Geotechnical and Foundation Engineering December 21, 2016

EXPERIMENT # 11

PERFORMANCE OF TRI-AXIAL COMPRESSION TEST

ON COHESIVE SOILS UNDER UN-CONSOLIDATED UN-
DRAINED CONDITION
11.1 OBJECTIVE
This test method covers determination of the strength and stress-strain
relationships of a cylindrical specimen of either undisturbed or remolded
cohesive soil.
This test method provides data for determining undrained strength properties
(C & ) and stress-strain relations for soils.
The test is called "triaxial" because the three principal stresses are assumed to
be known and are controlled.
During shear, the major principal stress, 1 is equal to the
applied axial stress ( = P/A) plus the chamber (confining)
pressure, 3

11.2 APPARATUS
Axial Loading Device
Axial Load-Measuring Device
Triaxial Compression Chamber
Axial Load Piston
Pressure Control Device
Specimen Cap and Base
Deformation Indicator
Rubber Membrane
Sample Extruder
Specimen Size Measurement
Devices
Timer
Balances
Miscellaneous Apparatus

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11.3 SIGNIFICANCE AND USE

In this test method, the compressive strength of a soil is determined in terms of
the total stress, therefore, the resulting strength depends on the pressure
developed in the pore fluid during loading. In this test method, fluid flow is not
permitted from or into the soil specimen as the load is applied, therefore the
resulting pore pressure, and hence strength, differs from that developed in the
case where drainage can occur.
If the test specimens are 100 % saturated, consolidation cannot occur when the
confining pressure is applied nor during the shear portion of the test since
drainage is not permitted. Therefore, if several specimens of the same material
are tested, and if they are all at approximately the same water content and void
ratio when they are tested, they will have approximately the same undrained
shear strength. The Mohr failure envelope will usually be a horizontal straight
line over the entire range of confining stresses applied to the specimens if the
specimens are fully saturated.
If the test specimens are partially saturated or compacted specimens, where
the degree of saturation is less than 100 %, consolidation may occur when the
confining pressure is applied and during shear, even though drainage is not
permitted. Therefore, if several partially saturated specimens of the same
material are tested at different confining stresses, they will not have the same
undrained shear strength. Thus, the Mohr failure envelope for unconsolidated
undrained triaxial tests on partially saturated soils is usually curved.
The unconsolidated undrained triaxial strength is applicable to situations where
the loads are assumed to take place so rapidly that there is insufficient time for
the induced pore-water pressure to dissipate and for consolidation to occur
during the loading period (that is, drainage does not occur).
Compressive strengths determined using this procedure may not apply in cases
where the loading conditions in the field differ significantly from those used in
this test method.
11.4 RELATED THEORY
11.4.1 BACK PRESSURE

A pressure applied to the specimen pore-water to cause air in the pore space to
compress and to pass into solution in the pore-water thereby increasing the percent
saturation of the specimen.

11.4.2 EFFECTIVE CONSOLIDATION STRESS

The difference between the cell pressure and the pore-water pressure prior to
shearing the specimen

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11.4.3 FAILURE

The stress condition at failure for a test specimen. Failure is often taken to correspond
to the maximum principal stress difference (maximum deviator stress) attained or the
principal stress difference (deviator stress) at 15 % axial strain, whichever is obtained
first during the performance of a test. Depending on soil behaviour and field
application, other suitable failure criteria may be defined, such as maximum effective
stress obliquity, or the principal stress difference (deviator stress) at a selected axial
strain other than 15 %.

11.5 PROCEDURE
Place the membrane on the membrane expander or, if it is to be rolled onto the
specimen, place the membrane onto the cap or base. Place the specimen on
the base.
Place the rubber membrane around the specimen and seal it at the cap and
base with O-rings or other positive seals at each end. A thin coating of silicon
grease on the vertical surfaces of the cap or base will aid in sealing the
membrane.
With the specimen encased in the rubber membrane, which is sealed to the
specimen cap and base and positioned in the chamber, assemble the triaxial
chamber.
Bring the axial load piston into contact with the specimen cap several times to
permit proper seating and alignment of the piston with the cap.
When the piston is brought into contact the final time, record the reading on the
deformation indicator to three significant digits.
During this procedure, take care not to apply an axial stress to the specimen
exceeding approximately 0.5 % of the estimated compressive strength. If the
weight of the piston is sufficient to apply an axial stress exceeding
approximately 0.5 % of the estimated compressive strength, lock the piston in
place above the specimen cap after checking the seating and alignment and
keep locked until application of the chamber pressure.

