Faculty: Civil Engineering & Environmental

Department: Geotechnical and Transportation

Title: Open Ended Laboratory

Objective:
To compare the parameters of shear strength (C,) for two cohesion less sample using the
direct shear test.

Learning outcome:

Determine the shear strength parameter of the soil.

Handle shear strength test, direct shear test.
Compare which type of soil will more suitable to build retaining wall.

Theory:
The strength of a soil depends of its resistance to shearing stresses. It is made up of basically
the components;
1. Frictional due to friction between individual particles.
2. Cohesive - due to adhesion between the soil particles
The two components are combined in Colulombs shear strength equation,
f = c + f tan
Where :
f = shearing resistance of soil at failure
c = apparent cohesion of soil
f = total normal stress on failure plane
= angle of shearing resistance of soil (angle of internal friction)

This equation can also be written in terms of effective stresses.

f = c + f tan

Where :
c = apparent cohesion of soil in terms of effective stresses
'f = effective normal stress on failure plane
= angle of shearing resistance of soil in terms of effective stresses
'f = f - uf
uf = pore water pressure on failure plane

Equipment:
1. Shear box carriage
2. Loading pad
3. Perforated plate
4. Porous plate
5. Retaining plate

Figure 2: Shearbox carriage

Figure 3: Loading pad, Perforated plate, Porous

plate, Retaining plate

Procedures:
1. The initial mass of soil had weight in the pan.
2. The shear box assembled and placed it carefully in the direct shear device.
3. A base plate is fixed inside the shear box. Then a porous plate is placed on the base
plate. Perforated grid plate is fit over porous so that the grid plates should be at right
angles to the direction shear.
4. Two halves of the shear box is fixed by means of fixing screws
5. For cohesive soils, the soil sample is transfered from square specimen cutter to the
shearbox by pressing down on the top grid plate. For sandy soil, the soil in layers is
compacted to the required density in shear box
6. The loading yoke is placed on the loading pad and carefully lift the hanger onto the
top of the loading yoke.
7. All dial gauges had positioned and the readings set to zero. The alignment screws
which hold two halves of the shear box together has removed.
8. If there is any vertical displacement, the dial gauges had wait till indicated a constant
reading and then the dial gauge has reset to zero.
9. Check that screws have been removed and then the motor has start to produce the
desired constant rate.
10. The test is conducted by applying horizontal shear load to failure. Rate strain should
be 0.2mm/min
11. The readings of horizontal and force dial gauges are recorded at regular intervals.
12. Test on three identical soil samples is also conducted under different vertical
compressive strsses, 1.75kg, 2.5kg and 3.25kg.
13. Two different type of soil sample had been tested, which are laterite soil and sand.

Result and Calculations:

Length of Shear Box Carriage = 0.06m
Area of Shear Box Carriage = 0.0036m2

Sand Specimen No. : 1

Loading

: 1.75 kg

Displacement
Dail Gauge
L (mm)
50
0.1
100
0.2
150
0.3
200
0.4
250
0.5
300
0.6
350
0.7
400
0.8
450
0.9
500
1.0
550
1.1
600
1.2
650
1.3
700
1.4
750
1.5
800
1.6
850
1.7
900
1.8
950
1.9
1000
2.0
1050
2.1
1100
2.2
1150
2.3
1200
2.4
1250
2.5
1300
2.6
1350
2.7
1400
2.8
1450
2.9
1500
3.0
1550
3.1
1600
3.2
1650
3.3
1700
3.4
1750
3.5
1800
3.6
1850
3.7
1900
3.8
1950
3.9

Proving Ring
Dail Gauge
Load, P (kN)
0.1
0.0002
0.1
0.0002
0.1
0.0002
0.1
0.0002
10
0.02
15
0.03
19
0.04
23
0.05
33
0.07
40
0.08
45
0.09
48
0.10
51
0.10
54
0.11
57
0.12
59
0.12
61
0.12
62
0.13
63
0.13
65
0.13
66
0.13
67
0.14
67
0.14
68
0.14
68
0.14
69
0.14
69
0.14
70
0.14
70
0.14
70
0.14
70
0.14
71
0.14
71
0.14
71
0.14
71
0.14
72
0.14
73
0.15
74
0.15
75
0.15

