1. Triaxial Testing of Soil.

Aim:To determine the shear strength parameters of a given soil sample using triaxial testing
apparatus under drained or undrained condition.

Definitions:
There are three primary triaxial tests conducted in the laboratory based on different engineering
applications. These are:
i) Unconsolidated Undrained test (UU)
ii) Consolidated Undrained test (CU)
iii) Consolidated Drained test (CD)
Unconsolidated undrained (UU) test: It is the simplest and fastest procedure and only total
stresses are controlled and recorded. The undrained shear strength is determined, which is
suitable for assessing soil stability in the short-term. This test is generally performed on cohesive
soil specimens.
Consolidated drained (CD) test: It is applicable for describing long-term loading response, and
strength parameters are determined under effective stress control (i.e. and c). The test can
however take a significant time to complete when using cohesive soil
Consolidated undrained (CU) test: It is the most common triaxial procedure, as it allows strength
parameters to be determined based on the effective stresses (i.e. and c) whilst permitting a
faster rate of shearing compared with the CD test. This is achieved by recording the excess pore
pressure change within the specimen as shearing takes place.

Apparatus required:
i) A Triaxial Cell
ii) An apparatus for applying and maintaining the desired pressure on the fluid within the
cell.
iii) A Machine capable of applying axial compression to the soil specimen.
iv) Rubber Membrane & Rubber O rings.
v) Coarse porous stones and filter papers.
vi) Proving ring
vii) Pore water, cell and back pressure measuring apparatus.
viii) Soil volume change measuring setup
ix) Setup for measurement of drainage of water from the sample during the consolidation.
x) A dial gauge
xi) Back pressure measuring instrument
Testing methodology.
Unconsolidated Undrained Test
i) Mix the soil with water so that the soil is in OMC.
ii) Using static compaction method, required density is achieved.
iii) The specimen is then kept inside the cell and cell pressure is applied.
iv) The loading ram is adjusted to make contact with the seat on top cap of the specimen.
Load is then increased under constant strain rate.
v) Loading is continued till the specimen fails or strain reaches 20% whichever is first.
vi) Graph between deviator stress and strain is then plotted
vii) Mohr circles are drawn and from it, we can obtain shear parameters of the soil.

Consolidated Undrained Test:

i) Close all valves and fill the base pedestal of triaxial cell with water.
ii) Soil sample is then placed along with porous stone and filter paper.
iii) Rubber membrane is placed and O rings are then attached to it
iv) Cell is filled with water and saturated. Pore pressure parameters are measured frequently.
v) It is allowed to consolidate isotropically by cell pressure application. Corresponding
volume change is also noted.
vi) Graph between volume change and root time gives Cvvalue.
vii) The final area and length of the specimen is then measured and back pressure is then
applied.
viii) Drainage valve is closed and pore water pressure measuring device equipment is brought
into circuit.
ix) Load is then applied under a constant strain rate till it fails or reach 20% strain whichever
is faster.
x) Pore water pressure and deviator stress are measured at regular time intervals.
xi) Graphs are plotted and Mohr circle is drawn as in unconsolidated undrained test and
shear strength parameters are estimated.

Consolidated Drained Test:

i) Repeat steps i to vii as in consolidated undrained test.
ii) Drainage valve is opened and loading is done under a constant strain rate till it fails or
reach 20% strain whichever is first.
iii) Repeat steps x and xi and shear strength parameters are estimated

Observations and Results:

Unconsolidated Undrained Test:
Initial diameter=50mm
Initial length=100mm
Final length =84.27mmm
Initial Weight=400g
Axial strain at failure=15.73%
Initial Area, A = 1963.49 mm2
Corrected area Ac=A/ (1-)
Deviatric Stress, =Load/Ac
Table 37: Unconsolidated undrained test data.

