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10.soil Shear Strength PDF

1. Shear strength is a soil's ability to resist sliding along internal surfaces and is influenced by factors like composition, state, and structure. 2. Soils generally fail in shear along a failure surface when the shear stress reaches the shear strength according to the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. 3. The Mohr-Coulomb criterion states that the shear strength of a soil is equal to its cohesion plus the normal stress times the tangent of its friction angle.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
61 views85 pages

10.soil Shear Strength PDF

1. Shear strength is a soil's ability to resist sliding along internal surfaces and is influenced by factors like composition, state, and structure. 2. Soils generally fail in shear along a failure surface when the shear stress reaches the shear strength according to the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. 3. The Mohr-Coulomb criterion states that the shear strength of a soil is equal to its cohesion plus the normal stress times the tangent of its friction angle.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Lecture-10

Shear Strength of Soils

1
Strength of different materials

Steel Concrete Soil

Tensile Compressive Shear


strength strength strength

Presence of pore water


Complex
behavior
2
What is Shear Strength?
• Shear strength in soils is the resistance to
deformation by continuous shear displacement of
soil particles produced by the action of shear stress.

Components of shear strength;


1. The friction between the individual soil grains at the
point of contact.
2. Cohesion between the surface of the soil particles.
3. The interlocking between soil particles.

3
Soil Failure and shear strength.
• Soil failure usually occurs in the form of
“shearing” along internal surface within the
soil.
• Thus, structural strength is primarily a
function of shear strength.
• Shear strength is a soils’ ability to resist
sliding along internal surfaces within the
soil mass.

4
Influencing Factors on Shear
Strength
• The shearing strength, is affected by:
– soil composition: mineralogy, grain size and grain size
distribution, shape of particles, pore fluid type and
content, ions on grain and in pore fluid.

– Initial state: State can be describe by terms such as:


loose, dense, over-consolidated, normally
consolidated, stiff, soft, etc.

– Structure: Refers to the arrangement of particles


within the soil mass; the manner in which the particles
are packed or distributed. Features such as layers,
voids, pockets, cementation, etc, are part of the
5
structure.
Mass Wasting: Shear Failure

6
Mass Wasting: Shear Failure

7
Shear failure
Soils generally fail in shear

embankment

strip footing

mobilized shear
resistance

failure surface

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface


reaches the shear strength.
8
Shear failure

failure surface
The soil grains slide over
each other along the
failure surface.

No crushing of
individual grains.

9
Shear failure mechanism

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface ()


reaches the shear strength (f).
10
Shear failure of soils
Soils generally fail in shear

Retaining
wall

11
Shear failure of soils
Soils generally fail in shear

Mobilized
Retaining
shear
wall
resistance

Failure
surface

At failure, shear stress along the failure surface


(mobilized shear resistance) reaches the shear strength.
12
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

Coulomb in 1776, for the first time gave a


failure theory. The theory states that

• Soil Materials essentially fail in shear. The


critical shear stress causing shear failure
depends upon the properties of material as
well as normal stress on the failure plane.
• The shear strength is equal to the shear
stress on a potential failure plane i.e. plane
of shear.
13
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

According to Mohr, the shear strength of soil


is function of normal stress.
i.e;
 f  F ( )
Coulomb modified the equation by Mohr by
adding an extra component known as
cohesion and defined shear strength of soil
as;
 f  c   tan 
14
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion

 f  c   tan 

friction angle
cohesion
f
c


f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take
without failure, under normal stress of . 15
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
(in terms of total stresses)

 f  c   tan 

Friction angle
Cohesion
f
c

f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without


failure, under normal stress of . 16
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
(in terms of effective stresses)

 f  c' ' tan  '


 '  u
’
u = pore water
Effective
pressure
cohesion Effective
f friction angle
c’
’ ’

f is the maximum shear stress the soil can take without


failure, under normal effective stress of ’. 17
Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion
Shear strength consists of two
components: cohesive and frictional.

f
 f  c   f tan 
f tan  frictional
 component
c c
f 
c and  are measures of shear strength.
18
Higher the values, higher the shear strength.
Mohr Circle of stress
’1

