STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC

( SCE )

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

I, hereby confess that i have prepared this report on my own effort. Also admit not to receive or give
any help during the preparation of this report and pledge that everything mentioned in the report is
true.

__________________________________

STUDENT SIGNATURE

NAME : AHMAD ADLI BIN ROSLI

MATRIC NO : AF220062

DATE : 23-12-2024

STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC

( SCE )

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

I, hereby confess that i have prepared this report on my own effort. Also admit not to receive or give
any help during the preparation of this report and pledge that everything mentioned in the report is
true.

__________________________________

STUDENT SIGNATURE

NAME : MOHAMAD SHAHRUL AZIM BIN MOHAMAD SHAH

MATRIC NO : DF220169

DATE : 23-12-2024

STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC

( SCE )

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

I, hereby confess that i have prepared this report on my own effort. Also admit not to receive or give
any help during the preparation of this report and pledge that everything mentioned in the report is
true.

__________________________________

STUDENT SIGNATURE

NAME : PUTERI NORAQILA BINTI MEGAT SHAMSUDDIN

MATRIC NO : AF220047

DATE : 23-12-2024

STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC

( SCE )

DEPARTMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GEOMATIC ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

I, hereby confess that i have prepared this report on my own effort. Also admit not to receive or give
any help during the preparation of this report and pledge that everything mentioned in the report is
true.

__________________________________

STUDENT SIGNATURE

NAME : APRIANI

MATRIC NO : JF240013

DATE : 23-12-2024

1.0 OBJECTIVE

To determine the shear strength parameters of the soil such as cohesion, c and friction angle,Ø.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this experiment, students are able to :

• Perform the direct shear test efficiently.

• Determine the shear strength parameter of the soil.

3.0 THEORY

The general relationship between maximum shearing resistance, 𝜏𝑓 and normal stress, 𝜎𝑛

for soils can be represented by the equation and known as Coulomb’s Law :
τf = c + σ tan ∅

where : c = cohesion, which is due to internal forces holding soils particles together in a solid mass.

∅ = friction, which is due to the interlocking of the particles and the friction between them when
subjected to normal stress.

The friction components increase with increasing normal stress, but the cohesion components
remain constant. If there is no normal stress the friction disappears. This relationship is shown in the
graph below. The graph generally approximate to a straight line, its inclination to the horizontal axis
being equal to the angle of shearing resistance of the soil, ∅ and its intercept on the vertical ( shear
stress ) axis being the apparent cohesion, denoted by c.

4.0 TEST EQUIPMENTS

1. Shear box carriage

2. Loading pad

3. Perforated plate

4. Porous plate

5. Retaining plate

5.0 PROCEDURES

1. The interval measurements using vernier caliper were verified. The length of the side, I and
the overall depth, B also has been measured.

2. The base plate inside the shear box has been fixed. The porous plate was put on the

base plate. The perforated grid plate was fitted over porous so that the grid plates should be at right
angles to the direction shear.
3. The two halves of the shear box were fixed by means of fixing screws

4. For cohesive soils, the soil sample was transferred from square specimen cutter to the

shear box by pressing down on the top grid plate. For sandy soil, soil in layers was compacted to the
required density in shear box.

5. Mount the shear box assembly on the loading frame.

6. The dial was set to zero.

7. The loading yoke was placed on the loading pad and the hanger was carefully lifted onto the
top of the loading yoke.

8. The correct loading was applied to the hanger pad.

9. The screws clamping the upper half to the lower half was carefully removed

10. The test was conducted by applying horizontal shear load to failure. Rate strain should be
0.2mm/min.

11. The readings were recorded of horizontal and force dial gauges at regular intervals.

12. The test was conducted on three identical soil samples under different vertical compressive
stresses, 1.75kg, 2.5kg and 3.25kg.

