TEST TITLE : DIRECT SHEAR TEST

1.0 OBJECTIVE

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

friction, ø.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this experiment, students are able to:

• Determine the shear strength parameter of the soil
• Handle shear strength test, direct shear test

3.0 THEORY

The general relationship between maximum shearing resistance, Շf and

normal stress, σn for soils can be represented by the equation and known as
Coulomb’s Law:
τ f = c + σ tan φ
where:
c = cohesion, which is due to internal forces holding soil
particles together in a solid mass
Ø = friction, which is due to the interlocking of the particles and
the friction between them when subjected to normal stress

The friction components increase with increasing normal stress but the
cohesion components remains constant. If there is no normal stress the friction
 disappears. This relationship is shown in Figure 1. This graph generally
approximates to a straight line, its inclination to the horizontal axis being equal to
the angle of shearing resistance of the soil, Ø and its intercept on the vertical
(shear stress) axis being the apparent cohesion, denoted by c.

Figure 1: Shear stress versus normal stress

4.0 TEST EQUIPMENTS

1. Shear box carriage

2. Loading pad
3. Perforated plate
4. Porous plate
5. Retaining plate

Figure 3: Loading pad, Perforated plate,

Porous plate, Retaining plate
 Figure 2: Shearbox carriage
5.0 PROCEDURES

1. The internal measurement is verified by using the vernier calipers. The

length of the sides, L and the overall depth, B.
2. The base plate is fixed inside the shear box. Then porous plate is put on
the base plate. Next, perforated grid plate is fitted over porous so that the
grid plates should be at right angles to the direction shear.
3. Two halves of the shear box is fixed by means of fixing screws
4. For cohesive soils, the soil sample is transferred from square specimen
cutter to the shearbox by pressing down on the top grid plate. For sandy
soil, soil is compacted in layers to the required density in shear box
5. The shear box assembly is mounted on the loading frame
6. The dial is set of the proving ring to zero
7. The loading yoke is placed on the loading pad and the hanger is lifted
carefully onto the top of the loading yoke.
8. The correct loading is then applied to the hanger pad.
9. The screws clamping the upper half to the lower half is carefully removed.
10. The test is conducted by applying horizontal shear load to failure. Rate
strain should be 0.2mm/min
11. record readings of horizontal and force dial gauges at regular intervals.
12. Finally the test is conducted on three identical soil samples under different
vertical compressive strsses, 1.75 kg, 2.5 kg and 3.25 kg
6.0 RESULTS

Specimen Number = 1
Loading = 1.75 kg

Shear Strain, τ
Displacement Proving Ring Stress,σ ( kN/mm²) (kN/mm2)
∆ L Dail Load,P
Dail gauge (mm) gauge (kN) x 10ˉ5 x 10ˉ3
0 0.0 12 0.105 2.92 0
50 0.1 20 0.175 4.86 1.67
100 0.2 25 0.219 6.08 3.33
150 0.3 30 0.263 7.31 5.00
200 0.4 35 0.306 8.50 6.67
250 0.5 43 0.376 10.44 8.33
300 0.6 47 0.411 11.42 10.00
350 0.7 52 0.455 12.64 11.67
400 0.8 58 0.508 14.11 13.33
450 0.9 60 0.525 14.58 15.00
500 1.0 64 0.560 15.56 16.67
550 1.1 65 0.569 15.81 18.33
600 1.2 67 0.586 16.28 20.00
650 1.3 69 0.604 16.78 21.67
700 1.4 71 0.621 17.25 23.33
750 1.5 72 0.630 17.50 25.00
800 1.6 75 0.656 18.22 26.67
850 1.7 76 0.665 18.47 28.33
900 1.8 77 0.674 18.72 30.00
950 1.9 78 0.683 18.97 31.67
1000 2.0 79 0.691 19.19 33.33
1050 2.1 79 0.691 19.19 35.00
1100 2.2 81 0.709 19.69 36.67
1150 2.3 82 0.718 19.94 38.33
1200 2.4 83 0.726 20.17 40.00
1250 2.5 84 0.735 20.42 41.67
1300 2.6 84 0.735 20.42 43.33
1350 2.7 84 0.735 20.42 45.00
Specimen Number = 2
Loading = 2.5 kg

