Direct Simple Shear Software Manual

Direct Simple Shear
Software
User’s Manual
Copyright © 1982-2013
Control and Report Software for Fully

Automated Direct Simple Shear Tests on
ShearTrac-II DSS System
using Windows ® XP/Vista/7
www.geocomp.com | 125 Nagog Park | Acton, MA 01720 U.S.A.

SHEAR-DSS User's Manual © 2013 Geocomp Corp. 2
Table of Contents
GEOCOMP CORP. SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT .................. 5
LIMITED WARRANTY ....................................................... 7
SECTION 1: OVERVIEW .................................................... 8
SECTION 2: SHEARTRAC-II-DSS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ...... 10
2.1 ShearTrac-II-DSS System Hardware .......................................... 10

2.2 ShearTrac-II-DSS System Software ........................................... 11
SECTION 3: USE OF SHEAR-DSS ......................................... 13
3.1 SHEAR-DSS Installation (if not already installed) .......................... 13

3.1.1 System Requirements ...................................................... 13
3.1.2 Software Installation and Setup.......................................... 14
3.2 System Startup ................................................................... 14
3.3 Menu Bar .......................................................................... 15
3.3.1 File Menu ..................................................................... 15
3.3.2 View Menu ................................................................... 17
3.3.3 Run Menu ..................................................................... 19
3.3.4 Calibrate Menu .............................................................. 21
3.3.5 Control Menu ................................................................ 23
3.3.6 Report Menu ................................................................. 23
3.3.7 Options Menu ................................................................ 26
3.3.8 Help Menu .................................................................... 29
3.4 Property Sheet ................................................................... 29
3.4.1 Project Page ................................................................. 30
3.4.2 Specimen ..................................................................... 32
3.4.3 Water Content ............................................................... 33
3.4.4 Read Table ................................................................... 34
3.4.5 Test Parameters ............................................................ 35
Geocomp Corporation 125 Nagog Park Acton, MA 01720 Tel 978 635 0012 Fax 978 635 0266
3.4.6 Consolidation Table ........................................................ 35

3.4.7 Shear Table .................................................................. 38
SECTION 4: SHEAR CONTROL PROGRAM CHECK ..................... 39
4.1 ShearTrac-II-DSS Front Panel .................................................. 39

4.2 Vertical Control .................................................................. 39
4.3 Horizontal Control ............................................................... 40
SECTION 5: DEFINING TEST PARAMETERS ............................ 42
SECTION 6: RUNNING A TEST............................................ 44
6.1 Preparing a Specimen........................................................... 44

6.1.1 Undisturbed Sample ........................................................ 44
6.1.2 Compacted Sample ......................................................... 46
6.2 Starting a Test .................................................................... 46
6.3 Monitoring a Test ................................................................ 51
6.4 Modifying a Test ................................................................. 51
6.5 Ending a Test .................................................................... 52
6.6 Dismantling a Specimen Following a Completed Test .................... 53
6.7 Completing Data Entry on the Properties Sheet .......................... 54
6.6 Step-by-Step Procedure for Direct Simple Shear Test ................... 55
APPENDIX A: CALIBRATION ............................................. 57
A.1 Calibration Basic Principles.................................................... 57

A.2 Vertical and Horizontal Force Transducers ................................ 58
A.3 Vertical and Horizontal Displacement Transducers ...................... 61
A.4 Machine Compressibility Calibration......................................... 63
APPENDIX B. IMPORTING DATA INTO A SPREADSHEET............. 67
APPENDIX C. LIST OF GEOTECHNICAL SYMBOLS .................... 71
APPENDIX D. EQUATIONS FOR DATA REDUCTION .................. 74
APPENDIX E. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...................... 81
GEOCOMP CORP. SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

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SECTION 1: OVERVIEW
The ShearTrac-II DSS system is a universal shear system capable of performing the
consolidation and shear phases of a direct simple shear test under full automatic
control. This system is of the type developed at NGI in the mid 1960's. The DSS test
generates a fairly homogeneous state of shear stress throughout the specimen, which
provides initial stress condition, stress path, and deformation configuration that
models numerous field loading conditions more closely than any other test systems
such as triaxial. The system consists of a computer-controlled unit that utilizes micro-
stepper motors to apply the vertical and horizontal loads to the soil specimen.
The system is capable of running a consolidation phase for up to 32 increments

automatically. Horizontal shearing can be applied at a specified rate of deformation or
at a specified rate of horizontal force change, or at a specified set of force steps of a
specified duration. The soil specimen is confined inside a rubber membrane and
Teflon coated stacked rings. Ko consolidation condition is achieved by allowing
vertical deformation and preventing radial deformation. The constant volume
condition during the shear is maintained by adjusting the vertical load through a
closed loop computer control with the vertical displacement sensor as the feedback.
The resulting change in vertical stress corresponds to the excess pore pressure
measured in an undrained test.
The system is capable of displaying the current status of a test and graphically
portraying the progress of the test in real time. The system includes the capability for
the operator to alter the test process and conditions at any stage of the test.
The system comes complete with hardware and software for recording all test
input data and settings of selected test parameters, performing standard engineering
calculations on the data, and producing graphically plotted and printed output
according to the ASTM standard D 65287.
The ShearTrac-II-DSS system consists of a shear box for retaining the sample, two
loading mechanisms for horizontal and vertical load, sensors for measuring load and
displacement, two microprocessors for test control and data acquisition (one each for
vertical and horizontal motions), and IBM PC compatible software to define and
control the test conditions and reduce the test results.
The ShearTrac-II-DSS system for direct simple shear testing totally automates a
direct simple shear test that is performed on a soil sample. Once a sample is in place
and the test conditions selected, the SHEAR:DSS software will run the consolidation
phase of the test for up to 32 stress steps (load steps), then automatically switch to
the shear phase. During the consolidation phase, ShearTrac-II-DSS is capable of
applying a new stress step within one second, and of maintaining the vertical load at a
constant value while monitoring vertical displacement. Stress steps may increase and
decrease in any pattern by any amount as specified by the user. Once started, the
shear phase is run in one or more strain or stress controlled steps (up to 32 steps).
While the consolidation phase or the shear phase is running, test data are stored in a
file on the hard drive for subsequent reduction and plotting with the built-in editing
and reporting software.
Control of the ShearTrac-II-DSS is achieved through easy-to-use menus and

application pages. The software allows the user to define the conditions for running
the consolidation and shear phases of the test. For the consolidation phase, the user
can specify the values of vertical stress for each stress step and the criterion for
terminating each step. Furthermore, the user can choose what parameter (time,
strain, or displacement) is used for determining when data are collected and stored on
the hard drive. For the shear phase, the user can choose whether the shear is
controlled by the rate at which the displacement changes or the rate at which the
force changes, and specify the condition under which the shear phase will end. As for
the consolidation phase, the user can choose what parameter (time or displacement)
is used for determining when data are collected and stored on the hard drive.
Specific information for the sample can be entered for inclusion on the tabulated
and graphed results. Once a test has been defined, the test can be started with a
single keystroke. During the test, current data and status information can be displayed
on the monitor. Pressing a single key will produce a graph of displacement versus time
for the current step of the test, which can be terminated at any time by the user.
Subsequent step information can be modified at any time. This capability allows the
user to modify the test specifications based on results from early steps. (An example
of this would be selecting the correct shear strain rate based on consolidation data.)
Results can be written to a CD-ROM or memory stick at any time during the test, and
the file transferred to another compatible PC for reduction and plotting while the test
continues. This operation can also be done within the Windows environment on the
same computer.
The built-in editing and reporting program can be used to reduce, tabulate and
plot the test results in report-quality form. Plots can be produced on the computer
screen, or on any printer.
Standard test configurations can be saved to data files on the hard drive, and used
to define the parameters of a new test. This capability allows an operator familiar
with the ShearTrac-II-DSS to set up and start a test within one minute after the sample
has been prepared. Likewise, the reporting software is designed to allow total
automation of the process.
The ShearTrac-II-DSS requires no special skills to operate, other than those used in
conventional consolidation testing. A person familiar with consolidation testing can
learn to use the system confidently within a few hours. Experience with a computer
keyboard and the operation of Windows can reduce the learning time to an hour or
two.
SECTION 2: SHEARTRAC-II-DSS HARDWARE AND

SOFTWARE
2.1 ShearTrac-II-DSS System Hardware
The ShearTrac-II-DSS hardware consists of the following five parts:
ShearTrac Load Frame: Basic unit containing the components that generate
the forces (vertical and horizontal) on a sample, and the sensors that measure the
forces and displacements (vertical and horizontal) on a sample.
Shear Box: Container that holds the soil sample in proper alignment with the
load frame and maintains water around the sample. It includes the top cap and the
top and bottom stones.
Computer: Desktop computer with operating system, network card, hard drive,
CD-ROM drive and floppy drive.
Keyboard and mouse: Standard keyboard for entering test information and
controlling the ShearTrac-II-DSS system.
Monitor: Computer monitor.
The following picture shows the ShearTrac-II-DSS
ShearTrac-II System for Direct Simple Shear Testing
2.2 ShearTrac-II-DSS System Software

The system software not only controls the running of a test but also has built-in
editing/reporting capability. The control feature of the software runs the test,
collects test data, and stores the data in a file while the test is running. The
editing/reporting feature reads the data from the file, performs necessary calculations
and prepares the final tables and graphs of the test results for inclusion in a report.
The configuration for any test can be used to define the initial conditions of a
subsequent test. This capability allows an operator familiar with the software to set
up and start a test within a few minutes after the specimen has been prepared.
If you have purchased the system computer from GEOCOMP Corp., the software
package has already been installed and tested at the factory. It is also supplied on the
CD-ROM sent with your equipment to provide a backup of the software.
The software program can be run on any Windows-based computer. However, it

can be used to control the system hardware (for purposes of running a test) only on a
computer that has a system-interfacing card in it and that is running Windows 2000,
XP, 7, or Vista. The editing/reporting capability of the software will function on any
computer running any version of Microsoft Windows. A hard copy of the report can be
produced on any peripheral for which a driver has been installed on the computer
running the software program.
When the program is opened, the control window shown in the figure below will
appear on your computer screen. This window is composed of a menu bar at the top
and a Properties Sheet with various tabs. Each of the menus (File, View, Run, etc.)
can be displayed in the usual way of clicking on the menu label. These menus can also
be displayed using the standard Microsoft Windows hot keys (refer to your Microsoft
Windows manual for details). Each tab on the Properties Sheet (Project, Specimen,
Water Content, Read Table, etc.) specifies a Property Page, which can be displayed by
clicking on the tab.
Each time the software application is opened, all entry fields (those on the
windows opened using menu choices and those on each Property Page) will be blank.
The recommended way to get information into the fields is to load a template file or a
file from a previous test (see Section 3 for file loading instructions). The fields can
then be modified for a particular test by clicking on a field and typing in the
information. (See Section 3 for a description of the use of the various menu options
and each Property Page.)
SHEAR:DSS Control Window
SECTION 3: USE OF SHEAR-DSS
3.1 SHEAR-DSS Installation (if not already installed)

3.1.1 System Requirements
Before starting to use the system, please take a few minutes to read both this
manual and the Hardware User’s Manual (if you have not already done so) in order to
minimize problems that may arise during the use of the system. If the software has
not already been installed on your computer, you will need to read this section. Also,
look at the Readme.txt file (if available) on the CD-ROM disk before you install the
program This file can be viewed by locating it with Windows Explorer and then double
clicking on it.
*Note: This manual assumes a basic knowledge of computer operation and some
understanding of Microsoft Windows. If you do not have such knowledge and
understanding, it is recommended that you work with a person who has such
experience. Learning how to use the software will go much more rapidly.
Geocomp Software for Windows
Computer/Processor Dual core processor computer with available PCI slot

running one of the Operating Systems listed below.
Operating System Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (32-bit)
Windows 7 and Windows Vista (64 bit)
Note: Administrative rights are required to install and

update Geocomp control and reporting software.
RAM 2 GB
Monitor SVGA high-color 16 bit (32 bit recommended)

1024 x 768 screen resolution recommended.
100 MB
Hard Disk Space
CD-ROM Drive 2X CD-ROM drive
Internet Connection Direct Internet connection (high-speed connection

recommended) for e-mail and Skype technical support
Third-party Software Adobe Flash Player 7.0, Adobe Reader 5.0 and Microsoft
Excel if not already on your computer.
Printer Windows-compatible inkjet or laser printer
3.1.2 Software Installation and Setup
If a computer was purchased from Geocomp as a part of the system, the software
has already been installed on the hard drive of the computer. It is also supplied on a
CD as a backup.
If you will be using your own PC, then you can install the software program by
simply copying the files on the CD into a directory of your choice. There is no need to
run any installer. It is recommended that, after copying the files, you create a
shortcut to the application file and put that shortcut on the desktop of your computer.
3.2 System Startup

These instructions assume that your ShearTrac-II system has been installed
following the instructions in Appendix A of the ShearTrac-II User’s Manual, that the
SHEAR:DSS software has been installed, that you have become familiar with the
manual operation of ShearTrac-II by following instructions in Section 2 of the hardware
user’s manual, and that the system is ready for operation. Should you have any
difficulty with the operation instructions, consult Appendix B (Troubleshooting) of the
ShearTrac-II User’s Manual or contact Geocomp for assistance.
If your system has been powered down, turn on the system in the following order:
ShearTrac-II, monitor, and computer. When turning on the ShearTrac-II, a message on
both LCDs (Vertical and Horizontal) will prompt you to wait for the two CPUs on the
embedded control systems to boot up. The boot process will take only a few seconds.
Alternately, if you are using a power strip with a switch, you may use that switch as a
main switch to power the entire system on and off.
When the power is turned on, check that the Network LEDs on the front panel of
the ShearTrac-II load frame first alternates color between red and green, then stay
green. The green motor power and CPU power LEDs must be on for the unit to
function properly. Refer to the Troubleshooting section in your User’s Manual if you
notice otherwise.
3.3 Menu Bar
Menu Bar
The Menu Bar shown in the figure above contains several menu names. The
operation of the system can be controlled with the options chosen from these menus.
Each of these menus has a pull-down list of options.
3.3.1 File Menu
File Menu
The File Menu allows you to transfer parameters and data that are associated with
a test from one location to another. The options shown in the figure above are listed
and described below.
Load will move a copy of a test file (that has been saved) into the program. If you
often perform tests with the same test parameters, you can use Load to move these
parameters into the pages of the Properties Sheet and windows opened with menu
options thus avoiding having to type them each time. Note that Load will read only
files that have been saved by the program.
*Note: It is highly recommended that you use the Load option to load a
template test file or a previously run test before running a new test. This will
allow you to speed up the data entry process, as a lot of information
(calibration, hardware set-up, etc.) does not change often. This also will allow
you to avoid any potential data entry errors.
Save will copy all information and data currently in the program into the file on
your hard drive that has the path and name showing at the top of the control
window. All information already in that file will be overwritten. (If no file has been
loaded into a just-opened program, the first time you click Save after you type
information into the Properties Sheet of the program, the Save As window will appear
and you will need to name the file that is to contain this information.) The information
and data remain in the program. Information and data are written to the file in binary
form and can be read only by the program. The binary format is the most efficient
way to store the test data.
*WARNING: Do NOT execute the Save command at the completion of a test