Shear Stress
(kN/m)
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
5.56
8.33
11.11
13.89
19.44
22.22
25
27.78
27.78
30.56
33.33
33.33
33.33
36.11
36.11
36.11
36.11
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
38.89
41.67
41.67
41.67

Strain
0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.008
0.01
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.017
0.018
0.02
0.022
0.023
0.025
0.027
0.028
0.03
0.032
0.033
0.035
0.037
0.038
0.04
0.042
0.043
0.045
0.047
0.048
0.05
0.052
0.053
0.055
0.057
0.058
0.06
0.062
0.063
0.065

2000
2050
2100
2150
2200
2250
2300
2350
2400

4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8

76
77
77
78
78
78
78
78
78

0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16
0.16

44.44
44.44
44.44
44.44
44.44
44.44
44.44
44.44
44.44

0.067
0.068
0.07
0.072
0.073
0.075
0.077
0.078
0.08

Sand Specimen No. : 2

Loading

: 2.5 kg

Displacement
Dail Gauge
L (mm)
50
0.1
100
0.2
150
0.3
200
0.4
250
0.5
300
0.6
350
0.7
400
0.8
450
0.9
500
1.0
550
1.1
600
1.2
650
1.3
700
1.4
750
1.5
800
1.6
850
1.7
900
1.8
950
1.9
1000
2.0
1050
2.1
1100
2.2
1150
2.3
1200
2.4
1250
2.5
1300
2.6
1350
2.7

Proving Ring
Dail Gauge
Load, P (kN)
16
0.03
22
0.04
28
0.06
35
0.07
42
0.09
51
0.10
61
0.12
71
0.14
77
0.16
81
0.17
86
0.18
89
0.18
91
0.19
92
0.19
94
0.19
96
0.20
98
0.20
99
0.20
101
0.21
102
0.21
102
0.21
104
0.21
104
0.21
104
0.21
104
0.21
104
0.21
104
0.21

Shear Stress
(kN/m)
8.33
11.11
16.67
19.44
25
27.78
33.33
38.89
44.44
47.22
50
50
52.78
52.78
52.78
55.56
55.56
55.56
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33

Strain
0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.008
0.01
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.017
0.018
0.02
0.022
0.023
0.025
0.027
0.028
0.03
0.032
0.033
0.035
0.037
0.038
0.04
0.042
0.043
0.045

Sand Specimen No. : 3

Loading

: 3.25 kg

Displacement
Dail Gauge
L (mm)
50
0.1
100
0.2
150
0.3
200
0.4
250
0.5
300
0.6
350
0.7
400
0.8
450
0.9
500
1.0
550
1.1
600
1.2
650
1.3
700
1.4
750
1.5
800
1.6
850
1.7
900
1.8
950
1.9
1000
2.0
1050
2.1
1100
2.2
1150
2.3
1200
2.4
1250
2.5
1300
2.6
1350
2.7
1400
2.8
1450
2.9
1500
3.0
1550
3.1
1600
3.2
1650
3.3

Proving Ring
Dail Gauge
Load, P (kN)
11
0.02
27
0.06
36
0.07
43
0.09
48
0.10
55
0.11
62
0.13
70
0.14
76
0.16
82
0.17
87
0.18
91
0.19
95
0.19
99
0.20
103
0.21
107
0.22
110
0.22
112
0.23
114
0.23
116
0.24
118
0.24
119
0.24
121
0.25
122
0.25
123
0.25
124
0.25
125
0.26
126
0.26
126
0.26
126
0.26
126
0.26
126
0.26
126
0.26

Shear Stress
(kN/m)
5.56
16.67
19.44
25
27.78
30.56
36.11
38.89
44.44
47.22
50
52.78
58.33
55.56
58.33
61.11
61.11
63.89
63.89
66.67
66.67
66.67
69.44
69.44
69.44
69.44
72.22
72.22
72.22
72.22
72.22
72.22
72.22