Axial Corrected Axial Corrected Axial Corrected Axial Corrected

Time Time Time Time
Strain Dev Strain Dev Stress Strain Dev Stress Strain Dev Stress
(sec) (sec) (sec) (sec)
(%) Stress(kPa) (%) (kPa) (%) (kPa) (%) (kPa)

0 0.001 0.509 205 1.585 61.149 405 3.153 72.999 605 4.718 81.525
5 0.036 13.237 210 1.624 61.626 410 3.192 72.970 610 4.757 81.492
10 0.073 20.357 215 1.663 62.103 415 3.231 72.940 615 4.796 81.943
15 0.095 22.896 220 1.703 62.578 420 3.272 72.910 620 4.837 81.423
20 0.124 25.942 225 1.743 63.053 425 3.308 72.390 625 4.876 81.874
25 0.160 30.000 230 1.782 63.528 430 3.348 72.360 630 4.917 82.808
30 0.200 33.038 235 1.823 64.502 435 3.386 72.824 635 4.958 82.287
35 0.238 35.058 240 1.862 63.976 440 3.426 73.777 640 4.999 82.252
40 0.276 36.060 245 1.899 64.951 445 3.464 73.748 645 5.039 82.701
45 0.316 38.584 250 1.938 65.425 450 3.504 74.209 650 5.077 82.668
50 0.355 41.107 255 1.977 65.399 455 3.543 74.670 655 5.118 83.115
55 0.395 42.612 260 2.016 65.872 460 3.583 75.130 660 5.157 83.564
60 0.433 43.610 265 2.055 66.843 465 3.621 75.101 665 5.199 83.045
65 0.473 45.113 270 2.097 65.817 470 3.660 75.070 670 5.239 83.009
70 0.514 46.108 275 2.136 66.290 475 3.700 75.039 675 5.280 82.974
75 0.551 46.091 280 2.176 67.259 480 3.739 75.009 680 5.320 83.903
80 0.591 47.084 285 2.215 67.232 485 3.780 75.957 685 5.359 83.387
85 0.632 47.571 290 2.254 67.703 490 3.817 75.928 690 5.401 84.313
90 0.672 48.564 295 2.293 67.676 495 3.855 75.898 695 5.440 84.760
95 0.708 51.074 300 2.332 67.649 500 3.895 76.355 700 5.481 84.723
100 0.750 52.064 305 2.371 67.622 505 3.934 75.835 705 5.520 85.169
105 0.788 52.044 310 2.411 68.091 510 3.975 76.292 710 5.561 86.095
110 0.829 52.528 315 2.450 67.567 515 4.012 77.240 715 5.600 87.021
115 0.867 53.012 320 2.491 68.532 520 4.053 77.208 720 5.640 88.425
120 0.907 53.496 325 2.530 69.001 525 4.091 77.665 725 5.680 88.388
125 0.948 53.978 330 2.571 68.972 530 4.130 78.122 730 5.721 88.350
130 0.987 53.957 335 2.610 68.944 535 4.169 78.578 735 5.759 88.793
135 1.027 54.943 340 2.649 69.413 540 4.210 78.545 740 5.800 88.755
140 1.067 54.417 345 2.688 69.385 545 4.250 78.024 745 5.839 89.198
145 1.106 55.403 350 2.730 69.355 550 4.288 77.506 750 5.880 89.159
150 1.145 55.381 355 2.766 69.824 555 4.325 77.963 755 5.919 89.601
155 1.187 55.358 360 2.808 70.289 560 4.366 78.417 760 5.961 89.561
160 1.227 55.838 365 2.846 70.262 565 4.405 78.872 765 6.000 90.003
165 1.266 56.319 370 2.884 70.729 570 4.442 78.841 770 6.039 90.444
170 1.308 56.798 375 2.922 70.701 575 4.481 79.782 775 6.077 90.408
175 1.346 56.776 380 2.961 71.167 580 4.522 79.748 780 6.118 90.368
180 1.387 56.752 385 2.999 71.633 585 4.561 79.715 785 6.156 90.331
185 1.426 56.730 390 3.035 71.607 590 4.600 80.169 790 6.196 90.293
190 1.468 57.709 395 3.075 72.071 595 4.639 81.107 795 6.235 90.733
195 1.505 60.697 400 3.114 72.535 600 4.678 81.074 800 6.277 90.692
200 1.546 60.171

