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TITLE :

Direct Shear Box Test

INTRODUCTION :
The test is carried out on either undisturbed samples or remolded
samples. To facilitate the remolding purpose, a soil sample may be
compacted at optimum moisture content in a compaction mould. Then
specimen for the direct shear test could be obtained using the correct
cutter provided. Alternatively, sand sample can be placed in a dry state at
a required density, in the assembled shear box.
A normal load is applied to the specimen and the specimen is sheared
across the pre- determined horizontal place between the two halves of the
shear box. Measurements of shear load, shear displacement and normal
displacement are recorded. The test is repeated for two or more identical
specimens under different normal loads. From the results, the shear
strength parameters can be determined.

OBJECTIVE :
To determine the parameter of shear strength of soil, cohesion, c and
angle of friction,

THEORY :
The general relationship between maximum shearing resistance, ti and
normal stress , n for soils can be represented by the equation and known as Coulombs
law :

f = c + tan
where
c

= cohesion, which is due to internal forces holding soil particles together in a solid mass.

= friction, which is due to the interlocking of the particles and the friction between

them when subjected to normal stress.

= shearing resistance of soil at failure.

= total normal stress on failure plane

The friction components increase with increasing normal stress but the cohesion
components remains constant. If there is no normal stress the friction disappears. This
relationship shown in the graph below . This graph generally approximates to a straight line ,
its inclination to the horizontal axis being equal to the angle of shearing resistance of the soil,

and its intercept on the vertical (shear stress) axis being the apparent cohesion, denoted

by c.

c
normal stress,

EQUIPMENTS :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Shear box carriage


Loading pad
Perforated plate
Porous plate
Retaining plate
Grease

PROCEDURES :
1. Internal measurement is verify by using vernier calipers. The length
of the side , L and the overall depth, B
2. Base plate is fixed inside the shear box . Then porous plate is put
on the base plate. Perforated grid plate is fitted over porous so that
the grid plates should be at right angles to the direction shear.
3. Two halves of the shear box is fixed by means of fixing screws.
4. For cohesive soils, the soil sample is transfer from square specimen
cutter to the shear box by pressing down on the top grid plate. For
sandy soil, compact soil in layers to the required density in shear
box.
5. Mount the shear box assembly on the loading frame.
6. The dial is set of the proving ring to zero.
7. The loading yoke is placed on the loading pad and carefully lift the
hanger into the top of the loading yoke.
8. The correct loading is applied to the hanger pad.
9. Carefully the screws clamping the upper half is removed to the
lower half.
10.
The test is conducted by applying horizontal shear load to
failure .Rate strain should be 0.2mm/min
11.
Readings of horizontal is recorded and force dial gauges at
regular intervals.
12.
Conduct test on three identical soil samples under different
vertical compressive stresses , 1.75kg, 2.5kg and 3.2kg.

RESULT AND CALCULATION :


Specimen No. 1
Loading

: 1.75 kg

Length

: 60mm = 0.06m

Area

: 0.06m a 0.06m = 3.6 x 10 m

Displacement
Dial
L (mm)
gauge
(x10)
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.2

4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60
64

1.75 kg x 9.81 N x 1 kN = 0.017 Kn


1 kg
1000N

Proving ring
Dial
Load,
gauge
P(Kn)
(x 10)
14
25
34
41
44
50
55
59
63
65
67
69
70
70
70
70

2.9
5.1
6.9
8.4
9.0
10.2
11.2
12.0
12.9
13.3
13.7
14.1
14.3
14.3
14.3
14.3

Shear
stress
(KN/m)
(x 10)
8.1
14.2
19.2
23.3
25.0
28.0
31.1
33.3
35.8
36.9
38.1
39.2
39.7
39.7
39.7
39.7

Strain
(x 10)
6.7
13.3
20.0
26.7
33.3
40.0
46.7
53.3
60.0
66.7
73.3
80.0
86.7
93.3
100.0
106.7

Specimen No. 2
Loading

: 2.5 kg

Length

: 60mm = 0.06m

Area

: 0.06m a 0.06m = 3.6 x 10 m

Displacement
Dial
L (mm)
gauge
(x10)
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6

4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52

1.75 kg x 9.81 N x 1 kN = 0.025 Kn


1 kg
1000N

Proving ring
Dial
Load,
gauge
P(Kn)
(x 10)
20
32
28
60
71
82
92
97
100
102
102
102
102

4.1
6.5
5.7
12.2
14.5
16.7
18.8
19.8
20.4
20.8
20.8
20.8
20.8

Shear
stress
(KN/m)
(x 10)
11.4
18.1
26.0
33.9
40.3
46.4
52.2
55.0
56.7
57.8
57.8
57.8
57.8

Strain
(x 10)
6.7
13.3
20.0
26.7
33.3
40.0
46.7
53.3
60.0
66.7
73.3
80.0
86.7

Specimen No. 3
Loading

: 3.25 kg

Length

: 60mm = 0.06m

Area

: 0.06m a 0.06m = 3.6 x 10 m

Displacement
Dial
L (mm)
gauge
(x10)
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0

4
8
12
16
20
24
28
32
36
40
44
48
52
56
60

1.75 kg x 9.81 N x 1 kN = 0.032 Kn


1 kg
1000N

Proving ring
Dial
Load,
gauge
P(Kn)
(x 10)
28
47
64
88
102
115
121
127
134
135
137
138
138
138
138

5.7
9.6
13.1
17.9
20.8
23.5
24.7
25.9
27.3
27.5
27.9
28.2
28.2
28.2
28.2

Shear
stress
(KN/m)
(x 10)
15.8
26.7
36.4
49.7
57.8
65.3
68.6
71.9
75.8
76.4
77.5
78.3
78.3
78.3
78.3

Strain
(x 10)
6.7
13.3
20.0
26.7
33.3
40.0
46.7
53.3
60.0
66.7
73.3
80.0
86.7
93.3
100.0

CALCULATION :
1. Displacement
= dial gauge x 0.002
= 0.2 x 0.002
= 4 x 10 mm
2. Proving ring
= dial gauge
= 14 x 0.0020/1000
= 2.9 x 10 kN/m
3. Shear stress (0.2 mm dial gauge)
= Dial gauge x 0.00204/1000
Area
= 14(0.00204)/1000 Kn
0.06 m x 0.06 m
= 8.1 x 10 kN/m
4. Strain (0.2 mm dial gauge)
= displacement / total length
= 4 x 10 mm / 60 mm
= 6.7 x 10
5. Normal Stress, (kN/mm)
a) For 1.75kg load
= Load, P
Area , A
= 0.017 Kn
0.06 m x 0.06m
= 4.7 kN / m
b) For 2.5 kg load
= 0.025 Kn
0.06m x 0.06m
= 6.9 kN / m
c) For 3.25 kg load
= 0.032 kN
0.06m x 0.06 m
= 8.9 kN / m

6.
3.1 cm

4.4 cm
Tan = 3.1 / 4.4
= 35

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