Strain
0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.008
0.01
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.017
0.018
0.02
0.022
0.023
0.025
0.027
0.028
0.03
0.032
0.033
0.035
0.037
0.038
0.04
0.042
0.043
0.045
0.047
0.048
0.05
0.052
0.053
0.055

Laterite Specimen No. : 1

Loading

: 1.75 kg

Displacement
Dail Gauge
L (mm)
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
600
650
700
750
800
850
900
950
1000
1050
1100
1150
1200
1250
1300
1350
1400
1450
1500
1550
1600
1650
1700
1750
1800
1850
1900
1950
2000
2050

0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4.0
4.1

Proving Ring
Dail Gauge
Load, P (kN)
0
8
23
35
45
52
58
63
67
71
74
78
82
85
88
90
92
94
96
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
110
111
111
112
112
112
112
112
112

0
0.02
0.03
0.07
0.09
0.10
0.12
0.13
0.14
0.14
0.15
0.16
0.17
0.17
0.18
0.18
0.19
0.19
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.20
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.21
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.22
0.23
0.23
0.23
0.23
0.23
0.23
0.23
0.23

Shear Stress
(kN/m)

Strain

0
5.56
8.33
19.44
25.00
27.78
33.33
36.11
38.89
38.89
41.67
44.44
47.22
47.22
50.00
50.00
52.78
52.78
55.56
55.56
55.56
55.56
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33
58.33
61.11
61.11
61.11
61.11
61.11
61.11
63.89
63.89
63.89
63.89
63.89
63.89
63.89
63.89

0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.008
0.01
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.017
0.018
0.02
0.022
0.023
0.025
0.027
0.028
0.03
0.032
0.033
0.035
0.037
0.038
0.04
0.042
0.043
0.045
0.047
0.048
0.05
0.052
0.053
0.055
0.057
0.058
0.06
0.062
0.063
0.065
0.067
0.068

Laterite Specimen No. : 2

Loading

: 2.5 kg

Displacement
Dail Gauge
L (mm)
50
0.1
100
0.2
150
0.3
200
0.4
250
0.5
300
0.6
350
0.7
400
0.8
450
0.9
500
1.0
550
1.1
600
1.2
650
1.3
700
1.4
750
1.5
800
1.6
850
1.7
900
1.8
950
1.9
1000
2.0
1050
2.1
1100
2.2
1150
2.3
1200
2.4
1250
2.5
1300
2.6
1350
2.7
1400
2.8
1450
2.9
1500
3.0
1550
3.1
1600
3.2
1650
3.3
1700
3.4
1750
3.5
1800
3.6
1850
3.7
1900
3.8
1950
3.9
2000
4.0
2050
4.1
2100
4.2
2150
4.3
2200
4.4
2250
4.5
2300
4.6
2350
4.7

Proving Ring
Dail Gauge
Load, P (kN)
13
0.03
17
0.03
20
0.04
22
0.04
24
0.05
27
0.06
29
0.06
31
0.06
33
0.07
35
0.07
38
0.08
40
0.08
42
0.09
44
0.09
46
0.09
47
0.10
49
0.10
51
0.10
54
0.11
57
0.12
59
0.12
62
0.13
64
0.13
66
0.13
69
0.14
74
0.15
76
0.16
79
0.16
82
0.17
86
0.18
88
0.18
92
0.19
94
0.19
96
0.20
99
0.20
101
0.21
103
0.21
105
0.21
107
0.22
109
0.22
111
0.23
113
0.23
115
0.23
117
0.24
119
0.24
120
0.24
121
0.25

Shear Stress
(kN/m)

Strain

8.33
8.33
11.11
11.11
13.89
16.67
16.67
16.67
19.44
19.44
22.22
22.22
25.00
25.00
25.00
27.78
27.78
27.78
30.56
33.33
33.33
36.11
36.11
36.11
38.89
41.67
44.44
44.44
47.22
50.00
50.00
52.78
52.78
55.56
55.56
58.33
58.33
58.33
61.11
61.11
63.89
63.89
63.89
66.67
66.67
66.67
69.44

