CC304 Lecture Notes

By Nor Haniza Mustafar Kamar

CHAPTER 5

SHEAR STRENGTH

SYNOPSIS

This topic discusses the shear strength of soil and its usage, Mohr-Coulomb criteria of
failure, shear strength parameter (c & Ф) and Unconfined Compression Test, Shear Box Test
and Tri-Axial Test in various situations.

5.1 Introduction to Shear Strength of Soil

All failures in soils are shear failures due to compression – soil is known as a material that
cannot sustain tension. Shear strength is the maximum resistance to shear, generally
expressed as shear stress (τ). The shear strength of soil is the maximum resistant force on a
soil area that can be produced by the soil to retaining any failures or slide along any plane.
The shear resistance of soil is a result of friction and interlocking of particles, and possibly
cementation or bonding at particle contacts.

If soil expands its volume, the density of particles will decrease and the strength will
decrease; in this case, the peak strength would be followed by a reduction of shear stress. The
stress-strain relationship levels off when the material stops expanding or contracting, and
when interparticle bonds are broken. The theoretical state at which the shear stress and
density remain constant while the shear strain increases may be called the critical state,
steady state, or residual strength.

5.1.1 Parameter of shear strength of soil

There are two parameters of shear strength known as:

(a) Friction angle of soil, 
(b) Cohesion of soil, c

Friction angle of soil, 

When a load is applied onto a soil, friction between the soil particles will occur. This friction
produces an angle known as the friction angle. Consider a cube with W weight placed on a
horizontal plane as shown in the figure below:

W 1
 CC304 Lecture Notes
By Nor Haniza Mustafar Kamar


P ?
W

R F
P = F(max)
Rajah 5.1(a) : A cube on a horizontal plane Rajah 5.1(b) : Resultant force

If the verticle responding force is equivilent to W, the cube does not move. If a horizontal
force, P is gradually applied onto the cube, a resistance force, F will gradually occur until it
reaches a maximum value. When P exceeds F, it will cause the cube to move a little to the
right. The polygon for these forces is shown in figure 5.1 (b) and it is known that:

F(maximum) = W tan  ,
where  is known as friction angle of the soil.

Cohesion of soil, c

The cohesion of soil refers to the bond between soil particles that is adhesive to one another
without any contributing factors. Clay has a high value of cohesion as it is in saturated
condition at most times.

A vertical cut may be applied onto a clay sample and it will remain vertical for a while
without any support. The same activity cannot be applied onto a sand sample as it will
collapse immediately. A slope with the same value as internal friction angle will form. In this
case, another factor must be produced in a cohesive soil (i.e clay and silt), that can improve
its shear strength. This factor is known as cohesion and is produced by the adhesion between
its fine particles created by natural bonding without any effects from external forces.

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5.1.2 Definition of shear strength of soil and its usage.

As shear strength is important in resisting angled external forces that causes many types of
soil failures, the knowledge and parameters of shear strength are important in construction
and design of embankments, retaining walls, foundation, piling, slope stabilization etc.

From the values of these shear strength parameters, a civil engineer can predict the soil’s
capability to support any building construction.

5.2 Mohr-Coulomb criteria for failure of soil

5.2.1 Coulomb Model

The Coulomb model explains friction resistance as a variable instead of a constant and
changes with the value of normal stress applied to the shear plane of the soil. The cohesive
friction is assumed as a constant that is not affected by the applied stress. Coulomb introduces
the shear strength of soil (f ) on a specific plane as a linear equation of a normal stress (f )
on the same point of the plane.

The figure below shows a soil shear stress. When F reaches a maximum value, F(max) the soil
will fail along the S-S plane and the top section of the soil will move to the right as the
bottom part moves to the left or does not move at all. This is when soil failure occurs.

F
Soil
S
S
F

Figure 5.2 : A sample soil friction test

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F(max) = N tan  ........................(1)

Where  is the soil’s friction angle. If the area of failure is A, the normal stress is:
n = N/A ...................... (2)

And the shear stress is:

f = F(max) / A .......................(3)

From equations 1, 2 and 3,

f =  n tan 

If the test in figure 5.2 is repeated using different values of N, different values for normal and
shear stresses will be obtained. Plotting n against f will produce a relationship between n
and f as shown in figure 5.3 below:

f

C
C
n
Figure 5.3: shows a graph of n vs f

From the figure above, a conclusion can be made:

f = c + n tan 

Where c is the cohesion of soil. This equation is known as the Coulomb fail criteria.

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5.2.2 Mohr Model

.
A soil sample is applied with normal stresses as shown in the figure below. 1 is the major
stress and 3 is the minor stress.
1

3 3

1
1
Figure 5.4 : Normal stresses applied on a soil sample

A Mohr circle is plotted as shown below. During the early level, the stresses are represented
by the ABC circle. Then, the major stress 1 is gradually increased while 3 is sustained until
the sample fails. As 1 increases, the diameter of the circle increases until it produces AB’C’.
That is when the sample fails.

