SHAMISO MASUKA

R138140H

AGEN 304
LAB REPORT: SHEAR BOX TEST
TITLE:
Shear box test.
ABSTRACT:

The shear strength parameters for a particular soil can be obtained by laboratory tests on
specimens taken from representative soil samples. The test is performed on three or four
specimens from a relatively undisturbed soil sample. Prior to testing, the samples must be
handled carefully to avoid additional moisture loss or gain. This is important, especially in
the case of undisturbed samples. The direct shear box test is the simplest method of
measuring shear strength. The testing equipment consists of a split metal square shear box in
which the soil specimen is placed. Porous plates are placed below and on top of the specimen
if it is fully or partially saturated to allow free drainage. Normal force is applied on the
specimen. Shear force is then applied by moving one half of the shear box relative to the
other half until failure occurs in the soil specimen. The shear force is applied in the form of
dead weights, in equal increments until the specimen fails. After applying each incremental
load, the shear displacement of the top half of the box is measured by a horizontal dial gauge.
Dial gauge deflections are recorded on intervals until failure occurs. The maximum deflection
is used to calculate the shear stress at failure. The failure occurs along the plane of split of the
shear. The results of the test are plotted on a graph with the normal stress on the x-axis and
the shear stress on the y-axis. The y- intercept or the line which fits the test results is the
cohesion, and the slope of the graph is the angle of internal friction.The knowledge of shear
strength is important when designing earth structures.

INTRODUCTION:

The shear strength of soil is the internal resistance per unit area the soil mass can offer to
resist failure and sliding along any plane inside it. It is important to understand the nature of
shearing resistance in order to carry out an analysis of soil stability problems such as bearing
capacity, slope stability, and lateral pressure on earth retaining structures. Many soil stability
problems occur when failure involves the sliding of a body of soil relative to the main soil
mass. It is very important to ensure that this condition will never occur for practical purpose.
A suitable factor of safety is generally applied to soil structures so that the shear stress in the
soil does not exceed a certain proportion of its maximum shear strength. If the water content
of the soil does not change under load, an analysis of total stresses based on undrained shear
strength can be applied. In short-term stability problems, the value of undrained shear
strength is applicable. The angle of internal friction is required to determine either earth
pressure coefficients or bearing capacity coefficients. In long-term stability problems such as
retaining walls, embankments, and earth dams, the drained shear strength parameters are
required. The shear box can also be used for the measurement of friction between soil and
rock, friction on a joint surface in rock, bond strength of adhesives and cementing agents and
friction between soil and manufactured materials such as concrete. Another method that can
be used to measure shear strength is the triaxial test. Direct shear testing is desirable since
less time is required to fail the soil specimen than when using the triaxial test. The time to
failure in the direct shear test is greatly reduced because the specimen is relatively thin.
Direct shear tests can be performed under several conditions. The sample is normally
saturated before the test is run, but can be run at the in-situ moisture content. The rate of
strain can be varied to create a test of undrained or drained conditions. The strain can be
applied slowly to prevent pore-water pressure build up in the soil sample.
The advantages of the direct shear test over other shear tests are the simplicity of setup and
equipment used, and the ability to test under differing saturation, drainage, and consolidation
conditions. The principle can be extended to gravelly soils and another materials containing
large particles, which would be more expensive to test by other means. However, it is
difficult to measure pore-water pressure when testing in undrained conditions, and The
specimen is forced to fail along a predetermined shear plane. Shear stress on the failure plane
is not uniform since failure occurs from the edges toward the centre of the specimen.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Load frame –rate of strain 1.52mm/minute.
Split shear boxes (60mmx60mm square.)
Yoke
Surcharge masses
Undisturbed sampling cutter + spatula
Timing device
Balance
Oven
Empty tins
Method:
Soil was sieved through a 2.36mm sieve.
The shear boxes were assembled by placing a retaining plate, porous stone and a grid plate in
the lower halves.
The top halves of the four numbered shear boxes were filled with soil. The soil was
compacted using a small wooden compactor.
The halves were carefully placed together and fixed with two locating pins.
Using a further upper grid plate and porous stone, the soil was gently placed down into
contact with a lower grid plate.
The pressure pad and the soaking head were placed on top of the porous stone.
A range of vertical loads was selected. These were 5, 10, 15 and 20 kg.
The first assembled specimen was placed on the load frame, bringing the shear box in contact
with the screw jack and proving ring.
The load was applied by means of a yoke, but the yoke was first levelled using a spirit level.
The two locating pins were removed, then the top half was fractionally raised half a turn of
the two raising screws before removing the screws.
The proving dial gauge was zeroed before engaging the driving gears.
The motor and timer were started and the dial gauge deflections were noted at time intervals
on the test form until no further increase for two consecutive readings was recorded.
After shearing, the specimen was removed and checked for any irregularities such as cavities,
stones and organic materials.
The saturated moisture content for the specimen was determined.
The procedure was repeated for the remaining three specimens using the increasing normal
loads within the selected range.
RESULTS:
Observations.
Intervals Vertical loads (kg)
5 10 15 20
0.5 140.0 165 155 180
1.0 237.0 281 325 329
1.5 281.0 332 433 459
2.0 305.0 373 505 565
2.5 325.0 418 562 643
3.0 347.0 445 614 694
3.5 363.0 475 654 724
4.0 376.0 499 687 741
4.5 385.0 519 710 747
5.0 395.0 533 728 750
5.5 406.0 545 743 -
6.0 413.0 557 754 -
6.5 421.0 563 761 -
7.0 431.5 575 - -
7.5 432.5 587 - -
8.0 438.0 588 - -
8.5 446.0 590 - -
9.0 - 591 - -

