A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

Reg.No:0002804 .
Title Of Project :Directed shear on sand.
Group.No: S2 .
Date-Day: 20/1/2002 Sunday.

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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

 Objective:
Know the property of sand and know the
shearing different between sand &clay.
How can we determine the failure plan in sand
project.
Know the general relation between angle of
friction & relative density.
To give the reader a very clear idea about the
steps & procedure we flow to make the shear
test in the soil lab and also we give a clear
discussion of the results we found and what
these results means.

Theory:
S= C + σn tanФ ( in clay).
S== 0 + σnf tanФ = σn tanФ (in sand).

Definition:
S = shear stress.
C = soil cohesion.
σnf = effective normal stress of failure
plan.
Ф = angle of friction.

Discussion & Conclusion:

That is the failure plane is forced to occur at a

predetermined location. On this plane there are two
stresses acting – a normal stress σn due to an
applied vertical load Pv, and a shearing stress s due
to the applied horizontal load Ph. These stresses are
simply computed as:
Where A is the nominal area of the sample (or of

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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

σ = ( Pv / A )
S = ( Ph / A )
the shear box) and is not corrected for lateral
displacement under stress shear force Ph. These
stresses are those of coulomb’s equation as: (Eq.3)

s = C ′ + (σ n − Δ u ) tan Φ ′
Note that we obtain “effective” stress parameters
if Δu is measured and used in Eq. If is not
measured and is corrected we obtain “total” stress
parametersΦ and C.
As there are two unknown quantities (Φ and C) in
(Eq.3), a minimum of two tests at different values
of normal stress σn with measured shear stress s
must be made so that the shear strength
parameters Φ and C can be computed. As before at
least three tests should be done to check for the test
error or sample anomalies.
Since the shear stress s and normal stress σn have
the same significance as when used in Mohr’s circle
constructions, rather than solving a series of
simultaneous equation for Φ and C, one may plot on
a set of coordinate axis the values of shear stress
versus normal stress σn [or since Pv and Ph are
both divided by the same sample area A in Equations
(1 & 2) simply plot these]. Draw the shear envelope
through this locus of points and extend line to the
shear axis to determine the cohesion C, the slope of
this line is the angle of internal friction Φ.
For cohesionless materials, the cohesion should be
zero by definition and (Eq.3) become as: (Eq.4)

s = σ n tan Φ ′
In this case there should be no difference between
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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

total and effective stress parameters. The sample

is thin enough (20 mm thick) that even if it were
saturated any excess pore pressure should dissipate
(with two – way drainage) unless the test is done at
an extremely high strain rate. Since high strain
rates are not allowed, it is reasonable to assume
“drained” test conditions.
Test inaccuracies and surface – tension effects of
damp cohesionless materials may give a small
“apparent” cohesion but this should be neglected
unless it more than 10 to 15 kPa.
If the cohesion intercept is large and the soil
appears to be cohesionless one should investigate if
the test has been incorrectly done.
The direct – shear test was formerly quite popular.
Then, as the state of art advanced, it tended to
become less popular for several reasons:
*The area of the sample changes as the test
progress but the change my not be very significant,
as most samples “fail” at low deformation.
*The actual failure surface is not plane, as assumed
or as was intended from the way of the shear box
was constructed, nor is the shearing stress
uniformly distributed over the “failure” surface, as
also assumed.
*The test uses small sample, with the result that
preparation errors can become relatively important.
*The size of the sample precludes much
investigation into pore – water conditions during the
test.
*Values of modulus Es and Poisson’s ratio μ cannot
be determined.
*Triaxial test apparatus was developed.
With a further advance in state of art, however,
the direct – shear test has regained some of it’s
former popularity. Some o the reasons for this are as
follow:

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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

*The triaxial test is much more difficult to perform

and interpret – especially if pore pressure are
measured.
*The size of the sample makes it less time –
consuming to perform consolidated – undrained and
consolidated – drained tests. The time for sample
consolidation under the normal load Pv is relatively
short since there are two drainage faces yielding a
drainage path on the order of 10 to 12 mm. Unless
the coefficient of permeability k is extremely small,
consolidation should occur in about 20 to 30 minutes
– at most 4 or 5 hr.
*Square sample boxes were introduced so that the
reduction in area during the test can be easily
accounted for, if desired. The use of square boxes
is relatively recent, and many older machines
currently in service still use round sample boxes. In
some cases it is only necessary to obtain the
alternative box from the laboratory equipment
supplier.
*The direct – shear machine is quite adaptable to
electronic readout equipment, so that an operator is
not required to be on continuos duty for
consolidated – drained tests, which may be of
several days duration if very small horizontal shear
displacement rate is used to minimize excess pore
pressure during shear.
*It has been found that the soil parameters Φ and
C obtained by the direct – shear test method are
about as reliable as triaxial test values (probably
this is more the result of an operator problem than
of the equipment being equal in performance). This
does not mean to imply that the triaxial test is
undesirable, rather, if soil parameters are all that are
desired, the direct – shear values have usually
been found to be quite acceptable.
Direct – shear tests may be categorized as follows:

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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

