REPORT 3

Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory - II

UCS & Vane Shear Test

Name : Owais Sanwari

Roll No. - 180040072

EXPERIMENT 3 - UCS Test

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To determine the unconfined compressive strength of a clayey soil.

Procedure

1. Proving Ring Adjustment:

a. Attach the proving ring to the cross head of the frame.
b. Fit any necessary extension pieces, and the upper platen, securely to the
lower end of the ring.
c. Secure the dial gauge and check that the end of its stem makes contact with
the adjustable stop on the ring.
2. Adjust lower platen to provide space to insert the specimen.
3. Set the strain rate to 1.5 mm/min, on the loading machine.
4. Prepare the test specimen from the U-100 tube or the U-38 tube.
5. Measure specimen. It should have a diameter of 38mm and length of 76mm.
6. Set up the specimen and record zero readings.
7. Apply compressive load and take readings till the proving ring pointer moves in
the opposite direction.
 8. Unload and sketch mode of failure from the sample.
9. Remove the specimen and remould and re-test two more samples.
10. Measure water content, plot graph, calculate results and report.

RESULTS

Observations:

Measured data:

● Initial Length L0 of the specimen: 76 mm

● Initial Diameter D0 of the specimen: 38 mm
● Initial Area A0 of the specimen: 1134.115 mm2
● Initial Volume V0 of the specimen: 96192.74 mm3
● Strain Rate = 1.5mm/min

Data Table Sample 1

S. No. Strain Load Deformation Strain Corrected Axial

Div. (kN) (mm) (%) Area Ac Stress
(εa) (m2) (kN/m2)

1 0 0 0 0.000 1134.115 0.000

2 30 8.4 0.3 0.395 1138.610 7377.419

3 60 11.6 0.6 0.789 1143.140 10147.490

4 90 13.8 0.9 1.184 1147.706 12023.983

5 120 15.4 1.2 1.579 1152.309 13364.467

6 150 19.7 1.5 1.974 1156.950 17027.536

7 180 22.2 1.8 2.368 1161.627 19111.122

8 210 23.1 2.1 2.763 1166.343 19805.496

9 240 24.3 2.4 3.158 1171.097 20749.775

10 270 24.6 2.7 3.553 1175.890 20920.323

 11 300 24.8 3 3.947 1180.722 21004.089

12 330 24.4 3.3 4.342 1185.595 20580.388

13 360 23.7 3.6 4.737 1190.507 19907.477

14 390 23.1 3.9 5.132 1195.461 19323.089

15 420 22.5 4.2 5.526 1200.456 18742.878

16 450 21.9 4.5 5.921 1205.493 18166.843

Data Table Sample 2

S. No. Strain Load Deformation Strain Corrected Axial

Div. (kN) (mm) (%) Area Ac Stress
(εa) (m2) (kN/m2)

1 0 0 0 0.000 1134.115 0.000

2 30 3.7 0.3 0.395 1138.610 3249.578

3 60 7.3 0.6 0.789 1143.140 6385.921

4 90 10.9 0.9 1.184 1147.706 9497.204

5 120 15.2 1.2 1.579 1152.309 13190.902

6 150 18.3 1.5 1.974 1156.950 15817.457

7 180 21.4 1.8 2.368 1161.627 18422.433

8 210 23.6 2.1 2.763 1166.343 20234.187

9 240 25.7 2.4 3.158 1171.097 21945.236

10 270 26.5 2.7 3.553 1175.890 22536.121

11 300 27.1 3 3.947 1180.722 22952.049

12 330 27.5 3.3 4.342 1185.595 23195.109

13 360 26.8 3.6 4.737 1190.507 22511.409

14 390 26.1 3.9 5.132 1195.461 21832.581

 15 420 25.4 4.2 5.526 1200.456 21158.627

16 450 23.5 4.5 5.921 1205.493 19494.101

Data Table Sample 3

S. No. Strain Load Deformation Strain Corrected Axial

Div. (kN) (mm) (%) Area Ac Stress
(εa) (m2) (kN/m2)