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Place the chamber in position in the axial loading device. Be careful to align the
axial loading device, the axial load-measuring device, and the triaxial chamber
to prevent the application of a lateral force to the piston during testing.
Attach the pressure-maintaining and measurement device and fill the chamber
with the confining liquid. Adjust the pressure maintaining and measurement
device to the desired chamber pressure and apply the pressure to the chamber
fluid.
Wait approximately 10 min after the application of chamber pressure to allow
the specimen to stabilize under the chamber pressure prior to application of the
axial load.
Slightly above the specimen cap, and before the piston comes in contact with
the specimen cap, either: (1) measure and record the initial piston friction to
three significant digits and upward thrust of the piston produced by the chamber
pressure and later correct the measured axial load, or (2) adjust the axial load-
measuring device to compensate for the friction and thrust. If the axial load-
measuring device is located inside the chamber, it will not be necessary to
correct or compensate for the uplift force acting on the axial loading device or
for piston friction. In both cases record the initial reading on the deformation
indicator when the piston contacts the specimen cap.
Apply the axial load to produce axial strain at a rate of approximately 1 %/ min
for plastic materials and 0.3 % / min for brittle materials that achieve maximum
deviator stress at approximately 3 to 6 % strain. At these rates, the elapsed
time to reach maximum deviator stress will be approximately 15 to 20 min.
Continue the loading to 15 % axial strain, except loading may be stopped when
the deviator stress has peaked then dropped 20 % or the axial strain has
reached 5 % beyond the strain at which the peak in deviator stress occurred.
Record load and deformation values to three significant digits at about 0.1, 0.2,
0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 % strain; then at increments of about 0.5 % strain to 3 %; and,
thereafter at every 1 %.
Take sufficient readings to define the stress-strain curve; hence, more frequent
readings may be required in the early stages of the test and as failure is
approached.

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11.6 OBSERVATIONS & CALCULATIONS

11.6.1 FOR 40KPA CELL PRESSURE

11.6.1.1 INITIAL SPECIMEN PROPERTIES

Initial Specimen properties

Initial Water Content % 10.77 Initial Height m 0.072 mm 72

Initial Density of Sample (b) Kg/m3 1618.3 Initial Volume m3 7.328E-05 mm3 73284.912

Relative density % 95.3 Initial Area m2 0.0010178 mm2 1017.846

11.6.1.2 SATURATION STAGE

Time elapsed PWP =Back

Cell Pressure ( 3) B value Check
(min) pressure

1 20 0 -
10 30 10 -
20 40 15 0.5
30 50 21 0.6
40 60 30 0.9
50 70 39 0.9
60 80 48.5 0.95
70 90 58.3 0.98
80 100 68 0.97
11.6.1.3 CONSOLIDATION STAGE

Time Cell PWP

elapsed Pressure =Back Specimen Properties after consolidation
(min) (s3) pressure
Volume change
0 108 - cc 0
reading (DV)
Consolidated
Height after
20 108 - mm 0 volume Vc 73284.912
Consolidation (Hc)
(mm3)
Area after
50 108 - mm2 1017.846
Consolidation (Ac)