Shear Strain, τ
Displacement Proving Ring Stress,σ ( kN/mm²) (kN/mm2)
Load,P
∆ L Dail (kN)
Dail gauge (mm) gauge x 10ˉ3 x 10ˉ5 x 10ˉ3
0 0.0 1 8.75 0.24 0
50 0.1 1 8.75 0.24 1.67
100 0.2 5 43.75 1.22 3.33
150 0.3 15 131.25 3.65 5.00
200 0.4 22 192.50 5.35 6.67
250 0.5 25 218.75 6.08 8.33
300 0.6 30 262.50 7.29 10.00
350 0.7 35 306.25 8.51 11.67
400 0.8 40 350.00 9.72 13.33
450 0.9 45 393.75 10.94 15.00
500 1.0 50 437.50 12.15 16.67
550 1.1 55 481.25 13.37 18.33
600 1.2 60 525.00 14.58 20.00
650 1.3 63 551.25 15.31 21.67
700 1.4 66 577.50 16.04 23.33
750 1.5 70 612.50 17.01 25.00
800 1.6 72 630.00 17.50 26.67
850 1.7 74 647.50 17.99 28.33
900 1.8 76 665.00 18.47 30.00
950 1.9 78 682.50 18.96 31.67
1000 2.0 80 700.00 19.44 33.33
1050 2.1 82 717.50 19.93 35.00
1100 2.2 83 726.25 20.17 36.67
1150 2.3 85 743.75 20.66 38.33
1200 2.4 88 770.00 21.39 40.00
1250 2.5 89 778.75 21.63 41.67
1300 2.6 90 787.50 21.88 43.33
1350 2.7 90 787.50 21.88 45.00
1400 2.8 91 796.25 22.12 46.67
1450 2.9 91 796.25 22.12 48.33
1500 3 91 796.25 22.12 50.00
Specimen Number = 3
Loading = 3.25 kg

Shear Strain, τ
Displacement Proving Ring Stress,σ ( kN/mm²) (kN/mm2)
Load,P
∆ L Dail (kN)
Dail gauge (mm) gauge x 10ˉ3 x 10ˉ5 x 10ˉ3
0 0.0 4 35.00 0.97 0
50 0.1 4 35.00 0.97 1.67
100 0.2 5 43.75 1.22 3.33
150 0.3 5 43.75 1.22 5.00
200 0.4 10 87.50 2.43 6.67
250 0.5 32 280.00 7.78 8.33
300 0.6 45 393.75 10.94 10.00
350 0.7 52 455.00 12.64 11.67
400 0.8 59 516.25 14.34 13.33
450 0.9 65 568.75 15.80 15.00
500 1.0 70 612.50 17.01 16.67
550 1.1 75 656.25 18.23 18.33
600 1.2 78 682.50 18.96 20.00
650 1.3 83 726.25 20.17 21.67
700 1.4 88 770.00 21.39 23.33
750 1.5 92 805.00 22.36 25.00
800 1.6 95 831.25 23.09 26.67
850 1.7 99 866.25 24.06 28.33
900 1.8 102 892.50 24.79 30.00
950 1.9 105 918.75 25.52 31.67
1000 2.0 108 945.00 26.25 33.33
1050 2.1 110 962.50 26.74 35.00
1100 2.2 111 971.25 26.98 36.67
1150 2.3 115 1006.25 27.95 38.33
1200 2.4 118 1032.50 28.68 40.00
1250 2.5 119 1041.25 28.92 41.67
1300 2.6 121 1058.75 29.41 43.33
1350 2.7 122 1067.50 29.65 45.00
1400 2.8 122 1067.50 29.65 46.67
1450 2.9 122 1067.50 29.65 48.33

7.0 DATA ANALYSIS

1. Shear stress ( 20mm dial gauge reading )

σ = P/A = [ ( dial gauge x 0.00875) / Area ]

2. Strain ( 20mm dial gauge reading )

τ = ( ∆ L / L ) = [ ( Dail Gauge x 0.002) / Total Length ]

The example calculation to find shear stress and strain

a) Specimen 1

Dial gauge reading = 4

Area = 60 x 60 = 3600mm2

Shear stress,

σ = (4 x 0.00875) / 3600
= 0.97 x 10ˉ5kN/mm2

Dial gauge = 50
Length = 60mm

Strain,

τ = ( 50 x 0.002 ) / 60
= 1.67 x 10ˉ3

b) Specimen 2
 Dial gauge reading = 5
Area = 60 x 60 = 3600mm2

Shear stress,

σ = (5 x 0.00875) / 3600
= 1.22 x 10ˉ5kN/mm2

Dial gauge = 100

Length = 60mm

Strain,

τ = ( 100 x 0.002 ) / 60
= 3.33 x 10ˉ3

3) Specimen 3

Dial gauge reading = 5

Area = 60 x 60 = 3600mm2

Shear stress,

σ = (5 x 0.00875) / 3600
= 1.22 x 10ˉ5kN/mm2

Dial gauge = 150

 Length = 60mm

Strain,

τ = ( 150 x 0.002 ) / 60
= 5.0 x 10ˉ3

Normal stress

Load = 1.75 kg
P = 1.75 x 10 x 9.81 / 1000 = 0.17 kN
Normal stress = P = 0.17 = 4.72 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2
A 3600

