Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Prof. Ing.
g Marco Favaretti
Universit di Padova
Facolt di Ingegneria
Fax: +39.049.827.7988
E-Mail: marco.favaretti@unipd.it
@ p
1
SHEARSTRENGTHOFSANDSANDCLAYS
We define the shear strength of a soil as the ultimate or maximum shear stress
the soil can withstand.
Sometimesthelimitingvalueofshearstresswasbasedonamaximumallowable
strainordeformation.
Thisallowabledeformationactuallyoftencontrolsthedesignofastructure
becausewiththelargesafetyfactorsweuse,theactualshearstressesinthesoil
producedbytheappliedloadsaremuchlessthanthestressescausingcollapseor
failure.
Shearstrengthcanbedeterminedinseveraldifferentways;thenwedescribed
someofthemorecommonlaboratoryandfieldtests.
I situ
In
it methods
th d such
h as the
th vane shear
h
t t or penetrometers
test
t
t
avoid
id
some of the problems of disturbance associated with the extraction of soil
samples from the ground.
ground
These methods only determine the shear strength indirectly through
correlations with laboratory results or back-calculated
back calculated from actual failures.
failures
Laboratory tests, on the other hand, yield the shear strength directly.
In addition, valuable information about the stress-strain behaviour and the
development of pore pressures during shear can often be obtained.
We shall illustrate the fundamental stress-deformation and shear strength
response of soils with the results of laboratory tests for typical soils.
10
11
12
Fi
Figure
shows
h
h
how
b th a
both
stationary dune (SD) as
well as a migrating dune
(MD) are formed. On the
leeward side ((LS),
) the
slope of the dune will
have an angle (of repose)
which varies from 30 to
35.
If the slope on the leeward side becomes steeper than 30 to 35, then the
slope is unstable and sand grains will roll down the slope until the angle of
repose is reached.
reached
An unstable condition is shown on the slope at the far right-hand side of
Fi
Figure;
eventually
t ll a smooth
th slope
l
att the
th angle
l off repose will
ill form.
f
13
friction
or
shearing
with
respect
to
their
behaviour in shear.
shear
As we shall soon see, the stressstrain and volume change response
depends on the confining pressure
as well as on the relative density.
14
Purpose:
This test is p
performed to determine
the
consolidated-drained
shear
Standard Reference:
ASTM D 3080 - Standard Test
Method for Direct Shear Test of
Soils Under Consolidated Drained
C
Conditions
15
shall
run
two
tests
under
16
17
the
dense
sheared,
the
difference
reaches
specimen
principal
a
is
stress
peak
p
or
(1 - 3)ult for
N ti
Notice
th t the
that
th void
id ratio
ti att failure
f il
ecd
is
very
close
to
ecl.
Th loose
The
l
sample
l just
j t bulges,
b l
while
hil
the dense sample often fails along a
distinct
plane
oriented
21
I describing
In
d
ibi the
th behaviour
b h i
off the
th ttwo d
drained
i d ttriaxial
i i l ttests
t on lloose and
d
dense sands, we have mentioned the following physical quantities:
principal stress difference
strain volume change
critical void ratio ecrit and, indirectly,
relative density
We have purposely avoided defining the terms loose and dense
b
because
th
the volume
l
change
h
b
behaviour
h i
d
during
i shear
h
d
depends
d nott only
l
on the initial void ratio and relative density but also on the confining
pressure.
pressure
Now we shall consider the effect of confining pressure on the stressstrain and volume change characteristics of sands in drained shear
shear.
22
'
1 + sen'
'
2
1
=
= tan 45 +
'
2
3 max 1 sen'
23
where
h
iis th
the effective
ff ti angle
l off iinternal
t
l ffriction.
i ti
The principal stress difference is related to principal stress ratio by:
'
' 1
1
1 3 = 3
'
'
(1 3 )f = '3f '1 1
3
max
24
V
volumetric strain (%) =
x100
V0
26
T better
To
b tt appreciate
i t what
h t is
i
going on in Figure (a) let us
compute the principal stress
difference (1 - 3) at a strain
of 5% for 3c = 3.9 MPa and
3c = = 0.1 MPa.