6.0 RESULT AND CALCULATIONS

Specimen No. 1, Loading : 1.75kg

Displacement Proving Ring Shear Stress

Strain, ε (%) (kN/m2 )

Dial Gauge ΔL (mm) Dial Gauge Load, P (kN)

20 0.40 25 0.04375 0.00017 12.15

40 0.60 34 0.28.000 0.00107 77.78

60 1.21 40 0.45500 0.00140 102.08

80 1.50 45 0.42000 0.00160 116.67

100 1.63 50 0.45500 0.00173 126.39

120 1.79 53 0.46375 0.00177 128.82

140 1.89 58 0.48125 0.00183 133.68

160 1.87 60 0.50750 0.00193 `140.97

180 1.93 60 0.51625 0.00197 143.97

200 1.97 60 0.53375 0.00203 148.26

220 2.11 64 0.53375 0.00203 148.26

240 2.11 64 0.53375 0.00203 148.26

260 2.13 63 0.175 0.00067 48.61

280 2.14 62 0.245 0.00093 68.06

300 2.18 67 0.280 0.00107 77.78

320 2.02 70 0.34125 0.00130 94.79

340 2.13 67 0.36750 0.00140 102.08

360 2.18 70 0.39375 0.00150 109.38

380 2.22 70 0.41125 0.00157 114.24

400 2.23 76 0.42875 0.00163 119.10

420 2.20 70 0.44625 0.00170 123.96

440 2.17 70 0.44652 0.00170 123.96

460 2.13 71 0.44625 0.00170 123.96

480 2.10 73 0.00875 0.00003 2.431

500 2.25 78 0.0350 0.00300 72.92

520 2.27 70 0.41125 0.00133 97.22

540 2.25 79 0.45500 0.00157 114.24

560 2.22 80 0.48125 0.00173 126.39

580 2.29 80 0.50750 0.00183 133.68

600 2.19 79 0.55125 0.00193 140.97

620 2.26 80 0.56875 0.00210 153.13

640 2.11 80 0.57750 0.00217 157.99

660 2.13 81 0.58625 0.00220 160.42

680 2.15 87 0.61250 0.00223 162.85

700 2.02 88 0.62125 0.00233 170.14

720 2.08 87 0.62125 0.00237 172.57

740 2.03 90 0.65625 0.00237 172.57

760 2.09 90 0.64750 0.00250 182.29

 780 2.00 85 0.70875 0.00247 179.86

800 2.05 86 0.72625 0.00270 196.88

820 2.00 85 0.72625 0.00277 201.74

840 2.03 83 0.72625 0.00277 201.74

860 2.01 80 0.72625 0.00277 201.74

880 2.02 88 0.2625 0.00288 48.61

900 2.03 88 0.2625 0.00288 68.06

Specimen No. 2, Loading : 2.5 kg

Displacement Proving Ring Strain, ε (%) Shear Stress

(kN/m2 )
Dial Gauge ΔL (mm) Dial Gauge Load, P (kN)

20 2.02 30 0.2625 0.00067 68.07

40 1.98 40 0.0.350 0.00107 77.78

60 1.98 47 0.41125 0.00130 94.79

80 1.96 52 0.45500 0.00140 102.08

100 1.93 55 0.48125 0.00150 109.38

120 2.00 58 0.55125 0.00157 114.24

140 1.93 63 0.56875 0.00163 119.10

160 1.91 65 0.57750 0.00170 123.96

180 1.95 66 0.58625 0.00170 123.96

 200 1.90 67 0.61250 0.00170 123.96

220 1.92 70 0.62125 0.00300 72.92

240 1.95 71 0.62125 0.00133 97.22

260 1.92 71 0.62125 0.00157 114.24

280 1.95 75 0.65625 0.00173 126.39

300 1.91 74 0.64750 0.00183 133.68

320 1.95 81 0.70875 0.00193 140.97

Specimen No. 2, Loading : 7kg

Displacement Proving Ring Shear Stress

Strain, ε (%) (kN/m2 )

Dial Gauge ΔL (mm) Dial Gauge Load, P (kN)