*Unconsolidated – undrained or UU tests. Shear is

begun before the sample consolidates under the
normal load Pv. If the soil is cohesive and saturated,
excess pore pressures may develop. This
test is analogous to the UU triaxial test. In a
practical sense the test is often begun as soon as
the sample is put in the machine and the various
dials initialized.
*Consolidated – undrained or CU tests. The normal
force is applied and the vertical dial movement is
monitored until settlement stops before the shearing
force is applied. This test is something between the
CU and CD triaxial tests described in the triaxial
test.
Consolidated – drained tests. The normal force is
applied, and the shear force is delayed until all
settlement stops, the shear force is then applied so
slowly that the small pore pressure that develops in
the sample can be ignored. This test is analogous to
the consolidated – drained triaxial test.
For cohesionless soils, all three of the above tests
give about the same results. They are almost
independent of the saturation state unless the test
is performed at a very high horizontal strain rate.
For cohesive materials, the soil parameters are
markedly influenced by the test method, degree of
saturation and whether the soil is normally
consolidated or over consolidated. Generally, two
sets of shear – strength parameters can be
obtained if the soil is over consolidated: one set for
normal loads less than the preconsolidation pressure
pc, a second set for normal loads > pc. Where a
preconsolidated soil is suspected, it may be
necessary to perform six or more tests to ensure that
the appropriate shear – strength parameters are
obtained.

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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

Sample Identification:

• Medium to coarse sand.

Equipment:
Direct shear test machine (srain – controled)
Balance, senstive to 0.1g.
Larg porcelain evaporating dish.
Tamper (for compacting sand in the directed
shear box).
Spoon.
2 dial gauges.

Procedure& Calculation:

Carefully assemble the shear box (back of the

sample box spacing and clamping screws as
necessary) and fix into position.
Then obtain the dimensions of the sample so as to
calculate the cross sectional area of the sample.
Carefully place the sand on the shear box (We have
been instructed from the instructor to put 113g of
sand on the box to maintain 20mm depth of sample).
Now the porous stones is putted on the sample then
we place the load block on the top of the soil.
We apply the desired vertical load. Then the lateral
spacing screws are taken off so now the load is
distributed over the sample.
The horizontal reading is started now and readings
are taken on the load dial every 100 divisions on the
strain dial.
We carry on taking readings till the horizontal

reading become constant.The previous steps are

repeated or other two
samples.

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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

Calculation:
Area of specimen = A= 6x6 = 36 cm
= 0.36m.
σn = normal effective stress = ( Nload )/(A)
shear stress= (S )/ (A).
S= ( P X 0.715 ).

∆L cm Proving Piston Shear

HORIZANTAL ring load P stress
reading (Shear KN/m2
force) (KP)
SAMPLE (1) :
σn = ( Nload )/(A)=10kg/0.036m2 = 278N.
0 0 0 0
0.02 60 42.9 19
0.04 90 64.35 18
0.06 110 78.65 22
0.08 140 100.1 28
0.10 150 107.25 30
0.12 155 110.825 31
0.14 165 117.975 33
0.16 163 116.545 32
0.18 162 115.83 32
SAMPLE (2) :
σn = ( Nload )/(A)=20kg/0.036m2 =556N.
0 0 0 0
0.02 15 10.725 3
0.04 35 25.025 7
0.06 70 50.05 14
0.08 96 68.64 19
0.10 110 78.65 22
0.12 130 92.95 26
0.14 150 107.25 30
0.16 165 117.975 33
0.18 180 128.7 36
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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

0.20 200 143 40

0.22 220 157.3 44
0.24 230 164.45 46
0.26 245 175.175 49
0.28 252 180.18 50
0.30 260 185.9 52
0.32 265 189.475 53
0.34 270 193.05 54
0.36 270 193.05 54
0.38 268 191.62 53
0.40 267 190.905 53
SAMPLE (3) :
σn = ( Nload )/(A)=30kg/0.036m2 =
833.3N.
0 0 0 0
0.02 13 9.295 3
0.04 42 30.03 8
0.06 84 60.06 17
0.08 120 85.8 24
0.10 147 105.105 29
0.12 170 121.55 34
0.14 193 137.995 38
0.16 210 150.15 42
0.18 228 163.02 45
0.20 240 171.6 48
0.22 255 182.325 51
0.24 278 198.77 55
0.26 290 207.35 58
0.28 300 214.5 60
0.30 308 220.22 61
0.32 320 228.8 64
0.34 338 241.67 67
0.36 338 241.67 67
0.38 338 241.67 67

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A H M 531 Direct shear test By: Mu'men Al-Otoom

Sample Max.Shear stress Normal stress

1 117.975 278
2 193.05 556
3 241.67 833.3

General Discuss the result:

It is easier to perform than the triaxial test,

especially because of measuring the pore water
pressure in the triaxial test.
The reduction in area during the test was easily
accounted, since the use of square sample boxes.
The soil parameters Φ and C obtained by the direct
shear test method are reliable as those obtained
from triaxial test.
Consuming to perform the CU and CD tests, the size
of the sample makes it less time. The time for
sample consolidation under normal load pv is
relatively short since there are two drainage faces
yielding a drainage path on the order of 10 to 12
mm. Unless the coefficient of permeability k is
small, consolidation should occur in about 20 to 30
min.

ERRORS:
errors on taking the readings.
an important source of error is the
friction of the screw with the surface.
Errors on weighing.

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