(unless Load is executed first) or the test data will be lost. As the test is
running, data are stored directly in the file on the hard drive and not in the
computer memory. Information in the program exists in the computer
memory. As stated above, the Save command replaces information in the hard
drive file with what is in memory.
*Note: To bring data accumulated on the hard drive into the computer memory
at the completion of a test (or any time while the test is running), bring down
the File menu and click Load. After you have done this, it is safe to click Save.
Save As allows you to make a copy of the current test file with a different name or
in a different location. This option is useful for making a copy of the file on a memory
stick, an external hard drive or CD/DVD media so that the file can be used to create a
report using a different computer.
*WARNING: As indicated in the WARNING associated with the Save command,

data acquired during a test will not be saved in the newly named file if you
execute the Save As command at the end of a test without first executing the
Load command.
Dump opens a menu that contains two options (Device and Engineering) for writing
all the raw test data to a file (with the extension .dmp) in ASCII code so that a
program such as Notepad or Excel can display them in columns. The Device option will
write the data in counts; the Engineering option will write the data in engineering
units (See Appendix B for details.) They can then be edited and/or used for creating a
report. The Dump option writes only the test data; the specimen dimensions and test
information will not be written to the file.
Exit allows you to close the control program. Clicking Exit is the same as clicking
the close button in the upper right-hand corner of the program window.
*WARNING: Closing the program will not automatically save information that has
been changed on the Properties Sheet or certain menu-option window, nor will
it generate a prompt asking if you wish to save the changes. Any new
information added to the program since the last save will be lost. Always
perform a Save or Save As before closing the program. If you will be closing the
program at the end of a test, be sure to heed the WARNINGs given above for
the Save and Save As command.
3.3.2 View Menu
View Menu
The View menu allows you to select how you wish to display data associated with a
current test. The options shown in the figure above are listed and described below.
System opens the System Monitor window (see figure below) that displays the
current status of the system elements. The readings of the sensors (in both counts
and the engineering units selected for the test) are shown at the top. The status of
both the vertical motor and the horizontal motor, the status of the limit switches
(upper and lower), and the step motor count (pulse count) for both motors are shown.
This window is updated every second.
System Monitor window
Channel opens a menu that contains four options (Vertical Load, Vertical
Displacement, Horizontal Load and Horizontal Displacement) for opening monitor
windows. All four windows can be opened at once so that you can view the output of
the four sensors during a test. The options are listed and described below.
*CAUTION: Each of the four monitor windows displays real-time information

starting at the time the window is opened. If a window is closed and opened
again, the previous display will be lost. If you want to use the windows to
monitor an entire phase, open the windows as soon as possible after the phase
begins and leave them open.
Vertical Load opens the Vertical Load Channel Monitor window (see figure below)
that displays a real-time graph of the vertical load cell output versus time. This
window is updated every second.
Vertical Load Channel Monitor Window
Vertical Displacement opens the Vertical Displacement Channel Monitor window

(see figure below) that displays a real-time graph of the vertical displacement sensor
output versus time. This window is updated every second.
Vertical Displacement Channel Monitor Window
Horizontal Load opens the Horizontal Load Channel Monitor window that displays a
real-time graph of the Horizontal load cell output versus time. The graph is similar to
that shown on the Vertical Load Channel Monitor window. This window is updated
every second.
Horizontal Displacement opens the Horizontal Displacement Channel Monitor

window that displays a real-time graph of the Horizontal displacement sensor output
versus time. The graph is similar to that shown on the Vertical Displacement Channel
Monitor window. This window is updated every second.
*Note: The following windows (Test Monitor, Test Graph and Test T100) can be
opened only when a test is running; when no test is running, the options used
to open them will appear in gray on the View menu.
Test Monitor opens the Test Monitor window that displays the current status of the
test. The information on the window will be relevant to the test phase that is
running. This window is displayed in real time and updated every second.
Test Graph opens the Test Graph window that shows four graphs. The information
plotted on the graphs will be relevant to the test phase that is running. The graphs
are displayed in real time and automatically updated every second.
Test T100, for the currently running consolidation step, opens a window that
shows a graph of the vertical displacement versus the square root of time and the
graphical construction used to locate the T100 time (see figure below). This graph is
displayed during the consolidation phase only.
Test T100 Window
The graph is displayed in real time and automatically updated every second.
3.3.3 Run Menu
Run Menu
The Run menu contains control options needed to run a test. The options shown in
the figure above are listed and described below.
*CAUTION: The LCD menus on the hardware units must not be showing the Jog
option when a test is running. Be sure that there is some other display on the
screens (preferably the system monitor) when you start a test. Do not go to
the Jog option while a test is running.
Start starts a test. This option assumes that all the conditions for running a test
have already been set by entering information into the Property Pages of the
Properties Sheet. When this selection is made, you will be prompted to take several
actions related to the beginning of the test and then the test will begin.
Next Step is used to stop the current step in a test phase and move to the next
step. You can use this option should you determine that a step in a particular phase
has been completed before the program would end it. If Next Step is selected during
the last step of the test phase, the program will move to the next test phase. If Next
Step is selected during the last step of the last test phase, the test will be ended.
Next Phase is used to end the current test phase and proceed to the next phase
(skipping any steps that may be left in the phase being ended). If you select this
option, the program will automatically save the data for the phase that is being
ended.
*CAUTION: Use Next Phase only if you have determined that any steps left in a
phase are not needed (remember that all remaining steps will be skipped). To
avoid inadvertently skipping steps, we recommend that you use Next Step
instead of Next Phase (sequentially going quickly through any steps that
remain) when you want to move to the next phase.
Abort will completely stop the test. When you select this option, you are asked to
verify that you wish to abort the test. A No answer will ignore the Abort request and
continue with the test. A Yes answer will stop the test.
Restart allows you to restart a test that has been interrupted by a power loss or
other problem. After choosing the Restart option, you are asked for the file name of
the test. Choose the filename you assigned at the start of the test that is to be
restarted. This option assumes that the motors and all conditions of the phase that
was interrupted are the same as when the test stopped. The test will be
automatically restarted and the new data will be appended to the existing data
file. You may have to manually terminate the first increment after a restart since the
time-compression data will have been affected.
3.3.4 Calibrate Menu
Calibrate Menu
The Calibrate menu provides options for calibrating the transducers of the
system. A summary of the calibration information can be viewed by way of this
menu. The options shown in the figure above are listed and described below.
Summary opens a window (see figure below) on which you can view the current
calibration results including the Calibration Factor and Offset for each sensor (see
Appendix A for details). Clicking the pull-down tab at the right of the Channel text
field displays a list of sensors from which you can choose the one you want. The Date
of the calibration is also shown for the sensor selected.
*WARNING: Use great care in altering the calibration factors and

offsets. Incorrect values will cause the system to apply the wrong
forces. Equipment damage is possible.
Clicking the Apply or Ok button on this window results in the application of the
calibration parameters to the data acquired by the sensor shown in the Channel text
field.
Clicking the Download button transfers the calibration parameters to the

appropriate embedded controller of the hardware unit. (See Appendix A for details.)
*Note: The parameters shown on the Calibration Summary window are used by
the program when it runs a test. However, it is important to download the
parameters to the hardware unit embedded controllers after a calibration so
that the most recent values are there as well.
Calibration Summary Window
Vertical Load opens a window that is used to calibrate the vertical load cell. (See
Appendix A for details). You will need an independent means to accurately measure
the force on the load cell to use this option. Clicking the Save button on this window
saves the calibration data to the memory of your computer so that the calibration
parameters will appear on the Calibration Summary window.
Vertical Displacement opens a window that is used to calibrate the vertical

displacement transducer. (See Appendix A for details). You will need a set of
standardized gauge blocks to use this option. Clicking the Save button on this window
Horizontal Load opens a window that is used to calibrate the horizontal load cell.
(See Appendix A for details). You will need an independent means to accurately
measure the force on the load cell to use this option. Clicking the Save button on this
window saves the calibration data to the memory of your computer so that the
calibration parameters will appear on the Calibration Summary window.
Horizontal Displacement opens a window that is used to calibrate the horizontal

displacement transducer. (See Appendix A for details). You will need a set of
standardized gauge blocks to use this option. Clicking the Save button on this window
Machine opens a window that is used to calibrate the compensation needed for the
compressibility of the ShearTrac-II load frame during a test. (See Appendix A for
details).
3.3.5 Control Menu
Control Menu
The Control menu provides options for applying a chosen load. The options shown
in the figure above are described below.
Vertical Load Control Window
Clicking on Vertical Load or Horizontal Load opens a window on which you can
specify a load that you want the system to attain and hold. The figure below shows
the Vertical Load Control window. You can enter the value for the load either in
counts (left box) or in the units chosen through the Options menu (right box). SHEAR
automatically converts whichever form of number you enter to the other. After typing
in the value, click the Go button. If the value you have entered is greater than or less
than that displayed in the System Monitor window (opened by selecting System from
the View menu), adjustments will be made by the system until the specified load is
attained. Clicking the Stop button will stop the adjustments before the specified load
is attained.
3.3.6 Report Menu
Report Menu
The Report menu has options that allow you to produce and print a report for the
consolidation and shear phase results in both graphical form and tabular form. You
can also choose the settings for the graphs included in the graphical report. The
Report menu also provides an option for editing the data which will be used in the
report. The options shown in the figure above are listed and described below.
Graph contains two options: one for the Consolidation phase and another for the
Shear phase. (See Note below for printing instructions.)
Consolidation opens a window that displays the consolidation phase test results in
graphical form using one page for each step in the consolidation phase. The pages can
be displayed sequentially by clicking the View button at the upper left of the window
and then clicking Next Page or Previous Page. (Alternatively the keyboard PgDn and
PgUp keys can be used to scroll through the pages.)
The page for each step contains two graphs of vertical displacement vs. time; the
top graph uses a logarithmic time scale, the bottom graph uses the square root of time
for the horizontal axis. (See the description of the Settings option for choosing scales
for the axes.)
Shear opens a window that presents the shear phase test results in graphical form
using three separate page layouts. The pages can be viewed sequentially by clicking
the View button at the upper left of the window and then clicking Next Page or
Previous Page. (Alternatively, the keyboard PgDn and PgUp keys can be used to scroll
through the pages.)
The first page shows a three graphs, plotting shear stress, axial strain, and excess
pressure vs. shear strain. The second page shows the result shear stress vs. normal
stress. The third page shows the result of the shear modulus vs. shear strain.
Table contains two options: one for the Consolidation phase and another for the
Shear phase. (See Note below for printing instructions.)
Consolidation opens a window that displays the consolidation phase test results in
tabular form using one page for each step in the consolidation phase. The pages can
be viewed sequentially by clicking the View button at the upper left of the window
and then clicking Next Page or Previous Page. (Alternatively the keyboard PgDn and
PgUp keys can be used to scroll through the pages.)
Shear opens a window that displays the shear phase test results in tabular form
using one page for each step in the shear phase. The pages can be viewed
sequentially by clicking the View button at the upper left of the window and then
clicking Next Page or Previous Page. (Alternatively the keyboard PgDn and PgUp keys
can be used to scroll through the pages.)
*Note: To print all or a portion of a report (either in graphical or tabular form),

click the View button at the upper left of the window that is used to display the
pages of the report (see descriptions above). Select Print to open the Print dialog
window which allows the choices of printing the entire report, selecting a range of
pages, or printing the page being displayed.
Settings opens the Report Settings window that is used to configure the graphical
report. It contains four pages (each selected by clicking on a tab) labeled
Consolidation, Shear Strain, Shear Stress, and Shear Modulus.
The Consolidation page allows you to choose the minimum and maximum values to
be displayed on the graphs for log time, square root of time, and vertical
displacement.
The Shear Strain page allows you to choose the minimum and maximum values to
be displayed on the graphs forshear strain, shear stress, axial strain, and excess
pressure.
The Shear Stress page allows you to choose the minimum and maximum values to
be displayed on the graphs for normal stress and shear stress.
The Shear Modulus page allows you to choose the minimum and maximum values
to be displayed on the graphs for shear strain and shear modulus.
Edit opens the SHEAR Data window (see figure below) that displays the raw data
accumulated during a step of a test.
Shear Data Window
The top bar of the window specifies the phase, and the particular step within it,
that is being displayed. The data for other phases and steps can be displayed by
clicking on the Next and Previous buttons at the right of the window.
For purposes of the report, the data can be edited (deleted or changed) in the
event that a bad data point or section of data is identified. To have changes made on
the Shear Data window result in changes in values shown on the report table pages
(opened using the Table option in the Report menu) the Apply button must be clicked.
(Note that if the report table is open when changes are made, the changes will not be
reflected in the report table until that window is closed and re-opened.)
*Note: An entire row can be deleted or inserted using the procedure described
in Section 3.4.4 for rows in the Read Table.
Changing the raw data values on the Shear Data window will not change the values
in the file on the computer hard drive. To save the changes on the hard drive, click
Save (or Save as) in the File menu.
*Note: We recommend that you use Save as when making changes to the raw
data so that the original data will not be lost.
*Note: The optional SHEAR:REPORT software allows you to load up to four files
containing data for tests run on samples of the same soil. The Graph option will
then show a three-graph summary of all the tests. The Table option will allow
you to view the direct shear test data for each test.
3.3.7 Options Menu
Options Menu
By using the Options menu you can specify the units, make changes to the
hardware settings, and enter load control parameters for the test. The choices shown
in the figure above are listed and described below.
Units opens the Units window (see the figure below) which allows you to select the
system of units that will be used for a test. You can click a button on the Units
window to select Metric or English units for all of the quantities (length, area, mass,
time, force, stress, and unit weight), or you can use a pull-down button to the right of
each text field to configure mixed units. The units may be changed at any time
during a test by returning to the Units window, making the change and clicking OK.
*Note: The default unit for time on the Read table and the test monitoring
windows opened from the View menu is min for either the Metric or English
choice. If you want the unit to be sec, use the Time pull-down button and
select seconds.
Units window
Hardware Setup window
Hardware opens the Hardware Setup window shown in the figure above that is
used to specify the ID for each motor (referred to as Node ID) of the unit(s), and to
specify various parameters that determine how the hardware unit functions.
Node ID is the number that identifies the hardware unit so that the software
program can exchange signals with the correct unit. The Node ID is stored in the
embedded controller of the hardware unit(s) as part of the setup prior to shipping the
system and should not be changed unless more than one unit is to be controlled by one
computer.
Step Multiplier is used to set the distance that the loading mechanism will travel
in one step of the motor. The default value for each (horizontal and vertical) Step
Multiplier (SM) is determined at the factory, hard coded into the controller of the
ShearTrac-II unit and included in the template file shipped with the SHEAR:DSS
software. The values shown in the Hardware Setup window can be edited and will
override the hard coded values when a test is being run by the SHEAR:DSS program and
can be edited. However, the default values depend on the physical characteristics of
the load frame and should not be changed.
To calculate a travel increment, Δd, from a step increment, Δsteps, use the
equation ∆d = ( SM ) × (∆steps ) . (Motor steps can be viewed using Notepad to open a
file that has been dumped. See Section 3.3.1 and Appendix B for details.)
Control Loop Period is the time value in milliseconds for the closed loop control
that is used during the application of a load. The default value is 250 msec and
should not be changed.
After making changes, click the Apply button if you want the window to remain
open after the changes have taken effect. Otherwise click Ok. The changes will take
effect and the window will close.
PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) pulls down the PID settings window and
depending on the application you are running, is used for entering load and/or
pressure control parameters.
*CAUTION: The Derivative Gain, Integral Limit and Velocity Limit values should
not be changed.
Load PID Settings Window
The Proportional Gain affects how rapidly the target stress and/or pressure value
is reached at the beginning of a step in the test phase (faster for higher value). It may
be helpful to increase the Proportional Gain (maximum of 5) for very soft soils or
reduce it (minimum of 0.5) for very stiff soils.
The Integral Gain also affects how rapidly the target stress and/or pressure is
reached, but in a somewhat different way. If the Integral gain is too high, the load
and/or pressure may approach the target too abruptly and cause the specimen sleeve
to rupture. If the specimen you are testing is very stiff, it may be helpful to reduce
the Integral gain value to 0.1.
*Note: We recommend that you consult with Geocomp personnel before making
any changes to the PID settings.
If a change needs to be made, click the Apply button after making the change if you
want the window to remain open after the change has taken effect. Otherwise click
OK. The change will take effect and the window will close.
3.3.8 Help Menu
Help Menu
The Help menu shown in the figure above gives you access to a wide range of
topics for which help is available. When you click either Contents or Search, a
window is opened that can be used to either show a list of topics or search for a
topic. In addition, help is available from any point in the program. A help message
will be displayed for the item on which your cursor is positioned when you press the F1
key.
3.4 Property Sheet
Properties Sheets
The Properties Sheet is used to enter general information about the test, the
physical characteristics of the specimen, and the parameters which are used for the
test. The Properties Sheet is composed of several Property Pages, each designated by
a labeled tab (shown in the figure above).
Information is entered on a Property Page by clicking on a text field and typing the
information. The keyboard tab key can be used to move the cursor sequentially from
one text field to the next on each Property Page. Each of the Property Pages is
described below.
*CAUTION: After making changes on Property Pages, be sure to bring down the
File menu and click Save (or Save As). Unless a test is running when the
changes are made, the changes will not take effect until the save command is
used. If a test is running, the changes will take effect at the beginning of the
next step.
*CAUTION:When entering (or changing) a value on a Properties Sheet page that