Corrected Corrected Corrected Corrected

Axial Axial Axial Axial
Time Dev Time Dev Time Dev Time Dev
Strain Strain Strain Strain
(sec) Stress(kPa (sec) Stress (sec) Stress (sec) Stress
(%) (%) (%) (%)
) (kPa) (kPa) (kPa)
805 6.316 91.132 1005 7.889 101.799 1205 9.460 111.129 1405 11.028 119.173
810 6.356 91.092 1010 7.930 102.691 1210 9.499 111.082 1410 11.067 119.574
815 6.397 92.007 1015 7.969 102.179 1215 9.538 111.034 1415 11.108 119.972
820 6.436 91.968 1020 8.008 103.072 1220 9.577 111.907 1420 11.147 119.920
825 6.475 92.406 1025 8.047 102.560 1225 9.617 112.317 1425 11.187 119.865
830 6.516 92.365 1030 8.089 102.514 1230 9.656 111.809 1430 11.226 119.813
835 6.557 93.277 1035 8.128 102.938 1235 9.695 111.761 1435 11.266 121.114
840 6.597 92.761 1040 8.167 102.427 1240 9.734 111.712 1440 11.304 120.611
845 6.637 93.197 1045 8.207 102.850 1245 9.773 112.124 1445 11.344 121.911
850 6.676 93.633 1050 8.246 103.273 1250 9.813 112.533 1450 11.384 122.758
855 6.716 94.068 1055 8.286 103.228 1255 9.851 112.945 1455 11.425 121.800
860 6.755 94.028 1060 8.324 103.652 1260 9.891 113.812 1460 11.466 121.743
865 6.794 94.464 1065 8.364 104.073 1265 9.930 114.222 1465 11.504 121.691
870 6.835 94.897 1070 8.405 104.028 1270 9.971 114.171 1470 11.544 122.086
875 6.874 95.332 1075 8.444 104.450 1275 10.008 113.206 1475 11.585 122.030
880 6.913 95.292 1080 8.484 104.870 1280 10.048 113.614 1480 11.624 121.976
885 6.952 96.200 1085 8.522 104.827 1285 10.089 114.021 1485 11.664 121.921
890 6.992 97.106 1090 8.561 105.713 1290 10.128 113.971 1490 11.704 122.315
895 7.031 97.065 1095 8.598 105.670 1295 10.167 114.379 1495 11.742 123.162
900 7.070 97.498 1100 8.639 106.089 1300 10.206 114.330 1500 11.784 124.451
905 7.110 97.928 1105 8.678 106.508 1305 10.247 114.277 1505 11.824 124.843
 910 7.149 97.887 1110 8.716 106.463 1310 10.286 114.684 1510 11.864 125.684
915 7.190 97.845 1115 8.755 105.953 1315 10.327 116.003 1515 11.903 126.526
920 7.229 98.276 1120 8.794 106.837 1320 10.366 115.496 1520 11.942 126.918
925 7.268 97.763 1125 8.831 107.258 1325 10.406 115.444 1525 11.983 126.860
930 7.309 98.663 1130 8.868 107.678 1330 10.446 115.392 1530 12.022 126.804
935 7.347 99.095 1135 8.907 108.560 1335 10.485 116.253 1535 12.062 127.194
940 7.387 99.523 1140 8.944 108.517 1340 10.524 116.658 1540 12.100 127.587
945 7.425 99.954 1145 8.984 108.932 1345 10.565 115.695 1545 12.140 127.529
950 7.464 99.912 1150 9.024 109.347 1350 10.602 116.557 1550 12.180 127.470
955 7.500 100.344 1155 9.063 109.300 1355 10.641 116.506 1555 12.221 127.858
960 7.539 100.302 1160 9.102 109.254 1360 10.680 117.365 1560 12.261 128.247
965 7.578 100.259 1165 9.144 109.203 1365 10.718 117.315 1565 12.300 128.190
970 7.617 100.217 1170 9.182 109.158 1370 10.755 117.721 1570 12.339 128.133
975 7.655 101.117 1175 9.222 109.110 1375 10.794 117.669 1575 12.380 128.518
980 7.694 100.604 1180 9.261 109.063 1380 10.833 118.072 1580 12.421 128.459
985 7.733 101.501 1185 9.301 109.476 1385 10.872 118.020 1585 12.462 128.398
990 7.773 102.397 1190 9.340 109.429 1390 10.910 118.424 1590 12.501 128.341
995 7.811 101.416 1195 9.378 109.846 1395 10.949 119.279 1595 12.542 129.172
1000 7.851 101.841 1200 9.419 110.718 1400 10.988 119.227 1600 12.581 128.669

