsolidated, with no drainage occurring
during the process. It is primarily conducted on cohesive soils, such as clay, to evaluate their
undrained shear strength.

When the load is applied, it is distributed between the soil structure and the pore water pressure. Since
the test conditions are undrained, there is no dissipation of pore water pressure, which allows for only
the measurement of total stress, not effective stress. As a result, the UU test is tailored for Total Stress
analysis, and there is no requirement to measure the pore water pressure.

Initially, a linear relationship exists between stress and strain. As the test progresses, this relationship
becomes non-linear, with stress increasing to a peak value and then decreasing. This peak in the stress-
strain curve, known as the saddle point, signifies the point of failure. Beyond this point, additional
loading causes the soil to weaken, eventually reaching a residual strength level.

During our experiment, we observed a bulging (barrel-shaped) failure, where the sample expanded
outward at its center while largely retaining its shape at the ends.

However, the test results differed from theoretical expectations. Ideally, the tangent should align with
the x-axis, but we found the shearing angle to be 3.066°. Possible reasons for this discrepancy include:
1. Variations in moisture conditions across the three tests.
2. Use of different apparatus for each test.
3. Potential human errors during the experiment.
Summary:
We conducted the Unconsolidated Undrained test to evaluate the shear strength of saturated clay
samples and observed the failure pattern that developed in the specimen..

References:
 IS 2720 (Part XI) – Determination of the shear strength parameters of a specimen tested in
Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Compression without the measurement of pore water
pressure.
 ASTM D2850-23 – Standard test method for unconsolidated undrained triaxial compression
test of cohesive soil.

Attachment/Appendices:
 Table 1. Summary of sample dimensions, moisture content and measured shear strength.
 Table 2. Stress-strain response during the UU test for different soil specimens.
 Figure 1. Plot between axial stress (q) and axial strain (ε) in %.
 Figure 2. Determination of the shear strength parameters (c, ϕ) using the Mohr Circles
for all the test specimens.

Appendixes/Attachments

Table 1. Summary of sample dimensions, moisture content and measured shear strength.
SPECIMEN
Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3
SPECIFICATION
Initial diameter, Do (mm) 38

Initial length, Lo (mm) 76.1

Initial Area, Ao (cm2) 11.34

Initial Volume, Vo (cm³) 86.29
Mass of empty Cradle (gm) 358.4
Mass of Cradle with
508.1
specimen (gm)
Mass of specimen (gm) 149.7
Bulk Density (kg/m3) 1734.84
 WATER CONTENT Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3
Before Test Before Test Before Test
After After After
Sample taken from Test Test Test
Top Bottom Top Bottom Top Bottom

Container No. B-16 5126

Wt. of Container (gm) 13 12.8
Wt. of Cont. + Wet Soil (gm) 38 158.7
Wt. of Cont. + Dry Soil (gm) 31.5 120.3
Wt. of Water (gm) 6.5 38.4
Wt. of Dry Soil (gm) 18.5 107.5
Water Content (%) 35.14 35.72
Bulk Density (gm/cc) 1.735 1.735
Dry Density (gm/cc) 1.284 1.279
Degree of Saturation, S (%) 17.03 17.24

SHEAR STRENGTH Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3

Confining Stress, σ3 (kPa) 100 200 300
Deviatoric Stress, q (kPa) 78.778 46.087 58.467
Major Principal Stress, σ1
246.087 358.467
(kPa) 178.778
Axial Strain at Failure, ε (%) 6.182 0.09868 0.10208
Cohesion, c (kPa) 46.913
Friction Angle, ϕ (degrees) 3.066

Table 1. Stress-strain response during the UU test for Specimen No 1.

