Experiment 8

Answers to Questions

a. Principles of Direct Shear

1. For which types of engineering analyses do you need the results of direct shear tests?
In direct shear test, the shearing resistance of a soil sample when subjected to a continuous
shearing displacement is determined.
2. Why is the shear strength of dense sands higher than that of loose sands?
Dense sands are higher than loose due to its compaction
property that results to a higher shear strength compare with the
loose sands.
3. Is it possible to plot the evolution of the Mohr stress circle during a direct shear stress?
It is not possible to draw a Mohr circle for a shear test unless stresses on vertical planes are
measured.

4. Is it possible to determine the state of strain of the tested sample during the direct shear
test?

It is not possible to determine the state of strain of the tested sample during the direct
shear test.

5. Under which assumptions can we determine the normal failure stress on the vertical surface
of a sheared sample?
The normal failure stress on a vertical surface of a sheared sample can be determined under
the assumption that the failure plane is horizontal and the shear stress is uniform.

6. What is the effect of the change in the contact area during a direct shear test?
Change in the contact area during direct shear test will affect the resulting shear and normal
stresses.
7. In which parts of the soil sample are the strains concentrated during a direct shear test?
The strains are concentrated within the thin layer of shear zones at the interface between
the upper and lower bases.
8. What is the effect of density on the friction angle of sands?
The friction angle of the mixture increases with the relative density.
9. Define peak and residual friction angles.
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 is the maximum shear stress, 𝛿 is the normal stress and N is the normal load for the
peak friction angles which characterize residual failure.
10. What is the critical state theory in the case of the direct shear test on sand?
The critical stress of a direct shear test on sand is when the soil fails without a change in
volume.
b. Direct Shear Test
1. What is the purpose of a direct shear test? Which soil properties does it measure?
This test is performed to determine the consolidated-drained shear strength of a sandy to
silty soil. The shear strength is needed for engineering situations such as determining the
stability of slopes or cuts, finding the bearing capacity for foundations, and calculating the
pressure exerted by a soil on a retaining wall.
2. Why do we use mounting pins in a direct shear test? Can you predict what will happen if you
do not remove them during the test?
Mounting pins are used to hold together the parts of direct shear box used for the sample. If
pins are used there is a great chance that the experiment will for the direct shear test will
fail early.
3. Why are the porous stones of direct shear box serrated or provided with teeth?
It is provided with teeth so as to minimize slippage between the shear box and soil.
4. What is the rationale for determining the spacing between the two parts of a direct shear
box? What are the effects of a poorly selected spacing?
In determining the spacing, the top part should not be riding up on the grains and get
caught in the gap. Poorly selected spacing will affect the shearing of the sample.
5. What is the purpose of the counterweight mechanism in direct shear apparatus?
The counterweight mechanism is used so as the to prevent the sample from having sudden
changes thus giving a smooth curve for the graph.
6. What is the range of the rate of shear displacement that is typically achievable with direct
shear loading device?
Shear displacement typically ranges from 5 to 0.0005 mm/min and a full displacement of
10mm.
7. Under which circumstances for which soils should a very low shearing speed are used?
Shearing speed should be very low once the rate of lateral displacement gives high
displacement.
8. Give an approximate duration for a very slow direct shear test.
Approximately, it takes 14 days to move 10mm for a very slow shear test.
9. Is the shear strength of a coarse-grained soils influenced by the rate of shearing in a direct
shear test? On what basis is the rate of shearing selected for coarse-grained soils?
Shear strength, for coarse-grained soils, is not affected by the rate of shearing. It actually
depends on the soil type.
10. How many and which types of direct shear tests are possible to perform on fine-grained
soils?
There are two types of direct shear test that are possible to perform on fine-grained soils
namely unconfined compression test and consolidated compression test.
11. What are the basic steps of CU direct shear test on a fine-grained soil?
Radial stress is not applied to the sample. The plunger load is then increased rapidly until
the soil sample fails where any additional load cannot be supported. Load is applied
immediately so as to prevent the pore water from draining. Sample then is sheared at
constant volume.
12. What are the basic steps of CD direct shear test on a fine-grained soil?
 For this test, the soil is consolidated to a desired effective stress level by pressuring the
water in the cell and allowing the soil sample to drain until the excess pore water pressure
disperse. Pressure in the cell is then kept constant and additional axial loads are added very
slowly until the soil sample fails.
13. How is the shearing rate determined for the CD direct shear test of fine-grained soils?
It is determined by measuring the amount of water drained from the excess pore water.