1 0 0 0 0.000 1134.115 0.000

2 30 3.7 0.3 0.395 1138.610 3249.578

3 60 6.7 0.6 0.789 1143.140 5861.050

4 90 7.4 0.9 1.184 1147.706 6447.643

5 120 12.9 1.2 1.579 1152.309 11194.910

6 150 19.9 1.5 1.974 1156.950 17200.405

7 180 19.3 1.8 2.368 1161.627 16614.624

8 210 21.8 2.1 2.763 1166.343 18690.901

9 240 22.9 2.4 3.158 1171.097 19554.315

10 270 23.8 2.7 3.553 1175.890 20239.988

11 300 24.3 3 3.947 1180.722 20580.620

12 330 24.3 3.3 4.342 1185.595 20496.042

13 360 23.5 3.6 4.737 1190.507 19739.482

14 390 22.7 3.9 5.132 1195.461 18988.490

15 420 22 4.2 5.526 1200.456 18326.369

16 450 21.4 4.5 5.921 1205.493 17752.075

Calculation:

● Area (A0) = 0.25π × 382 = 1134.115 mm2

● Sample Calculation for Sample 2 for Load 21.4 kN:
1134.115 1134.115
○ Ac = = = 1161.627 x 10-6 m2
1−ε 1−0.002368
𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 21.4 𝑥 1000000
○ Axial Stress = = = 18422.433 kN/m2
𝐴𝑐 1161.627
● Mohr circle calculations
○ For UCS test, σ3 = 0 and σ1 = Peak axial strength.
σ1 + σ3
○ Thus, radius of Mohr circle =
2

0 + 𝑃𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝐴𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

= = Undrained shear
2
strength.

● Since the plane of failure is inclined at 45 + ø/2 and ø = 0º, the plane of failure will
be inclined at 45º for the UCS test.

Graphs:

1. For Sample 1, Axial Stress vs Axial Strain:

2. For Sample 2, Axial Stress vs Axial Strain:

3. For Sample 3, Axial Stress vs Axial Strain:

4. Mohr Circles

Sample No. Peak Axial Strength (σ3) (MPa) σ1

1 21.00 0

2 23.20 0

3 20.58 0
Results:
The strength values are:

Sample 1

● Peak axial strength = 21.00 MPa

● Undrained shear strength = 10.50 MPa

Sample 2

● Peak axial strength = 23.20 MPa

● Undrained shear strength = 11.60 MPa

Sample 3

● Peak axial strength = 20.58 MPa

● Undrained shear strength = 10.29 MPa

Plane of failure (for every sample) – Inclined at 45º

INFERENCES

● Since σ3 = 0, the Mohr circle always passes through the origin and the radius of the
circle represents the Undrained Shear Strength and the diameter of the circle
represents the Unconfined Compressive Strength and the specimen fails at 45º
● The failure occurs at the undrained shear strength (implying that Mohr Coulomb
failure envelope is horizontal)..
● The high values of unconfined compressive strength indicate a very hard sample
of clay.
● The undrained shear strength value for sample 2 is slightly higher than that for
samples 1 and 3. This could be due to the end effects of moments caused by top
and bottom plates that grip the sample. End effects can cause the sample to fail at
a slightly higher value.

DISCUSSION

● Sources of errors:
○ There can be a parallax error while noting the readings.
 ○ The connection of the proving ring might not be perfect which could cause
errors in readings.
● UCS represents the maximum axial compressive strength the specimen can bear
when confining stress isn’t applied.
● The L/D ratio is generally maintained as 2. In case it is lesser than 2 initially, a
correction needs to be applied to it to get the standardized unconfined
compressive strength.

CONCLUSIONS
From Graphs and calculations, the unconfined compressive strength of samples are:

● Sample 1 = 21.00 MPa

● Sample 2 = 23.20 MPa
● Sample 3 = 20.58 MPa
EXPERIMENT 4 - Vane Shear Test

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To determine the undrained shear strength of clays using laboratory vane shear test
apparatus.