has a table, it is necessary to move the cursor to another cell of the table
before clicking Save in the File menu. If this is not done, the entry will not be
saved.
3.4.1 Project Page
Project Page
The Project page (shown in the figure above) is used to enter general information
concerning the project and the specimen to be tested. A test does not use any of the
information entered on this page, so entries are completely at your discretion. The
information will, however, appear on every report page (at the bottom for the
graphical presentation, at the top for the tabular presentation). The entries from the
Project page are listed and described below:
Project Number: Input to define the number of the project. This will be included
in the output report.
Project Name: Input to define the name of the project. This will be included in
the output report.
Location: Input to define the location of the project. This will be included in the
output report.
Date of Test: Input to define the date of the test. This will be included in the
output report.
Tester: Input to define the person in charge of running the test. Enter either
initials, full name, or ID of the person.
Checker: Input to define the person checking the test parameters and results.
Enter either initials, full name, or ID of the person.
Boring Number: Input to help define the boring number (i.e. "B-1"). This will be
included in the output report.
Test Number: Input to help define the test number (i.e. "Test-1"). This will be
Sample Number: Input to define sample numbers (i.e. "S-1"). This will be
Depth: Input to define the depth of the sample. This will be included in the
output report.
Elevation: Input to define the elevation of the sample. This will be included in
the output report.
Sample Type: Input to describe the sample type (i.e. Shelby tube, re-compacted,
block, jar, bulk, etc).
Description: Input to describe the tested sample. This is a visual description of

the soil sample being tested. It can be later edited if index tests (i.e. Atterberg
limits, grain size distribution, etc) are run on the soil sample or trimmings after
completion of the test. This information will be included in the output report.
Remarks: Input to describe test parameters, any deviations from standard

methods, or quality of sample (i.e. degree of disturbance). This information will be
3.4.2 Specimen
Specimen Page
The Specimen page (shown in the figure above) is used to enter the physical
parameters that describe the specimen to be tested. The Initial Diameter is used by
the program to determine the applied stress during consolidation and so needs to be
an accurate value. The other parameters are used in the data reduction and reporting
feature. (See 6 for details.) The entries from the Specimen page are listed and
described below.
*Note: For the data reduction results to be correct, it is very important that
you enter accurate measurements for the specimen. Be sure to measure the
diameter, height and weight carefully. Distance measurements should be made
to the nearest 0.1 mm (0.004 in) and weight measurements should be made to
the nearest 0.01 gm.
Initial Diameter: Input for the initial diameter of the specimen in the units
indicated. This value is important for computing the correct stress on the sample as
well as weight-volume phase relationships (density, unit weight, void ratio, degree of
saturation, etc). If you input a diameter different than the actual value, the stress
applied to the specimen will be different than the indicated value.
Initial Height: Input for the initial height of the specimen in the units indicated.
This value is important for computing vertical strain of the sample as well as weight-
volume phase relationships (i.e. density, unit weight, void ratio, degree of saturation,
etc).
Initial Sample Weight: Input for the initial sample weight of the specimen in the
units indicated. This value is not required to run the test. However, it is required for
the final report to compute the weight volume phase relationships.
Specific Gravity: From the dropdown menu, the type of Specific Gravity is used to
specify the method for determining the specific gravity value entered for this test.
The dialog box on the right is used to input the value of specific gravity of the
specimen. This value is not required to run the test. However, it is required for the
final report to compute weight-volume phase relationships (i.e. density, unit weight,
void ratio, degree of saturation, etc). The specific gravity of the majority of soil
particles ranges between 2.6 and 2.8. Soils with high organic content will have lower
values. The value commonly used for the specific gravity of soils is 2.7.
Plasticity: Plasticity is generally determined in index testing of the soil. The

software allows you to choose from 3 options for the plasticity:
1. Plastic: Selected for plastic samples being tested.
2. Non-plastic: Select for nonplastic samples being tested.
3. Unknown: Select for samples of unknown plasticity being tested
Liquid Limit: Input to specify the liquid limit of the specimen. This information is
not required to run the test. If specified, the values are printed and plotted in the
report output.
Plastic Limit: Input to specify the plastic limit of the specimen. This information
is not required to run the test. If specified, the values are printed and plotted in the
report output.
3.4.3 Water Content
Water Content Page
The Water Content page (shown in the figure above) is used to enter data related
to specimen water content before the test and after the test. The water content
information is not used to control the test. However, it is used in the data reduction
and reporting feature of the program.
*Note: For the data reduction results to be correct, it is very important that
you enter accurate measurements for the trimmings and specimen. Be sure to
measure the weights carefully to the nearest 0.01 gm.
The entries from the Water Content page are listed and described below.
Trimming Tare ID: Input information to identify container used for water content
determination.
Trimmings Tare Weight: Input weight of container used for water content
determination in the units specified.
Trimmings Wet Weight: Input weight of we soil and container in the units
specified.
Trimmings Dry Weight: Input weight of dry soil and container in the units
specified.
Specimen Tare ID: Input information to identify the specimen. Any combination
of letters and numbers is acceptable.
Specimen Tare Weight: Input weight of container used for the specimen in the
units specified.
Specimen Wet Weight: Input wet weight of the specimen in the units specified.
3.4.4 Read Table
The Read Table page (shown in the figure above) is used to control when sensor
output values are read and stored during a test.
The desired control parameter is selected in the Read Table column of the test
phase pages. Data will be read when the specified value in the selected column is
reached. If only a few values are put into a column, the program will continue to read
at higher incremental values based on the difference between the last two values
entered. For example, if the values of 0.2, 0.5, 1 are entered in the Time column,
data will be read at 0.22 min, 0.5 min, 1.0 min, 1.5 min, 2.0 min, etc. If the values of
0.5, 1.0, 2.0 are entered, data will be read at .5 min, 1.0 min, 2.0 min, 3.0 min, 4.0
min, etc.
To delete or insert a row, right click on the number (far left column) for the row to
be deleted or inserted. A window showing the two options will open. (The figure
below shows the window that opens when you right click.) Left clicking Delete will
delete that row. Left clicking Insert will insert a copy of that row. After the change
has been made, all rows following the chosen row will be renumbered.
Delete or Insert a Row
*Note: To change the time unit to sec, select Units from the Options menu. Use
the Time pull-down button for the Time text field and select seconds.
3.4.5 Test Parameters
Test Parameters Page
The Test Parameters page (shown in the figure above) is used to choose the Start
Phase (Consolidation or Shear) for the test.
3.4.6 Consolidation Table
Consolidation Table Page
The Consolidation Table page (shown in the figure above) is used to enter
parameters that control how the consolidation phase of the test will run. Each row
represents one stress step (load step) in the consolidation phase. The columns of
entry fields are listed and described below.
Stress specifies the target vertical stress you wish to apply in each step. Any value
may be entered. If you enter a value that is larger than the load cell can apply, you
will receive a warning when the load cell reaches its capacity. You may load, unload
and reload in any manner you wish; you do not have to maintain a constant load
increment ratio.
Step Type specifies the condition that the software maintains during the step.
The default condition for the SHEAR program is Constant Load, and should not be
changed.
Maximum Duration specifies the maximum period of time during which the stress
step will continue.
Minimum Duration specifies the minimum period of time during which the stress
step will continue.
Recommended values for maximum and minimum durations are shown in the
following table.
Recommended Duration Settings for the Consolidation Phase
Soil Type Recommended Max. Duration Recommended Min. Duration
Sandy Silt 1440 min (24 hr) 30 min

Silty Clay 1440 min (24 hr) 60 min
Plastic Clay 1440 min (24 hr) 120 min
T100 Offset determines how long a step will last after either the T100 time or the
Minimum Duration time (whichever is longer) has been reached (unless the Maximum
Duration time is reached before the end of the combination of times).
*Note: This value needs to be entered only when you want a step in the test to
go to the secondary consolidation. If you need the rate of secondary
consolidation, C, then the T100 Offset value should be at least 10 times the
T100 time so that the program will have time to calculate a good value for the
slope of the secondary consolidation curve/line.
Read Table contains the parameter (time, strain, or displacement) chosen to

control the condition under which data for the consolidation phase are read and
stored. (See the description of the Read Table, Section 3.4.4, for details.) The choice
is made by clicking the drop-down button at the right of the column and choosing the
desired parameter.
To delete or insert a step, right click on the number (far left column) for the step
to be deleted or inserted. A window showing the two options will open. (The figure
below shows the window that opens when step 2 is clicked.) Left clicking Delete will
delete that step. Left clicking Insert will insert a copy of that step. After the change
has been made, all rows following the chosen step will be renumbered.
Delete or Insert a Step
The consolidation phase can be skipped by entering zero values into the Stress
column or by choosing Shear as the beginning phase on the Test Parameters page (see
Section 3.4.5).
3.4.7 Shear Table
The Shear Table page (shown in the figures below) are used to enter parameters
for how the shear phase of the test will be run.
Shear Table Page
The Shear Table page controls the behavior of the Shear phase. Each row in the
Shear Table represents a one-direction shear step. A typical direct shear test has one
step, while a residual shear test can have a maximum of 32 steps that correspond to a
maximum of 16 cycles. The six columns of entry fields are listed and described below.
Delay is the time delay between the consolidation phase and the shear phase.
Shear Control and Rate combine to determine the way the stress changes during a
load step. The two possibilities for Shear Control are Displacement and Force. If
Displacement is used, the value for rate is interpreted as the horizontal displacement
rate, in the units that have been selected (mm per min in figures above). Positive or
negative values can be used. If Force is used, the value for rate is interpreted as the
rate at which the horizontal stress changes, in the units that have been selected (N
per min in the figures shown above).
Maximum Displacement sets the maximum horizontal displacement for the stress
step. That is, the step will stop when the horizontal displacement, as determined by
the horizontal displacement transducer, equals the maximum displacement set in the
Shear Table.
Maximum Force sets the maximum horizontal force for the stress step. That is,
the step will stop when the horizontal force, as determined by the horizontal load
cell, equals the maximum force set in the Shear Table.
Read Table contains the parameter (time or displacement) chosen to control the
condition under which data for the shear phase are read and stored. The choice is
made by clicking the drop-down button at the right of the column and choosing the
desired parameter.
SECTION 4: SHEAR CONTROL PROGRAM CHECK

*Note: This section of instructions should be followed any time the system has
been turned off, any component has been disconnected and reconnected, or a
new user wishes to become familiar with operation of the system. The steps
for vertical control should be performed with nothing in the water bath box
and the steps for horizontal control should be performed after removing all
objects that could impede the motion of the water bath box. The following
steps assume that the system has been set up according to the instructions
provided in the ShearTrac-II User’s Manual.
4.1 ShearTrac-II-DSS Front Panel

Before trying to use the SHEAR program to control the ShearTrac-II loading
mechanisms, examine the front panel of the load frame. The power lights for both
the motor and the CPU should be on. Both network lights should be glowing green. All
four limit switch lights and all four motor motion lights should be off. If the lights are
different, stop. Refer to the Troubleshooting section of your ShearTrac-II User’s
Manual. If you cannot correct the problem after reading the Troubleshooting section,
call Geocomp Corp. for assistance.
4.2 Vertical Control

If not already done, open the SHEAR:DSS control program and load a template file.
Bring down the View menu and click System to open the System Monitor window.
Next, click Vertical Load in the Control menu to open the Vertical Load Control
window. Position the windows so that they are beside one another. (You can position
a window by clicking and holding on the top bar of the window and sliding the window
to the position you want.) The Vertical Load reading on the System Monitor window
should be about 35000 counts.
Be certain there is nothing in the water bath box. If the crossbar has been swung
to one side, swing it into position so that the vertical threaded rod slides into the
crossbar groove. Click anywhere on the Vertical Load Control window to activate it (if
it is not already the active window). Enter a load value greater than that shown for
Vertical Load on the System Monitor window. Click the Go button. You should hear a
slight sound from ShearTrac-II, and see the green Motor Down LED come on and the
cross bar move down. Click the Stop button to stop the downward movement. Again,
click the Go button but this time let the motion continue. It should stop automatically
when the lower limit switch is triggered. The Lower Limit LED will flash on and off.
The loading mechanism has now reached its lowest position.
On the Load Control window, enter a load value less than that shown for Vertical
Load on the System Monitor window. Click the Go button. You should hear a slight
sound from the load frame, and see the green Motor Up LED come on and the crossbar
move up. Click the Stop button to stop the cross bar. Again, click the Go button but
this time let the motion continue. It should stop automatically when the upper limit
switch is triggered. The Upper Limit LED will flash on and off. The loading mechanism
has now reached its highest position.
Close the Vertical Load Control window.
While observing the top reading in the System Monitor window (Vertical Load), use
your hand to push up/pull down on the vertical load cell. The reading should
increase/decrease by a small amount (a few counts).
While observing the Vertical (displacement) reading in the System Monitor window,
use your hand to move the shaft in the vertical displacement transducer. The reading
should change significantly as you move the shaft.
4.3 Horizontal Control