Axial Corrected Axial Corrected

Time
Strain Dev Time(sec) Strain Dev Stress
(sec)
(%) Stress(kPa) (%) (kPa)
1605 12.621 128.610 1805 14.202 133.275
1610 12.660 128.553 1810 14.243 132.774
1615 12.702 129.381 1815 14.281 133.152
1620 12.742 129.765 1820 14.321 133.089
1625 12.780 129.265 1825 14.360 133.465
1630 12.820 129.205 1830 14.401 133.402
1635 12.859 130.035 1835 14.441 133.339
1640 12.899 129.975 1840 14.481 133.712
1645 12.938 130.804 1845 14.520 134.086
1650 12.979 131.186 1850 14.561 133.588
1655 13.019 131.125 1855 14.601 133.960
1660 13.057 131.069 1860 14.641 133.897
1665 13.097 131.451 1865 14.682 134.268
1670 13.136 131.834 1870 14.721 134.206
1675 13.173 131.335 1875 14.761 134.577
1680 13.214 131.274 1880 14.801 134.514
1685 13.251 132.542 1885 14.841 134.450
1690 13.288 132.045 1890 14.882 134.820
1695 13.327 131.544 1895 14.922 134.756
1700 13.364 132.370 1900 14.962 135.558
1705 13.405 132.308 1905 15.003 135.061
1710 13.445 132.247 1910 15.042 134.566
1715 13.485 132.185 1915 15.079 134.939
1720 13.526 131.683 1920 15.118 135.310
1725 13.565 131.623 1925 15.156 135.250
1730 13.605 132.002 1930 15.196 136.049
1735 13.644 132.382 1935 15.233 135.991
1740 13.683 132.323 1940 15.270 136.362
1745 13.725 133.138 1945 15.308 137.164
1750 13.764 133.517 1950 15.347 137.532
1755 13.804 133.454 1955 15.387 137.467
1760 13.843 133.394 1960 15.428 137.832
1765 13.883 134.209 1965 15.469 136.903
1770 13.923 133.707 1970 15.508 137.700
1775 13.961 133.649 1975 15.550 138.493
1780 14.003 132.708 1980 15.589 137.999
1785 14.042 132.210 1985 15.629 138.363
1790 14.082 133.023 1990 15.668 137.869
1795 14.122 132.961 1995 15.710 138.230
1800 14.164 132.896 1997 15.726 138.633

Fig 11: Stress vs strain for UU Test

Deviatric Stress vs Axial Strain.

160
140
120
100
80
Deviatric Stress(kPa)
60
40
20
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Axial Strain(%)