’
’3 ’3

Soil element q
’1

Resolving forces in  and  directions,

 1'   3'
 Sin2q ' 2
 '      
' 2 
' '
2
         
2 1 3
  
1 3

 2 
' ' ' '
 '  1 3  1 3 Cos 2q  2   
2 2
Mohr Circle of stress

' 2
 '      
' 2   1'   3'
' '

   
2 1 3
  
1 3
 2
 2 
 2    ’
 3'  1'
 1'   3'
2
Mohr Circles & Failure Envelope


Failure surface  f  c' ' tan  '

Y
Y
X X
’
Soil elements at different locations

Y ~ stable
X ~ failure
Mohr Circles & Failure Envelope
As loading progresses, Mohr
circle becomes larger…

GL


c
Y c
c

.. and finally failure occurs


when Mohr circle touches the
envelope
Orientation of Failure Plane
’1 Failure envelope
’
’3 ’3
 (’, f)
q (90 – q)
’1

’ q
 3'  1'   3'  1' ’
2

PD = Pole w.r.t. plane

Therefore,
q  45 + ’/2
90 – q  ’ = q
Mohr circles in terms of total & effective stresses

v v’ u

h h’ u
X
= X
+ X

effective stresses
total stresses

 h’ v ’ h v  or ’
u
Relationship Between Principle stresses at
failure
’v = ’1  Failure envelope in terms
of effective stresses

’h = ’3
X F
effective stresses
(’1  ’3)/2
K ’ c’ M A
X is on failure O ’ C ’1 ’
3

c’ Cot’ (’1 ’3)/2


Therefore,

   1'   3'    1'   3' 


c' Cot '  Sin '   
  2   2 
Mohr Coulomb failure criterion with Mohr circle
of stress

   1'   3'    1'   3' 


c' Cot '  Sin '   
  2   2 
( '
1 ) ( )
  3'  1'   3' Sin '2c' Cos '
 (1  Sin ')   (1  Sin ')  2c' Cos '
'
1
'
3

 
' ' (1  Sin ')  2c' Cos '
1 3
(1  Sin ') (1  Sin ')

 '   ' 
   Tan  45    2c' Tan 45  
'
1
'
3
2

 2  2
Determination of shear strength parameters of
soils (c,  or c’, ’)

Laboratory tests on Field tests


specimens taken from
representative undisturbed
samples
Most common laboratory tests
to determine the shear strength 1. Vane shear test
parameters are, 2. Torvane
3. Pocket penetrometer
1.Direct shear test 4. Fall cone
2.Triaxial shear test 5. Pressuremeter
3.Unconfined Compression Test 6. Static cone penetrometer
7. Standard penetration test
Other laboratory tests include,
Direct simple shear test, torsional
ring shear test, plane strain triaxial
test, laboratory vane shear test, 27
laboratory fall cone test
Laboratory tests
Field conditions

A representative
soil sample
z z
vc vc + 

hc hc hc hc

vc vc + 

Before construction After and during


28
construction
vc + 
Laboratory tests
hc hc
Simulating field conditions
in the laboratory
0 vc vc + 

vc
0 0 hc hc

0 vc 

Representative Step 1 vc


soil sample Step 2
taken from the Set the specimen in
site the apparatus and Apply the
apply the initial corresponding field
stress condition stress conditions 29
Direct shear test
Schematic diagram of the direct shear apparatus

30
Direct shear test
Direct shear test is most suitable for consolidated drained tests
specially on granular soils (e.g.: sand) or stiff clays

Preparation of a sand specimen

Porous
plates

Components of the shear box Preparation of a sand specimen


31
Direct shear test
Preparation of a sand specimen Pressure plate

Leveling the top surface Specimen preparation


of specimen completed

32
Direct shear test
P Steel ball
Test procedure
Pressure plate
Porous
plates

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation

33
Direct shear test
P Steel ball
Test procedure
Pressure plate
Porous
plates

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation

Step 2: Lower box is subjected to a horizontal displacement at a constant34rate


Direct shear test
Dial gauge to
measure vertical
Shear box displacement

Proving ring
to measure
shear force

Loading frame to Dial gauge to


apply vertical load measure horizontal
displacement

35
Direct shear test
Analysis of test results

Normal force (P)


  Normal stress 
Area of cross section of the sample

Shear resistance developed at the sliding surface (S)


