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Experiment:

To determine the shear strength parameters (c and) for a given soil sample using the triaxial
compression test.
Apparatus:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Triaxial compression device


Triaxial cell
Specimen mould
Rubber membrane
Membrane stretcher

Theory:
1. Triaxial test is more reliable because we can measure both drained and undrained shear
strength.
2. Generally 1.5 diameter (3 tall) or 3 diameter (6 tall) specimen is used.
3. Specimen is encased by a thin rubber membrane and set into a plastic cylindrical
chamber.
4. Cell pressure is applied in the chamber (which represents 3) by pressurizing the cell
fluid (generally water).
5. Vertical stress is increased by loading the specimen (by raising the platen in strain
controlled test and by adding loads directly in stress controlled test, but strain controlled
test is more common) until shear failure occurs. Total vertical stress, which is 1 is
equal to the sum of 3 and deviator stress (d).
6. Measurement of d, axial deformation, pore pressure, and sample volume change are
recorded.
7. Depending on the nature of loading and drainage condition, triaxial tests are conducted in
three different ways.
UU Triaxial test
CU Triaxial test
CD Triaxial test
In this lab, we will conduct UU triaxial test.
Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Test (UU Triaxial Test)
As drainage is not permitted and consolidation is not necessary, this test is very quick, and
also referred as Q-test, pore pressure increases right after the application of 3 as well as
after the application of d. This test is common in clayey soils.
Application
UU triaxial test gives shear strength of soil at different confining stresses. Shear strength is
important in all types of geotechnical designs and analyses.

Procedure:
1. Measure diameter, length, and initial mass of the specimen.
2. Set a soil specimen in a triaxial chamber after putting it in the rubber membrane.
3. Increase the cell pressure to a desired value (10 psi for the first case and 20 psi in the
second case).
4. Shear the specimen at the rate of 1%/min.
5. Record L, and d in every 10 seconds.
6. Continue the test until the deviator stress shows ultimate value or 20% axial strain.
7. After completion of the test, release the cell pressure to 0, vent the pressure and bring the
cell down by bring the lower platen down, drain the cell, and clean the porous stone and
the assembly.
8. Sketch the mode of failure.
9. Measure the weight of the soil specimen again, and put the specimen into the oven.
10. Repeat the test for the second and third specimen (20 psi of cell pressure and third
specimen 30 psi of cell pressure).
11. Calculate axial strain. a
12. Calculate vertical load on the specimen.
13. Calculate corrected area of the specimen (Ac)
14. Plot d versus axial strain separately for three tests.
15. Plot d vs a for three tests in the same plot.
16. Plot Mohr circle based on 1 and 3 at failure. They should give the same d value.
17. Calculate the moisture content of the specimen after the test.

Observations and Calculations:


Sample ht.

Cell
pressure

Dial
guauge
reading

strain

inch

load dial
reading

Diametr
Area

guage

Load
(lbs)

1.5
1.77

1-

inch
2
inch

A/1-

stress
(psi)

Deviator Stress (psi)

Axial Strain (%)

60

Shear Stress, (psi)

50
40
30
20
10
0
0

20

40

60

80

Principal Stress, (psi)

100

120

140

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