EXPERIMENT NO.

To determine the shear strength parameters (ϕ) and (c) of a given soil sample using the
triaxial compression test

5.1 Reference

Triaxial shear testing is covered in the following ASTM standards

 D2850 – “Unconsolidated Undrained Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soils in Triaxial

Compression”
 D4767 – “Consolidated-Undrained Triaxial Compression Test on Cohesive Soil”

5.2 Apparatus

 Triaxial compression device (electrically driven strain controlled device)

 Triaxial cell
 Specimen mould
 Rubber membrane (typically 1.4 in or 2.8 in diameter)
 Membrane stretcher and ruler binding strips

5.3 Related Theory

5.3.1 Triaxial Compression test

When a soil sample is removed from a soil mass all of the horizontal and vertical stresses acting
on the soil in situ are removed. Thus, when the soil is tested in the laboratory to determine its
strength, the, test should be conducted under test conditions that resembles the field conditions as
closely as possible. The triaxial compression test is a procedure that permits different horizontal
and vertical stresses to be applied to the soil specimen simultaneously and thus closely duplicate
the expected field conditions.

5.3.2 Confining Pressure

The concept of the triaxial compression lest is that an all-around equal pressure is applied to the
soil sample in the form of a confining pressure. The confining pressure is obtained by imposing a
compressive stress on a fluid that completely surrounds the soil specimen. The fluids most
commonly used are glycerin and water. Compressed air is also frequently used. The confining or
chamber pressure is called the minor principal stress σ3.

Usually, the principal change in stress experienced by soil. is a change in vertical stress due to
the construction of a building, highway, airport, bridge, dam or other structure on the surface
above the supporting soil. Consequently, it would be logical to test the soil specimen in a
configuration that permits the specimen to be placed in the testing device and loaded in a manner
that duplicates what will happen in the field. Thus specimens are tested in the triaxial test by
applying a vertical loading to the specimen. (See figure 5.3.1)

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 Fig 5.3.1

5.3.3 Deviator Stress

The vertical load being applied to the soil specimen cause it to feel a vertical stress that is
increasingly larger than the confining pressure. This increase in vertical pressure is called the
deviator stress (Δσ). When the deviator stress is being applied σ1 the major principal stress is no
longer equal to σ3. Thus σ1 now becomes

σ1 = Δσ + σ3

Triaxial compression test results are analysed by plotting Mohr circles for the stress conditions of
each sample when failure occurs. Through evaluation of the plotted Mohr Circles strength
parameters of the soil c and angle of internal friction (ϕ) can be determined.

Triaxial test can be applied to both cohesive and cohesionless soil.

5.3.4 Length to Diameter Ratio of Test Specimen

5.3.5 Correction of Cross Sectional Area

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5.3.6 Types Triaxial Compression Test Procedure

There are three basic types of triaxial compression test procedur as determined by the sample
drainage condition

 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) test

 Consolidated Undrained (CU) test
 Consolidated Drained (CD) test

5.3.6.1 Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) Test

The un-consolidated undrained (UU) test is carried out by placing the sample in the chamber and
introducing the confining pressure without allowing the sample to consolidate (drain) under the
confining pressure. The axial load is then applied allowing drainage of the sample.

The UU test can be run rather quickly because the sample is not required to consolidate under
the confining pressure or to drain during application of the axial load. Because of the short time
required to run this test, it is often referred to as the Quick or Q Test.

5.3.6.2 Consolidated Undrained (CU) Test

The consolidated undrained (CU) test is performed by placing the sample in the chamber and
introducing the confined pressure. The sample is then allowed to consolidate under the all-
around confining pressure by leaving the drain lines open. The drain lines are then closed and the
axial stress is increased without allowing further drainage. The consolidated undrained (CU) test
is also referred to as Rapid test.

5.3.6.3 Consolidated Drained (CD) test

The consolidated drained (CD) test is similar to the CU test except that the sample is allowed to
drain as the axial load is applied so that high excess pore pressures not to be developed. The
consolidated drained test is often referred to as the Slow or S test.

5.3.7 Advantages of Triaxial Compression Test

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5.3.8 Modes of Failure of Test Specimen

5.4 Procedure

1. It density and moisture content of the soil is known, calculate the weight of the dry soil
needed for preparation of three soil samples of 1.5-inch diameter and 3-inch height
2. Add specified moisture to the dry soil and mix thoroughly. Put some of the soil for
moisture content determination
3. Prepare three soil samples of required density by packing the soil in the specimen mould
4. Take the correct size membrane stretcher and membrane and fit the membrane smoothly
into the stretcher, folding the ends of the membrane over the ends of the stretcher
5. Insert the sample into the membrane and attach the lower platen using rubber bands or
strips to seal the membrane
6. Remove the sample from the membrane stretcher and attach the lower platen to the base
of the triaxial cell. Also attach the upper platen if this has not already been done. Use
extreme case not to damage the soil specimen
7. Place the Lucite cover on the cell and place the cell in the compression machine. Bring
the load bar in contact with the load piston until a load just flickers on the load dial
8. Apply a pre-determined chamber pressure for the lateral pressure σ3
9. Attach a deformation dial to the machine so that the sample deformation can be obtained.
Set the dial gage to zero then manually compress and release the dial plunger several
times and observe the zero reading Readjust the gage to zero if necessary
10. Check deformation dial gage and cell pressure gage for final correct settings
11. Set the compression machine to the desired rate (generally between 0.5 and 1.2.5
mm/min)
12. Turn on the compression machine and take simultaneous load and deformation readings.
Readings may be taken at 5,15.25,50, and every 50 to 100 division or as specified until;
a) Load peaks and then falls off
b) Somewhat past 20 percent strain
c) Load holds constant for 3 or 4 successive readings.

