RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

UNDRAINED TRIAXIAL TEST

DESCRIPTION:

Conventional triaxial test involves subjecting a cylindrical soil sample to radial stresses
(confining pressure) and controlled increases in axial stresses or axial displacements. The
cylindrical soil specimen is usually of the dimension of 100 mm diameter and 200 mm
height. The specimen in vertically enclosed in a thin rubber membrane. The specimen
preparation depends on the type of the soil. Samples of cohesive soils are often prepared
directly from saturated compacted samples, either undisturbed or remoulded. For cohesion-
less soils, however, the specimen is prepared with the help of a mould that maintains the
required shape of the specimen.

The specimen is vertically enclosed with a thin rubber membrane and placed between two
rigid ends inside a pressure chamber. The upper plate can move vertically and apply vertical
stresses to the specimen. The axial strain/stress of the sample is controlled through the
movement of this vertical axis. Also, the confining pressure is controlled by the water
pressure surrounding the sample in the pressure chamber. The volume change of the sample
is also controlled by measuring the exact volume of moving water.

Depending on the combination of loading and drainage condition, three main types of triaxial
tests can be carried out:

• Consolidated – Drained (CD)

• Consolidated – Undrained (CU)
• Unconsolidated - Undrained (UU)

In case of consolidated test, the test is then carried out by a first stage of applying confining
pressure in the pressure chamber and allowing drainage of the sample. This stage corresponds
to the consolidation of the sample. The deviatoric load is then applied through the vertical
axis. The deviatoric stress is indeed the difference between the vertical stress and the
confining stress. During the deviatoric compression, the drainage valves can be open (CD) or
closed (CU & UU).

Triaxial test data, in general, include evolution of axial and volumetric strain, deviatoric and

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

isotropic stress, and pore pressure evolution. From the triaxial test results, it is possible to
deduce the shear strength parameters, namely friction angle, cohesion, dilatancy angle and
the other dependent parameters.

TRIAXIAL TEST MACHINE

NEED AND SCOPE:

The standard consolidated undrained test is compression test, in which the soil specimen is
first consolidated under all round pressure in the triaxial cell before failure is brought about
by increasing the major principal stress. It may be perform with or without measurement of
pore pressure although for most applications the measurement of pore pressure is desirable.

OBSERVATION:
1) Type of soil - Black cotton soil
2) C/S area of soil sample = A = (π/4) x 0.038² = 1.134 x 10⁻³ m²
3) Height of sample = 76 mm = 0.076 m
4) Strain rate = 2 mm/min

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

Sample 1 Sample 2
5) Confining pressure (σ3) 1 kg/cm² = 100 KN/m² 2 kg/cm² = 200 KN/m²
6) Deviatric load 0.08 KN 0.15 KN
7) Deviatric stress (∆σ) 0.08/ (1.134x10⁻³) = 70.54 KN/m² 0.15 / (1.134x10⁻³) = 132.26
KN/m²
8) Total stress (σ) 170.54 KN/m² 332.26 KN/m²

9) Depth of soil = 5m
10) Saturated unit weight of soil = 20 KN/m²
11) Cohesion = c = 3.48 KN/m²
12) Angle of friction = ɸ = 14˚

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:
1) For sample 1
Deviatric stress (∆σ) = Deviatric load / area
= 0.08/1.134x10⁻³
= 70.54 KN/m²
Total stress (σ1) = σ3 + ∆σ = 100+70.54 = 170.54 KN/m²
Normal stress on the failure plane = σ = 20 x 5 = 100 KN/m²
S = c + σ.tan ɸ
= 3.48 + 100 x tan(14 ˚)
S = 28.413 KN/m²

RESULT:
1) The angle of internal friction for the given black cotton soil sample is 14˚
2) Cohesion for given soil sample is 3.48 KN/m²
3) Shear strength of given soil sample is 28.413 KN/m²

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

GRAPH NO. 1
TRIAXIAL TEST

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

DESCRIPTION:

The unconfined compressive strength (qu) is the load per unit area at which the cylindrical
specimen of a cohesive soil falls in compression.
qu = P/A

Where P= axial load at failure, A= corrected area = , where is the initial area of
the specimen, = axial strain = change in length/original length.