If not already done, open the SHEAR:DSS control program and load a template file.
Bring down the View menu and click System to open the System Monitor window.
Next, click Horizontal Load in the Control menu to open the Horizontal Load Control
window. Position the windows so that they are beside one another. The Load reading
on the System Monitor window should be about 35000 counts.
Be certain that there is nothing in the water bath box that could bump into the
shear box piston that comes into the box from the right. Be certain there is nothing to
the right or left of the box that might impede its motion. Click anywhere on the Load
Control window to activate it (if it is not already the active window). Enter a load
value greater than that shown for Horizontal Load on the System Monitor window.
Click the Go button. You should hear a slight sound from ShearTrac-II, and see the
green Motor Right LED come on and the water bath box move to the right. Click the
Stop button to stop the movement to the right. Again, click the Go button but this
time let the motion continue. It should stop automatically when the right-hand limit
switch is triggered. The Right Limit LED will flash on and off. The water bath box has
now reached its farthest right position.
On the Horizontal Load Control window, enter a load value less than that shown for
Horizontal Load on the System Monitor window. Click the Go button. You should hear
a slight sound from ShearTrac-II, and see the green Motor Left LED come on and the
water bath box move to the left. Click the Stop button to stop the movement to the
left. Again, click the Go button but this time let the motion continue. It should stop
automatically when the left-hand limit switch is triggered. The Left Limit LED will
flash on and off. The water bath box has now reached its farthest left position.
Close the Horizontal Load Control window.
While observing the Horizontal Load reading, use your hand to exert a force to the
right/left on the shear box piston that is attached to the horizontal load cell. The
reading should increase/decrease by a small amount (a few counts).
While observing the Horizontal displacement reading in the System Monitor

window, use your hand to move the shaft in the horizontal displacement transducer.
The reading should change significantly as you move the shaft.
SECTION 5: DEFINING TEST PARAMETERS

The description for defining test conditions assumes that you are familiar with the
various menus and Property Pages in SHEAR:DSS. If you do not have this familiarity,
you should read through Sections 3.3.
SHEAR is shipped with a template file (dss.temp.dat) that contains a set of default
parameters. When you open SHEAR:DSS the first time, load this template file into the
program (see Load in Section 3.3.1). If sensors were included in the ShearTrac-II
system that you purchased from Geocomp, the sensors were calibrated at Geocomp’s
factory and the template file contains the correct calibration factors. If you have
supplied your own sensors, you will need to calibrate the sensors so that the template
file will have the calibration factors. (See Appendix A for the calibration procedure.)
The sensors should be calibrated periodically as tests are run.
Before starting your first test, you will need to enter additional information to
control how the test will run and how the data will be processed. Most tests are
performed with nearly identical test information. Consequently, sequential tests can
be performed by making small changes to the test parameters after a test is
completed. If you have closed the SHEAR:DSS program (after saving the test file) and
then opened it again, you can load a previous test file, make minor changes and run
the next test.
Before running a test, correct values for at least the following information must be
entered into the SHEAR:DSS program:
Calibration factors and offsets (on the Calibration Summary window opened
using the Calibration menu)
Specimen Initial Dimensions (on the Specimen page of the Properties Sheet)
Time, Strain or Displacement values (on the Read Table page of the
Properties Sheet)
Test Parameters (on the Test Parameters page of the Properties Sheet)
Phase Parameters (on the Consolidation and Shear pages of the Properties
Sheet)
*CAUTION: When entering (or changing) a value on a Properties Sheet page that
has a table, it is necessary to move the cursor to another cell of the table
before clicking Save in the File menu. If this is not done, the entry will not be
saved.
All other information entered using the SHEAR:DSS menu windows and Properties
Sheet is used only for test identification and reporting and is not critical to the running
of the test. The additional information may be entered while the test is running or
after the test has finished.
Calibration factors and offsets: If the sensors have not been calibrated recently,
calibrate them by using the procedure described in Appendix A.
Specimen Initial Dimensions: During the preparation of a specimen (see Section

6.1) you will need to measure the specimen diameter and height and record the
values. Before starting at test, you will need to enter the recorded values on the
Specimen page (see Section 6.2).
Time, Strain or Displacement values: Information on the Read Table page may
not need to be changed if you are running a series of similar tests. If they do need to
be changed, be sure to do so before starting a test.
Test Parameters: Information on the Test Parameters page may not need to be
changed if you are running a series of similar tests. If they do need to be changed, be
sure to do so before starting a test.
Phase Parameters: Information on the pages for each phase may not need to be
changed if you are running a series of similar tests. If they do need to be changed, be
sure to do so before starting a test.
After you have run several tests, you will be able to load a file that has similar
parameters to the test you are setting up. If you do this, you will have a minimal
number of parameters to change.
SECTION 6: RUNNING A TEST

Before running a test, read through Sections 3 and 5 so that you are familiar with
how information is entered by way of the menu windows and the Properties Sheet,
how the SHEAR:DSS control program runs a test and what is involved in defining test
parameters.
6.1 Preparing a Specimen

Preparing a specimen for testing in the ShearTrac-II system is similar to preparing
the sample for any standard test equipment. The difference is that the results of
measurements you will make during the preparation must be entered into the SHEAR
program by way of the Specimen page and Water Content page of the Properties
Sheet.
*Note: A specimen should be prepared immediately before you are going to run
a test. Preparing it too far in advance can result in evaporation of moisture
with the result that the moisture content information becomes invalid.
6.1.1 Undisturbed Sample
As an option, each circular shear box can be shipped

with a stainless steel ring that is used to prepare the
sample. Note that the ring has a knife edge on one end
(see picture at right). This serves as a cutting edge while
you are getting the sample into the ring and it also is used
to center the sample over the shear box when the sample
is transferred to the shear box.
If this is the first time the ring has been used, measure
its inside diameter and height to the nearest 0.1 mm
(0.004 in) using a precision caliper. Record the values so
they can be entered on the Specimen page at the time of
starting the test. (They will be the dimensions of the
sample.) Weigh the ring to the nearest 0.01 gm and
record the result. (If the ring has had previous use and
you know its dimensions and weight, you can use this
information.) Lightly coat the inner wall of the
consolidation ring with vacuum grease.
Your objective now will be to push the ring into your

soil sample with as little disturbance to the sample as
possible. The sample must have a larger diameter than
the inside diameter of the ring and be taller than the ring.
Set the sample on a flat surface, and with your hand press
the ring straight down into the sample taking care that it does not tilt to one side or
the other. As you press the ring down, you may have to use a tool to trim away the
excess soil outside the ring (see picture above). Do not discard the trimmings.
Alternatively, with the right setup it is possible to extrude a sample directly from a
tube into the sample ring. With some care you can extrude 40 mm to 50 mm (1.6 to
2.0 inches) of sample.
Once you have pressed the sample ring completely into the sample so that a
portion of the sample is above the top of the ring, use a wire saw to trim off excess
material from the top and bottom of the sample so that the material is flush with the
edges of the ring. Take care to trim both ends of the sample as cleanly and evenly as
possible. Do not discard the trimmings. When you have finished, you should have a
sample that has the diameter of the inside of the ring and the height of the ring.
Thoroughly clean any soil from the exterior of the ring. Weigh the combination of
ring and sample to the nearest 0.01 gm. Now subtract the weight of the ring from the
weight of the ring-sample combination and record the result. (This will be entered in
the Initial Sample Weight text field on the Specimen page.)
Assemble the shear box (if is not already assembled). Be sure there is a gap
between the four Teflon-tipped screws in the upper half and the plate that forms the
lower half before you tighten the two screws that hold the two halves together. Place
the drainage plate (ridges up) in the bottom of the shear box and a porous stone disc
on top of that.
Center the ring (with the sample in it) over the shear box hole. Place a porous
stone on top of the sample and use it to carefully push the sample into the shear box.
When the sample has been pushed all the way in, leave the porous stone on top of the
sample. Finally, position the top cap of the cell so that it is properly seated. Be
sure the top porous stone is resting evenly on the top of the sample and that
the top cap is resting evenly on the porous stone. You have now completed the
preparation of the sample.
Immediately after completing the procedure described above, select a

representative sample of the trimmings that were left after you pushed the ring into
the sample and the trimmings that came from the ends of the sample. You will need
to put the trimmings in a container (e.g., a large evaporating dish) so that they can be
dried. The container is referred to as the tare. The results of the measurements
described below will be put in the text fields of the Before Test section of the Water
Content page (see Section 6.7).
First, mark the container with some identifying label. Next, weigh the container
to the nearest 0.01 gm and record the value. (This will be the Trimmings Tare Weight
in the Before Test section of the Water Content page.) Now put the sample of
trimmings into the container and weigh the combination of trimmings and container to
the nearest 0.01 gm. Record the resulting value. (This will be the Trimmings Wet
Weight in the Before Test section of the Water Content page.)
You can dry the trimmings after you have started the test. The dry weight
information will need to be put in the After Test section of the Water Content page.
However, it can be entered after the test is finished.
6.1.2 Compacted Sample
The easiest way to form a compacted specimen from loose soil is to compact the
soil sample inside the ring, following soil preparation requirements to attain the
specified compaction parameters in terms of dry unit weight for a given moisture
content. Refer to Ladd, R.S. “Preparing Test Specimens Using
Undercompaction.” Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol. 1, No.1, March 1978, pp. 16-
23.
Use a wire saw to trim off excess material from the top and bottom of the sample
so that the material is flush with the edges of the ring. Take care to trim both ends of
the sample as cleanly and evenly as possible. Do not discard the trimmings. When you
have finished, you should have a sample that has the diameter of the inside of the ring
and the height of the ring.
Now follow the instructions in the sixth through final paragraphs of Section 6.1.1.
(The sixth paragraph begins with, “Thoroughly clean any soil . . . .”)
6.2 Starting a Test

The following instructions assume that you have set up the ShearTrac-II system and
have prepared a specimen. (See Section 6.1 for specimen preparation instructions.)
Be sure the crossbar has been swung to one side and that there is nothing near the
vertical loading mechanism that might come in contact with it as the crossbar rises
during initialization.
Use the left-hand keypad on the ShearTrac-II front panel to initialize the vertical
loading mechanism. (From the LCD main menu, select the Position option, choose
Initialize, then press the Ent key. Refer to your ShearTrac-II User’s Manual if you are
not familiar with operating the ShearTrac-II unit manually.) The loading mechanism
will move to its highest position, activate the upper limit switch, and then move down
about 3 mm (0.12 in).
Carefully lower the shear box (with the sample in it) into the water bath box. Be
sure the slot in the fastening plate at the upper right of the shear box slides over the
shear box piston (the rod coming into the water bath box from the horizontal load
cell) so that there is a nut on each side of the fastening plate. Do not tighten the nuts
yet. Slide the shear box as far to the right as it will go. Use the two “T” bolts in the
left wall of the water bath box to securely fasten the shear box (see figure below).
Horizontal
Shear box T-
Load Cell
bolts
Shear box T-bolts
Place a stainless steel ball in the top cap depression.
Fill the water bath box with water if test conditions call for a saturated sample.
*WARNING: Be sure to raise the vertical LVDT shaft before swinging the
crossbar into position. If the crossbar hits the shaft, it may damage the LVDT.
Use your right hand to raise the vertical LVDT shaft enough to clear the top of the
crossbar and then swing the crossbar into position being sure the threaded rod of the
loading mechanism fits all the way into the crossbar groove. Tighten each black four-
prong nut (that is above the crossbar on a threaded rod) to secure the bar in place
(see figure below).
LVDT
LVDT Shaft
Four-prong
nuts
Crossbar
Crossbar
Groove Vertical Load
Cell
Piston
Crossbar and Vertical Loading Mechanism
Use the left-hand keypad on the ShearTrac-II front panel to move the cross bar
down until there is a small gap between the load cell button and the stainless steel
ball that is resting in the top cap depression. Use the right-hand keypad to move the
shear box horizontally until the center of the load cell button Is directly over the
center of the ball. You can do this by using either the Raise/Lower or Jog option from
the vertical Position menu and either the Move to Left/Move to Right or Jog option on
the horizontal Position menu. (If you are unfamiliar with the keypad use and LCD
menus, refer to the ShearTrac-II User’s Manual.)
*CAUTION: For the vertical adjustment, be sure to stop the motion of cross bar
(press ESC) before the load cell button touches the stainless steel ball.
If you have not already done so, open the SHEAR:DSS control program and load the
file you will be using as the basis for the test (the dss.temp.dat file if this is the
system’s first use).
It is important to be sure that the vertical load cell is zeroed before starting every
test. To do this, go through the following procedure.
1. Be certain the vertical load cell is not in contact with anything.