Moisture content determination:

𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑒+𝑤𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑔)−𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑒+𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑔)
Moisture content (%) = x 100
𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑒+𝑑𝑟𝑦 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙 (𝑔)−𝑇𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 (𝑔)
 Specimen Tare Tare mass Tare + wet Tare + dry soil Moisture
number (g) soil (g) (g) content (%)
1 13 20.1 126.0 117.38 8.86
2 34 20.2 139.9 118.22 22.12
3 88 20.0 143.1 121.11 21.75
4 75 20.3 125.9 107.13 21.62

Shear and compressive stress determination:

Cross sectional area of shear box = (0.060 x 0.060) m =0.0036𝑚2 .
9.80665 𝑥 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 (𝑘𝑔)
Compressive (normal) stress ( kN/𝑚2 ) = 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 (𝑚2 )

𝑅𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟(𝑁) 𝑥 max 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

Shear stress ( kN/𝑚2 ) = 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎( 𝑚2 )

The ring factor was taken as 1.34N.

Specimen Normal load Maximum Compressive stress Shear stress
(kg) deflection (kN/𝑚2 ) (kN/𝑚2 )
1 5 446 13620.347 166011
2 10 591 27240.694 219 983
3 15 761 40861.042 283 261
4 20 750 54481.389 279 166

The graph obtained was as follows:

350000

300000 y = 2.9569x + 136419

Shear stress at failure (kN/m²)

250000

200000

150000

100000
10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000 40000 45000 50000 55000 60000
Normal stress (kN/m²)

The angle of internal friction is given by the gradient of the line.

Tan Ɵ = 2.9569
Ɵ = 71.3º
The y-intercept gives the cohesion =136419

DISCUSSION:
It should be always ensured that the normal pins are removed before starting to shear.
Also, shearing should not proceed beyond the point where the thrust projection of the upper
half of the box comes into contact with the lower half of the box.
The test represents the immediate undrained condition. In the unconsolidated undrained
condition, it is required to apply the vertical load and leave each specimen for 24 hours
before shearing so that 100% consolidation takes place.
Pore water pressure cannot be measured and drainage conditions cannot be controlled when
carrying out the test using the shear box apparatus, except by varying the rate of shear
displacement.
Shear stress on the failure plane is not uniform since failure occurs from the edges towards
the centre of the specimen.
The deformation which can be applied to the soil is limited by the maximum length of travel
of the apparatus.
The area under the shear and vertical loads does not remain constant throughout the test.Area
decreases as the test proceeds.
CONCLUSSION:
The test is relatively quick and simple to carry out and preparation of the test specimen is
easy. Although the direct shear test is a simple and economic test to perform, it has some
shortcomings. The results may not be reliable since the soil is not allowed to fail along its
weakest plane, but is forced to fail along the plane of split of the shear box. The shear stress
distribution over the shear surface of the specimen is not uniform. This means the results may
not be accurate.

REFFERENCES:
Craig,R,F.(2004)Craig’s Soil Mechanics.7th ed.Spon Press.
Helwany,S.(2007).Applied Soil Mechanics with ABAQUS Applications.New Jersey:John
Wiley and Sons.
John,T.,Germaine.and Germ,A,V.(2009). Geotechnical Laboratory Measurements for
Engineers.John Wiley and Sons.
Das,B.M.(1994). Principles of geotechnical engineering, 3rd Edition, PWS Kent Publishers.
Ranjan,G.(1997).Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics.New Age International.