The undrained shear strength (s) of the soil is equal to the one half of the unconfined
compressive strength,

UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TESTING MACHINE

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

NEED AND SCOPE:

Unconfined Compression Test (UCT) is a simple laboratory testing method to assess the
mechanical properties of rocks and fine-grained soils. It provides a measures of the
undrained strength and the stress-strain characteristics of the rock or soil.

he primary purpose of the Unconfined Compression Test is to quickly determine a measure of

the unconfined compressive strength of rocks or fine-grained soils that possess sufficient
cohesion to permit testing in the unconfined state. This measure is then used to calculate the
unconsolidated undrained shear strength of the clay under unconfined conditions. In general,
The UCT can be conducted on rock samples or on undisturbed, reconstituted or compacted
cohesive soil sample.

OBSERVATIONS:

1) Initial diameter = 40 mm

2) Initial length = L = 72 mm

3) Initial area = A = (π/4) x 40² = 1.26 x 10³ mm²

4) Strain rate = 2.5 mm/min

5) Time required failure = 17.2 min

6) Change in length = ∆L = 43 mm

7) Proving ring reading = 2.6 mm

8) No. of divisions = 13

9) Load at failure = 0.0324 KN

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:

1) Change in length = ∆L = strain rate x time of failure

= 2.5 X 17.2

= 43 mm

2) Є = ∆L/L = 43/72 = 0.597

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

3) Corrected area = A/(1- Є) = (1.26 x 10̄̄ ̄³)/(1-0.597)

= 3.118 x 10̄̄ ̄³ m²

4) Load at failure

From chart,

0 0

80.2 divisions 0.2 KN

Load at failure = {0+[(0.2-0)/(80.2-0)]}X (13-0) = 0.0324 KN

5) Compressive strength = qᵤ = Load at failure/Corrected area

= 0.0324/(3.118 x 10̄̄ ̄³)

= 10.39 KN/m²

RESULTS:

1) Unconfined compressive strength of the soil specimen is 10.39 KN/m²

2) Cohesion of the soil sample is 5.195 KN/m²

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

GRAPH NO. 2
UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

DIRECT SHEAR TEST

DESCRIPTION:
Shear strength of a soil is its maximum resistance to shearing stresses. The shear strength is
expressed as

Where C’ = Effective cohesion

Using direct shear test, one can find out the cohesion and angle of internal friction of soil
which are useful in many engineering designs such as foundations, retaining walls, etc.

This test can be performed in three different drainage conditions namely unconsolidated-
undrained, consolidated-undrained and consolidated-drained conditions. In general,
cohesionless soils are tested for direct shear in consolidated drained condition.

DIRECT SHEAR BOX

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

DIRECT SHEAR TEST MACHINE

OBSERVATIONS:

1) Type of soil = black cotton soil

2) Area of sample = 60 X 60 = 3600 mm²

3) Height of sample = 60 mm

4) Strain rate = 1.25 mm/min

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

5) Normal stress (σ) 100 KN/m² 200 KN/m²

6) Proving ring reading 6.8 8.6

7) Divisions 34 43

8) Shear load 0.0848 KN 0.107 KN

9) Shear stress (τ) 23.550 KN/m² 29.787 KN/m²

11) Angle of internal friction = ɸ = 4˚

12) Cohesion = c = 17.31 KN/m²

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS:

Shear Load = 0.0848 KN

Shear stress = shear load/area

= 0.0848/(3.6 x 10̄̄ ̄³)

= 23.550 KN/m²

RESULTS:

1) The angle of internal friction for the given black cotton soil sample is 4˚

2) Cohesion for given soil sample is 17.31 KN/m²

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RAJARANBAPU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SOIL MECHANICS

DIRECT SHEAR TEST GRAPH

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SHEAR STRESS (KN/m²)

30

25

20

15 DIRECT SHEAR TEST GRAPH

C = 17.31 KN/m² ɸ = 4˚
10

0
0 50 100 150 200 250
NORMAL STRESS (KN/m²)

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