2. Bring down the View menu and select System to open the System Monitor
window
3. Bring down the Calibrate menu and select Summary to open the Calibration
Summary window. Position this window beside the System Monitor window.
4. Note the Vertical Load reading in counts on the System Monitor window (top
left text field) and compare it to the Offset value on the Calibration Summary
window (be sure Vertical Load is selected for the Channel choice).
5. If the values differ by two or more counts, replace the Offset value with the
Vertical Load reading.
6. Click the Apply button, the Download button and then the Ok button to close
the Calibration Summary window.
7. The Vertical Load reading in engineering units on the System Monitor window
(top right text field) should now be zero.
On the Project page of the Properties Sheet, enter the information relevant to the
test.
Click the Specimen tab to display the Specimen page. Enter the Initial Diameter
and Initial Height for the specimen and the Initial Sample Weight that were recorded
when the specimen was prepared.
If you want accurate void ratios and degrees of saturation for the test, you will
need to enter an accurately measured value for the sample’s specific gravity. If these
are not critical, select Estimated from the list opened by using the pull-down tab and
enter a value you have determined from a list of specific gravities for various soil
types (or from some other source). Alternatively, you can select Implied and let the
SHEAR:DSS program determine a value.
If you do not know the plasticity of the sample, click the circle beside Unknown.
Otherwise, specify one of the two types.
Values for the liquid limit and plastic limit do not have to be entered, but they will
be a part of the saved test file. Enter them if you know what they are.
The following information is to be put in the Before Test section of the Water
Content page. Type the identifying label of the container holding the trimmings
obtained during the specimen preparation into the Trimmings Tare ID text field. Type
the container weight and combined container and trimmings weight (that were
recorded when the specimen was prepared) into the Trimmings Tare Weight and
Trimming Wet Weight text fields respectively.
Check the values on the Read Table page, the Consolidation Table page and the
Shear Table page to be sure they are correct for the test you are about to run.
You are now ready to start the test.
*WARNING: The two LCD menus on the ShearTrac-II panel must not be showing
the Jog option when a test is running. Be sure that there is some other display
on the screens (preferably the system monitor) when you start a test. Do not
go to the Jog option while a test is running.
From the SHEAR:DSS program Run menu, choose Start. An example of the window
that will appear is shown below.
Save As Window
Choose a location and a name for the data file that will be used to run the test and
store data, and click Save. (SHEAR:DSS will add the .dat extension). The following
window will appear on the screen.
Position Platen Window
*Note: Although clicking Cancel on the position platen window will cancel the
start of the test, the file you saved will remain saved.
Normally you will press Yes to position the load cell. When you do so, the window
shown in the figure below will open telling you to press OK when ready. You will hear
the stepper motor in the ShearTrac-II frame begin to run and the green LED for Motor
Down will come on as the crossbar moves down.
*CAUTION: Do not click OK until the crossbar stops moving. Clicking OK before
the crossbar stops will result in data being collected for an interval of time
before the load begins to be applied.
Ready Window
As soon as the load cell senses contact with the stainless steel ball on the top cap
of the shear cell, the stepper motor will stop. When this happens, check to be sure
the load cell button is seated correctly on the ball.
If everything is properly aligned, click OK to start the test. (Alternatively, you can
click Cancel to cancel the start of the test.) When you click OK, the control program
will read the vertical displacement transducer, store the displacement transducer
reading as the offset or zero reading, and then apply the first load step.
When this happens, check to be sure that the load cell button is seated correctly.
If everything is properly aligned, press OK to continue.
*Note: Make sure that the LCD menu is not the JOG menu before running a test.
The consolidation phase and shear phases of the test will now run to completion
without any input or action from you, or you can manually go to the next step or next
phase by making the appropriate choice from the Run menu.
You can change test parameters while the test is running. However, keep in mind
that control of the test is by way of the parameters stored in the data file. If you
change any parameter in a menu window or Property Page, it is necessary to execute

the Save command in order for the change to become effective.
6.3 Monitoring a Test

You may examine the data during a test in numeric or graphic form. Click on the
View menu and choose one of the last three options.
The Test Monitor option will open the Test Monitor window, which presents the
current status of the test in numeric form. The current load, displacement, strain,
elapsed time, etc. will be shown. The display also shows the estimated time
remaining for the current load increment and for the entire test.
The Test Graph option will open the Test Graph window, which shows a plot of the
displacement versus square root of time for the current load increment. This display
will be updated automatically as the test progresses.
The Test T100 option will produce a graph showing progress toward the T100 point.
This option is available only during the consolidation phase.
You may move from one data display to another at any time during a test.
*Note: In addition to examining the data as they are collected, you can monitor
the progress of data reduction presented on the various Report windows. First
close any Report windows opened using the Report menu. Next, bring down
the File menu and click Load. Finally, open the Report window (or windows)
you wish to view. The information on the window will be based on the data
collected during the test up to the time you clicked Load.
6.4 Modifying a Test

You can change test parameters while the test is running. However, keep in mind
that control of the test is by way of the parameters stored in the computer RAM. When
changes are made, the changes are put in the edit fields of the software program and
do not go into RAM. If you want the changes to take effect immediately, you must
execute the Save command. (This moves edit field information into RAM and then into
the file on the hard drive.) At the end of each step, the program automatically
performs a save. Consequently, if you do not click Save in the File menu, the change
will take effect at the beginning of the next step.
*CAUTION: After entering (or changing) a value on the Read Table or on the
test phase property sheets, it is necessary to move the cursor to another
cell of the table. If this is not done, the entry will not be moved to RAM
when a Save is executed.
You may terminate a test phase step at any point. Bring down the Run menu and
choose Next Step. You will be asked to confirm your desire to end the current step. A
Yes answer will end the step and proceed automatically to the next step. A No answer
will continue the current step. (Using Next Step to terminate the last test phase step
will end the test.)
You may terminate a phase of the test at any point and continue to the next
phase. Bring down the Run menu and choose Next Phase. (Selecting Next Phase while
the shear phase is running will end the test.) You will be asked to confirm your desire
to end the current phase. A Yes answer will end the phase (skipping any steps that
may be left in the phase being ended) and proceed automatically to the next. A No
answer will continue the current phase.
*CAUTION: Use Next Phase only if you have determined that any steps left
in a phase are not needed (remember that all remaining steps will be
skipped). To avoid inadvertently skipping steps, we recommend that you
use Next Step instead of Next Phase (sequentially going quickly through any
steps that remain) when you want to move to the next phase.
You may abort a test at any point. During a test, data are stored in the test file on
the hard drive as the test proceeds. Executing the Abort command does not remove
these data. Consequently, if you abort a test, all data collected up to when the Abort
command is executed will remain in the file. To abort a test, bring down the Run
menu and choose Abort.
Abort will completely stop the test.
*Note: When you request this option, you will not be asked to verify that
you wish to abort the test. Be careful not to click it during a test.
In the event that a power loss or some other problem interrupts the test, you can
restart it using the Restart option in the Run menu. This option assumes that the
motor, the flow pumps and the state of the test are in the same condition as when the
test stopped. After selecting Restart, you will be asked for the file name of the test.
Choose the filename you assigned at the start of the test that is to be restarted. The
test will be restarted and the new data will be appended to the existing data file. You
may have to manually terminate the first increment after a restart because the time-
compression data will have been affected.
6.5 Ending a Test

A test can be ended in one of three ways.
1. You can wait until the test comes to the step that has all zeros on its line. The
program will then end the test automatically.
2. While the program is running the last step of the final test phase, you can bring
down the Run menu and click Next Step.
3. At any time during the test you can bring down the Run menu and click Abort.
*WARNING: Do NOT execute the Save or Save As command at the completion of

a test (unless Load is executed first) or the test data will be lost. As the test is
running, data are stored directly in the file on the hard drive and not in the
computer memory. The Save or Save As command overwrites everything in the

hard drive file with what is in computer memory. If data on the hard drive
have not been brought into memory, those data will be overwritten and lost.
When the test has ended (either by coming to the end of the last step or because
you have chosen to end it), a window indicating that the test is finished will appear on
the screen (see figure below). When you click OK on this window, the window will
close but the load on the sample will be maintained until you are ready to dismantle
it.
Test Finished window
Bring down the file menu and click Load, than use either the Save or Save as option
to save the file.
6.6 Dismantling a Specimen Following a Completed Test

You should dismantle a specimen as soon as you have unloaded it so that you can
get an accurate water content determination for the specimen at the end of the test.
Use the keypad at the left of the ShearTrac-II panel to raise the cross bar all the
way to the top limit switch. (Choose Raise from the Position menu on the left LCD and
press the Ent. key). Loosen the knob on the LVDT mount and swing it to one side.
Next, loosen the front knob on the crossbar and swing the crossbar to one side.
Lift the piston and remove the stainless steel ball from the top cap. If the water
bath box had been filled with water, siphon as much water out as possible.
Loosen the two “T” bolts at the left of the water bath box. Loosen the nut on the
shear box piston that clamps the piston to the plate on the right side of the shear box
upper half. Remove the shear box from the water bath box and take it to your sample
preparation area. Remove the top cap. Lift the upper half of the shear box off of the
specimen and remove the top porous stone. Turn the shear box upside down and push
the specimen out of the shear box lower half. With a paper towel, pat all excess
moisture from the top and bottom surfaces of the specimen
Weigh the specimen to the nearest 0.01 gm and record the value.
Clean all pieces of the shear box with mild dish soap. Avoid the use of abrasives.
Dry all pieces and store them in a safe place until needed again.
To get information that will be used by the SHEAR:CYCLIC program for determining
the after-test water content of the specimen, you will need a container (e.g., a large
evaporating dish) that has some identifying number (or label) on it.
*WARNING: Do not dry the sample while it is still in the shear box. Heating the
box will damage it.
Weigh the container to the nearest 0.01 gm and record the value.
Break the sample in half along its height and note any variations in material
composition. Place the entire sample in the container. Weigh the combination of
container and sample to the nearest 0.01 gm and record the result.
Dry the sample in an oven and again weigh the combination of container and
sample. Record the resulting value.
6.7 Completing Data Entry on the Properties Sheet

Click the Water Content tab on the Properties Sheet to display the Water Content
page. If you have not already done so, type the combined weight of container and
trimmings that you recorded after drying the trimmings obtained during the specimen
preparation, into the Trimmings Dry Weight text field in the Before Test section.
The following information (that you recorded while dismantling the specimen)
needs to be put in the After Test section of the page.
Leave the Specimen Tare ID text field blank and type the value of 0 into the
Specimen Tare Weight text field. (If you weighed the specimen in a container, type
the container ID and weight into these boxes respectively.)
Type the weight of the specimen into the Specimen Wet Weight text field. (If you
weighed the specimen in a container, type the combined weight of the container and
specimen into this text field.)
Type the number (or label) of the container used to dry the specimen into the
Trimmings Tare ID text field.
Type the weight of the container into the Trimmings Tare Weight text field.
Type the combined weight of the container and specimen (or trimmings) that was
recorded before the sample was dried into the Trimmings Wet Weight text field.
Type the combined weight of the container and specimen (or trimmings) that was
recorded after the sample was dried into the Trimmings Dry Weight text field.
We recommend that you look through all the Property Pages to be sure the correct
information has been entered before saving the test file for the last time.
Bring down the File menu and click Save so that all changes that have been made
to the Property Pages since the test was started will be saved.
6.6 Step-by-Step Procedure for Direct Simple Shear Test

The following list gives the minimum number of steps required to completely run a
direct simple shear test with the ShearTrac-II-DSS unit.
1. Once the sample is trimmed or compacted inside the membrane and the Teflon
coated stacked rings, it is ready for testing.
2. Load the SHEAR:DSS program.
3. Go to the File menu and load a previous test that contains all the minimum
information to run a test. (See the Defining Test Parameters section.)
4. Enter all of the testing parameters, including project and specimen information.
5. Go to the Calibrate menu. Check that the correct calibration factors and offsets
are in place.
6. You are ready to begin the test. Go to the Run menu, and press the Start button
to start the test.
7. When prompted, give a filename to store your test results in.
8. The test will now begin automatically. The consolidation and shear phases of the
test will run to completion with no need for further intervention.
9. Go the View menu to see a display of the current status of the test.
10. If you need to stop the test, go to the Run menu, then click on Abort. Answer yes
to the prompt and the test will be stopped immediately.
11. Following the test, wait until you are ready to dismantle the sample before
unloading.
12. Remove some of the water to prevent spillage.
13. Immediately remove the sample from the ShearTrac-II-DSS's water tank.
14. Remove the sample from the shear box. Use a dry paper towel to pat excess
moisture from the faces of the sample.
15. Weigh the sample.
16. Clean all pieces of the shear box with a mild dish soap. Avoid the use of abrasives.
17. Dry all pieces of the shear box, and store it in a safe place until needed again.
APPENDIX A: CALIBRATION
A.1 Calibration Basic Principles
In order to calibrate the transducers used in the system, you will need an
independent means for accurately determining the actual condition the transducer is
experiencing. During the calibration process for which the Calibrate X window is used
(X stands for the sensor/transducer you are calibrating), you will need to enter (in
engineering units) the actual condition being sensed by the transducer and then click
the Read button to record (in counts) the transducer output. After you have done this
for a range of values, clicking the Calibrate button will result in the program
calculating a calibration factor and offset value (the sensor output at zero condition).
The results of the calibration can be saved by clicking the Save button and then
viewed on the Calibration Summary window opened by clicking Summary in the
Calibrate menu.
The Calibration Summary window displays the calibration factors and offsets that
the program uses to convert the transducer readings from counts to engineering units.
The control software performs the conversion by first subtracting the offset (in counts)
from the transducer reading (in counts) and then multiplying the result by the
calibration factor as shown in the equation,
RE = F (RC − OC ),
Where:
RE is the sensor reading in engineering units,
F is the calibration factor,
RC is the sensor reading in counts and
OC is the offset value in counts.
The calibration factor will depend on the unit system you are using. The factor will
be automatically adjusted if a new system of units is selected. The current units are
shown on the System Monitor window (opened from the View menu).
*CAUTION: When you have finished the calibration of the system sensor(s),
it is important to open the Calibration Summary window and click the
Download button to transfer the calibration parameters to the embedded
controller of the hardware unit(s). (Alternatively, you can transfer the
calibration information using the LCD keypad on the hardware unit(s) after
the calibration has been performed. See your Hardware User’s Manual for
how to do this.) Failure to do so will result in the incorrect factor being
used if the hardware unit(s) are operated manually, and in incorrect values
being displayed on the LCD screens when System is chosen from the
Monitor menu.
*Note: You can manually change values in the Calibrate X windows and on
the Calibration Summary window. However, this should be done only if you
are certain a value is in error and you know what the correct value should
be.
*WARNING: Use great care in altering the calibration factors and offsets for
the force transducer. Incorrect values can cause the system to apply the
wrong forces and equipment damage is possible.
A.2 Vertical and Horizontal Force Transducers

