14 3302013exam3solution

Geotechnical
Engineering Research Laboratory

One University Avenue
Lowell, Massachusetts 01854
Tel: (978) 9342621
email: Edward_Hajduk@uml.edu
web site: http://faculty.uml.edu/ehajduk
Edward L. Hajduk, D.Eng, PE

Lecturer
PA105D
Fax: (978) 9343052
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
14.330 SOIL MECHANICS

Exam #3: Shear Strength.
Questions (2 Points Each - 20 Points Total):
1. Write the equation for the Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria for effective stresses in
soils and detail the variables.
f tan c
Where:
f = Shear Stress at Failure
' = Effective Normal Stress
' = Effective Friction Angle
c' = Effective Cohesion
2. You have been given the results of a direct shear test on a well-graded sand (SW)
sample. The Mohr-Coulomb effective stress failure criteria given to you from the test
results are an effective friction angle of 33 degrees and an effective cohesion of 8.5
psi. Do you think these results are reasonable? Provide an explanation of your
answer.
' = 33 is reasonable for sands. However, for sands c' 0. Therefore, a c' = 8.5
psi would not be reasonable. The soil may have been misclassified or the test
was not run properly.
3. List the soil shear strength tests covered in class.
Direct Shear
Triaxial (CD, CU, UU)
Unconfined Compression
14.330 2013 Exam 3 Solution
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PA105D
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4. Write the equation for the Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria for total stresses in soils
and detail the variables.
f tan c
Where:
f = Shear Stress at Failure
= Normal Stress
'= Friction Angle
c = Cohesion
5. You are given three soil samples. Soil Sample 1 is a silty sand. Soil Sample 2 is a
fat clay. Soil Sample 3 is a lean clay. You are told to conduct the following triaxial
tests on the samples: a slow test on Sample 1, a rapid test on Sample 2, and a quick
test on Sample 3. What triaxial tests are you conducting on each sample? Provide
the common test names and 2 letter abbreviations.
Soil Sample 1 Slow Test = CD (Consolidated Drained)
Soil Sample 2 Rapid Test = CU (Consolidated Undrained)
Soil Sample 3 Quick Test = UU (Unconsolidated Undrained)
6. The direct shear test has been shown to be an effective test for determining the
shear strength parameters (i.e. Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria) for coarse grained
soils, especially sands. What is the major shortcoming of this test?
The major shortcoming is the direct shear test forces the soil sample to fail along
a fixed plane and not its preferred plane.
7. You have completed an unconfined compression test on a CL soil sample. The
unconfined compression strength is 1120 psf. What is the undrained shear strength
of this soil?
Su = qu/2 = 1120 psf/2 = 560 psf.
8. Write the equation that relates unconfined compressive strength to undrained shear
strength and detail the variables.
Su = qu/2
Where:
qu = Unconfined Compression Strength
Su = Undrained Shear Strength
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9. Briefly describe soil sensitivity.

variables.
Write any relevant equation(s) and detail the
Soil sensitivity is the ratio of undisturbed shear strength divided by disturbed

shear strength.
Shear Stress
10. Identify the relative density of the sands in the direct shear test results shown on
Page 4. What is the major cause of the shear strength difference between the two
samples if you are told that they are from the same soil deposit?
Dense
Dilation is the
difference!
Loose
Dense
Expansion
Compression
Volume Change
Shear Displacement
Shear Displacement
Loose
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Problems: (1 25 points, 2 - 25 points, 3 15 points, 4 15 points, EC 5 Points)

NOTICE: You must detail your answers (i.e. show your work) for these four problems
for full credit. You must follow assignment guidelines for these problems.
PROBLEM #1 GIVEN:
Soil from a local contractors sand pit is proposed for use as backfill behind a retaining
wall for a local project. The project specifications require that the backfill material have
a minimum peak soil friction angle of 33 at the required minimum compaction (i.e. 90%
Standard Proctor). The results from the direct shear testing performed at the minimum
required compaction by a local testing firm are presented in Table 1:
Soil Description: Silty Sand (SM).
Table 1. Direct Shear Results conducted at 90% MMD (ASTM D698).
Shear Stress ()
(psf)
Confining Stress
()
(psf)
Peak
Residual
2000
1405
1405
2500
1695
1695
3500
2270
2270
Test
REQUIRED & SOLUTION:

Based on the provided information, answer the following:
What are the peak and residual Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria this material?
Peak = Residual MC Failure Criteria. ' = 30, c' = 250 psf (from Figure A).
Does this material meet the project specifications regarding soil friction angle ()?
No, since residual = 30 < 33 required by project specifications
Do you think this soil was tested in a loose or dense state? Briefly explain your
answer.
Soil was tested in a loose state since peak = residual
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Shear Stress () (psf)
3000
Peak & Residual: ' = 30, c' = 250 psf
Best Fit Line
2500
' = 30
2000
1500
1000
500
c' = 250 psf
0
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
Confining Stress (psf)
4000
Figure A. Shear Stress vs. Confining Stress Plot.