The principal stress ratios
for these conditions are 2.0
and 3.5, respectively.
Utilizing Eq. 2, we obtain the
following
g results:
1 3 = '3
'
1
'
27
It is
i interesting
i t
ti tto look
l k att the
th shapes
h
off the
th
volumetric strain versus axial strain curves
in Figure
Figure.
As the strain increases, the volumetric
strain decreases for the most part.
part
This is consistent with the behaviour of a
loose sand.
At low confining pressures (0.1 MPa -0.2
MPa) the volumetric strain is positive or
DILATION is taking place
Even an initially loose sand behaves like a dense sand; that is
dilates if 3c is low enough.
g
28
31
A th
As
the void
id ratio
ti d
decreases, or th
the
density increases, the angle of
internal friction or angle of shearing
resistance increases.
Mohr failure envelopes in Figure are
curved; that is, is not a constant if
the range in confining pressures is
large.
We usually speak of
as if it were a
constant, but we understand that the
Mohr failure envelope
p really
y is
curved.
32
Th effects
The
ff t off relative
l ti
density or void ratio, grain
shape grain size
shape,
distribution, and particle
size on are summarized
in Table.
Values were determined
by TX tests on saturated
samples at moderate
confining pressures.
Generally
y speaking,
p
g, with
all else constant,
increases with increasing
angularity.
33
If two
t
sands
d have
h
the
th same relative
l ti d
density,
it th
the soilil th
thatt iis better
b tt graded
d d
(for example, an SW soil as opposed to an SP soil) has a larger .
Two sands, at the same void ratio, may not necessarily have the same
relative density.
Particle size, at constant void ratio, does not seem to influence
significantly. Thus a fine sand and a coarse sand, at the same void ratio,
will probably have about the same .
Another parameter (not included in Table) is surface roughness, which is
very difficult to measure. It will, however, have an effect on .
Generally, the greater the surface roughness, the greater will be .
It has also been found that wet soils show a 1 to 2 lower than if the
y
sands were dry.
34
Th final
The
fi l ffactor,
t overconsolidation
lid ti
or prestress
t
off sands,
d has
h b
been
found to not significantly affect , but it strongly affects the compression
modulus of granular materials
materials.
All the factors are summarized in Table.
35
S
Some
correlations
l ti
b
between
t
and
dd
dry d
density,
it relative
l ti d
density,
it and
d soilil
classification are shown in Figure.
36
37
I drained
In
d i d shear,
h
whether
h th th
the volume
l
changes
h
are dil
dilation
ti or compression
i
depends not only on the density and the confining pressure but also on the
stress history of the soil
soil.
Similarly, in undrained shear, the developed pore pressures depend
greatly on whether the soil is normally consolidated or
overconsolidated.
Typically, engineering loads are applied much faster than the water can
escape from the pores of a clay soil, and consequently excess hydrostatic
or pore pressures are produced
produced.
If the loading is such that failure does not occur, then the pore pressures
di i t and
dissipate
d volume
l
changes
h
develop
d
l b
by th
the process we callll
consolidation.
38
Oedometric Test
e=
water volume Vw
solid volume Vs
e
initial
loading
Consolidation
stress, p
Virgin consolidation
y
line of clay
cc =
reloading
unloading
loading
e
log
e
H = Ho
1 + e0
log
'
Oedometric Test
overconsolidation
lid ti ratio
ti OCR =
'p
'v
existing pressure,
pressure
v
NC normally consolidated
v = p
OCR = 1
consolidation
stress, p
OC - overconsolidated
v < p
OCR >1
log
Soil NC OC
e
OC
water volume Vw
e=
solid volume Vs
NC
NC
NC
NC
z
OC
= (or sat ) z
41
Th primary
The
i
difference
diff
in
i behaviour
b h i
between
b t
sands
d and
d clays
l
is
i in
i the
th ti
time
it takes for these volume changes to occur.
