Unconsolidated-Undrained, Unconfined-Compression

UNCONSOLIDATED-UNDRAINED
TEST (UU TEST)
∆ud = pore pressure

∆𝜎d = deviators stress
Minor effective stress at failure:

𝜎3’ = 𝜎3 - ∆ud
Major effective stress at failure:

𝜎1’ = (𝜎3 + ∆𝜎d) - ∆ud
𝜎1’ = 𝜎1 - ∆ud
Cu = undrained shear strength and is equal to the radius of the Mohrs

circles.
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
1
LECTURER: MAVIE CABALAG
Problem 1:
An unconsolidated undrained test was conducted on a saturated clay. The
cell pressure was 200 kPa and failure occurred under a deviatoric stress of
220 kPa.
1. Determine the angle of shearing resistance.

2. Determine the maximum principal stress at failure.
3. Determine the undrained shear strength.
Problem 2:
During an unconsolidated-undrained tri-axial test on a clayey soil
specimen, the minor and major principal stresses at failure were 100 kPa
and 180 kPa respectively.
1. Find the angle of friction for the unconsolidated tri-axial test.

2. Find the cohesion for the similar specimen if subjected to an unconfined
compression test.
3. What will ne the axial stress at failure if a similar specimen is subjected
to an unconfined compression test.
Problem 3:
A clay soil is subjected to a tri-axial test under unconsolidated-undrained
conditions. At failure, the major and minor principal stresses are 140 kPa
and 50 kPa respectively.
1. Determine the cohesion of this soil.
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
2
2. If this soil were subjected to an unconfined compression test, what axial
stress would result at failure?
3. What is the magnitude of the shearing stress at a depth of 3 m. below
the ground surface. Unit wt. of soil is 15 kN/m3.
Problem 4:
Soil samples were taken from different parts of the site. Three sets of tr-
axial tests were conducted. Soil tests on sample A were performed using
unconsolidated undrained soil test.
Test Confining Pressure Total Axial stress at Failure

1 0 kPa 60 kPa
2 50 kPa 110 kPa
3 100 kPa 150 kPa
1. Compute the friction angle.

2. Compute the undrained cohesion of the soil.
3. Compute the plasticity index of the soil if the corrected undrained
cohesion of the soil is 26 kPa.
Problem 5:
A tri-axial test was performed on a clayey soil under unconsolidated
undrained conditions. The major and minor stresses at a failure were 144
and 48 kN/m2 respectively.
1. Find the angle of friction of this soil.
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
3
2. Find the cohesion of this soil.
3. If an unconfined compression test was performed on the same clayey
soil, what axial stress can be expected at failure in kN/m2.
Problem 6:
The major and minor principal stresses are acting at a point in a stressed
material are 80 kPa compression and 20 kPa tension.
1. What is the max. shear stress acting at the point?

2. What value of normal stress acts on the plane.
3. Determine the value of the shear stress acting on a plane that is 30°
counterclockwise from the major principal plane.
4. Determine the normal stress acting on a plane that is 30°
Problem 7:
At a point in a stressed material, the stress combination acting on a plane
is 60 kPa compression and 20 kPa shear, while on an orthogonal plane the
stress combination is 40 kPa tension and 20 kPa shear.
1. Determine the major principal stress.

2. Determine the minor principal stress.
3. Determine the max. shear stress.
4. Determine the normal stress of max. shear.
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
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Problem 8:
At a point in a stressed material, the major principal stress is 5000 psf
compression and the minor principal stress is 2000 psf compression.
1. Compute the max. shear stress acting on the same plane.