0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.008
0.010
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.017
0.018
0.020
0.022
0.023
0.025
0.027
0.028
0.030
0.032
0.033
0.035
0.037
0.038
0.040
0.042
0.043
0.045
0.047
0.048
0.050
0.052
0.053
0.055
0.057
0.058
0.060
0.062
0.063
0.065
0.067
0.068
0.070
0.072
0.073
0.075
0.077
0.078

2400
2450
2500
2550
2600
2650
2700
2750
2800
2850
2900
2950
3000
3050
3100
3150

4.8
4.9
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3

121
123
124
125
126
126
127
128
129
130
131
131
131
131
131
131

0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.26
0.26
0.26
0.26
0.26
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27
0.27

69.44
69.44
69.44
69.44
72.22
72.22
72.22
72.22
72.22
75.00
75.00
75.00
75.00
75.00
75.00
75.00

0.080
0.082
0.083
0.085
0.087
0.088
0.090
0.092
0.093
0.095
0.097
0.098
0.100
0.102
0.103
0.105

Laterite Specimen No. : 3

Loading

: 3.25 kg

Displacement
Dail Gauge
L (mm)
50
0.1
100
0.2
150
0.3
200
0.4
250
0.5
300
0.6
350
0.7
400
0.8
450
0.9
500
1.0
550
1.1
600
1.2
650
1.3
700
1.4
750
1.5
800
1.6
850
1.7
900
1.8
950
1.9
1000
2.0
1050
2.1
1100
2.2
1150
2.3
1200
2.4
1250
2.5
1300
2.6
1350
2.7
1400
2.8
1450
2.9
1500
3.0
1550
3.1
1600
3.2
1650
3.3
1700
3.4
1750
3.5
1800
3.6
1850
3.7
1900
3.8
1950
3.9
2000
4.0
2050
4.1
2100
4.2
2150
4.3
2200
4.4
2250
4.5

Proving Ring
Dial Gauge
Load, P (kN)
8
0.02
14
0.03
19
0.04
23
0.05
28
0.06
33
0.07
38
0.08
43
0.09
48
0.10
52
0.11
56
0.11
60
0.12
63
0.13
67
0.14
70
0.14
73
0.15
77
0.16
80
0.16
83
0.17
86
0.18
90
0.18
93
0.19
96
0.20
99
0.20
102
0.21
104
0.21
108
0.22
111
0.23
113
0.23
117
0.24
119
0.24
121
0.25
124
0.25
125
0.26
127
0.26
129
0.26
131
0.27
133
0.27
135
0.28
137
0.28
139
0.28
141
0.29
143
0.29
144
0.29
146
0.30

Shear Stress
(kN/m)
5.56
8.33
11.11
13.89
16.67
19.44
22.22
25.00
27.78
30.56
30.56
33.33
36.11
38.89
38.89
41.67
44.44
44.44
47.22
50.00
50.00
52.78
55.56
55.56
58.33
58.33
61.11
63.89
63.89
66.67
66.67
69.44
69.44
72.22
72.22
72.22
75.00
75.00
77.78
77.78
77.78
80.56
80.56
80.56
83.33

Strain
0.002
0.003
0.005
0.007
0.008
0.010
0.011
0.013
0.015
0.017
0.018
0.020
0.022
0.023
0.025
0.027
0.028
0.030
0.032
0.033
0.035
0.037
0.038
0.040
0.042
0.043
0.045
0.047
0.048
0.050
0.052
0.053
0.055
0.057
0.058
0.060
0.062
0.063
0.065
0.067
0.068
0.070
0.072
0.073
0.075

2300
2350
2400
2450
2500
2550
2600
2650
2700
2750
2800
2850
2900
2950
3000
3050
3100
3150
3200
3250
3300
3350
3400
3450
3500
3550
3600
3650
3700
3750
3800

4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
5.0
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
7.0
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6

Calculation for table :

148
149
150
151
152
153
154
154
154
155
156
157
158
159
159
159
160
160
161
161
162
163
163
164
164
165
165
165
165
165
165

0.30
0.30
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.31
0.32
0.32
0.32
0.32
0.32
0.32
0.32
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.34
0.34
0.34
0.34
0.34
0.34