http://environment.uwe.ac.uk/geocal/SoilMech/shear/shear.htm

Direct Shear Test. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.uta.edu/ce/geotech/lab/Main/Soil

Lab/Direct Shear test/DS.pdf
The Importance of Shear Testing in Process Design, Quality Control. (n.d.). Retrieved
August 10, 2016, from http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/90413-the-importance-of-
shear-testing-in-process-design--quality-control

Budhu, M. (2000). Soil mechanics and foundations. New York: Wiley.

https://theconstructor.org/geotechnical/shear-strength-of-soil-by-direct-shear-
test/3112/

https://www.slideshare.net/NurulAdha2/shear-box-test

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286450084_Shear_strength_of_unsatur
ated_soils_and_its_applications_in_geotechnical_engineering_practice

Discussion

In many engineering problems such as design of foundation, retaining walls, slab bridges, pipes, sheet
piling, the value of the angle of internal friction and cohesion of the soil involved are required for the
design. Direct shear test is used to predict these parameters quickly. This test is performed to determine
the consolidated-drained shear strength of a sandy to silty soil. The shear strength of a soil determines
the maximum load that the soil together with the foundations can support in a structure. It is needed for
engineering situations such as determining the stability of slopes or cuts, finding the bearing capacity for
foundations, and calculating the pressure exerted by a soil on a retaining wall.

Shear strength of a soil is its maximum resistance to shearing stresses.

The shear strength is expressed as
Where c’ = effective cohesion, = effective stress, = effective angle
of shearing resistance.

The shear tests can be conducted under three different drainage

conditions. The direct shear test is generally conducted on sandy soils as
a consolidated drained test.

Observation:

This analysis is performed in two trials. An example was put in a shear box that has two stacked rings
that holds the dirt specimen. There are level powers connected through a pulley framework for the
control of stacking by utilizing the weights. Additionally in this trial there some alteration in the
methodology because of the immediate shear machine is not working legitimately. There was no vertical
power connected to the example soil until the point that it broke. This modification may cause some
blunder as far as the after effect of the trial. The heap connected and the strain initiated is recorded at
visit interims so as to decide the anxiety strain bend for the limiting worry in every trial. To decide the
shear quality parameters, two examples were tried on a fluctuating binding burdens, soil union and the
point of inner grinding were considered in this analysis. The result of the tests in every example was
plotted on a chart with the pinnacle weight on the x-hub and the keeping weight on the y-pivot. Y-block
of the bend that fits the test outcomes is union and the incline of the line is known as the frictional edge.
Application :

Shear strength is a key engineering property required in the design of several geotechnical structures
such as the shallow and deep foundations, earth structures including excavations and the stability of
slopes. A standout amongst the most critical building properties of a dirt is the shear quality since it is
required at whatever point structure is subject to the dirts shearing resistance. Building applications, for
example, steadiness of slants, finding the weight applied by the dirt on a holding divider. The design of
both shallow and deep foundations for drained and un drained loading conditions, the stability of
slopes, and the critical depth of excavations are based on the saturated shear strength parameters in
conventional geotechnical engineering practice.

Conclusion

Direct shear test is simple and faster to operate. As thinner specimens are used in
shear box, they facilitate drainage of pore water from a saturated sample in less
time. This test is also useful to study friction between two materials � one
material in lower half of box and another material in the upper half of box.

Three diagrams were used for this analysis keeping in mind the end goal to completely comprehend the
conduct of soils when sheared. Through the diagrams, it can be watched that there is an immediate
connection between unit strain and ordinary load. In this manner, as the ordinary load expands, the unit
strain increments too. The pinnacle stretch was likewise dictated by plotting the chart flat removal vial
perusing versus shear push wherein both are expanding in the meantime until the point when the shear
quality abatements sooner or later demonstrating that the specimen had fizzled. The pinnacle worry for
our specimen was 195.31 g/cm^2 under a shear power of 8934 g. Along these lines, more prominent
shear compel than this will influence the specimen to fall flat.

Blunders were inescapable in any sort of research facility try. In this investigation blunders may confer
by methods for ill-advised utilization of contraption. Something else may cause is because of the
erroneous conclusions of the information acquired amid the trial.