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11.6.1.4 SHEARING STAGE

ajar
Time Cell PWP Vertical Volume Volumtrc Deviator
vertical Vertical strain Corrected Principle
elapsed Pressure =Back Strain change stress
Load Deform. Area A' stress
(min) ( pressure () reading (vol.) ()
(1)
KPa KPa N mm % cc mm2 KPa KPa
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.103 108 68 10 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 9.82 49.82
0.377 108 68 13 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 12.77 52.77
1.299 108 68 17 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 16.70 56.70
1.428 108 68 20 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 19.65 59.65
1.571 108 68 27 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 26.53 66.53
1.728 108 68 30 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 29.47 69.47
1.905 108 68 34 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 33.40 73.40
2.091 108 68 37 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 36.35 76.35
2.3 108 68 40 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 39.30 79.30
2.53 108 68 44 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 43.23 83.23
2.783 108 68 47 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 46.18 86.18
3.061 108 68 51 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 50.11 90.11
3.367 108 68 54 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 53.05 93.05
3.706 108 68 57 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 56.00 96.00
4.077 108 68 61 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 59.93 99.93
4.483 108 68 64 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1017.85 62.88 102.88
4.93 108 68 67 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 1017.99 65.82 105.82
5.426 108 68 71 0.04 0.06 0.00 0.00 1018.41 69.72 109.72
5.964 108 68 74 0.07 0.10 0.00 0.00 1018.84 72.63 112.63
6.565 108 68 77 0.11 0.15 0.00 0.00 1019.40 75.53 115.53
7.218 108 68 81 0.15 0.21 0.00 0.00 1019.97 79.41 119.41
7.94 108 68 81 0.21 0.29 0.00 0.00 1020.82 79.35 119.35
8.733 108 68 88 0.27 0.38 0.00 0.00 1021.68 86.13 126.13
9.609 108 68 91 0.33 0.46 0.00 0.00 1022.53 88.99 128.99
10.569 108 68 94 0.41 0.57 0.00 0.00 1023.68 91.83 131.83
11.626 108 68 98 0.5 0.69 0.00 0.00 1024.96 95.61 135.61
12.785 108 68 98 0.59 0.82 0.00 0.00 1026.26 95.49 135.49
14.065 108 68 101 0.69 0.96 0.00 0.00 1027.69 98.28 138.28
15.468 108 68 104 0.8 1.11 0.00 0.00 1029.28 101.04 141.04
17.017 108 68 108 0.93 1.29 0.00 0.00 1031.17 104.74 144.74
18.717 108 68 111 1.1 1.53 0.00 0.00 1033.64 107.39 147.39
20.589 108 68 111 1.31 1.82 0.00 0.00 1036.71 107.07 147.07
22.65 108 68 112 1.47 2.04 0.00 0.00 1039.06 107.79 147.79

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Axial Strain vs Deviator Stress

120

100
Devaitor Stress (KPa)

80

60
40 Kpa Cell Pressure
40

20

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Axial Strain (%)

11.6.2 FOR 50KPA CELL PRESSURE

11.6.2.1 INITIAL SPECIMEN PROPERTIES

Initial Specimen properties

mm
Initial Water Content % 12 Initial Height m 0.076 76
mm3
Initial Density of Sample (b) Kg/m3 1618.3 Initial Volume m3 9E-05 86190.194
2
mm
Relative density % 95.3 Initial Area m2 0.0011 1134.0815

11.6.2.2 SATURATION STAGE

Time elapsed (min) Cell Pressure (s3) PWP =Back pressure B value Check
1 10 0 -
10 20 10 -
20 30 15 0.5
30 40 23 0.8
40 50 32 0.9
50 60 41.2 0.92
60 70 50.5 0.93
70 80 60.4 0.99

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11.6.2.3 CONSOLIDATION STAGE

Time Cell PWP

elapsed Pressure =Back Specimen Properties after consolidation
(min) (s3) pressure

Volume change
0 80 - cc 0
reading (DV)
Consolidated
Height after
20 80 -
Consolidation (Hc)
mm 0 volume Vc 86190.194
(mm3)
Area after
50 80 - mm2 1134.082
Consolidation (Ac)