Max. Deviatory stress = 138.633 kPa

 Cohesion of the soil = 69.32kPa

Consolidated Undrained:
Table 38: Consolidated Undrained test data.
Corrected Correcte Correcte Correcte
Axial Axial Axial Axial
[Time Dev Time d Dev Time d Dev Time d Dev
Strain Strain Strain Strain
(sec) Stress(kPa (sec) Stress (sec) Stress (sec) Stress
(%) (%) (%) (%)
) (kPa) (kPa) (kPa)
0 0 0 2400 2.89 59.67 4800 5.83 54.65 7200 8.72 53.27
60 0.06 3.28 2460 2.96 59.09 4860 5.91 54.59 7260 8.79 53.69
120 0.13 3.79 2520 3.04 59.03 4920 5.98 54.53 7320 8.86 53.63
180 0.21 3.78 2580 3.11 59.48 4980 6.05 54.96 7380 8.93 53.10
240 0.28 5.34 2640 3.18 58.90 5040 6.12 54.90 7440 8.99 53.52
300 0.35 6.89 2700 3.25 59.35 5100 6.20 54.84 7500 9.06 53.94
360 0.42 7.40 2760 3.33 59.29 5160 6.27 54.78 7560 9.13 53.89
420 0.49 8.43 2820 3.40 58.71 5220 6.34 54.72 7620 9.21 53.35
480 0.56 8.93 2880 3.47 59.16 5280 6.42 54.17 7680 9.28 54.24
540 0.63 23.59 2940 3.55 58.59 5340 6.49 54.60 7740 9.35 53.71
600 0.70 32.47 3000 3.62 58.52 5400 6.57 54.05 7800 9.42 53.65
660 0.77 37.66 3060 3.70 57.95 5460 6.64 54.48 7860 9.49 54.07
720 0.84 41.28 3120 3.77 58.40 5520 6.71 54.42 7920 9.56 53.53
780 0.92 45.42 3180 3.84 57.82 5580 6.79 53.37 7980 9.64 53.95
840 0.99 47.46 3240 3.92 58.27 5640 6.86 54.30 8040 9.71 53.89
900 1.06 50.54 3300 3.99 57.70 5700 6.93 54.24 8100 9.78 53.83
960 1.13 52.58 3360 4.06 57.64 5760 7.01 54.18 8160 9.85 53.77
1020 1.20 54.09 3420 4.14 57.57 5820 7.08 54.61 8220 9.92 54.67
1080 1.27 56.12 3480 4.21 57.51 5880 7.15 54.06 8280 9.99 54.13
1140 1.35 57.10 3540 4.29 56.94 5940 7.22 54.00 8340 10.07 54.07
1200 1.42 57.56 3600 4.36 56.88 6000 7.29 54.43 8400 10.14 54.01
1260 1.50 59.06 3660 4.43 56.31 6060 7.37 53.88 8460 10.21 53.95
1320 1.57 60.04 3720 4.50 56.25 6120 7.44 53.34 8520 10.28 53.89
1380 1.65 61.02 3780 4.58 57.20 6180 7.50 53.77 8580 10.35 54.31
1440 1.72 62.00 3840 4.65 57.13 6240 7.57 53.22 8640 10.42 54.25
1500 1.80 61.93 3900 4.73 56.57 6300 7.65 53.65 8700 10.49 54.19
1560 1.87 63.43 3960 4.80 56.51 6360 7.72 54.08 8760 10.56 53.66
1620 1.94 63.37 4020 4.87 56.44 6420 7.79 53.54 8820 10.63 53.13
1680 2.01 56.82 4080 4.95 56.38 6480 7.87 53.47 8880 10.71 54.01
1740 2.08 57.28 4140 5.03 56.32 6540 7.95 54.38 8940 10.78 53.48
1800 2.16 58.25 4200 5.10 55.75 6600 8.02 53.84 9000 10.85 53.42
1860 2.23 57.67 4260 5.17 56.19 6660 8.09 54.26 9060 10.92 53.36
1920 2.30 58.64 4320 5.25 56.13 6720 8.16 53.72 9120 10.99 52.83
1980 2.37 58.58 4380 5.32 55.57 6780 8.23 53.66 9180 11.07 53.25
2040 2.45 58.52 4440 5.39 56.01 6840 8.30 53.61 9240 11.14 53.19
2100 2.52 58.45 4500 5.47 55.45 6900 8.37 53.07 9300 11.21 53.13
2160 2.59 58.90 4560 5.54 55.39 6960 8.44 53.98 9360 11.28 53.07
 2220 2.67 58.84 4620 5.61 54.83 7020 8.51 53.44 9420 11.35 53.48
2280 2.74 59.29 4680 5.69 54.77 7080 8.58 53.38 9480 11.42 53.42
2340 2.81 59.74 4740 5.76 55.20 7140 8.65 53.32 9540 11.49 53.83
Correcte
Axial
Time d Dev
Strain
(sec) Stress(k
(%)
Pa)
9600 11.56 53.77
9660 11.64 53.24
9720 11.71 53.65
9780 11.78 53.59
9840 11.84 54.00
9900 11.92 53.94
9960 11.99 53.88
10020 12.06 53.82
10080 12.13 54.23
10140 12.20 53.70
10200 12.27 54.10
10260 12.35 53.12
10283 12.37 53.56

Fig 12 : Stress vs strain for CU Test

Deviatric Stress vs Axial Strain

70
60
50
40
Deviartric stress(kPa) 30
20
10
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Axial Strain(%)

Results:

Undrained cohesion of soil is 69.32 kPa.

Drained cohesion of soil is 31.72 kPa.
Analysis and Inference:

Unconsolidated undrained test is a quick test.The UU triaxial strength is applicable to situations

where the loads are assumed to take place so rapidly that there is insufficient time for the induced
pore water pressure to dissipate and for consolidation to occur during the loading period.

References:

i) SP: 36 Part 1 Compendium of Indian Standards on Soil Engineering, ISI, New Delhi
ii) GopalRanjan, A. S. R. Rao, Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics, 2 nd Edition, New Age
Publishing.
iii) Karl Terzaghi, Ralph B. Peck, GholamrezaMesri, Soil Mechanics in Engineering
Practice, 3rd Edition, Wiley India.

iv) IS 2720 : Part 11 : 1993 Methods of test for soils: Part 11 Determination of the Shear
Strength Parameters of a specimen tested in unconsolidated, undrained triaxial
compression without the measurement of pore water pressure.
v) IS 2720 : Part 12 : 1981 Methods of test for soils: Part 12 Determination of shear
strength parameters of soil from consolidated undrained triaxial compression test with
measurement of pore water pressure.