Load = 2.5 kg
P = 2.5 x 10 x 9.81 / 1000 = 0.25 kN
Normal stress = P = 0.25 = 6.94 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2
A 3600

Load = 3.25 kg
P = 3.25 x 10 x 9.81 / 1000 = 0.32 kN
Normal stress = P = 0.32 = 8.89 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2
A 3600

Specimen Number = 1
Loading = 1.75 kg

Shear Stress VS Strain

25

20

15
Shear Stress

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Strain

Specimen Number = 2
Loading = 2.5 kg

Shear Stress VS Strain

25

20

15
Shear Stress

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Strain

Specimen Number = 3
Loading = 3.25 kg

Shear Stress VS Strain

35

30

25

20
Shear Stress

15

10

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Strain

Shear Stress VS Normal Stress

 Shear Stress VS Normal Stress

35

30

25

20
Shear Stress

15

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Norm al Stress

Φ = 28˚
c =0

Shear strength
 τ = c + σ tan φ Data obtained: Φ = 28˚ , c = 0

σ = 4.72 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2

τ = 0 + 4.72 x 10ˉ5tan 28˚ = 2.51 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2

σ = 6.94 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2

τ = 0 + 6.94 x 10ˉ5 tan 28˚ = 3.69 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2

σ = 8.89 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2

τ = 0 + 8.89 x 10ˉ5 tan 28˚ = 4.73 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2

10.0 DISCUSSION
From the test of direct shear, graphs of shear stress versus strain and graph of shear stress
and normal stress are plotted. The shear strength parameters are determined from the
graphs plotted. The values are angle of friction and the cohesion of soil. From the graph
of shear stress versus strain, the shear stress for load 1.75 kg is 2.51 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2, the
shear stress for load 2.5 kg is 3.69 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2 and the shear stress for load 3.25 kg is
4.73 x 10ˉ5 kN/m2.
With the determined value from graph of shear stress versus strain, graph of shear
stress against normal stress is plotted. The cohesion of soil and the angle of friction of
soil are determined. The cohesion of soil is the intercept of y- axis and the angle of
friction is the angle of the linear line produced (line’s slope). From the graph, the
cohesion of soil is 0.0 kN/m2 as the sample of soil used is sand. As we know that sand is
a type of coarse grained soil and it is assume cohesion less. Form the graph, the angle of
friction is 28°.
The direct shear test has advantages and disadvantages. It is simple and fast
especially for sands. The failure that occurs is along a single surface, which approximates
observed slips or shear type failure in natural soils.

10.0 CONCLUSION
 As a conclusion, we can know that the objective of the experiment is to determine
the parameter of shear strength of soil, cohesion and angle of friction was achieved. From
the experiment that we have done, the value of cohesion, c is 0.0 kN/m2 as the soil used
for the experiment is coarse- grained soil which is sand and the value of friction of angle
is 28°.
The direct shear test can be used to measure the effective stress parameters of any
type of soil as long as the pore pressure induced by the normal force and the shear force can
dissipate with time. For the experiment we use the clean sands as a sample, so there is no
problem as the pore pressure dissipates readily. However, in the case of highly plastic clays,
it is merely necessary to have a suitable strain rate so that the pore pressure can dissipate with
time.
Direct shear tests can be performed under several conditions. The sample is normally
saturated before the test is run. The test can be run at the in-situ moisture content. Before we
find the value of cohesion and friction angle, we must plot the graph from the data that we
get from the experiment.The results of the tests on each specimen are plotted on a graph
with the peak (or residual) stress on the x-axis and the confining stress on the y-axis. The
y-intercept of the curve which fits the test results is the cohesion, and the slope of the line
or curve is the friction angle.

10.0 QUESTIONS
Question 1

a. Why perforated plate in this test with teeth?

The perforated plate in this test with teeth because we want to produce a grip
forces between the plate and the soil and eventually assists in distributing the
shear stress evenly.

b. What maximum value of displacement before stop the test?

The maximum value of displacement before stop the test is when the values are
constant for more than three times and also when the incline value suddenly
dropped.

Question 2

a. What is the purpose of a direct shear test? Which soil properties does it
measure?
A direct shear test is a laboratory test used by geotechnical engineers to find the
shear strength parameters of soil. The direct shear test measures the shear strength
parameters which are the soil cohesion (c) and the angle of friction (friction
angle). The results of the test are plotted on a graph with the peak stress on the x-
axis and the confining stress on the y- axis. The y- intercept of the curve which
fits the test results is the cohesion and the slope of the line or curve is the friction
angle.
b) Why do we use fixing screw in this test? What happen if you do not removed
them during test?
We use fixing screw in this direct shear test because in order to avoid shear for
happening before the experiment is carried out. If we do not remove them during
the test, they will be no friction and the there will be no shear on the sample and
thus the result will be not accurate.