Shear Strength

(Direct Shear Test)

Shear Strength
The strength of a material is the greatest
stress it can sustain
The safety of any geotechnical structure is
dependent on the strength of the soil
If the soil fails, the structure founded on it
can collapse

Shear Failure in Soils

Bearing Capacity Failure

Transcosna Grain Elevator Canada

(Oct. 18, 1913)

West side of foundation sank 24-ft

Significance of Shear Strength

Engineers must understand the nature of
shearing resistance in order to analyze soil
stability problems such as;
Bearing capacity
Slope stability
Lateral earth pressure on earth-retaining
structures
Pavement

Shear Strength in Soils

The shear strength of a soil is its resistance to
shearing stresses.
It is a measure of the soil resistance to
deformation by continuous displacement of its
individual soil particles
Shear strength in soils depends primarily on
interactions between particles
Shear failure occurs when the stresses between the
particles are such that they slide or roll past each
other

Shear Strength in Soils (cont.)

Soil derives its shear strength from two
sources:
Cohesion between particles (stress independent
component)
Cementation between sand grains
Electrostatic attraction between clay particles

Frictional resistance between particles (stress

dependent component)

Shear Strength of Soils;

Cohesion
Cohesion (C), is a measure of the forces that

cement particles of soils

Dry sand with no cementation

Dry sand with some cementation
Soft clay
Stiff clay

Shear Strength of Soils; Internal

Friction
Internal Friction angle (), is the measure of the

shear strength of soils due to friction

Mohr-Coulomb Failure
Criteria
This theory states that a material fails
because of a critical combination of normal
stress and shear stress, and not from their
either maximum normal or shear stress
alone.
The relationship between normal stress and
s = shear strength
s = c as
+ tan
shear is given
c = cohesion
= angle of internal friction

Mohr-Coulomb Failure
Criterion
Shear
Strength,S
=

Normal Stress,

n = = h

Direct Shear Test

Direct shear test is Quick and Inexpensive
Shortcoming is that it fails the soil on a
designated plane which may not be the
weakest one
Used to determine the shear strength of both
cohesive as well as non-cohesive soils
IS2720-Part13, ASTM D 3080

Direct Shear Test

Direct Shear Test

Direct Shear Test (cont.)

The test equipment consists
of a metal box in which the
soil specimen is placed
The box is split horizontally
into two halves
Vertical force (normal
stress) is applied through a
metal platen
Shear force is applied by
moving one half of the box
relative to the other to cause
failure in the soil specimen

Normal stress n

Shear stress 3

Soil

Direct Shear Test

Shear stress

Direct Shear Test Data

Peak Strength
Residual Strength

Direct Shear Test (Procedure)

1.Measure inner side or diameter of shear box and find the
area
2.Make sure top and bottom halves of shear box are in
contact and fixed together.
3.Weigh out 150 g of sand.
4.Place the soil in three layers in the mold using the funnel.
Compact the soil with 20 blows per layer.
5.Place cover on top of sand
6.Place shear box in machine.
7.Apply normal force. The weights to use for the three to
five runs. the load is applied through a lever arm,

Direct Shear Test (Procedure)

8. Start the motor with selected speed (0.1 in/min) so that
the rate of shearing is at a selected constant rate
9. Take the horizontal displacement gauge, vertical
displacement gage and shear load gage readings. Record
the readings on the data sheet.
10. Continue taking readings until the horizontal shear load
peaks and then falls, or the horizontal displacement
reaches 15% of the diameter.

Calculations
1. Determine the dry
unit weight, d
2. Calculate the void
ratio, e
3. Calculate the normal
stress & shear stress

e=

Gs w

N
=
A

V
; =
A

Shear stress,

Peak Stress

3
2
1

N3 = 30 kg
N2 = 20 kg
N1 = 10 kg

Horizontal displacement, H

Shear Stress,

(2, 2)

(3, 3)

(1,1)

Normal Stress

General State of Stress

1
3

major principle stress

Minor principle stress

Confining stress

State of Stresses in Soils

Consider the following situation:
- A normal stress is applied vertically
and held constant
- A shear stress is then applied until
failure

Normal stress n
Shear
stress 3