  Shear stress 
Area of cross section of the sample

Note: Cross-sectional area of the sample changes with the horizontal


displacement

36
Direct shear tests on sands
Stress-strain relationship

Shear stress, 
Dense sand/
OC clay
f
Loose sand/
f NC clay

Shear displacement

37
Direct shear tests on sands
How to determine strength parameters c and 
Shear stress at failure, f

Mohr – Coulomb failure envelope


Normal stress, 

38
Direct shear tests on sands
Some important facts on strength parameters c and  of sand

Direct shear tests are


Sand is cohesionless drained and pore water
hence c = 0 pressures are
dissipated, hence u = 0

Therefore,
’ =  and c’ = c = 0

39
Direct shear tests on clays
In case of clay, horizontal displacement should be applied at a very
slow rate to allow dissipation of pore water pressure (therefore, one
test would take several days to finish)

Failure envelopes for clay from drained direct shear tests


Shear stress at failure, f

Overconsolidated clay (c’ ≠ 0)

Normally consolidated clay (c’ = 0)


’

Normal force, 

40
Triaxial Shear Test
Piston (to apply deviatoric stress)

Failure plane
O-ring

impervious
membrane
Soil sample Soil
at failure sample
Porous
Perspex stone
cell
Water

Cell pressure
Back pressure Pore pressure or
pedestal volume change

41
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sampling tubes

Sample extruder42
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Edges of the sample Setting up the sample


are carefully trimmed in the triaxial cell
43
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)

Sample is covered
with a rubber Cell is completely
membrane and sealed filled with water
44
Triaxial Shear Test
Specimen preparation (undisturbed sample)
Proving ring to
measure the
deviator load

Dial gauge to
measure vertical
displacement

45
Types of Triaxial Tests deviatoric stress
c
( = q)

Step 1 Step 2

c c
c c

c  c+ q
Under all-around cell pressure 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
Types of Triaxial Tests
Step 1 Step 2

Under all-around cell pressure 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
Types of Triaxial Tests
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Total,  = Neutral, u + Effective, ’
Step 1: At the end of consolidation
VC ’VC = VC

hC 0 ’hC = hC


Drainage

Step 2: During axial stress increase


VC +  ’V = VC +  = ’1

hC 0 ’h = hC = ’3


Drainage

Step 3: At failure
VC + f ’Vf = VC + f = ’1f

hC 0 ’hf = hC = ’3f


Drainage
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)

1 = VC + 

3 = hC

Deviator stress (q or d) = 1 – 3


Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Volume change of sample during consolidation

Expansion
Volume change of the

Time
sample

Compression
Consolidated- drained test (CD Test)
Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Deviator stress, d


Dense sand
or OC clay
(d)f
Loose sand
(d)f or NC Clay

Axial strain
CD tests Failure envelopes

For sand and NC Clay, cd = 0

d
Shear stress, 

Mohr – Coulomb
failure envelope

 or ’
3a 1a
(d)fa

Therefore, one CD test would be sufficient to determine d


of sand or NC clay
CD tests
Strength parameters c and  obtained from CD tests

Since u = 0 in CD Therefore, c = c’
tests,  = ’ and  = ’

cd and d are used


to denote them
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Total,  = Neutral, u + Effective, ’
Step 1: At the end of consolidation
VC ’VC = VC

hC 0 ’hC = hC


Drainage

Step 2: During axial stress increase


VC +  ’V = VC +  ± u = ’1

No
drainage hC ±u ’h = hC ± u = ’3

Step 3: At failure
VC + f ’Vf = VC + f ± uf = ’1f

No
drainage hC ±uf 
’hf = hC ± uf = ’3f
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Volume change of sample during consolidation

Expansion
Volume change of the

Time
sample

Compression
Consolidated- Undrained test (CU Test)
Stress-strain relationship during shearing

Deviator stress, d


Dense sand
or OC clay
(d)f
Loose sand
(d)f or NC Clay

Axial strain
+

Loose sand
/NC Clay
u

Axial strain
-

Dense sand
or OC clay
CU tests How to determine strength parameters c and 
’1 = 3 + (d)f - uf

’3 = 3 - uf
Mohr – Coulomb failure uf
envelope in terms of
effective stresses Effective stresses at failure
Shear stress, 