11.6.2.4 SHEARING STAGE

PWP Vol. ajar

Time Cell Vertical Volume strain Deviato
=Back vertical Vertical Corrected Principl
elaps. Pressu Strain change r stress
(min) re (
pressur Load Def.
() reading (vol. Area A'
()
e stress
e ) (1)
KPa KPa N mm % cc mm2 KPa KPa
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0.73 110.00 60.00 5.4 0.5 0.66 0 0 1141.59 4.73 54.73
1.08 110.00 60.00 5.7 0.72 0.95 0 0 1144.93 4.98 54.98
1.57 110.00 60.00 6.7 0.82 1.08 0 0 1146.45 5.84 55.84
1.73 110.00 60.00 8.1 0.93 1.22 0 0 1148.13 7.05 57.05
1.90 110.00 60.00 9.8 1.05 1.38 0 0 1149.97 8.52 58.52
2.09 110.00 60.00 11.8 1.17 1.54 0 0 1151.81 10.24 60.24
2.30 110.00 60.00 13.8 1.29 1.70 0 0 1153.66 11.96 61.96
2.53 110.00 60.00 15.8 1.33 1.75 0 0 1154.28 13.69 63.69
2.78 110.00 60.00 20.2 1.38 1.82 0 0 1155.05 17.49 67.49
3.07 110.00 60.00 24.3 1.49 1.96 0 0 1156.76 21.01 71.01
3.37 110.00 60.00 25.9 1.61 2.12 0 0 1158.63 22.35 72.35
3.70 110.00 60.00 30.7 1.69 2.22 0 0 1159.87 26.47 76.47
4.08 110.00 60.00 38.4 1.8 2.37 0 0 1161.59 33.06 83.06
4.49 110.00 60.00 45.1 1.9 2.50 0 0 1163.16 38.77 88.77
4.93 110.00 60.00 56.3 2 2.63 0 0 1164.73 48.34 98.34
5.42 110.00 60.00 63.3 2.1 2.76 0 0 1166.31 54.27 104.27
5.97 110.00 60.00 67 2.2 2.89 0 0 1167.89 57.37 107.37
6.56 110.00 60.00 66 2.3 3.03 0 0 1169.47 56.44 106.44
7.22 110.00 60.00 65 2.41 3.17 0 0 1171.22 55.50 105.50
7.94 110.00 60.00 61.7 2.43 3.20 0 0 1171.54 52.67 102.67
8.74 110.00 60.00 56.9 2.55 3.36 0 0 1173.45 48.49 98.49
9.61 110.00 60.00 58.3 2.59 3.41 0 0 1174.09 49.66 99.66

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Axial Strain vs Deviator Stress

70

60

50
Devaitor Stress (KPa)

40

30

20 50 Kpa Cell Pressure

10

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Axial Strain (%)

11.6.3 FOR 60KPA CELL PRESSURE

11.6.3.1 INITIAL SPECIMEN PROPERTIES

Initial Specimen properties

Initial
Initial Water Content % 12 m 0.076 mm 76
Height

Initial Density of Sample Initial

Kg/m3 1569.5 m3 8.619E-05 mm3 86190.194
(b) Volume

Relative density % 95.3 Initial Area m2 0.0011341 mm2 1134.0815

11.6.3.2 SATURATION STAGE

Time elapsed (min) Cell Pressure (s3) PWP =Back pressure B value Check

1 20 0 -
10 30 10 -

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20 40 16 0.6
30 50 22 0.6
40 60 30.5 0.85
50 70 39.6 0.91
60 80 49 0.94
70 90 58.6 0.96
11.6.3.3 CONSOLIDATION STAGE

Time Cell PWP

elapsed Pressure =Back Specimen Properties after consolidation
(min) (s3) pressure
Volume change
0 80 - cc 0
reading (DV)
Height after
Consolidated
20 80 - Consolidation mm 0
volume Vc 86190.194
(Hc)
(mm3)
Area after
50 80 - Consolidation mm2 1134.0815
(Ac)

11.6.3.4 SHEARING STAGE

PWP Vol ajar

Time Cell vertic Exte Vertical Volume Deviato
=Back strain Corrected Principle
elapsed Pressur al nsio Strain change r stress
pressur Area A' stress
(min) e (
e
Load n () reading (vol.) ()
(1)
KPa KPa N mm % cc mm2 KPa KPa
0.099 119.00 59.00 10 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 8.82 68.82
0.178 119.00 59.00 13 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 11.46 71.46
0.26 119.00 59.00 17 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 14.99 74.99
0.342 119.00 59.00 20 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 17.64 77.64
0.415 119.00 59.00 24 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 21.16 81.16
0.458 119.00 59.00 24 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 21.16 81.16
0.502 119.00 59.00 27 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 23.81 83.81
0.67 119.00 59.00 30 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 26.45 86.45
0.733 119.00 59.00 34 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 29.98 89.98
0.81 119.00 59.00 37 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 32.63 92.63
0.977 119.00 59.00 40 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 35.27 95.27
1.073 119.00 59.00 44 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 38.80 98.80
1.183 119.00 59.00 47 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 41.44 101.44
1.302 119.00 59.00 51 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1134.08 44.97 104.97
1.574 119.00 59.00 54 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.00 1134.23 47.61 107.61