The time aspect strictly depends on, or is a function of the difference in
permeability between sands and clays.
Since cohesive soils have a much lower permeability than sands and
gravels, it takes much longer for the water to flow in or out of a cohesive
soil mass.
What happens when the loading is such that a shear failure is
imminent?
Since (by definition) the pore water cannot carry any shear stress, all the
applied shear stress must be resisted by the soil structure.
42
P t another
Put
th way, the
th shear
h
strength
t
th off the
th soil
il depends
d
d only
l on the
th
effective stresses and not on the pore water pressures.
This does not mean that the pore pressures induced in the soil are
unimportant.
On the contrary, as the total stresses are changed because of some
engineering loading, the pore water pressures also change, and until
equilibrium of effective stresses occurs instability is possible.
These observations lead to two fundamentally different approaches to the
solution of stability problems in geotechnical engineering:
(1) the total stress approach
(2) the effective stress approach.
43
I the
In
th total
t t l stress
t
approach
h we allow
ll
no d
drainage
i
tto ttake
k place
l
d
during
i th
the
shear test, and we make the assumption, admittedly a big one, that the
pore water pressure and therefore the effective stresses in the test
specimen are identical to those in the field.
The method of stability analysis is called the total stress analysis
analysis, and it
utilizes the total or the undrained shear strength f of the soil.
The undrained strength can be determined by either laboratory or field
tests.
If field tests such as the vane shear, Dutch cone penetrometer, or
pressuremeter test are used, then they must be conducted rapidly enough
so that
th t undrained
d i d conditions
diti
prevailil in
i situ.
it
44
Th second
The
d approach
h to
t calculate
l l t the
th stability
t bilit off ffoundations,
d ti
embankments, slopes, etc., uses the shear strength in terms of effective
stresses.
stresses
In this approach, we have to measure or estimate the excess hydrostatic
pressure both in the laboratory and in the field
pressure,
field.
Then, if we know or can estimate the initial and applied total stresses,
we may calculate the effective stresses acting in the soil.
Since we believe that shear strength and stress-deformation behaviour of
soils is really controlled or determined by the effective stresses, this second
approach is philosophically more satisfying.
But, it does have its practical problems. For example, estimating or
measuring pore pressures, especially in situ, is not easy to do.
45
Th method
The
th d off stability
t bilit analysis
l i is
i called
ll d the
th effective
ff ti stress
t
analysis,
l i and
d
it utilizes drained shear strength or shear strength in terms of effective
stresses The drained shear strength is ordinarily only determined by
stresses.
laboratory tests.
You probably recall that there are limiting conditions of drainage in the test
which model real field situations.
We mentioned that you could have three different conditions:
consolidated-drained (CD)
consolidated-undrained (CU)
unconsolidated-undrained (UU).
(UU)
It is also convenient to describe the behaviour of cohesive soils at these
limiting drainage conditions
conditions.
46
47
Y can think
You
thi k off the
th sample
l in
i the
th ttriaxial
i i l cellll as representing
ti a ttypical
i l soilil
element in the field under different drainage conditions and undergoing
different stress paths
paths.
In this manner, we hope you will gain some insight into how cohesive soils
behave in shear
shear, both in the laboratory and in the field
field.
Keep in mind that the following discussion is somewhat simplified, and that
real soil behaviour is much more complicated.
48
Th procedure
The
d
is
i to
t consolidate
lid t th
the ttestt specimen
i
under
d some state
t t off
stress appropriate to the field or design situation.
The consolidation stresses can either be hydrostatic (equal in all
directions, sometimes called isotropic) or non-hydrostatic (different in
different directions,
directions sometimes called anisotropic).
anisotropic)
Another way of looking at this second case is that a stress difference or
(from the Mohr circles) a shear stress is applied to the soil.
When consolidation is over, the C part of the CD test is complete.
During the D part, the drainage valves remain open and the stress
difference is applied very slowly so that essentially no excess pore water
pressure develops during the test.
g
termed this test the S-test ((for slow test).