B’

A C C’

3 1 1 

Figure 5.5 The Mohr Circle

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Figure 5.6 shows the condition of the sample when it fails and the Mohr circle is shown in
figure 5.7. Assuming the sample fails at EF and the stress applied onto are normal stress, f
and shear stress, f. f and f are plotted on a Mohr circle at point T. The angle TQC’ is 2
and  is the angle between failure plane and the major stress plane is the angle between the
failure plane anf the major stress plane. From the Mohr circle in the figure 5.6, it is
determined that:

1   3
f = Sin
2
1   3 1   3
f =  Cos 2
2 2

If a tangent line is drawn through T, a straight line RTS, crosses the axis  at R. The slope of
this tangent line is tan  with  , the angle between tangent line and normal major stress.
With that, the equation for RTS is:
 f = c +  f tan 

And the relationship between  and  is ;


 = + 45o
2
By replacing  with  and  f :

 1   3 =  1   3 sin   2c kos (18.6)

or
 1 =  3 tan 2 45o   / 2  2c tan(45o   / 2) (18.7)

The equations above is known as the Mohr failure criteria. The combination between Mohr
and Coulomb failures is known as Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria.

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1
1

f

f
3 3


1
Figure 5. 5 shows the condition of a soil sample during failure.

T
f

R
c 2 C
3 f Q 1

Figure 5,6 shows the Mohr failure Criteria

σ = stress

φ, ϕ = angle of friction

τ = strain

c = cohesion

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5.2.3 Criteria for failure of granular soil, cohesion soil and granular-cohesion soil.

The criteria of failure for soil can be divided into three types according to its strength
properties.

(a) Granular soil

Also known as cohesionless soil or fully dry soil, this type of soil has its own
strength properties. The value of cohesion, c is 0 and the strength of forces is
produces by friction between the soil particles which produces an angle friction,
φ. The figure below shows a mohr circle for granular soil.

c=0
σ
Figure 5.7 Mohr circle for granular soil

(b) Cohesive soil

Cohesive soil is saturated clay that has a friction angle value of 0 and the shear
strength is strictly produced only from the cohesion between soil particles, c. The
failure line is horizontal, paralel to normal stress as shown in the figure below.

φ=0

=0
c

σ
Figure 5.8 Mohr circle for cohesive soil

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(c) Granular-cohesive soil

Most soil are combination of sand and clay or silt and have both friction and
cohesion. This is known as cohesion-frriction (c-φ) soil. The figure below shows
the mohr-coulmob failure criteria for these type of soil.

Figure 5.8 : Mohr-coulomb critera for cohesion-friction soils.

The strength of soil depends on a few factors. For sand, the factors of shear strength are
particle sizes, shape, size (grades) and arrangement of particles. A compacted sand has a
higher value of shear strength compared to loose sand. For clay, the shear strength depends of
the shape and size od soil particles, mineralogy, water content and chemical reactions of the
particles.

Remember the diagrams

for all THREE types of
soil failure…!!!

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 CC304 Lecture Notes
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5.2.4 Shear failure plane and the parameter of shear strength (c & Ф) by drawing the
Mohr circle.

Example 5.1

A triaxial was performed on a soil sample and the results are as follows:
Sample Minor stress Deviate Stress Major stress
’3 ( kN/ m2) ’1 - ’3 ’1 ( kN/m2)
A 15 41 56
B 91 184 275
C 176 292 468
Determine the values of cohesion, c and angle of friction.

Solution

Step 1 Draw the x-axis (normal stress) and y axis (shear stress) on a graph paper. The scale
MUST be the same for both axis.

Shear stress, τ (kN/m2)

500

400

300

200

100

100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Normal stress, σ (kN/m2)

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Step 2: Mark all the values for minor and major stresses at τ = 0 from the result table.

Shear stress, τ (kN/m2)

500

400

= minor stress
300
= major stress
200

100

100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Normal stress, σ (kN/m2)

Step 3 : Find the center point between each minor-major points and use a compass to draw a
circle connecting both points.

Shear stress, τ (kN/m2)

500

400

300

200

100

100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Normal stress, σ (kN/m2)

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Step 4 : Draw a tangent line connecting all three circles to obtain a Mohr-Coulomb failure
criteria diagram. The value of c is shown below and friction can be obtained using a
protractor.

Shear stress, τ (kN/m2)

500

400 c = 10kN/m2

300

200 ϕ = 27o

100

100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Normal stress, σ (kN/m2)

From the result table a shear stress vs normal stress graph is plotted as shown in the figure
below. The values of C and φ is obtained from the graph. It is shown that the values of c is
10kN/m2 and  = 27.

