DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINENEERING

Geotechnical Engineering iii

SHEAR BOX TEST

NAME : Nyashadzashe

SURNAME: Munyati

STUDENT No: 216104327

LAB TECHNICIAN: Mr Minnies

DUE DATE

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Table of Contents
Flow chart ................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction ................................................................................................................ 5
Equipment .................................................................................................................. 5
Method ....................................................................................................................... 6
Figures ....................................................................................................................... 7
Test results................................................................................................................. 8
Discussion ................................................................................................................ 12
Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 13

List of Figures

Figure 1: preparation of sample ................................................................................. 7

Figure 2: Assembling of apparatus ............................................................................. 7
Figure 3: Shear box sample ....................................................................................... 7
Figure 4: Sample placed in the shear box .................................................................. 7
Figure 5: Shear stress vs displacement graph ......................................................... 11
Figure 6: Shear stress vs. Normal Stress grapth ...................................................... 11
Figure 7: Shear box test advantages and disadvantages:........................................ 12
Figure 8: Typical values for cohesion for various soil types ..................................... 13
Figure 9: Strength properties of various soil types ................................................... 13

List of Tables

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Table 1: Test 1 ........................................................................................................... 8
Table 2: Test 2 ........................................................................................................... 9
Table 3: Test 3 ......................................................................................................... 10

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Flow chart
Compact the soil specimen in the shearbox by using the cutter, make sure that all the air voids
are removed to ensure for the most accurate result possible. Assemble the shearbox as
illustrated in figure 1.

The fully assembled shearbox is placed into position in the carriage and the worm drive and
tailstock is adjusted by hand, so that contact is made at contact points. It is important to double
check the accuracy of the adjustment to ensure accurate rusults. On the worm drive unit a slight
rotation of the handwheel shall produce a small deflection of the load ring and the guage is
adjusted to zero.

The ball-bearing is placed in the spherical seating on the load pad, the load hanger is lifted and
placed gently on the ball-bearing, ensure that the ball bearing is clean and in good condition
before use. The lever arm beam is fitted carefully into position, adjusted to be level and the
weight hanger is fitted in its correct position.

The required weight is calculated on the hanger to produce the desired normal stress on the
specimen. The weights are gently placed on the hanger – heaviest at the bottom and smallest at
top. Ensure that the weights are carefully placed, failing to do so will result in and inaccurate
result.

Remove the clamping screws (the screws that lock the two halves of the shearbox together). The
lifting screws are turned until contact is made with the lower half of the shearbox. They are
rotated together further a half-turn (to separate the two halves about 0.5mm from each other)

Engage the clutch and switch on the motor, start the stopwatch as soon as the gauge begins to
move. The reading is taken from the load dial at 15 second intervals. It is important to allocate
each member of the team a role before the test is started, if a mistake is made the test will have
to be redone from the start.

Once there are three consecutive decrease readings on the load gauge, the motor can be
stopped as the shearing reached maximum stress.

The clutch must be disengaged and the shearbox manually rewind to the starting position.
Remove the weights of the load hanger and the lever arm beam, place the hanger yoke in its
resting position.

Repeat the test on two more samples to ensure an accurate result obtained from the average of
the three tests.

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Introduction
The shear box test is used to determine the angle of internal friction and cohesion of
a certain soil specimen. Geotechnical engineers regularly use this test, because the
angle of friction is an important characteristic for the design process. The moist soil
sample is placed in a metal box consisting of two halves. The bottom halve of the box
can slide horizontally to the top half by applying a force by means of a motorized unit,
while normal pressure is provided with a yoke supporting a load hanger. While the
shearing takes place, the displacement of the sample as well as the applied force is
recorded.

Equipment
 Load ring (measuring horizontal shear force)
 Shear box body in two halves, upper half fitted with a yoke, and clamping and
lifting screws.
 Shear box carriage, watertight, running on roller bearings.
 Loading pad
 Porous plates
 Shear box machine (electric motor and multi-speed driver unit)
 Perforated grid plates
 Retaining plate
 Loading yoke (weigh hanger and lever-arm – applies pressure to specimen)
 Stopwatch
 Weights
 Cutter

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Method
Step 1:

Compact the soil sample inside the shear box by means of the cutter, ensure that all
air voids are remove for most accurate reading. Refer to Figure 1 for the assembly of
the shear box.

Step 2:

Place the assembled shear box in position and adjust the worm drive and tailstock by
hand, ensure contact at contact points. Double check the adjustments to ensure
accurate results. Apply a slight rotation of the worm drive for a small deflection of the
load ring and set the gauge to zero.

Step 3:

Place the ball-bearing in the spherical seating on the load pad, lift the load hanger and
gently place it on the ball bearing. Ensure that the ball-bearing is clean and in good
condition before use. Fit the lever arm carefully into position and adjust it to be level
and fit the weight hanger in to its correct position.

Step 4:

Place the weights on the hanger to produce the desired normal stress. Place the
weights gently on the hanger, heavy to light from bottom to top. Carefully place the
weights or accurate results.