Procedure

A. Preparation of test specimen

1. Clamp the sample tube securely.

2. Keep its axis vertical and with the end to be rested uppermost.
3. Remove any end cap, wax seal or packing material.
4. Trim the sample above the tube so that its upper end is flat and perpendicular to
the tube axis.

B. Vane shear test

1. Clamp the tube in position.

2. Select the spring and prepare the apparatus.
3. Adjust scales and also measure the initial angle of twist.
4. Insert the vane and measure the final angle of twist.
5. Measure the shear strength.
6. Remould and repeat steps 3-5 to obtain remoulded shear strength.
7. Remove the vane and measure water content and density.
8. Repeat the above steps on a fresh sample at least once.
9. Calculate and report results.

RESULTS

Observations:
Measured data:

● Spring Constant = 2.1 + 0.072 = 2.172 N-cm

S.No. Position 1 Position 2 Position 3 Position 4

1 Initial angle 84 90 84 90

2 Final angle 104 124 115 121

3 Height of Vane H (cm) 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.4

4 Diameter of Vane D
1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2
(cm)

5 Torque (kNm) 7.58E-06 1.29E-05 1.17E-05 1.17E-05

6 Shear Strength cu
1.19709 2.03505 1.85549 1.85549
(kN/m2)

Calculation:

Sample Calculation for Position 2,

(θ𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙−θ𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙) 𝑥 π 𝑥 𝑘
● Torque, T =
180

(124−90) 𝑥 π 𝑥 2.172
= x 10-5 kN-m = 1.29 x 10-5 kN-m
180

6𝑥𝑇
● Shear Strength, cu =
π 𝑥 𝑑 𝑥 𝑑 𝑥 (3𝐻+𝑑)

−5
6 𝑥 1.29 𝑥 10
= = 2.03505 kN/m2
π 𝑥 1.2 𝑥 1.2 𝑥 (3𝑥2.4 + 1.2)

Half inserted shear vane apparatus

Torque (T) = Mv + 2Mh (for fully inserted vane)

Where,
 Mv – Torque due to vertical force and

Mh – Torque due to horizontal force

Mv = πdhcu (d/2)

Mh = (π/12) cud3

When the apparatus is only half inserted, h = H/2 and the Mh component appears only
once. Thus, for the same value of cu, the new torque will be

Torque, T’ = M’v + Mh = cu (πd2H/4 + πd3/12) = Mv/2 + Mh = T/2

Therefore, for all Positions:

Position 1 2 3 4

T’ 3.79E-06 6.44E-06 5.87E-06 5.87E-06

INFERENCES

● The undrained shear strength values obtained are in the range 1-3 kPa for the
given soil sample. These shear strength values are all quite small which is
characteristic of fully saturated clays.
● The torque values obtained when only half the vane is inserted in the soil are
exactly half the values of the torque obtained when the entire vane was inserted
as the horizontal .

DISCUSSION

● Sources of errors:
○ There can be a parallax error while noting the readings.
● The vane shear test is generally used to determine the in-situ undrained shear
strength of non-fissured, fully saturated clays.
● The test is very useful for sensitive soils like clays and marine soils. Their
sensitivity can be measured with this test
CONCLUSIONS
From calculations,

Undrained shear strength (cu) values and Torque values for half inserted vane:

● Position 1: cu = 1.19709 kPa and T = 3.79 × 10-6 kN.m

● Position 2: cu = 2.03505 kPa and T = 6.44 × 10-6 kN.m
● Position 3: cu = 1.85549 kPa and T = 5.87 × 10-6 kN.m
● Position 4: cu = 1.85549 kPa and T = 5.87 × 10-6 kN.m

DECLARATION
I have read and understood the guidelines for report preparation and I attest for the
originality of this report.

Signature: Owais Sanwari

Name: Owais Sanwari

Roll No.: 180040072

Date: 27th March, 2021