PROBLEM #2 GIVEN:
Soil from another local contractors sand pit is proposed for use as backfill behind a
Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall for another local project. The project
specifications require that the backfill material have a minimum residual soil friction
angle of 34 at the required compaction (i.e. 95% Modified Proctor). Table 2 provides
the results from the direct shear testing on this sample performed at the minimum
required compaction by a local testing firm:
Soil Description: Poorly Graded Sand (SP)
Table 2. Direct Shear Results conducted at 95% MDD (ASTM D1557).
Shear Stress ()
(psf)
Confining Stress
()
(psf)
Peak
Residual
2050
1600
1350
2500
2000
1700
3350
2650
2400
Test
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REQUIRED & SOLUTION:

Based on the provided information, answer the following:
What are the peak and residual Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criteria for this material?
Peak MC Failure Criteria: p' = 38, c' = 0 psf (from Figure B).
Residual MC Failure Criteria: r' = 35, c' = 0 psf (from Figure B).
Does this material meet the project specifications regarding soil friction angle ()?
Yes, since residual = 35 > 34 required by project specifications
Do you think this soil was tested in a loose or dense state? Briefly explain your
answer.
Soil was tested in a dense state since peak > residual
Peak: p' = 38, c' = 0 psf
3000
Shear Stress () (psf)
Peak Best Fit Line

Residual: r' = 35, c' = 0 psf
2500
Residual Best Fit Line
2000
1500
1000
500
c' = 0 psf 0
(SP)
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Confining Stress (psf)
3500
4000
Figure B. Shear Stress vs. Confining Stress Plot.
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PA105D
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PROBLEM #3 GIVEN:
The results from three (3) Consolidated Undrained triaxial tests conducted on samples
from a normally consolidated CL soil deposit are presented in Table 3.
Table 3. CU Results on normally consolidated CL sample.
Test
Minor Principal
Stress at Failure
('3f)
(psi)
Major Principal
Stress at Failure
('1f)
(psi)
Pore Pressure @
Failure (udf)
(psi)
11
32
16.25
49.6
8.75
22.5
67.4
10
REQUIRED:
Determine the Effective Stress Mohr-Coulomb Shear Strength Parameters (i.e. effective
friction angle and effective cohesion) for this soil.
SOLUTION:
Effective Stress Mohr-Coulomb Envelope: '= 30, c' = 0 psi. See Figure C.
Shear Stress () (psi)
40
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
35
30
' = 30
25
20
15
10
5
0
c' = 0 psi
(NC Clay) 0
'3
'3
'3
'1f
'1f
'1f
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Confining Stress (psi)
Figure C. Provided vs. Plot for Problem 3.

Page 7 of 8

Tel: (978) 9342621

Lecturer
PA105D
Fax: (978) 9343052
PROBLEM #4 GIVEN & REQUIRED:

Using the CU test data provided in Problem 3, determine the Total Stress MohrCoulomb Shear Strength Parameters (i.e. friction angle and cohesion) for this soil.
SOLUTION:
Total Stress Mohr-Coulomb Envelope: = 24, c = 0 psi. See Figure C.
Shear Stress () (psi)
40
Test 1
Test 2
Test 3
35
30
' = 24
25
20
15
10
5
0
c = 0 psi
(NC Clay) 0
'3
'3
'3 '1f
'1f
'1f
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Confining Stress (psi)
Figure D. Provided vs. Plot for Problem 4.

EXTRA CREDIT (5 points): You are building a new embankment over cohesive soils.
You need to determine the shear strength parameters to conduct slope stability and
bearing capacity analyses at the end of construction (i.e. when the embankment is
completed). What triaxial test(s) would you select to determine the shear strength
parameters for these analyses? What would the shear strength parameter(s) be?
UU Unconsolidated Undrained (i.e. Quick Test). Gives you Undrained Shear
Strength (Su).
Page 8 of 8

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Geotechnical

Engineering Research Laboratory

Edward L. Hajduk, D.Eng, PE

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

14.330 SOIL MECHANICS