DISCUSSION

This experiment is to determine the undrained shear strength parameters of soil using unconfined
compression test.

In the unconfined test, no radial stress is applied to the sample ( 3 = 0).

The plunger load, P is increased rapidly until the soil sample fail, that is cannot support any
additional load. The loading is applied quickly so that the pore water cannot drain from the soil.

The effect stress path is unknown since pore water pressure changes are not normally measured.

This test is considered as undrained shear test assuming that there is no moisture loss from the
specimen during the test.

The specimen must not certain any fissures, silt seams, varves, or other defects, this mean that the
specimen must be intact, homogenous clay. Rarely are over-consolidated clays intact, and often
even normally consolidated clays have some fissures.

The advantage of doing unconfined compression test is without any calculation the confining
pressure 3 is equal to 0. From the test result we get the maximum unconfined compression
strength (qu) is determined, using qu = 1 and 3 is equal to 0 plot in graph where normal stress
versus shear stress to determine the undrained strength Cu where Cu = qu/2 of the unconfined
compression strength we obtained.
APPARATUS

-Water
-Cylinder mould
-Ruler Vernier calliper
-Compaction device
-Extraction device
-Spatula
-Unconfined compression test machine
-Measuring cylinder

PROCEDURE

1. Obtain the weight of the empty bowl.

2. The dry soil sample are put inside the bowl and then weight and recorded.
3. Add 20% water based on the weight of the soil sample and mix it properly.
4. The wet soil is placed into the mould and used the compaction device to compressed the soil
into the mould until it full.
5. Remove the mould from the holder and take the ring apart. Use the spatula to smooth the
top and bottom of the soil sample.
6. The soil sample is put into the extraction device and the handle is pulled down so the soil
sample is removed from the mould.
7. The dimension of the specimen is recorded (diameter and height). Then weight the
specimen.
8. The specimen is placed in the compression test machine so that is centres on the lower
plate.
9. The machine is adjusted carefully so that the upper plate just makes contact with the
specimen. Zero the deformation indicator.
1
10. Apply the load so as to produce axial strain at a rate % to 2% per min and record load and
2
deformation values as needed to provide a complete curve (every 30 sec is normally
adequate).
11. The rate of strain is regulated, so that the approximate time to failure does not exceed 10
minutes.
12. The test is continued until load values decrease with the increasing strain or until 20% axial
strain rates during the test.
13. After removing the specimen from the test machine, the sample moisture content is
determined.