Be sure to monitor the chamber pressure gage and do not let the chamber pressure vary by more
than 0.05 Kg/cm2. It takes only slight pressure changes to alter considerably the deviator stress
which defines “failure”

13. After the sample fails, shut off and reverse the compression machine, release the chamber
pressure and remove the same load
14. Remove the specimen. Obtain a final moisture content sample

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 15. Test at least two more samples by repeating steps 7 to 14 at different confining pressures.
16. Two graphs must be prepared for each confining pressure after necessary calculation.
a) Plot deviator stress Δσ versus axial strain ε. The maximum deviator stress is used to
calculate the maximum value of σ1 ( σ1 = Δσmax + σ3 )
b) Plot Mohr's circle using values of σ1 and σ3 as abscissa and shear stress as ordinate.
From the Mohr's circle plot a curve tangent to each circle drawn. The slope of the
tangent is the angle of internal friction and the intercept with the vertical axis is the
value of the soil cohesion c

5.5 Observations & Calculations

Dia. Of Sample, D = 38.1 mm

Length of Sample, Lo = 76.2 mm
Orignal x-area of Sample, Ao = 1140.0918 mm2
Volume of the Smaple, V = 86874.9973 mm3
Wt. of the Specimen, M = 174.16 g
Bulk Density, γb = 2.0047 g/cm3
Moisture Content, w = 10 %

Proving Ring Constant = 9.03 N/div

DDG L.C. = 0.01 mm

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Sample No. 1 (Cell Pressure σ3 = 30 kPa)

Pressure σ3
Axial
Sample #

Proving Sample Axial Corrected Deviator

Cell DDG Load
Ring DG Deformation Strain Area Stress
Reading Applied
Reading ΔL= Col3xLC ε=ΔL/Lo Ac=Ao/(1-ε) Col8/Col7
Col4xPRC
(kPa) (div.) (div.) (mm) (mm2) (N) (kPa)
Col-1 Col-2 Col-3 Col-4 Col-5 Col-6 Col-7 Col-8 Col-9
0 0 0 0 1140.0918 0 0
20 11 0.2 0.00262 1143.0921 99.33 87
40 15 0.4 0.00525 1146.1081 135.45 118
60 29 0.6 0.00787 1149.1402 261.87 228
80 33 0.8 0.01050 1152.1883 297.99 259
100 36 1 0.01312 1155.2526 325.08 281
120 39 1.2 0.01575 1158.3333 352.17 304
140 43 1.4 0.01837 1161.4304 388.29 334
160 44 1.6 0.02100 1164.5442 397.32 341
1 30 180 46 1.8 0.02362 1167.6747 415.38 356
200 47 2 0.02625 1170.8221 424.41 362
220 48 2.2 0.02887 1173.9864 433.44 369
240 49 2.4 0.03150 1177.1680 442.47 376
260 49.5 2.6 0.03412 1180.3668 446.985 379
280 50 2.8 0.03675 1183.5831 451.5 381
300 50.5 3 0.03937 1186.8169 456.015 384
320 51 3.2 0.04199 1190.0685 460.53 387
340 51 3.4 0.04462 1193.3379 460.53 386
360 51 3.6 0.04724 1196.6253 460.53 385

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Sample No. 2 (Cell Pressure σ3 = 60 kPa)

Pressure σ3
Axial
Sample #

Proving Sample Axial Corrected Deviator

Cell DDG Load
Ring DG Deformation Strain Area Stress
Reading Applied
Reading ΔL = Col3xLC ε=ΔL/Lo Ac=Ao/(1-ε) Col8/Col7
Col4xPRC

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Sample No. 3 (Cell Pressure σ3 = 90 kPa)

Cell Pressure
Axial
Sample #

Proving Sample Axial Corrected Deviator

DDG Load
σ3 Ring DG Deformation Strain Area Stress
Reading Applied
Reading ΔL=Col3xLC ε=ΔL/Lo Ac=Ao/(1-ε) Col8/Col7
Col4xPRC

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5.5.1 Graph b/w Deviator Stress & Axial Strain

Graph between deviator stress Δσ and axial strain ε (%) is plotted to determine the maximum
deviator stress which is the deviator stress at failure

From the above chart, maximum value of deviator stress is obtained with respect to
corresponding cell pressure σ3

Deviator Stress at Major Principal

Cell Pressure σ3
Failure Δσ Stress σ1
(kPa) (kPa) (kPa)
30
60
90

5.5.2 Mohr-Coulomb Failure Envelope

From the triaxial test we have the values of σ1 and σ3. Using principal stress values
corresponding Mohr’s circles are drawn and upon them a common tangent is drawn which is the
mohr coulomb failure envelope and shear strength parameters of the given soil can be
determined using the equation of mohr coulomb failure envelope line which is

τ = c + σ tan (ϕ)
Where τ = Shear strength (force/area)
c = Soil cohesion (force/area)
ϕ = Angle of internal fiction (degrees)
σ = Normal stress on the critical plane (force/area)

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 Shear Stress vs Normal Stress

280.0
Mohr-Coulomb
260.0 Failure Envelope Cell pressure = 30kPa
240.0 Cell pressure = 60kPa
Cell pressure = 90kPa
220.0
200.0
Shear Stress τ (kPa)

180.0
160.0
140.0
120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0
0.0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Normal Stress σ (kPa)

Fig 5.5.2

From the Mohr coulomb failure envelope, we get

Slope of line = ° & y-intercept = kPa

5.6 Results

The shear strength parameters of the given clayey soil are

c = Soil cohesion = kPa

ϕ = Angle of internal fiction = °
So the Mohr-Coulomb Failure Envelope is
τ = + σ tan ( °)

5.7 Comments

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