)
Professor A. Casagrande
49
CD TEST BEHAVIOUR
50
I Figure
In
Fi
total,
t t l neutral,
t l and
d effective
ff ti stress
t
conditions
diti
in
i an axial
i l
compression CD test at the end of consolidation, during application of axial
load and at failure are shown
load,
shown.
The subscripts v and h refer to vertical and horizontal, respectively while c
means consolidation.
consolidation
For conventional axial compression tests, the initial consolidation stresses
are hydrostatic.
Thus v = h = 3c cell pressure, which is usually held constant during the
application of the axial stress .
In the axial compression test = 1 3 adn at failure f = (1 3)f.
51
Th axial
The
i l stress
t
can be
b applied
li d either
ith b
by iincreasing
i th
the lload
d on th
the piston
i t
incrementally (stress controlled loading) or through a motor-jack system
which deforms the sample at a constant rate (called a constant rate of
strain test).
During the CD test pore water pressure is essentially zero.
zero
This means that the total stresses in the drained test are always equal to
the effective stresses.
Thus 3c = 3c = 3f = 3f and 1f = 1f = 3f + f
If isotropic consolidation stresses were applied to the specimen, then 1f
=1f would be equal to a 1c + f.
52
T i l stress-strain
Typical
t
t i curves and
d volume
l
change versus strain curves for a remolded
or compacted clay are shown in Fig
Fig. 24
Even though the two samples were tested at
the same confining pressure,
pressure OC specimen
has a greater strength than the NC clay.
It has a higher modulus and failure [
maximum = (1 3)f for TX test ] occurs at
Figura 24
Figura 24
Thi is
This
i analogous
l
to
t the
th behaviour
b h i
described earlier for sands: N.C.
clays behave similarly to loose
sands, whereas O.C. clays behave
like dense sands.
The Mohr failure envelopes for CD
tests of typical clay soils are shown
in Figures 24.
The envelope for a remolded clay as
Figura
g
25
54
E
Even
though
th
h only
l one M
Mohr
h circle
i l
(representing the stress conditions at failure)
is shown
shown, the results of 3 or more CD tests on
identical specimens, at different consolidation
pressures,, would ordinarilyy be required
p
q
to p
plot
Figura 25
Wh the
When
th failure
f il
envelope
l
iis extrapolated
t
l t d tto
the shear axis, it will show a surprisingly
small intercept
intercept.
It is usually assumed that the c
parameter for N
N.C.
C clays is essentially
zero for all practical purposes.
For O.C. clays the c parameter is greater
than zero, as indicated by Figure 26.
The O.C. portion of the strength envelope
(DEC) lies above the N.C. envelope (ABCF).
Figura 26
Th explanation
The
l
ti for
f this
thi b
behaviour
h i
iis shown
h
in e vs. curve. We begin consolidation of
a sedimentary clay at a very high water
content and high void ratio. As we continue
to increase the vertical stress we reach point
p
A on the virgin compression curve and
conduct a CD TX test.
The strength of the sample consolidated to
point A on the virgin curve would correspond
to point A on the N.C. Mohr failure envelope.
Figura 26
Figura 26
If another
th specimen
i
were loaded
l d d tto C
C,
rebounded to D, reloaded back past E and
C and on to F
F, it would have the strength as
shown in the figure at point F.
Note that it is now back on the virgin
compression curve and the N.C. failure
envelope.
envelope
The effects of the rebounding and
reconsolidation have been in effect erased
by the increased loading to point F.
Figura 26
O
Once
th
the soilil h
has b
been lloaded
d d wellll pastt th
the
preconsolidation pressure p,, it no longer
remembers its stress history
history.
remembers
59
Average values of for undisturbed clays range from around 20 for N.C.
highly plastic clays up to 30 or more for silty and sandy clays.
The value of for compacted clays is typically 25 or 30 and
occasionally as high as 35.
The value of c for N.C. non-cemented clays is very small and can be
neglected for practical work.
If the soil is O.C. then would be less, and the c intercept greater than
for the N.C. part of the failure envelope.