The force transducer(s) are initially calibrated prior to shipment. Recalibration
should be done every year. It is recommended that recalibration be performed using a
certified calibration grade load cell. The following section uses the notation of “X”
Load, which stands for Vertical Load, Horizontal Load, or Load (depending on the
application being used).
The calibration can be performed in any system of units. If the units are changed
later, the calibration will automatically be converted to the new units. For example,
if you have used pounds, it is most convenient to choose English in the Units window
(accessed from the Options menu) before performing the calibration. Then, if your
test is to be run in force units of Newtons, you need to change the units to metric
before running the test.
From the X load control window, enter a value (in counts) that corresponds to a
relatively small load. This will typically be around 32,000 to 33,000 counts for the
initial reading. In the first entry field of the Dial Reading column on the Calibrate
Load windows, type the weight value (read from the calibration load cell Geolog box
being used). Click the large Read button on the Calibrate Load window. A value will
appear in the Sensor Reading column. Repeat this procedure, sequentially adding
more load, typing each total weight into the next entry field and clicking the Read
button, until you have reached the capacity of the load cell.
When you have collected the data needed for the calibration, click the Calibrate
button on the Calibrate X Load window. The factor (calibration factor or slope, in
engineering units per count) and offset of a best-fit line will be displayed in the upper
right of the screen, together with the standard error and correlation coefficient. If
the correlation coefficient is less than 0.999, you have gotten a bad reading and need
to redo the calibration. We recommend that you view the calibration data and the
best-fit line in graphical form. To do this, click the Graph button. Check that the
data closely fit the line. A poor fit or a bad data point indicates that the calibration
should be repeated.
If you have a good calibration, write down the calibration factor and offset (but do
not save them yet). Open the Calibration Summary window (accessed through the
Calibration menu), and compare the factor and offset to those shown. If they are
more than 5% different, you have an error somewhere, or the equipment has changed
significantly since the last calibration. (This comparison, of course, assumes that you
are performing a routine calibration on a load cell that has been calibrated
previously.)
To save the calibration factors so that they will be displayed on the Calibration
Summary window, click the Save button on the Calibrate Load window.
*Note: If you close the Calibrate Load window(s) (by clicking the Close button
or the X in the upper right corner of the window), the calibration results will
not be saved.
In order to save the calibration data (including standard error and calibration graph
results), be sure to click the Apply button and the Download button on the Calibration
Summary window after each sensor has been calibrated and the results saved.
*Note: If you close the Calibrate Load window(s) before clicking on Apply and
Download in the Calibration Summary window, the calibration factors will not
be lost, but the calibration data (including standard error, calibration graphical
results, etc.) will be lost.
The calibration is performed using the X Load Control window and Calibrate X Load
window. Under the Control menu, select X Load to bring up the X Load Control
window. This window is used to apply different weights to the force transducer.
Load Control Window
Under the Calibrate menu, select X Load to bring up the calibration window for the
force transducer. The window below shows a typical calibration for a load cell.
Load Calibration window
From the load control window, enter a value (in counts) that corresponds to a
relatively small load. This will typically be around 32,000 to 33,000 counts for the
initial reading. In the first entry field of the Dial Reading column on the Calibrate
Load window, type the weight value (read from the calibration load cell Geolog box
being used). Click the large Read button on the Calibrate Load window. A value will
appear in the Sensor Reading column. Repeat this procedure, sequentially adding
more load, typing each total weight into the next entry field and clicking the Read
button, until you have reached the capacity of the load cell.
When you have collected the data needed for the calibration, click the Calibrate
button on the Calibrate Load window. The factor (calibration factor or slope, in
engineering units per count) and offset of a best-fit line will be displayed in the upper
right of the screen, together with the standard error and correlation coefficient. If
data closely fit the line. A poor fit or a bad data point indicates that the calibration
should be repeated.
Calibration menu), and compare the factor and offset to those shown. (If you are
calibrating multiple load cells, be sure to use the pull-down button at the right of the
top text field on the window and choose the load cell from that list.) If they are more
than 5% different, you have an error somewhere, or the equipment has changed
significantly since the last calibration. (This comparison, of course, assumes that you
are performing a routine calibration on a load cell that has been calibrated
previously.)
Summary window, click the Save button on the Calibrate X Load window.
*Note: If you close the Calibrate X Load window (by clicking the Close button or
the X in the upper right corner of the window), the calibration results will not
be saved.
Summary window for the sensor(s) after the sensor(s) have been calibrated and the
results saved.
*Note: If you close the Calibrate X Load windows before clicking on Apply and
Download in the Calibration Summary window, the calibration factors will not
be lost, but the calibration data (including standard error, calibration graphical
results, etc.) will be lost.
A.3 Vertical and Horizontal Displacement Transducers

The software makes the calibration of each displacement transducer (LVDT) very
easy. To accomplish the calibration, you will need a set of precision gauge
blocks. The calibration can be performed in any system of units. If the units are
changed later, the calibration will automatically be converted to the new units. For
example, if you only have gauge blocks that are in inches, you will need to choose
inches in the Units window (accessed from the Options menu) before performing the
calibration. Then, if your test is to be run in length units of millimeter, you need to
change the units before running the test. The description which follows is for a
calibration performed using gauge block specified in inches and a displacement
transducer with a 10 mm (0.4 in) stroke. Modify these instructions as required for
other transducers and/or other gauge blocks.
The following procedure uses the notation “X” Displacement, which stands for
Vertical Displacement, Horizontal Displacement, or Displacement (depending on the
application being used). The calibration is performed using both the System Monitor
window and the Calibrate X Displacement window. Pull down the View menu and click
the System option. This will open the System Monitor window. Pull down the Calibrate
menu and click the X Displacement option. This will open the Calibrate X
Displacement window.
From the System Monitor, you will see a count reading for displacement on the
System Monitor window in the left box of the row labeled X (where X stands for
Vertical, Horizontal or Displacement, depending on the application being used).
Manually move the body of the LVDT (if necessary) until the displayed count value for
X Displacement (depending on which LVDT you are working with) is between 5,000 and
55,000. Be sure the moveable rod of the LVDT stays pressed against the flat surface
(the cross bar in the case of the vertical LVDT, or the end of the shear box in the case
of the horizontal LVDT) while making this adjustment.
Calibrate Displacement Window
Gently push the rod into the body of the LVDT, and place a thin gauge block (2.54
mm or 0.100 in for the example being given) between the rod and the flat
surface. Release the rod so that it holds the gauge block against the flat surface. The
shaft should now be the thickness of the gauge block farther into the body of the LVDT
than when you started. Note that the count reading (in the System Monitor window)
that corresponds to the LVDT you are working with has decreased. Place the cursor in
the top entry field of the column headed Dial Reading and type the thickness value of
the gauge block. Be sure to use the units that you have chosen for performing the
calibration. Now click the large Read button. A value will appear in the Sensor
Reading column.
Remove the gauge block and replace it with the next thicker block (3.175 mm or
0.125 in. for the example being given). Move the cursor down one row in the Dial
Reading column, and type the thickness value of the new gauge block. Click the large
Read button. Repeat this process sequentially inserting thicker and thicker gauge
blocks until you have covered the range of the LVDT. You may need to stack two or
more gauge blocks together to get small increment increases, but it is best to use a
single block as often as possible.
When you have finished, click the Calibrate button on the Calibrate X Displacement
window. The factor (calibration factor or slope, in units chosen per count) and the
offset of a best-fit line will be displayed in the upper right of the Calibrate X
Displacement window, together with the standard error and correlation coefficient. If
data points lay close to the best-fit the line. A poor fit or a bad data point indicates
that the calibration should be repeated.
Calibration menu), and compare the factor and offset to those shown. (if calibrating
multiple sensors, be sure to use the pull-down button at the right of the top text field
on the window and choose X Displacement for calibrating the displacement
transducer.) If they are more than 5% different, you have an error somewhere, or the
equipment has changed significantly since the last calibration.
Summary window, click the Save button on the Calibrate X Displacement window.
*Note: If you close the Calibrate X Displacement window (by clicking the Close
button or the X in the upper right corner of the window), the calibration results
will not be saved.
Summary window after each sensor has been calibrated and the results saved.
*Note: If you close the Calibrate X Displacement window before clicking on

Apply and Download in the Calibration Summary window, the calibration factors
will not be lost, but the calibration data (including standard error, calibration
graphical results, etc.) will be lost.
A.4 Machine Compressibility Calibration

The machine calibration, also referred to as frame deformation, can be calibrated
for the compressibility of the equipment. When a report is generated, the
displacement measurements will automatically be adjusted to account for the
compressibility before they are written to data files. Equipment compressibility can
be significant in some systems, and should be compensated for by running the Machine
Compressibility Calibration. ASTM D2435 states that vertical deformations for the
apparatus flexibility must be accounted for when the correction exceeds 5% of the
measured deformation and in all tests where filter paper disks are used. Refer to
ASTM D2435 for details.
The load application causes deformation of some parts of the testing apparatus,
e.g. frame, load cell, porous stones, loading cap, etc. In order to calibrate the
machine, deflections must be measured separately using a calibration disk such as the
one shown in the figure below.
Calibration Disk
The Machine Compressibility Calibration is run like a standard consolidation test,

except that an incompressible dummy replaces the soil specimen. Prepare the test
cell by placing a piece of moist filter paper on the bottom stone, inserting the
calibration disk, placing another piece of moist filter paper with stone on the top of
the disk, and adding the top cap. Place the cell into the shear box, and make the
necessary alignment adjustments described in section 6.2.1 (Starting the Consolidation
Phase).
Pull down the Calibrate menu and click the Machine option to open the Machine
Calibration window shown in the figure below. (If your system has already been
calibrated for machine compressibility, the two columns under the End of Step
heading will contain non-zero values.)
Machine Calibration Window
In the first column, enter the stress values that are to be applied for each step
during the machine compressibility test. The values should be those which are in the
first column of the Consolidation Table (on the Consolidation Table page of the
Properties Sheet). Click the Step button. The crossbar will lower until the stress
value you have entered has been reached. When the platen stops moving, click the
Step button again. Values will appear in the second and third columns, and the cross
bar will again move down. When it stops, click the Step button again to record values
and start the next step.
If, at the end of a step you click the Read button instead of the Step button, values
will be recorded in the second and third columns but the next step will not
begin. This allows you to look at the graph of the results (by clicking the Graph
button) while the calibration is in progress. To start the next step, click the Step
button.
You may have to cycle the loading sequence several times to get rid of the plastic
deformation in the frame, so that you only account for the elastic deformation.
When you have completed the calibration, we recommend you view the graph of
the values (by clicking the Graph button) and examine it for reasonableness. The
figure below shows a typical machine calibration graph. Edit the table and make
whatever changes you consider necessary (You may edit the values in the two End of
Step columns).
Machine Calibration Graph Window
When you are satisfied with the compressibility calibration, raise the crossbar
using the vertical keypad on the front of the unit, then close the Machine Calibration
window. Finally, save the results to your setup file for use in future tests by pulling
down the File menu and clicking Save.
The machine compressibility table includes compressibility from the frame, the
load cell, the stones, the filter paper, etc. If any of these items change, you should
run a new compressibility test. The program software will use this data to subtract
from the measured movement of the various components (i.e. frame, load cell, etc.)
in order to obtain the actual soil deformation. The figure below shows a summary
report of the test both with and without machine correction. The display of machine
correction, no machine correction, or both for the summary report can be specified
under the Report Settings window of the Report menu.
Summary Report with Machine Correction and Without Machine Correction
APPENDIX B. IMPORTING DATA INTO A SPREADSHEET
The software program gives you access to three test-result formats. The test
results in any of these formats can be imported into a spreadsheet. This is a useful
feature that allows you to do your own data reduction, plotting and report preparation
using a common spreadsheet program such as Excel.
The three formats that can be used are:
1. Raw data, in units of counts (always whole-number values), in a file created

with a dump,
2. Raw data, in the engineering units you have chosen, in a file created with a
dump,
3. Data reduction results, in units you have specified.
Regardless of the format, the easiest way to import the information is by copying
and pasting. The following step-by-step instructions are for the 2007 version of
Excel. If you have a different version or spreadsheet, you may need to modify these
instructions.
The steps for importing raw data are given first. The steps for importing the data
reduction results follow those for the raw data.
Raw Data (Counts or Engineering Units)
1. If the program does not already contain the test file you want to use, pull down
the File menu and select Load to load the desired test file.
2. On the program file menu, highlight Dump to display the two options of Device
and Engineering (see the figure below).
Dump Options
3. Click Device to create a raw-data file in counts; click Engineering to create a

raw-data file in engineering units. When you select an option, a Save As
window will open so you can choose where to save the file. The default file
name will be the name of the file loaded into program but with the extension
.dmp.
*Note: If you want to have two .dmp files, one with counts and one with
engineering units, add some distinguishing word (such as cts and eng) to
each file name to distinguish them. The program will not do this
automatically.
4. After choosing a folder and file name (or leaving the default selection), click
the Save button. The file will be created with the information in ASCII code.
5. Brows the folder that contains the .dmp files you have saved. Open it. Select
all data from the file and copy it.
6. Next, Open Excel. Click on the Paste dropdown menu and select text import
wizard.
7. The Text Import Wizard will be shown in Excel.
Notepad with .dmp File
8. The wizard will lead you through three steps. Select Fixed Width. Click Next
to open the Step 2 window (see figure below).
Convert Wizard, Step 2
9. 11. The default column breaks will result in the words Phase and/or Step along
with their numbers being in column A (which will contain the time label and
values). We recommend that you do not make any column break
adjustments. If a column break is put at tic mark 6 so that the words Phase
and Step are in column A while their numbers are in column B along with the
time information, a time of 100000000 ms or greater will have its left-most
digit in column A.
10. Click Next to open the Step 3 window. Leave the Column data format as
General and click Finish.
11. If the time for a step is longer than 100000000 ms (almost 28 hours), the time
value will be displayed in scientific notation. To display all time values as
whole numbers, change the time column width to 10.00 (75 pixels).
12. Save the Excel file.
Each phase and the steps in a phase can be viewed by scrolling down. If a phase
for a test is skipped, the phase number (and any step number) for that phase is not
shown. The first step in each phase is specified as 0 instead of 1.
The numbers in the Motor columns are load motor steps and will be the same
whether the data are dumped in counts or engineering units. The motor steps can be
converted to distance increments by using the value that is shown in the Step
Multiplier text field on the Hardware Setup window (opened by selecting the Hardware
option on the Options menu). To calculate a distance increment, Δd, in mm from a
step increment, Δsteps, use the equation .
Data Reduction Results
*Note: Because the report pages do not have all the information aligned in
columns, you will have to use several steps to transfer everything that is on
a page into specific cells and columns of the spreadsheet. It is best to first
transfer information that is organized in columns and then information that
is not a part of a specific column (e.g., the Soil Description and the Remarks
that are at the top of every page).
1. If the program does not already contain the test file you want to use, pull down
the File menu and select Load to load the desired test file.
2. Bring down the Report menu, put the cursor on Table and then select the test
phase. Use the report page View menu (or Page up, Page Down keys) to display
the page you wish to import information from.
3. Place the cursor at the upper left of the part of the page you want to
transfer. Left click and hold as you drag the cursor to highlight the
information.
4. Use Ctrl-C to copy the highlighted information. Alternatively, right click

anywhere on the page to display the edit menu and select Copy.
5. Open Excel. Click on the cell in which you want the information to
begin. Bring down the Paste menu and select Use Text Import Wizard. The
wizard will lead you through three steps. The default file type on the step-one
window is Delimited. Select Fixed Width. Click Next to open the Step 2
window.
6. The information you highlighted on the report page will be transferred to the
Excel spreadsheet.
APPENDIX C. LIST OF GEOTECHNICAL SYMBOLS
GEOTECHNICAL SUBINDICES
a air, active or allowable

c cohesion or consolidation
d dry state
f failure or final
h horizontal
i immediate or initial
p passive or preconsolidation
q surcharge
r radial or remolded
R residual
s solids
t time
u undrained condition or pore pressure
v vertical
w water
x,y orthogonal horizontal axes
z vertical axis
γ unit weight of soil or rock
φ angle of internal friction
o at rest or initial conditions
1, 2, 3 principal directions
GEOTECHNICAL SUPERSCRIPTS
σ’ effective stress
CONSISTENCY
wL liquid limit
wP plastic limit
wS shrinkage limit
IP Plasticity Index
IL Liquidity Index
IC Consistency Index
ID Density Index (emax-e)/(emax-emin)
emax void ratio in loosest state
emin void ratio in densest state
GRAIN SIZE
D, d grain diameter
Dn, dn n percent finer diameter
CU uniformity coefficient
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL

