FACULTY OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING
DEPT.OF GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

REPORT
SUBJECT CODE
TEST CODE & TITLE
COURSE CODE
TESTING DATE
STUDENT NAME
GROUP
1.
2.
GROUP MEMBER NAMES

3.
4.
5.

LECTURER/ INSTRUCTOR/ TUTOR

NAME
REPORT RECEIVED DATE
MARKS

EXAMINER COMMENT

ATTENDANCE/ DISCIPLINE
& INVOLVEMENT

/15%

DATA ANALYSIS

/20%

RESULT

/20%

DISCUSSION

/25%

CONCLUSION

/20%

TOTAL

/100%
RECEIVED STAMP

STUDENT CODE OF ETHIC

(SCE)
DEPT. OF GEOTECHNICAL AND TRANSPOTATION ENGINEERING
FACULTY OF CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

I, hereby confess that I have prepared this report on my own effort. I 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

Matric No. :
Date

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : UNCONFINED COMPRESSION
TESTS

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AMENDMENT
DATE:

5/12/07
5/12/07

1.0 OBJECTIVE: To determine the shear strength of the cohesive soil.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this experiment, students are able to:
Describe the deflection of the jet generates forces on the vane.
Identify the relationship between force and rate of momentum flow in the jet
Measure the force generated by a jet of water striking a plate.

3.0 THEORY
The unconfined compressive strength, qu is defined as the maximum unit axial compressive
stress at failure or at 20% strain, whichever occurs first.
The unconfined compression test is very popular and used worldwide. It is simple test where
atmospheric pressure surrounds the soil sample. The test is also called an unconsolidated-undrained (U
or UU) test.
The unconfined compression test is a form of triaxial test in which the major principal stress (1)
is equal to the applied axial stress and the minor principal stresses (3) is equal to zero.
At failure, the relationship between the two principal stresses is given by:

Where,

As 3 = 0 for an unconfined compression test,

For clayed soil, = 0

1 = 2c
The vertical stress s1 at failure is known as the unconfined compressive strength (q u)
Hence, qu = 2c
qu is obtained by dividing the normal load at failure by the corrected area as given by:

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : UNCONFINED COMPRESSION
TESTS

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EDITION:

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EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

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5/12/07

Where,

The axial load may be applied to the specimen either by the controlled strain procedure, in which
the stress is applied to produce a pre-determined rate of strain, or by the controlled stress procedure, in
which the stress is applied in pre-determined increments of load. IS: 2720 (Part 10) -1973 recommend
use of controlled strain test.

4.0 TEST EQUIPMENTS

1. Compression device of any suitable type (loading frame of capacity 2t, with constant rate of
movement).
2. Sample extractor
3. Split mould 3.5 cm diameter and 7 cm long.
4. Frictionless end plates of 7.5 cm diameter (Perspex plate with silicon grease coating)
5. Oven
6. Balance Sensitive to weigh 0.01 g.
7. Containers for moisture content determination.
8. Proving ring of 0.01 kg sensitivity for soft soils and 0.05 kg for stiff soils.
9. Dial gauge (sensitivity 0.01 mm)
10. Vernier calipers
11. Soil sample = Wet clayed soil

5.0 PREPARATION OF SAMPLE

1. The split mould is oiled lightly from inside.
2. Remoulded soil sample is prepared by compacting the soil at desired water content and dry density
in the split mould.
3. Split mould is opened carefully and sample is taken out.
4. Place this soil sample in an air-tight container for 24 hrs.
5. Minimum three soil samples should be prepared for test.

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : UNCONFINED COMPRESSION
TESTS

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EDITION:

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REVIEW NO.:
EFFECTIVE
DATE:
AMENDMENT
DATE:

5/12/07
5/12/07

6.0 PROCEDURES
1. Measure the initial length and diameter of the soil specimen.
2. Place the specimen on the base plate of the load frame (sandwiched between the end plates)
3. Place a hardened steel ball on the bearing plate. Adjust the centerline of specimen such that the
proving ring and the steel ball are in the same line.
4. Fix dial gauge to measure vertical compression of the specimen.
5. Adjust gear position on the load frame to give suitable vertical displacement.
6. Set the reading of proving ring and dial gauge to zero.
7. Start applying the load and record the readings of the proving ring dial and strain dial for every 5 mm
compression.
8. Continue loading till failure occurs or 20% vertical deformation is reached.
9. Sketch the failure pattern; measure the angle between the cracks and the horizontal if possible.
7.0 EXPERIMENTAL DATA

8.0 OBSERVATION TABLE

FACULTY: CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENG.

DEPARTMENT: GEOTECHNICAL AND
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
TEST TITLE : UNCONFINED COMPRESSION
TESTS
9.0 COMPUTATION AND RESULTS

10.0 CONCLUSION
1. Unconfined compressive strength of the soil = qU = ------2. Shear strength of the soil, C = qU = ------2

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DATE:
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DATE:

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