For natural O.C. non-cemented clays with a preconsolidation stress of
less than 500 to 1000 kPa,, c will probably
p
y be less than 5 to 10 kPa at low
stresses.
60
For compacted clays at low stresses, c will be much greater due to the
prestress caused by compaction.
For stability analyses, the Mohr-Coulomb effective stress parameters
and c are determined over the range of effective normal stresses likely to
be encountered in the field.
f
It has been observed that there is not much difference between
determined on undisturbed or remolded samples at the same water
content.
Apparently, the development of the maximum value of requires so much
strain that the soil structure is broken down and almost remolded in the
region of the failure plane.
61
USE OF CD STRENGTH IN
ENGINEERING PRACTICE
Figura 28
62
64
CU TEST BEHAVIOUR
Figura 29
65
CU TEST BEHAVIOUR
Figura 29
66
'
cell = vc = hc = 1c
'
= 3c
= 3 f
'
3 f
f (1 3 )f
Like the CD test, the axial test stress can be increased incrementally or at
a constant rate of strain up to failure.
67
68
1' / '3
Figura 30
vert
vert
vert
71
In O
O.C.
C specimen after a slight initial
increase, the pore pressure goes
negative
negative in this case, negative with
respect to the back pressure u0.
Another quantity that is useful for
analyzing test results is the principal
((effective)) stress ratio 1/3
Note how this ratio peaks early, just
like the stress difference curve, for the
O.C. clay.
Similar test specimens having similar
Figura 30
73
Figura 31
Figura 31
Figura 30
Figura 32
77
Figura 33
78
Figura 32
79
Figura 32
Figura 33
80
81
Figura 36
summmarized in Fig.36.
Here, as defined at (1/3)max and
(1 3)max are plotted versus d, the
effective stress parameter determined in
drained tests.
82
Note that
from the maximum principal
effective stress ratio (the dots) is from 0 to 3
greater than d.
Also note that at maximum principal stress
difference (the squares) is less than both
d
and at the maximum principal effective
stress ratio.
In one case the difference is about 7.
Figura 36
Th point
The
i t iis th
thatt you should
h ld b
be careful
f l when
h
studying published data or engineering test
reports to determine exactly how the strength
tests were conducted, how failure was
p
Mohr-Coulomb
defined,, and how anyy reported
parameters were determined.
83
Note that
from the maximum principal effective stress ratio (the dots) is
from 0 to 3 greater than d.
Al note
Also
t that
th t att maximum
i
principal
i i l stress
t
diff
difference (th
(the squares)) iis
less than both d and at the maximum principal effective stress ratio.
In one case the difference is about 7.
The point is that you should be careful when studying published data or
engineering test reports to determine exactly how the strength tests were
conducted, how failure was defined, and how any reported MohrC l b parameters
Coulomb
t
were determined.
d t
i d
For the Mohr-Coulomb strength parameters in terms of total stresses, the
problem of definition of failure doesnt come up.
Failure is defined at the maximum compressive strength (1 - 3).
84
For N.C.
N C clays,
clays seems to be about half of
;; thus values of 10
10 to 15
15 or
more are typical.
Th ttotal
The
t l stress
t
c is
i very close
l
tto zero.
For O.C. and compacted clays, may decrease and c will often be
significant.
When the failure envelope straddles the preconsolidation stress, proper
interpretation of the strength parameters in terms of total stresses is
difficult.
This is especially true for undisturbed samples which may have some
variation in water content and void ratio, even within the same geologic
stratum.
85
86
Fi
Figura
37
88
Another problem,
problem not often mentioned
mentioned, results from trying to determine the
long-term or effective stress strength parameters and the short-term or
CU-total
CU
total stress strength parameters from the same test series.
The rates of loading or strain required for correct effective stress strength
determination may not be appropriate for the short-term or undrained
loading situation.
The stress-deformation
stress deformation and strength response of clay soils is rate
ratedependent; that is, usually the faster you load a clay, the stronger it
becomes.