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 CC304 Lecture Notes
By Nor Haniza Mustafar Kamar

SHEAR STRENGTH LABORATORY TESTS

INTRODUCTION

The shear strength of a soil is the internal resistance per unit area that the soil mass can offer to resist
failure and sliding along any plane inside it. One must understand the nature of shearing resistance in
order to analyze soil stability problems, such as bearing capacity, slope stability, and lateral pressure
on earth retaining structures. (Braja M Das, 2007)

Determination of Shear Strength Parameters

The shear strength parameter of a soil can be determined in the laboratory primarily by two types of
tests

1. Direct Shear test

2. Triaxial test.

The procedures are explained in detail as follows:

Normal force
DIRECT SHEAR TEST

Loading plate Porous Stone

Direct Shear Test Apparatus (L) Diagram

Shear forces, τ
Of direct shear test arrangement (R)

- A simple and quick test to perform.

- Samples are usually of square cross sections.
- Assumes that the soil mass fails along a thin zone under plain strain conditions.
- The apparatus is designed in such a way that failure is constrained along a thin zone of soil on
the horizontal plane. The shear box cannot prevent drainage, but a fast rate of loading (i.e test
is completed quickly) can provide an estimate of the undrained shear strength (Cu)
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TRIAXIAL TEST

(source : 2009 Kensains Sdn Bhd, taken

from http://www.kensains.com.my)

(Source : Timea Balint, from http://www.gf.uns.ac.rs/~wus/wus07/web4/index.html)

- Popular test to determine shear strength parameters and stress-strain behavior of soils.
- Samples are cylindrical, and usually with a length-to-diameter ratio of 2 (e.g diameter 38mm,
height 76mm)
- A versatile test apparatus for several reasons:
o Axial and radial (confining) pressures can be individually controlled.
o Tests can be conducted inder drained and undrained conditions.
o Displacements and stresses can be controlled.
- Various stress paths can be applied to soil samples to mimic actual in situ conditions or
typical geotechnical problems.
o Unconfined compression (UC) test
o Consolidated drained (CD) compression test
o Consolidated drained (CD) compression test
o Consolidated undrained (CU) compression test
o Unconsolidated undrained (UU) compression test

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 CC304 Lecture Notes
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EXAMPLE OF CALCULATION

Example 5.2 Shear Box Test

Table 5.2 shows the result of a shear box test performed on a 3.117 X 10-3 m2 shear box with
63 mm diameter.
a) Plot the Shear stress,  Vs strain, .
b) Plot the shear stress at failure, f Vs normal stress, n .
c) Tentukan nilai c dan .

Normal Normal Shear Shear L =

Load Stress Force Stress (mm) L
X 100
(kN) (kN/m2) (kN) (kN/m2) L
%
0.157 50.0 0 0 0 0
0.098 30.91 0.68 1.1
0.108 34.07 4.19 6.5
0.113 35.65 5.16 8.1
0.103 32.49 8.71 13.7
0.323 100 0 0 0 0
0.015 4.73 0 0
0.123 38.80 1.78 2.8
0.167 52.68 3.56 5.6
0.201 63.41 4.57 7.2
0.221 69.72 5.51 8.7
0.157 49.53 6.55 10.3
0.638 200 0 0 0 0
0.23 72.55 0.36 0.6
0.30 94.64 3.73 5.9
0.33 104.10 4.65 7.3
0.34 107.26 5.66 8.9
0.34 107.26 7.67 12.1
0.33 104.10 8.74 13.8

Table 5.2 Shows the result of a Shear box test

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Solution 5.2
a) Shear stress,  Vs strain,  graph:
Shear Stress, τ (kN/m2)

Strain, ε (%)
b) Shear stress at failure, τf vs normal stress, σn graph
Shear Stress, τ (kN/m )
2

Normal Stress, σ (%)

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5.4 Triaxial methods:

5.4.1 Testing without consolidation and without drainage.

Initially charged with fixed pressure around the sample and then
compressed confining the water from flowing out of the sample during
the two stage tests. This test is also easy and quick to do. The soil
strength parameters obtained are ϕu and cu.

5.4.2 Testing with consolidation and without drainage.

In this test, a sample is pre-consolidated of by allowing the water to
flow out when stress is applied around the sample. Then, when the
sample is compressed, drainage is not allowed. By measuring the
magnitude of pore water pressure, u, effective soil strength parameters
c 'and ϕ' can be calculated.

5.4.3 Testing with consolidation and drainage.

Water drainage is allowed during consolidation and compression. The
strain rate should be as slow as possible so that there is no increase in
pore water pressure. Generally, this test is time consuming, depending
on the permeability of the soil. Soil parameters obtained are cd and ϕd.

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