Proven Ring Constant (N/div) (1657)

Least count of the deformation dial gauge, LC (mm/div) 0.01mm/div
Specimen No. 2 _________________ Confining Stress 200kPa
Deformation, ΔL Strain Corrected Load
Elapsed Compressive
# Area, Ac
Time Div mm ε =ΔL/Lo Div N Stress, q (N/cm²)
(cm²)

1 0 0 0 11.34 0.12 45.0748 3.97485

2 25 0.25 0.003285 11.37738 0.04 19.2548 1.692376
3 50 0.5 0.00657 11.415 0.06 25.7098 2.252282
4 75 0.75 0.009855 11.45287 0.07 28.9373 2.526641
5 100 1 0.013141 11.491 0.08 32.1648 2.79913
6 125 1.25 0.016426 11.52938 0.08 32.1648 2.789812
7 150 1.5 0.019711 11.56802 0.08 32.1648 2.780494
8 175 1.75 0.022996 11.60691 0.09 35.3923 3.049243
9 200 2 0.026281 11.64607 0.09 35.3923 3.03899
10 225 2.25 0.029566 11.6855 0.1 38.6198 3.304934
11 250 2.5 0.032852 11.72519 0.1 38.6198 3.293746
12 275 2.75 0.036137 11.76515 0.1 38.6198 3.282558
13 300 3 0.039422 11.80539 0.11 41.8473 3.544762
14 325 3.25 0.042707 11.8459 0.11 41.8473 3.532639
15 350 3.5 0.045992 11.88669 0.11 41.8473 3.520516
16 375 3.75 0.049277 11.92777 0.12 45.0748 3.77898
17 400 4 0.052562 11.96913 0.12 45.0748 3.765922
18 425 4.25 0.055848 12.01077 0.12 45.0748 3.752864
19 450 4.5 0.059133 12.05271 0.12 45.0748 3.739806
20 475 4.75 0.062418 12.09494 0.13 48.3023 3.993596
21 500 5 0.065703 12.13747 0.13 48.3023 3.979603
22 525 5.25 0.068988 12.1803 0.13 48.3023 3.96561
23 550 5.5 0.072273 12.22343 0.13 48.3023 3.951617
24 575 5.75 0.075558 12.26687 0.14 51.5298 4.200731
25 600 6 0.078844 12.31061 0.14 51.5298 4.185803
26 625 6.25 0.082129 12.35467 0.14 51.5298 4.170875
27 650 6.5 0.085414 12.39905 0.14 51.5298 4.155947
28 675 6.75 0.088699 12.44375 0.15 54.7573 4.400386
29 700 7 0.091984 12.48877 0.15 54.7573 4.384523
30 725 7.25 0.095269 12.53412 0.15 54.7573 4.36866
31 750 7.5 0.098555 12.5798 0.16 57.9848 4.609359
32 775 7.75 0.10184 12.62581 0.16 57.9848 4.592561
33 800 8 0.105125 12.67216 0.16 57.9848 4.575763
34 825 8.25 0.10841 12.71885 0.16 57.9848 4.558965
35 850 8.5 0.111695 12.76589 0.16 57.9848 4.542168
36 875 8.75 0.11498 12.81327 0.16 57.9848 4.52537
37 900 9 0.118265 12.86101 0.16 57.9848 4.508572
38 925 9.25 0.121551 12.90911 0.16 57.9848 4.491774
39 950 9.5 0.124836 12.95757 0.16 57.9848 4.474976

Stress Vs Strain For Confining Pressure of 100Kpa

90
80
70
60
50
Stress(kpa) 40
30
20
10
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Strain(%)
Figure 1. Plot between axial stress (q) and axial strain (ε) in %.

Figure 2. Determination of the shear strength parameters (c, ϕ) using the Mohr Circles for all the test
specimens.

Appendix-1 Sample Calculations

Equation for proving ring:
y = 322.75x + 6.3448
y: Load (N)
x: proving ring reading
for x = 0.12
y = 0.12 × 322.75+ 6.3448 = 45.0748 N

strain = ΔL/Lo = 0.25/76.1 = 0.0032851 = 0.3285%

σd = maximum compressive stress = 4.6087N/cm2 = 46.087 kPa

σ1 = σd + σ3 = 46.087 + 200 = 246.087kPa

Calculating (c, ϕ) from the equation:

y = -0.0535704835825x + 46.91261485589325
c = 46.913 kPa
ϕ = tan-1(0.0535704835825) = 3.066o
Appendix 2: Raw Data/Pictures/Spreadsheet