89
In the short
short-term
term case
case, the rate of loading in the field may be quite rapid
rapid,
and therefore for correct modeling of the field situation, the rates of
loading in the laboratory sample should be comparable.
Thus the two objective to do, though rarely done in practice, would be
have two sets of tests
tests, one set tested CD modeling the long-term situation
and the other CU set modeling the short-term undrained loading.
90
In this test
test, the specimen is placed in the triaxial cell with the drainage
valves closed from the beginning.
Th
Thus,
even when
h a confining
fi i pressure iis applied,
li d no consolidation
lid ti can
occur if the sample is 100% saturated. Then, as with the CU test, the
specimen is sheared undrained.
undrained
The sample is loaded to failure in about 10 to 20 min; usually pore water
pressures are not measured in this test.
test
This test is a total stress test and it yields the strength in terms of total
stresses.
t
Total, neutral, and effective stress conditions in the specimen during the
several phases of the UU test are shown in Fig. 38.
91
Figura 38
92
93
When the cell pressure is applied with the drainage valves closed
closed, a
positive pore pressure uc is induced in the specimen, which is exactly
equal to the applied cell pressure c.
All the increase in hydrostatic stress is carried by the pore water because
(1) the soil is 100% saturated
saturated, (2) the compressibility of the water and
individual soil grains is small compared to the compressibility of the soil
structure, and ((3)) there is a unique
q relationship
p between the effective
hydrostatic stress and the void ratio.
Number 1 is obvious. Number 2 means that no volume change can occur
unless water is allowed to flow out of (or into) the sample, and we are
preventing that from occurring. Number 3 means basically that no
secondary compression (volume change at constant effective stress)
takes place.
94
You may recall from the discussion of the assumptions of the Terzaghi
theory of consolidation that the same assumption was required; that is,
that the void ratio and effective stress were uniquely related.
Thus there can be no change in void ratio without a change in effective
stress.
stress
Since we prevent any change in water content, the void ratio and effective
stress remain the same
same.
Stress conditions during axial loading and at failure are similar to those for
th CU ttestt (Fi
the
(Fig.29).
29)
They may appear to be complex, but if you study Fig.38 you will see that
the UU case is as readily understandable as the CU case.
95
Typically stress-strain
Typically,
stress strain curves for UU
tests are not particularly different from
CU or CD stress
stress-strain
strain curves for the
same soils.
For undisturbed samples
samples, especially
the initial portions of the curve (initial
tangent
g
modulus),
) are strongly
gy
dependent on the quality of the
undisturbed samples.
The maximum stress difference often
Figura 39
96
Figura 40
97
All Mohr circles at failure will have the same diameter and Mohr failure
envelope will be a horizontal straight lime.
If you dont
d t understand
d t d itit, refer
f again
i tto Fig.38
Fi 38 to
t see that
th t in
i the
th UU ttestt
effective consolidation stress is the same throughout the test.
If all the samples are at the same water content and density (void
ratio), then they will have the same strength.
UU test gives the shear strength in terms of total stresses, and the slope
T of the UU Mohr failure envelope is equal to zero.
The intercept of this envelope on the -axis defines the total stress
strength parameter c, or f = c, where f is undrained shear strength.
98
99
Figura 41
100
102
103
104
We can,
can theoretically at least
least, conduct an unconfined compression test
and obtain the UU-total stress strength.
Thi test
This
t t is
i a special
i l case off the
th UU test
t t with
ith the
th confining
fi i or cellll pressure
equal to zero (atmospheric pressure).
The stress conditions in the unconfined compression test specimen are
similar to those of Fig.38 for the UU test, except that is equal to zero, as
shown in Fig.44.
Fig 44
If you compare these two figures, you will see that the effective stress
conditions
diti
att failure
f il
are identical
id ti l for
f both
b th tests.
t t
And if the effective stress conditions are the same in both tests, then the
strengths will be the same!
105
Figura 44
106
Practically speaking
speaking, for the unconfined compression test to yield the
same strength as the UU test, several assumptions must be satisfied.
Th
These
are as ffollows:
ll
1. The specimen must be 100% saturated; otherwise compression of the
air in the voids will occur and cause a decrease in void ratio and an
increase in strength.