ρs density of solid particles
ρw density of water
ρ density of soil
ρd dry density of soil
ρsat density of saturated soil
ρ’ density of submerged soil
γs unit weight of solid particles
γw unit weight of water
γ unit weight of soil
γd unit weight of dry soil
γsat unit weight of saturated soil
γ‘ unit weight of submerged soil
e void ratio
n porosity
w water content
Sr degree of saturation
CONSOLIDATION
mv coefficient of volume change

Eoed oedometric modulus, 1/mv
Cc compression index
CR compression ratio, Cc/(1+e0)
Cs swelling index
RR recompression ratio, Cs/(1+e0)
Cα rate of secondary compression
cv coefficient of consolidation
d, H drainage length
T time factor
U degree of consolidation
σ’p preconsolidation pressure, yield stress
K0 coefficient of earth pressure at rest
OCR overconsolidation ratio, σ’p/σ’vc
HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES
h hydraulic head
q rate of flow
v velocity
i hydraulic gradient
k coefficient of permeability
j seepage force per unit volume
SHEAR STRENGTH
τf shear strength
c’ effective cohesion intercept
φ’ effective angle of internal friction
cu apparent cohesion intercept
φu apparent angle of internal friction
cr remolded undrained shear strength
St sensitivity
SR residual shear strength
c’R apparent cohesion intercept
φ’R apparent angle of internal friction
δ angle of interface friction
a wall adhesion
STRESS AND STRAIN
p average of major and minor principal stress, (σ1 + σ3 ) / 2

q half difference between major and minor principal stress, ( σ1 - σ3 ) / 2
u pore pressure
uw pore water pressure
ua pore air pressure
σ total normal stress
σ’ effective normal stress
τ shear stress
σ1 major principal stress
σ2 intermediate principal stress
σ3 minor principal stress
σoct average stress or octahedral normal stress, (σ1 + σ2 + σ3 ) / 3
1
τoct octahedral shear stress, (σ 1 − σ 2 ) 2 + (σ 2 − σ 3 ) 2 + (σ 3 − σ 1 ) 2
3
ε linear strain
γ shear strain
ε1 major principal strain
ε2 intermediate principal strain
ε3 minor principal strain
έ linear strain rate
γ̇ shear strain rate
ν Poisson’s ratio
E modulus of linear deformation
G modulus of shear deformation
K modulus of bulk compressibility
µ coefficient of friction
η coefficient of viscosity
APPENDIX D. EQUATIONS FOR DATA REDUCTION
A. Phase Relationship Calculations
The following input data regarding phase relations are entered into SHEAR:DSS:
Specimen Project Tab:
H0 Height of sample prior to placement

Ds,0 Diameter of sample prior to placement
Mt Wet weight of the specimen (“Initial Sample Weight”)
Gs Specific Gravity of the solids
Water Content Project Tab:
wttare_trim,before test Trimmings Tare Weight Before Test

wttrim,wet,before test Trimmings Wet Weight Before Test
wttrim,dry,before test Trimmings Dry Weight Before Test
wttare,after test Specimen Tare Weight After Test
wtwet,after test Specimen Wet Weight After Test
wttare, trim,after test Trimmings Tare Weight After Test
wttrim,wet,after test Trimmings Wet Weight After Test
wttrim,dry,after test Trimmings Dry Weight After Test
The following description indicates the calculations performed by SHEAR:DSS

internal reporting when reducing data for direct simple shear tests. SHEAR:DSS
performs calculations for the following parameters:
• Md Dry mass of specimen

• Hs Equivalent height of solids
• Gs Specific Gravity
• w Moisture content
• γd Dry unit weight
• e Void ratio
• S Saturation
The phase relationship calculations can be performed by several different but

uniquely related methods. The phase relationship calculations are based on the initial
dimensions of the sample (height, H0, and diameter, D). In the following notes a
subscript of “0” refers to the initial state of the sample. An “f” subscript refers to the
final state of the sample.
Water Content before and after consolidation
SHEAR:DSS computes the water content before and after consolidation using
information which the user has reported in the water content tab of the program.
SHEAR:DSS assumes the final water content is provided by After test trimmings data,
which is calculated as:
wt trim , wet ,after − wt trim ,dry ,after

=
test test
wtrim min gs , after ,
test
wt trim ,dry ,after test − wt tare ,trim ,aftertest
where
w f = wtrim min gs , after test
The dry mass of the specimen is then determined by:
Mf
Md = ,
1 + wf
where Mf = reported after test wet weight of the specimen. The initial water content
of the specimen is calculated using the reported wet weight of the specimen, Mf , and
the dry mass of the specimen, Md, by:
M0 − Md
w0 =
Md
Specific Gravity
If the Specific Gravity (Gs) has been entered by the user in the Specimen tab then
the height of solids is calculated as:
Md
Hs = ,
Gs × ρ w × A
where
ρw = density of water at 20°C = 1 g/cm3 (62.428 lb/ft3)
If the Specific Gravity has not been entered, the height of solids is calculated
assuming that the degree of saturation is 100% at the end of the test, and Specific
Gravity is back calculated from the height of solids by:
M f − Md
Hs = Hf −
ρw × A
Md
Gs =
Hs × ρw × A
Void Ratio and Saturation before and after consolidation
The void ratio and degree of saturation are then calculated from the sample
height, height of solids and specific gravity as follows:
H0
e0 = −1
HS
and
Hf
ef = − 1,
Hs
where
H f = H 0 − ∆H
G s × w0
S0 =
e0
Gs × w f
Sf =
ef
*Note: If the water contents are not representative or the Specific Gravity of
the solids is not correct, then saturation values greater than 100% may be
calculated.
Dry Density before and after consolidation
Dry density is calculated from the void ratio as follows:
γ w × Gs
γ d ,0 =
1 + e0
γ w × Gs
γ d, f = ,
1 + ef
where
γw = unit weight of water at 20°C = 9.80665 kN/m3 (62.3801 lb/ft3)
B. Consolidation Calculations
Note that the raw data generated by SHEAR:DSS (.dmp file) gives device values
that are used for calculations in each phase of the DSS test. These raw values (in
counts) are labeled as:
• Time
• VLoad
• VDisp
• HLoad
• HDisp
• VMotor
• HMotor
Notation for the following input parameters obtained through SHEAR:DSS are as
follows:
• VertLoadCalFactor Vertical Load Cell Calibration Factor

• VertDispCalFactor Vertical Displacement Calibration Factor
• HorizLoadCalFactor Horizontal Load Calibration Factor
• HorizDispCalFactor Horizontal Displacement Calibration Factor
• VertLoadOffset Vertical Load Offset
• VertDispOffset Vertical Displacement Offset
• HorizLoadOffset Horizontal Load Offset
• HorizDispOffset Horizontal Displacement Offset
• VertMotorStepMult Vertical Motor Step Multiplier
• HorizMotorStepMult Horizontal Motor Step Multiplier
This section provides details of the calculations performed by SHEAR:DSS.exe

during the consolidation phase of the test. For each loading increment of the
consolidation test, SHEAR:DSS performs calculations for the following parameters:
• t Time
• √t Square Root of Time
• σv Vertical Stress
• ΔH Displacement
• εv Axial Strain
• e Void Ratio
In the following notes, the subscript “i” refers to a parameter at the particular
increment during the shear phase.
Time and Square Root of Time
Time data is taken from the raw data (.dmp file) which reports time in
milliseconds.
Vertical Stress
The vertical stress is calculated from the vertical load sensor by:
(VLoad i − VertLoadOffset ) ⋅ VertLoadCalFactor

σ v ,i =
1 / 4 ⋅ π ⋅ Ds2, 0
Displacement during consolidation
Using sensor calibration factors and offsets from the displacement sensor, the
displacement, ΔH, is calculated from the raw data (.dmp file) by:
∆H i = VertDispCalFactor × (VDispi − VertDispOffset )
If machine deflection data is provided, the vertical displacement is corrected for

machine deflection. The correction is determined by interpolation between the
machine deflection points. The computed machine deflection is subtracted from the
measured displacement to obtain vertical displacement of the sample. All subsequent
calculations use the corrected vertical displacement.
Axial Strain and Void Ratio During Consolidation
∆H i
ε v ,i = ⋅ 100
H0
 ∆H i 
ei = e0 −  
 s 
H
C. Shear Phase Calculations
From the consolidation test summary, SHEAR:DSS performs calculations for the
following parameters:
• γ Shear Strain
• τ Shear Stress
• σnNormal Stress
• ∆uExcess Pressure
• εaAxial Strain
• G Shear Modulus
In the following notes, the subscript “i” refers to a parameter at the particular
increment during the shear phase.
Shear Strain
The shear strain in %, γ, is determined from the specimen height at the end of
consolidation and the horizontal displacement reading generated in the .dmp file by:
( HDispi − HorizDispOffset ) ⋅ HorizDispCalFactor

γi = ⋅ 100 ,
H consol
where
Hconsol = height of specimen at the end of consolidation phase
Shear Stress
( HLoad i − HorizLoadOffset ) ⋅ HorizLoadCalFactor

τi =
1 ⋅ π ⋅ DS2
4 ,0
Normal Stress
(VLoad i − VertLoadOffset ) ⋅ VertLoadCalFactor

σ n ,i =
1 ⋅ π ⋅ DS2, 0
4
Excess Pressure
The shear induced pore pressure is calculated by:
∆u i = σ n , 0 − σ n ,i
Where
σn,0 = normal consolidation stress at the beginning of shear phase
Axial Strain
The axial strain in % is calculated by:
(VDispi − VertDispOffset ) ⋅ VertDispCalFactor

ε a ,i = ⋅ 100
H consol
Shear Modulus
τi
Gi =
γ i / 100
APPENDIX E. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: When I view the system before starting the test, there is always about ±
0.005 kN (0.1 lb) load in either the vertical or horizontal load cell. The load cells
are at zero load (no contact). Why there is a small fluctuation in the load, and how
can I make it zero?
A: There is always going to be a small load fluctuation of about 0.025% of load cell
full capacity.
To re-zero the load cell, please follow these steps:
1. Go to the System Monitor, and record the analog reading of the vertical load
cell when the load cell is not in contact with anything.
2. Go to Calibrate Summary.
3. Overwrite the Offset value for the vertical load cell with the analog reading
value from step one.
4. Click on the Apply and Ok buttons.
5. You should now see in the System Monitor that the vertical load cell is virtually
zero.
Notes:
1.Repeat the same process for the horizontal load cell
2. The horizontal and vertical displacement sensors do not need to be re-zeroed,
as the SHEAR-DSS program automatically re-zeros them at the beginning of the test.
Q: I calibrated my transducer and filled out the Calibration table under the
Options menu. However, I can't get the program to save the new calibration
numbers. When I open the file back up the old calibration numbers are still there.
How do I save the new calibration data?
A: Go to File>Save As. Save the file under a new name such as newtemplate.dat
Q: When I use report software, I cannot change the scale as I want. For
example, if I want to change the vertical displacement scale to negative 0.02, it
will not change, but if I change it to negative 0.2 it will change. (In this particular
case the default minimum value is negative 0.05). A similar thing happens to
normal and shear stress scales too.
A: The software tries to keep both the vertical and horizontal scale in a ratio of
1:1 so that the Mohr circles are actually circles not ovals.
Thus, there are values in the scaling that are not acceptable to the software.
You may have to keep on trying different values.
Q: The vertical frame moves down during the consolidation phase until it
triggers the lower limit, at which point the test stops, and an error message
appears on the screen indicating that the lower limit switch is on. Why is this
happening?
A: There may be a non-zero vertical load at the start of the test that it is higher
than the load in the first step in the Consolidation Table. Go back and re-zero the
vertical load cell.
Q: I noticed that for some very soft soil, it takes longer than one second for the
vertical load to reach the specified load. Why does it do that?
A: Because of the stiffness of each soil type, you may need to adjust the vertical
load PID (Proportional
Integral Derivative) parameters control.
These are under Options/PID/ Vertical Load.

The PID control parameters are adjustable due to the nature of the different soil
types and large variations in their stiffness, from very soft peat and organic soils to
highly over unconsolidated clays or even soft to medium rocks.
The max PID value is 5.00 (soft soils) and the minimum is 0.10 (stiff soils). The best
way to adjust this value remains by trial and error during the testing.
PID CONTROL
Control of the load application is accomplished by using a closed loop

controller. At equally spaced time intervals called the control loop period, the
controller compares the target load to the measured load. The loop error is the
difference between the two. The controller uses this error to compute and send a
signal to the micro-stepper motor in order to make adjustments to reduce the error by
the next loop period.
The signal to the micro-stepper controls the micro-stepper’s position. The loop
error computed by the controller at every loop period is nothing but the additional
required load to eliminate the error by the next loop period. In other words, the load
rate is the error divided by the loop period.
Signal = Error / Loop Period / Stiffness
GP = 1 / Loop Period / Stiffness
Signal (P) = GP * Error
The above equation is the basic idea behind any proportional controller where GP
is the proportional gain.
The controller employed by this system is actually a PID controller, where P is

for proportional control, I is for integral control and D is the derivative controller.
Q: After running a successful test we ran into troubles with the report. We
were not able to generate a report because all links on the report pull down menu
are inactive. Are we missing something, or is the software not entirely installed?
A: Once a test is finished or even while it is running,