2. Compute the value of normal stress acting on the same plane.
3. Compute the normal stress acting on a plane that is 60°
4. Compute the shear stress acting on a plane that is 60° counterclockwise
from the major principal plane.
Problem 9:
The soil in a deposit underlying an area where a level ground surface exists
has a saturated unit weight of 21 kPa. The ground water table is at the soil
surface.
1. Determine the principal stresses for the total stress condition at a depth
of 5 m. below the soil surface if the lateral pressure is one half the vertical
pressure.
2. Determine the principal stresses for the effective stress condition at the
same 5 m. depth.
3. Determine the max. shear stress for the effective stress condition at the
same 5 m. depth.
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
5
UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST
AT SATURATED CLAY
1
Cu = 𝜎1
2
1
Cu = 𝑞𝑢
2
𝑞𝑢 = unconfined compression strength

Cu = undrained shear strength
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
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Problem 10:
A cylindrical specimen of a saturated soil fails under a stress of 150 kPa. in
an unconfined compression test. The failure plane makes an angle of 52°
with the horizontal.
1. Compute the angle of internal friction of the soil.

2. Compute the cohesion of the soil.
3. Compute the shearing stress at the failure plane.
Problem 11:
A cylindrical specimen of saturated clay 4.5 cm. in diameter and 9 cm. long
is tested in an unconfined compression apparatus.
1. Find the cohesion of the specimen fails at an axial load of 45 kg. The
change in length of the specimen at failure is 9 mm.
2. Find the angle of friction.
3. Compute the angle of inclination of the failure plane from the horizontal.
Problem 12:
In an unconfined compression test, a sample of sandy clay 8 cm. long and
4 cm. diameter fails under a load of 12 kg at 10% strain.
1. Compute the angle of friction.

2. Compute the axial stress at failure taking into account the effect of
change in cross section of sample.
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
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3. Compute the shearing resistance taking into account the effect of
change in cross section of sample.
Problem 13:
The friction angle ∅ of a normally consolidated clay specimen collected
during field exploration was determine from drained axial test to be 22°.
The unconfined compression strength qu of a similar specimen was found
to be 120 kPa.
1. Determine the pore pressure at failure for the unconfined compression

test.
2. Compute the angle of friction for the unconfined compression test.
3. Compute the cohesion of soil at the unconfined compression test.
Problem 14:
An unconfined compression test was carried out on a saturated clay
sample. The maximum load on the clay sustained was 130 N. The size of
the soil sample was 38 mm. diameter and 80 mm. long. The resulting
undrained shear strength of clay was 56.4 kPa.
1. Compute the major principal stress at failure.

2. Compute the sample area at failure in m2.
3. Compute the vertical displacement of the soil sample in mm.
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
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Problem 15:
An unconfined compression test was carried out on a saturated clay
sample. The maximum load the clay sustained was 127 N and vertical
displacement was 0.8 mm. The size of the sample was 38 mm. diameter
and 76 mm. long.
1. Determine the sample area at failure.

2. Determine the major principal stress at failure.
3. Determine the undrained shear strength.
Problem 16:
In a consolidated drained tri-axial test on a normally consolidated clay soil a
deviator stress of 152 kPa was required to fail the sample when the
confining pressure was 70 kPa.
1. What was the angle of shearing resistance ∅?

2. Suppose that after consolidation under the 70 kPa confining pressure,
the sample is placed in an unconfined compression apparatus and tested.
Determine the resulting shear strength.
3. During the unconfined compression test, what will be the value of the
pore pressure at failure if ∅cu + 10° = ∅.
CE-161P-2_1Q2021
9

Unconsolidated-Undrained, Unconfined-Compression

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UNCONSOLIDATED-UNDRAINED

TEST (UU TEST)

∆ud = pore pressure

Minor effective stress at failure:

Major effective stress at failure:

Cu = undrained shear strength and is equal to the radius of the Mohrs

1. Determine the angle of shearing resistance.

1. Find the angle of friction for the unconsolidated tri-axial test.

1. Determine the cohesion of this soil.

Test Confining Pressure Total Axial stress at Failure

1. Compute the friction angle.

1. Find the angle of friction of this soil.

1. What is the max. shear stress acting at the point?

1. Determine the major principal stress.

1. Compute the max. shear stress acting on the same plane.

𝑞𝑢 = unconfined compression strength

1. Compute the angle of internal friction of the soil.

1. Compute the angle of friction.

1. Determine the pore pressure at failure for the unconfined compression

1. Compute the major principal stress at failure.

1. Determine the sample area at failure.

1. What was the angle of shearing resistance ∅?

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