2. The specimen
p
must not contain any
y fissures, silt seams, valves, or
other defects; this means that the specimen must be intact, homogeneous
clay. Rarely are O.C. clays intact, and often even N.C. clays have some
fissures.
107
3 The soil must be very fine grained; the initial effective confining stress
3.
as indicated in Fig.44 is the residual capillary stress which is a function of
the residual pore pressure -u
ur; this usually means that only clay soils are
suitable for testing in unconfined compression.
4. The specimen must be sheared rapidly to failure; it is a total stress test
and the conditions must be undrained throughout the test. If the time to
failure is too long, evaporation and surface drying will increase the
confining pressure and too high a strength will result. Typical time to
failure is 5 to 15 mm. Be sure to distinguish unconfined compressive
strength (1 3)f and the undrained shear strength which is:
1
f = (1 3 )f
2
108
109
110
111
112
This fraction of the total principal stresses will be called the effective
principal stresses....
A change in the neutral stress u produces practically no volume change
and has practically no influence on the stress conditions for failure....
Porous materials (such as sand, clay and concrete) react to a change of u
as if they
y were incompressible and as if their internal friction were equal to
zero.
All the measurable effects of a change of stress, such as compression,
distortion and a change of shearing resistance are exclusively due to
changes in the effective stresses 1, 2, 3 .
Hence every investigation of the stability of a saturated body of soil
requires
q
the knowledge
g of both the total and the neutral stresses.
113
114
115
B
Bromhead
h d ring
i shear
h
The test specimen is a
thin, annular ring of soil
with the following
dimensions: outside
diameter (100 mm);
inside diameter (70
mm) and thickness (5
mm).Thus, the annular
width of the specimen
p
is (15 mm).
118
Th specimen
The
i
is
i sett up within
ithi an annular
l groove on the
th b
base plate.
l t
A loading platen and torque arm assembly is centered over the top of the
base plate so that the annular porous stone in the loading platen is aligned
over the specimen. Water is added to the perspex bowl to prevent the soil
from drying out during the test. A normal stress is applied by loading the
soil through a loading yoke and lever load arm.
In the shear test, the base plate containing the soil specimen is steadily
rotated by a multispeed motor located below it. This rotation is resisted by
the soil specimen and the shear stress is determined by loads measured
on two p
proving
g rings.
g A failure p
plane develops
p jjust below the loading
g
platen/soil contact. The gearbox has a choice of 25 constant speeds
ranging from 60
60 per minute to 0
0.024
024 per minute.
minute
119
R id l Strength
Residual
St
th Measurements
M
t in
i the
th Ring
Ri
Shear
Sh
Test
T t
The test specimen is usually prepared from remoulded soil, which is placed
in the annular groove of the specimen container. It is kneaded into place
using a wood dowel or similar implement, and the upper surface is made
smooth and level. The loading yoke and torque arm assembly is placed
over the specimen and it is consolidated under the selected normal load.
The specimen is very thin and in double drainage, dissipation of excess
pore pressures will occur relatively quickly in all soil types.
Bromhead (1986) recommends a multistage test procedure. After applying
the 1st normal load,, the specimen
p
is strained until the residual strength
g
appears to have been reached, then the next higher normal load is applied.
120
The ring shear test shares a problem with the shear box test.
test As the
shearing continues, small amounts of soil squeeze out or slough from the
t t specimen
test
i
into
i t the
th surrounding
di water-filled
t fill d b
bowl.
l
Therefore, in a multistage test, the specimen becomes progressively
thinner. In the case of the ring shear, this loss of soil during shear, plus
earlier consolidation, causes the upper porous stone to move into the
annular groove. According to Stark and Vettel (1992), the wall friction
increases the measured residual strength. They recommend that
settlement from both sources be limited to 0.75 mm (15% of the original
height).
This can be accomplished by adding soil and reconsolidating as needed.
121
122
n'
r22
r12
3 M
2 r23 r13
123
124
125
126