1. Go to the File menu.
2. Click on Load; this will load the test data on the open window on the desktop.
3. Go back to Report. You should see now the Graph, Settings, and Edit menus all
activated.
4. You can change units and scales, and edit the test data points.
5. Remember that every time you change or edit something, you will need to save
the file, and load it again.
Q: We are having a problem running the report on one of our tests, and I was
hoping you could offer your insight on the situation. The shear phase of the test
was started and ran for 1.65 minutes, at which time we realized that it was not
running at the desired rate. We then proceeded to enter in the desired rate as
step 2 in the shear phase and told the program to go to the next step, which it did
with no problem. We were then running at the desired rate for the remainder of
the test. Our problem comes in that we cannot get the report function to load up
step 2 of the shear phase, so our report is noting 1.65 minutes to failure at a
maximum shearing load of around 8 psf. This is not the correct data and therefore
does not lend itself to the phi angle and cohesion calculations necessary for what
we are doing. Is there a way to get the program to accept ALL of the shear data,
or at least the 2nd step, so we can use the report function? This data is saved as
part of the file, as we can view it in table format.
A: The new version of the SHEAR-DSS program has a new option to report multiple
steps within the shear phase.
Q: During the shear phase, I noticed that my displacement rate is slightly

different than the one that I specified in the Shear Table. Why is that? How can I
set it up correctly?
A: The difference in the displacement rate between the specified one and the
actual one can be attributed to the following:
A.1 The horizontal displacement transducer calibration may be off. Check the
calibration factor and if necessary recalibrate the displacement transducer sensor.
A.2 The horizontal load step multiplier may need to be adjusted. Assuming that
the calibration factor for the displacement transducer is correct, then follow these
simple steps to adjust the Horizontal load step multiplier:
• Manually run the ShearTrac-II-DSS horizontally until the horizontal

displacement transducer reads around 15000 counts.
• Go to the View System Monitor and record both the pulse count for the
horizontal load motor and the horizontal displacement reading.
• Now run the ShearTrac-II-DSS until the horizontal reads around 45000.
• Again record both the pulse count and the horizontal displacement reading.
• Compute the horizontal load step multiplier as follows:
Horizontal Step Multiplier = Δ Horizontal travel /Δ Pulse count
• Adjust the load step multiplier accordingly.
Q: We have several units connected to the same PC. We were running only one
of the units, so we shut off the remaining units. Then we got an error message
stating that the unit was not responding. It seems that we lost communication with
the unit. What is happening?
A: A temporary loss of communication is a normal thing when you either shut off
or boot up another unit connected to the same network. Any time a unit connected to
the network is powered down or powered up, the network goes into a re-configuration
mode, during which no communication is allowed. Depending on how many other units
are on, this process may take some time. If you're lucky, the Windows software will
miss it. If you're not so lucky, you get the normal 'LoadTrac not responding' message.
All you have to do is hit the Retry button and you should be all set.
Q: I noticed that the engineering readings on the LCD screen are different than
the ones on the PC screen. Are they supposed to be the same? Did it affect the
results of a test I just ran?
A: SYNCHRONIZING LCD AND PC SCREENS:
First, I would like to assure you that the mismatch of the engineering readings
values between the LCD and the PC screens will not affect the results of any test that
you have run through the PC software program.
Assuming that your calibration factors are correct, or that you have just finished a
new calibration and need to update the calibration parameters on the embedded
controller of a LoadTrac-II-DSS or FlowTrac-II-DSS or the ShearTrac-II-DSS, you can
synchronize the engineering readings between the LCD and the PC screen by following
these steps:
1. Go to the Calibrate Summary menu
2. Select the sensor that you want to synchronize
3. Click on the Download button. This will automatically transfer (copy and save)
the current calibration parameters (Factor and Offset) into the embedded
controller.
4. Repeat the above procedure for the other sensors.
You should now see that the PC and LCD screen values match.
Q: After an electrical power problem, it seems that the system is not working
properly. We suspect that the set-up values on the embedded controller are not
correct. How do we revert to the original set-up values or default values set at the
factory?
A: The default values may change either after an electrical power problem or due
to inadvertent actions by the end user.
You will need to revert back to the internal default values of your system by
following these easy steps:
1. Turn off the ShearTrac-II-DSS unit.
2. Wait about 10 sec.
3. Turn it back on and immediately press the ESC key on the keypad to reset
everything back to the default values.
4. You may have to manually reenter the Node ID number. (For example, the
default value for the Horizontal ShearTrac-II motor is 101.)
Q: Can the software detect wrong values that are manually entered by the
end user?
A: Yes, the software program detects any erroneous data entry; examples include:
1. Negative values for sample dimensions, calibration factors, and PID

control parameters
2. Zero values for sample dimensions, calibration factors (except for offset
value), and PID control parameters
3. Wrong Node ID number
4. A malfunctioning sensor that it is giving an analog reading of either 0 (the

minimum value) or 65535 (the maximum value)
5. Any unit (LoadTrac-II-DSS, FlowTrac-II or ShearTrac-II) that is not on.
Q: I am running a test. Do I need to wait until the end of the test to see the
results?
A: You do not need to wait until the end of the test. While the test is running:
1. Go to the File menu.
2. Select Load.
3. Go to the Report menu. You should now be able to see the partial data up to
the point when you did the Load.
4. Repeat the above steps as the test progresses.
Q: In many of our different test files, the calibration values in the Summary
Table and the values in each sensor's individual calibration table are not in sync.
Could you please explain which values the program uses, and how to make sure
they are correct?
A: All of the Geocomp control programs have similar menus for performing
the calibration of any of the sensors related to the test. However, you must then copy
the calibration that you obtained into the Summary Table. (If you have had to repeat
the calibration procedure, be sure to use the correct value.)
The calibration factors in the Summary Table are the ones that the particular
program uses when running a test.
Note that it is possible to have no calibration data in the calibration menu if you
calibrate a sensor with one program (for example, ICON) and later use a different
program (for example, SHEAR-DSS): Each program will always uses the calibration
factors contained in its Summary Table.
Q: Why is my final saturation value higher than 100%?
A: This value is sensitive to several factors:
• The specific gravity of the sample

• The water content
• The exact measurements of the inside diameter and height of the ring.
(For instance, the diameter may be 2.489 inches instead of 2.500 inches, and the
height may likewise vary. We recommend using precise calipers to measure the
dimensions of the ring. This should only have to be done once.)
Q: I noticed that when running a test on a soft soil sample it takes a relatively
long time for the load to reach the specified value. How can I change the rate at
which the load is applied?
A: The rate at which a load is applied is controlled by the PID (Proportional gain,
Integral gain and Derivative gain) parameters. They are shown on the Load PID
Settings window that is opened by selecting PID from the Options menu. Both the
Proportional Gain (P-Gain) and Integral Gain (I-Gain) affect the rage at which the
target load is reached, but in somewhat different ways. An increase in value increases
the rate; a decrease in value decreases the rate. The possible value range for P-Gain
is from 0.5 to 5 and will change the loading time by about a factor of 3 from the
lowest value to the highest.
While the default values (2.5 for P-Gain and 0.2 for I-Gain) are appropriate for
most soil types, it may be helpful to increase the P-gain to a maximum of 5 for a very
soft soil specimen. The I-Gain should not be changed.
To change the P-Gain setting, select PID from the Options menu to open the Load
PID Settings window. Change the Proportional Gain setting to a higher value, click the
Apply button and then close the window.
Q. How do I increase the responding time for the loading in the consolidation?
A. The rate at which a load is applied is controlled by the PID (Proportional gain,
Integral gain and Derivative gain) parameters. They are shown on the Load PID
Settings window that is opened by selecting PID from the Options menu. Both the
Proportional Gain (P-Gain) and Integral Gain (I-Gain) affect the overall rate at which
the load reaches the target value, but in somewhat different ways. An increase in
value increases the rate; a decrease in value decreases the rate. The possible value
range for P-Gain is from 0.5 to 5 and will change the loading time by about a factor of
3 from the lowest value to the highest.
While the default values (2.5 for P-Gain and 0.2 for I-Gain) are appropriate for
most soil types, it may be helpful to increase the P-gain to a maximum of 5 for a very
soft soil specimen. The I-Gain should not be changed.
To change the P-gain setting, select PID from the Options menu to open the Load
PID Settings window. Change the Proportional Gain setting to a higher value, click the
Apply button and then close the window.
Q. What are the effects and correlations between the PID values?
A. The SHEAR-DD program uses a control technique that is very complex.

Consequently it is difficult to explain in detail how the PID values are used. In general
terms, as an applied load is reaching its target value, the program periodically gathers
information and adjusts the loading rate by using the information and the PID
(Proportional gain, Integral gain and Derivative gain) values. Both the Options
Proportional Gain (P-Gain) and Integral Gain (I-Gain) affect the overall rate at
which the load reaches the target value, but in somewhat different ways. An increase
in value increases the rate; a decrease in value decreases the rate.
As the load gets close to the target value, the P-Gain functions to decrease the
loading rate so that the target value is not reached too suddenly. (Keeping the loading
rate constant would be like hitting the specimen with a hammer.) On the other hand,
I-Gain functions to increase the loading rate throughout the loading process. The
values of these parameters that will produce the most rapid loading rate while
preventing the target from being “hit” too rapidly differs for each soil type. The
default values of 2.5 and 0.2 for the P-Gain and I-Gain respectively work well for most
soil types.
The graphs that are included in the answer to Q/A IV-4 below help to show the
effects of the P-Gain and I-Gain. As can be seen, the I-Gain needs to be changed only
for very stiff soils.
Q. Although the Instruction Manual advises not to change the default PID
values, the Troubleshooting section at the end of the booklet suggests different PID
values for use with soft and hard samples. Is it possible to use other values than
the three choices given? If so, how are we going to decide on what values to use?
Please clarify.
A. Yes, it is possible to use any Proportional Gain (P-Gain) value from 0.5 to 5 and
any Integral Gain (I-Gain) from 0.1 to 1. The Derivative Gain value of 0 should not be
changed. The rate at which a load is applied at the beginning of a step depends on
both the P-Gain and the I-Gain: lower value = slower rate, higher value = faster rate.
The time to reach a target value increases by a factor of about 3 from a P-Gain of 0.5
to 5.
The table below gives the three choices you referred to in your question.
Recommended P-Gain
Sample stiffness
value
LOOSE /VERY SOFT 5.0
MEDIUM SOFT/MEDIUM 2.5
DENSE/STIFF 0.5
The following information may help you to decide on what will be the best value
for your sample.
The graphs shown below are for loading curves generated during a test. (They
were generated from data dumped into a file after the test.) Note that the time scale
is not the same for the different soil types. When possible, the target load should be
reached in less than 0.5 min. Consequently a high P-Gain setting is good for very soft
soils.
It is easy to reach the target load value for stiff soils. However (as seen in the last
two graphs), the target value may not be reached smoothly. To help this situation,
the I-Gain (or both the I-Gain and P-Gain) can be decreased.
Very Soft Soil (Modulus 290 psi)
PID: 0.5, 1, 0 PID: 5, 1, 0
1.2 1.2
1.0 1.0
0.8 0.8
Load/Target
Load/Target
0.6 0.6
0.4 0.4
0.2 0.2
0.0 0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Time (min) Time (min)
Medium Soil (Modulus 4000 psi)
PID: 0.5, 1, 0 PID: 5, 1, 0

600
1.2
500
1.0
400 0.8
Force (n
Load/Target
300 0.6
200 0.4
100 0.2
0 0.0
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 0.35 0.40 0.45 0.50
Time (mi n) Time (mi n)
Stiff Soil (Modulus 10,000 psi)
PID: 0.1, 0.1, 0 PID: 0.5, 1, 0

1.2 1.2
1.0 1.0
0.8 0.8
Load/Target
Load/Target
0.6 0.6
0.4 0.4
0.2 0.2
0.0 0.0
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25
Time (mi n) Time (mi n)
In addition, a “rule of thumb” for response time is given in Section 6.0 of ASTM
standard D2435: Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties
of Soils Using Incremantal Loading.
“Load application generally should be completed in a time corresponding to 0.01

t100 or less. For soils where primary consolidation is completed in 3 min, load
application should be less than 2 s.”
To find out what the T100 value is for a step in a test, open the Test T100 window
(by choosing the T100 option in the View menu) at the beginning of the step. As soon
as the SHEAR-DSS program has gathered enough information, it will show the graphical
determination of the T100 value on the window. It will also list the T100 value in the
Test Monitor window.
To change a PID setting, select PID from the Options menu to open the Load PID
Settings window. Replace the default value with the new value, click the Apply
button and then close the window.
Q: How is the excess pore water pressure ∆u measured during the shear
phase?
A: The shear phase of a Direct Simple Shear test is run under active height control
according to ASTM Standard D6528, section 3.2.1. whereby the height of the specimen
is kept constant through feed-back control of the vertical displacement. The sample
area is constrained by the stacked rings which results in a constant volume. The
change of vertical stress бn is the shear induced pore pressure.

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Direct Simple Shear

Control and Report Software for Fully

www.geocomp.com | 125 Nagog Park | Acton, MA 01720 U.S.A.

LIMITED WARRANTY ....................................................... 7

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW .................................................... 8

SECTION 2: SHEARTRAC-II-DSS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ...... 10

2.1 ShearTrac-II-DSS System Hardware .......................................... 10

SECTION 3: USE OF SHEAR-DSS ......................................... 13

3.1 SHEAR-DSS Installation (if not already installed) .......................... 13

3.4.6 Consolidation Table ........................................................ 35

SECTION 4: SHEAR CONTROL PROGRAM CHECK ..................... 39

4.1 ShearTrac-II-DSS Front Panel .................................................. 39

SECTION 5: DEFINING TEST PARAMETERS ............................ 42

SECTION 6: RUNNING A TEST............................................ 44

6.1 Preparing a Specimen........................................................... 44

APPENDIX A: CALIBRATION ............................................. 57

A.1 Calibration Basic Principles.................................................... 57

APPENDIX B. IMPORTING DATA INTO A SPREADSHEET............. 67

APPENDIX C. LIST OF GEOTECHNICAL SYMBOLS .................... 71

APPENDIX D. EQUATIONS FOR DATA REDUCTION .................. 74

APPENDIX E. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...................... 81

GEOCOMP CORP. SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

By installing and using the enclosed software (“Geocomp Corp. Software”), or by

GRANT OF LICENSE TO USE. The Geocomp Corp. Software product that

COPYRIGHT. The Geocomp Corp. Software is owned by Geocomp Corp. or its

YOU THE PURCHASER ACKNOWLEDGES THE READING OF THIS AGREEMENT AND

The system is capable of running a consolidation phase for up to 32 increments

Control of the ShearTrac-II-DSS is achieved through easy-to-use menus and

SECTION 2: SHEARTRAC-II-DSS HARDWARE AND

Monitor: Computer monitor.

The following picture shows the ShearTrac-II-DSS

ShearTrac-II System for Direct Simple Shear Testing

2.2 ShearTrac-II-DSS System Software

The software program can be run on any Windows-based computer. However, it

SHEAR:DSS Control Window

SECTION 3: USE OF SHEAR-DSS

3.1 SHEAR-DSS Installation (if not already installed)

Geocomp Software for Windows

Computer/Processor Dual core processor computer with available PCI slot

Operating System Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (32-bit)

Windows 7 and Windows Vista (64 bit)

Note: Administrative rights are required to install and

Monitor SVGA high-color 16 bit (32 bit recommended)

CD-ROM Drive 2X CD-ROM drive

Internet Connection Direct Internet connection (high-speed connection

Printer Windows-compatible inkjet or laser printer

3.1.2 Software Installation and Setup

3.2 System Startup

3.3 Menu Bar

3.3.1 File Menu

*WARNING: Do NOT execute the Save command at the completion of a test

*WARNING: As indicated in the WARNING associated with the Save command,

3.3.2 View Menu

System Monitor window

*CAUTION: Each of the four monitor windows displays real-time information

Vertical Load Channel Monitor Window

Vertical Displacement opens the Vertical Displacement Channel Monitor window

Vertical Displacement Channel Monitor Window

Horizontal Displacement opens the Horizontal Displacement Channel Monitor

Test T100 Window

3.3.3 Run Menu

3.3.4 Calibrate Menu

*WARNING: Use great care in altering the calibration factors and

Clicking the Download button transfers the calibration parameters to the