The In-Situ Measurement of The Undrained Shear Strength of Clays Using

The Field Vane

The standard dimensions, insertion procedures, and rates of rotation of the field vane is
followed by consideration of those factors that influence the undrained shear strength
measured by the field vane. These factor include the disturbance effects of vane insertion, the
consequences of a rest period before shear, strain-rate effects, the rotation rate necessary to
ensure undrained conditions during shear, and the method of calculation of Cu.
The distribution of shear stress around the vane may be assumed to be uniform on the vertical
edges of the vane blades but probably highly nonuniform on the top and bottom surfaces. As
consequences the conventional interpretation of the test given by:
Cu = 0,86M/D3
Vane insertion causes disturbance that results in underestimation of the in-situ undrained
strength. This disturbance is most severe in sensitive clays and is probably the reason for the
comparatively low strength at low values of plasticity shown in correlations of Cu/v versus
Ip. The only published estimates of the effects of insertion disturbances indicate a maximum
strength loss of about 25% may be inferred for some of the highly sensitive, low plasticity
Norwegian clays.
Recommended rest period should not exceed 5 min, thus ensuring a conservative estimate
of the in-situ undrained strength. The standard rate of rotation of 6 to 12/min will result in
failure in about 1 min. Since failure in the field vane test in most soft clays occures in about 1
min, there are significant strain-rate effects in the standard test.
The ratio of the field vane undrained strength to CkoUC triaxial strength measurements is
given approximately by:
Vr = 0,55 + 0,008 Ip
This relationship is only marginally dependent on the overconsolidated ratio.
It is suggested that strength measured in the vane test is primarily that mobilized in simple
shear around the vertical portion of the vanes periphery. This is comparable to the stress
system operating in horizontal simple shear tests, and at values of Ip > 30% the two tests
record closely similar undrained strengths. At values of Ip< 30% the field vane test yields
strengths believed to be reduced by vane inserton disturbance.
The field vane strength may be given in the form:
Cu/v = S1(OCR)m
For normal clays 0.95; S1, the undrained strength ratio at OCR = 1. The accuracy of
method will be about +/- 25%.