Mohr – Coulomb ’
failure envelope in
terms of total stresses
cu

C’ ccu
 or ’
3b 1b
(d)fa
CU tests Failure envelopes
For sand and NC Clay, ccu and c’ = 0
Mohr – Coulomb failure
envelope in terms of
effective stresses

Mohr – Coulomb ’ cu


Shear stress, 

failure envelope in
terms of total stresses

 or ’
3a 3a 1a 1a
(d)fa

Therefore, one CU test would be sufficient to determine


cu and ’(= d) of sand or NC clay
CU tests
Strength parameters c and  obtained from CD tests

Shear strength
Shear strength parameters in terms
parameters in terms of effective stresses
of total stresses are are c’ and ’
ccu and cu
c’ = cd and ’ = d
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Data analysis
Specimen condition
Initial specimen condition during shearing
C = 3
No 3 + d
No
drainage C = 3 drainage 3

Initial volume of the sample = A0 × H0

Volume of the sample during shearing = A × H

Since the test is conducted under undrained condition,

A × H = A0 × H0
A0
A ×(H0 – H) = A0 × H0 A
A ×(1 – H/H0) = A0
1  z
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)
Step 1: Immediately after sampling
0

Step 2: After application of hydrostatic cell pressure


C = 3 ’3 = 3 - uc
No
C = 3 uc ’3 = 3 - uc
drainage
= +

uc = B 3
Increase of cell pressure
Increase of pwp due to
increase of cell pressure
Skempton’s pore water
pressure parameter, B
Note: If soil is fully saturated, then B = 1 (hence, uc = 3)
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Step 3: During application of axial load


’1 = 3 + d - uc ud
3 + d
No
drainage 3
= + ’3 = 3 - uc  u d

uc ± ud

ud = ABd
Increase of pwp due to Increase of deviator
increase of deviator stress stress
Skempton’s pore water
pressure parameter, A
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Combining steps 2 and 3,

uc = B 3 ud = ABd


Total pore water pressure increment at any stage, u

u = uc + ud

u = B [3 + Ad]
Skempton’s pore
u = B [3 + A(1 – 3] water pressure
equation
Unconsolidated- Undrained test (UU Test)

Mohr circle in terms of effective stresses do not depend on the cell


pressure.

Therefore, we get only one Mohr circle in terms of effective stress for
different cell pressures

’
’3 f ’1
66
Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

1 = VC + 

3 = 0

Confining pressure is zero in the UC test


67
Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

68
Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

qu

69
Unconfined Compression Test (UC Test)

1 = VC + f

Shear stress, 
3 = 0

su

Normal stress, 
qu

su = τf = σ1/2 = qu/2 = su (Undrained Shear Strength)


70
In-situ shear tests

 Vane shear test

 Torvane

 Pocket Penetrometer

 Pressuremeter

 Static Cone Penetrometer test (Push


Cone Penetrometer Test, PCPT)

 Standard Penetration Test, SPT


Vane shear test
This is one of the most versatile and widely used devices used for
investigating undrained shear strength (Cu) and sensitivity of soft clays
Applied
Torque, T Disturbed Rupture
soil surface
Bore hole
(diameter = DB)

h > 3DB)
Vane T
H Vane

PLAN VIEW
Rate of rotation : 60 – 120 per minute

D Test can be conducted at 0.5 m


vertical intervals
Vane shear test T = Ms + Me + Me = Ms + 2Me
Me – Assuming a uniform
distribution of shear strength

Cu

d/2 d/2
Cu h d
r dr
2 d
M e   (2rdr ).Cu r
0
d d
Cu 2
 r 3
 2
M e  2Cu  r dr  2Cu  
2

Since the test is very fast, 0  3 0


Unconsolidated Undrained
2Cu  d 3  Cu d 3
(UU) can be expected
Me   
3 8  12
Vane shear test T = Ms + Me + Me = Ms + 2Me
Ms – Shaft shear resistance along
the circumference
2
d d h
M s  dhCu  Cu
2 2
Cu d 2 h Cu d 3
T  Cu  2
2 12
 d 2h d 3 
Cu T  Cu   
 2 6 
Since the test is very fast, T
Unconsolidated Undrained Cu 
 d 2h d 3 
(UU) can be expected    
 2 6 
75
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