83.33
83.33
86.11
86.11
86.11
86.11
86.11
86.11
86.11
88.89
88.89
88.89
88.89
88.89
88.89
88.89
91.67
91.67
91.67
91.67
91.67
91.67
91.67
91.67
91.67
94.44
94.44
94.44
94.44
94.44
94.44

L = Dial Gauge Reading x 0.002

Load, P = Dial Gauge Reading x 0.00204
Shear Stress = Load Area Of Shear Box Carriage
Strain =

L Length Of Shear Box Carriage

0.077
0.078
0.080
0.082
0.083
0.085
0.087
0.088
0.090
0.092
0.093
0.095
0.097
0.098
0.100
0.102
0.103
0.105
0.107
0.108
0.110
0.112
0.113
0.115
0.117
0.118
0.120
0.122
0.123
0.125
0.127

From Graph,
C value for sand = 12.5
C value for Laterite = 27
for sand = 34o
for laterite = 37o

f c tan
For sand,
C= 12.5
=34o
No. of specimen
1
2
3

, shear stress
4.77
6.81
8.86

f c tan (KN/m2)

, shear stress
4.77
6.81
8.86

f c tan (KN/m2)

15.72
17.09
18.48

For laterite,
C=27
=37o
No. of specimen
1
2
3

30.59
32.13
33.68

Discussion:
From the test of direct shear, graph of shear stress versus strain and graph of shear stress
versus normal stress are plotted. The shear strength parameters are determined from graph
plotted. The values are angle of friction and the cohesion of the soil. From the graph of shear
stress versus strain, the shear stress for load 1.75kg is 44.44 kN/m, the shear stress for load
2.5kg is 58.33 kN/m and the shear stress for load 3.25kg is 72.22 kN/m.
For laterite soil the shear stress for load 1.75kg is 63.89 kN/m, load of 2.5 kg is 75.00kN/m
and for load of 3.25 is 94.44kN/m. Due the strength, laterite is can be use in building blocks
and road building.

With the determined value from the graph of shear stress versus strain, graph of shear stress
versus normal stress is plotted. The cohesion of soil and the angle of friction of soil are able
to determine. The cohesion of soil is the intercept of y-axis and the angle of friction of the
linear line produced or line slope. From the graph, the cohesion of sand is 12.5 kN/m and the
cohesion of laterite is 27.0 kN/m. Also from the graph, the angle of friction for sand is 34o
and the angle of friction for the laterite is 37 o.
The direct shear test has advantages and disadvantages. It is simple and fast especially for
sands. The failure that occurs is along a single surface, which approximates observed slips or
shear type failure in natural soils. The results of direct shear strength tests performed on
lateritic soil showed that the soil has high shear strength despite its appreciable clay content.
This is due to the cementation bonds between the particles at the micro-level.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, we have achieved the objective of the experiment which is to determine the
parameter of shear strength of soil, cohesion and angle of friction. From the experiment that
we have done, the value of cohesion for sand, C is 12.5 kN/m and a friction angle of 34o. The
value of cohesion for laterite, C is 27 kN/m and the friction angle is 34o. It means that,
laterite soil is more suitable to be used to against the land slides. Where laterite have higher
Maximum Shear Resistant value that can resist the shear strength from landslide. Besides of
that, we strongly suggest that Cantilever Wall should be build to overcome the problem. This
is because of the Cantilever Arm have second lever arm that can stabilise itself when
subjected to huge earth pressure.
The direct shear test can be used to measure the effective stress parameters of any type of soil
as long as the pore pressure induced by the normal force and the shear force can dissipate the
time. For the experiment we use to clean sands as a sample, so there is no problem as the pore
pressure dissipates readily. However, in the case of highly plastic clays, it is merely necessary
to have a suitable strain rate so that the pore pressure can dissipate with time.
Direct shear tests can be performed under several conditions. The sample is normally
saturated before the test is run. The test can be run at the in-situ moisture content. Before we
find the value of cohesion and friction angle, we must plot the graph from the data that we get
from the experiment. The results of the tests on each specimen are plotted on a graph with the
peak stress on the x-axis and the confining stress on the y-axis. The y-intercept of the curve
which fits the test results is the cohesion, and the slope of the line or curve is the friction
angle.