20 0.40 25 2.04 0.00017 12.15

40 0.60 34 2.00 0.00107 77.78

60 1.21 40 2.05 0.00140 102.08

80 1.50 45 2.00 0.00160 116.67

100 1.63 50 2.03 0.00173 126.39

120 1.79 53 2.01 0.00177 128.82

140 1.89 58 2,02 0.00183 133.68

160 1.87 60 2 0.00193 `140.97

180 1.93 60 0.51625 0.00197 143.97

200 1.97 60 0.53375 0.00203 148.26

220 2.11 64 0.53375 0.00203 148.26

240 2.11 64 0.53375 0.00203 148.26

260 2.13 63 0.175 0.00067 48.61

280 2.14 62 0.245 0.00093 68.06

300 2.18 67 0.280 0.00107 77.78

320 2.02 70 0.34125 0.00130 94.79

340 2.13 67 0.36750 0.00140 102.08

360 2.18 70 0.39375 0.00150 109.38

380 2.22 70 0.41125 0.00157 114.24

400 2.23 76 0.42875 0.00163 119.10

420 2.20 70 0.44625 0.00170 123.96

440 2.17 70 0.44652 0.00170 123.96

460 2.13 71 0.44625 0.00170 123.96

480 2.10 73 0.00875 0.00003 2.431

500 2.25 78 0.0350 0.00300 72.92

520 2.27 70 0.41125 0.00133 97.22

540 2.25 79 0.45500 0.00157 114.24

560 2.22 80 0.48125 0.00173 126.39

580 2.29 80 0.50750 0.00183 133.68

600 2.19 79 0.55125 0.00193 140.97

620 2.26 80 0.56875 0.00210 153.13

640 2.11 80 0.57750 0.00217 157.99

660 2.13 81 0.58625 0.00220 160.42

680 2.15 87 0.61250 0.00223 162.85

700 2.02 88 0.62125 0.00233 170.14

720 2.08 87 0.62125 0.00237 172.57

740 2.03 90 0.65625 0.00237 172.57

760 2.09 90 0.64750 0.00250 182.29

780 2.00 85 0.70875 0.00247 179.86

800 2.05 86 0.72625 0.00270 196.88

820 2.00 85 0.72625 0.00277 201.74

840 2.03 83 0.72625 0.00277 201.74

860 2.01 80 0.72625 0.00277 201.74

880 2.02 88 0.2625 0.00288 48.61

900 2.03 88 0.2625 0.00288 68.06

7.0 Question and answer

Q1. a) Why perforated plate in this test has a tooth?

Improving friction and establishing a grip force between the plate and the sample also help distribute
shear stress evenly. The plate moving in the opposite direction can cause friction.

b) What is the maximum value of displacement before terminating the test?

When the value of the dial gauge is constant at least three times or no more increases data.

Q2. a) What are the advantages and disadvantages of a direct shear test?

Advantages Disadvantages

• Simple and fast • Fail along the split box plane rather than the
weakest plane.

• Most cost-effective for both dry and • The pore water pressure cannot be
saturated sand. measured during test.

b) Why do we use fixing screws in this test? What will happen if you do not remove them during
the test?

We employ a fastening screw in this test to prevent shear from occurring before the experiment is
performed. If we do not remove them throughout the test, there will be no friction or shear on the
sample, resulting in an inaccurate result.
8.0 Discussion

The direct shear test is effective for quickly determining soil shear strength, cohesiveness, and angle
of friction. We plotted a graph of shear stress versus strain at the end of the operation. The graph will
provide us with the value of the friction angle.

There are no errors found in these three samples, which weigh 1.75kg, 2.5kg, and 3.25kg. The value
received from the dial gauge showed direct increases. This is because the dial gauge reading has
raised the time by the time.The direct shear test has benefits and drawbacks. It is simple and quick,
particularly for sands. The failure happens over a single surface, which is like slips or shear-type
failure observed in natural soils.

9.0 Conclusion

The experiment successfully measured the soil's shear strength metrics, including cohesion and
friction angle. The direct shear test determines effective stress characteristics when normal force
creates pore pressure, which then dissipates over time.

We used clean sands as a sample in the experiment since the pore pressure lowers rapidly. Highly
plastic clays require a moderate strain rate to discharge pore pressure over time. We used clean
sands as a sample in the experiment since the pore pressure lowers rapidly. Highly plastic clays
require a moderate strain rate to discharge pore pressure over time. The results of each specimen's
testing are plotted, with peak stress on the x-axis and confining stress on the y-axis. Cohesion is the
y-intercept of the curve that best fits the test data, while friction is the slope of the line or curve.