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1.732 119.00 59.00 57 0.02 0.03 0.00 0.00 1134.38 50.25 110.25
1.904 119.00 59.00 61 0.03 0.04 0.00 0.00 1134.53 53.77 113.77
2.095 119.00 59.00 64 0.05 0.07 0.00 0.00 1134.83 56.40 116.40
2.3 119.00 59.00 67 0.08 0.11 0.00 0.00 1135.28 59.02 119.02
2.533 119.00 59.00 74 0.1 0.14 0.00 0.00 1135.58 65.17 125.17
2.786 119.00 59.00 77 0.12 0.17 0.00 0.00 1135.87 67.79 127.79
3.062 119.00 59.00 81 0.13 0.18 0.00 0.00 1136.02 71.30 131.30
3.367 119.00 59.00 88 0.14 0.19 0.00 0.00 1136.17 77.45 137.45
3.706 119.00 59.00 91 0.15 0.21 0.00 0.00 1136.32 80.08 140.08
4.078 119.00 59.00 94 0.16 0.22 0.00 0.00 1136.47 82.71 142.71
4.483 119.00 59.00 101 0.16 0.23 0.00 0.00 1136.55 88.87 148.87
4.931 119.00 59.00 108 0.17 0.24 0.00 0.00 1136.62 95.02 155.02
5.422 119.00 59.00 111 0.21 0.29 0.00 0.00 1137.22 97.61 157.61
5.968 119.00 59.00 118 0.25 0.35 0.00 0.00 1137.82 103.7 163.71
6.561 119.00 59.00 125 0.3 0.42 0.00 0.00 1138.58 109.7 169.79
7.218 119.00 59.00 128 0.34 0.47 0.00 0.00 1139.18 112.3 172.36
7.942 119.00 59.00 135 0.41 0.57 0.00 0.00 1140.23 118.4 178.40
8.733 119.00 59.00 142 0.48 0.67 0.00 0.00 1141.29 124.4 184.42
9.605 119.00 59.00 145 0.54 0.75 0.00 0.00 1142.20 126.9 186.95
10.565 119.00 59.00 152 0.62 0.86 0.00 0.00 1143.41 132.9 192.94
11.625 119.00 59.00 155 0.71 0.99 0.00 0.00 1144.78 135.4 195.40
12.788 119.00 59.00 162 0.8 1.11 0.00 0.00 1146.15 141.3 201.34
14.066 119.00 59.00 165 0.9 1.25 0.00 0.00 1147.67 143.7 203.77
15.471 119.00 59.00 168 1.01 1.40 0.00 0.00 1149.36 146.1 206.17
17.017 119.00 59.00 172 1.14 1.58 0.00 0.00 1151.35 149.3 209.39
18.717 119.00 59.00 175 1.27 1.76 0.00 0.00 1153.35 151.7 211.73
20.591 119.00 59.00 185 1.41 1.96 0.00 0.00 1155.52 160.1 220.10
22.651 119.00 59.00 185 1.58 2.19 0.00 0.00 1158.16 159.7 219.74
24.913 119.00 59.00 185 1.76 2.44 0.00 0.00 1160.97 159.3 219.35

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Axial Strain vs Deviator Stress

180

160

140
Devaitor Stress (KPa)

120

100

80
60 Kpa Cell Pressure
60

40

20

0
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
Axial Strain (%)

11.7 RESULTS

Plot the Mohrs circle between normal stress and shear stress and obtain
corresponding consolidated un-drained shear strength parameters (c and ) of given
soil specimen.

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C= 0.3 KPa

= 35

11.8 REFERENCE
ASTM D2850

Standard Test Method for Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Compression Test on

Cohesive Soils

11.9 COMMENTS:
Triaxial test is a soils laboratory test to determine shear strength parameters. The
shear strength of soil is needed to design foundation, slopes, tunnels, dams, and other
geotechnical systems. It is a most widely used technique of determining the shear
strength of soils.

The sample, which is cylindrical, is tested inside a Perspex cylinder filled with water
under pressure. The sample under test is enclosed in a thin rubber membrane to seal
it from the surrounding water. The pressure in the cell is raised to the desired value,
and the sample is then brought to failure by applying an additional vertical stress.

One of the major advantages of the triaxial apparatus is the control provided over
drainage from the sample. When no drainage is required (i.e. in undrained tests), solid
end caps are used. When drainage is required, the end caps are provided with porous
plates and drainage channels. It is also possible to monitor pore-water pressures
during a test.

In our case the there is some variation in the values which may be due personal error
or due the instrument error

Our soil has minor cohesion value that is 0.3KPa and angle of internal friction = 35

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