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Lecture 5 - Shear

This lecture discusses soil behavior in shear and laboratory shear tests. It aims to understand how soil can be modeled as a continuum and how its mechanical behavior of strength and stiffness can be described using constitutive models. Key topics covered include the direct shear test, triaxial test, interpreting test data to determine strength and stiffness properties, stress conditions and Mohr's circle, and different types of triaxial tests. The critical state concept is also introduced.

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Monique Aldana
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12 views

Lecture 5 - Shear

This lecture discusses soil behavior in shear and laboratory shear tests. It aims to understand how soil can be modeled as a continuum and how its mechanical behavior of strength and stiffness can be described using constitutive models. Key topics covered include the direct shear test, triaxial test, interpreting test data to determine strength and stiffness properties, stress conditions and Mohr's circle, and different types of triaxial tests. The critical state concept is also introduced.

Uploaded by

Monique Aldana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CVNG 2009

SOIL MECHANICS II

Lecture 5
Soil Behavior in Shear

Craig’s Soil Mechanics


by J.A. Knappett & R.F. Craig, 8th ed, Spon Press, 2012
Soil Behavior in Shear
Main Goals: In this chapter we understand how soil may be
modelled as a continuum, and how its mechanical behavior
(strength and stiffness) may be adequately described using
constitutive models
Course Outcomes:
- Understand how soil may be modelled as a continuum,
and how its mechanical behavior (strength & stiffness)
may be adequately described using elastic & plastic
material (constitutive) models
- Understand the method of operation of standard laboratory
testing apparatus & derive strength & stiffness properties
of soil from these tests for use in subsequent geotechnical
analyses
Soil Behavior in Shear
Course Outcomes (continue):
- Appreciate different strength characteristics of soils
- Understand the critical state concept
- Use simple empirical correlations to estimate strength
properties of soil based on the results of index tests (Ch.1 )

Contents
1. Introduction to Continuum Mechanics
2. Simple Models of Soil Elasticity and Plasticity
3. Laboratory Shear Tests
4. Shear Strength of Coarse-grained & Fine-grained Soils
5. Critical State Framework
6. Estimating Strength Parameters from Index Tests
Laboratory Shear Tests
- Determine shear stiffness (G), strength parameters (c΄, ϕ΄, cu)
• The direct shear test
• The triaxial test
only normal stress applied, no shear stress. normal stress is principle stress

Minor
• Interpretation of triaxial test data: strength
- Stress conditions & Mohr circle for a 2D element
- Stress invariant
s′ = ½(σ′ +σ′ )
1 3

t = ½(σ′ – σ′ )
1 3
- Stress conditions & Mohr circle for a 3D element

- Stress invariant

- Stress invariant (axial


symmetry, σ2= σ3 = σr ;
σ1= σa)

mean stress mean effective stress

deviatoric stress
Two dimensional stress invariant

3 dimensional stress invariant


(a) Direct shear condition
(b) 2D condition

(c) Triaxial compression (σa > σr )

(c’) Triaxial extension (σa < σr )


• Interpretation of triaxial test data: stiffness

- Deviatoric shear strain within a triaxial cell

for undrained conditions, εs = εa. A plot of q versus εa for an un drained


test will thus have a gradient equal to 3G. Undrained triaxial testing is
therefore extremely useful for determining shear modulus.
• Types of triaxial test
1) UU: Unconsolidated-Undrained
2) CU: Consolidated-Undrained
3) CD: Consolidated-Drained
• other tests: Unconfined compression test, laboratory vane,
simple shear apparatus

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