Step 5:

Remove the clamping screws, unlocking the two halves of the shear box. Lift the
screws and turn until contact is made with the bottom half of the shear box. Separate
the two halves about 0.5mm from each other.

Step 6:

Use the clutch and switch on the motor, start the stopwatch as soon as the gauge
begins to move. Take the reading from the load dial at 15 second intervals. Ensure
that each member of the team know its roles before the test starts. For ny mistakes
made, the test should be restarted.

Step 7:

Once three consecutive decrease readings are recorded, the motor can be stopped
as the shearing has reached the maximum stress.

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 Step 8:

Disengage the clutch and shear box and manually rewind it to the starting point.
Remove all weights and the lever arm beam. Place the hanger yoke in its resting
position.

Step 9:

Repeat the test on two more samples to ensure an accurate result. Use the average
from the three tests.

Figures

Figure 1: preparation of sample

Figure 2: Assembling of apparatus

Figure 3: Shear box sample

Figure 4: Sample placed

in the shear box

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Test results
TEST 1

TIME (min- GAUGE READING SHEAR FORCE SHEAR STRESS VERTICAL

sec) (Div.) (kN) (kN/m²) (mm)
0-15 4.2 0.013 3.535 0.625
0-30 5.3 0.016 4.461 1.25
0-45 6.1 0.018 5.134 1.875
1-00 7.2 0.022 6.060 2.5
115 7.8 0.024 6.565 3.125
130 8 0.024 6.733 3.75
1-45 8.5 0.026 7.154 4.375
2-00 9.2 0.028 7.743 5
2-15 9.75 0.030 8.206 5.625
2-30 10.5 0.032 8.838 6.25
2-45 11 0.033 9.258 6.875
3-00 12.1 0.037 10.184 7.5
3-15 12.5 0.038 10.521 8.125
3-30 13 0.039 10.942 8.75
3-45 13.75 0.042 11.573 9.375
4-00 14.25 0.043 11.994 10
4-15 14.75 0.045 12.415 10.625
4-30 15.3 0.046 12.878 11.25
4-45 16 0.048 13.467 11.875
5-00 16.82 0.051 14.157 12.5
5-15 17.25 0.052 14.519 13.125
5-30 18.2 0.055 15.318 13.75
5-45 18.5 0.056 15.571 14.375
6-00 18.5 0.056 15.571 15
6-15 18.5 0.056 15.571 15.625
Table 1: Test 1
Normal Stress = 54.5 kN/m²
Vertical load = 2kg
Area = 0.0036m²
Lever arm ratio = 1:10
Proving ring factor: 1 Div. = 0.00303kN

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TEST 2

TIME (min- GAUGE READING SHEAR FORCE SHEAR STRESS VERTICAL

sec) (Div.) (kN) (kN/m²) (mm)
0-15 6.1 0.018 5.134 0.625
0-30 8.2 0.025 6.902 1.25
0-45 10.8 0.033 9.090 1.875
1-00 13.2 0.040 11.110 2.5
1-15 16 0.048 13.467 3.125
1-30 18.2 0.055 15.318 3.75
1-45 20.6 0.062 17.338 4.375
2-00 22 0.067 18.517 5
2-15 24.8 0.075 20.873 5.625
2-30 26 0.079 21.883 6.25
2-45 27.5 0.083 23.146 6.875
3-00 28.5 0.086 23.988 7.5
3-15 31 0.094 26.092 8.125
3-30 32.8 0.099 27.607 8.75
3-45 34.6 0.105 29.122 9.375
4-00 35.2 0.107 29.627 10
4-15 36.5 0.111 30.721 10.625
4-30 38 0.115 31.983 11.25
4-45 39 0.118 32.825 11.875
5-00 41.2 0.125 34.677 12.5
5-15 43 0.130 36.192 13.125
5-30 44.6 0.135 37.538 13.75
5-45 46.2 0.140 38.885 14.375
6-00 46.2 0.140 38.885 15
6-15 46.2 0.140 38.885 15.625
Table 2: Test 2
Normal Stress = 109 kN/m²

Vertical load = 4kg

Area = 0.0036m²

Lever arm ratio = 1:10

Proving ring factor: 1 Div. = 0.00303kN

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TEST 3

TIME (min- GAUGE SHEAR SHEAR STRESS VERTICAL

sec) READING (Div.) FORCE (kN) (kN/m²) (mm)
0-15 7.5 0.023 6.313 0.625
0-30 17.6 0.053 14.813 1.25
0-45 21.5 0.065 18.096 1.875
1-00 25.5 0.077 21.463 2.5
1-15 31.75 0.096 26.723 3.125
1-30 34.6 0.105 29.122 3.75
1-45 37.6 0.114 31.647 4.375
2-00 40 0.121 33.667 5
2-15 43.5 0.132 36.613 5.625
2-30 46.5 0.141 39.138 6.25
2-45 50.3 0.152 42.336 6.875
3-00 54.6 0.165 45.955 7.5
3-15 58.2 0.176 48.985 8.125
3-30 62.5 0.189 52.604 8.75
3-45 64.8 0.196 54.540 9.375
4-00 66.5 0.201 55.971 10
4-15 69 0.209 58.075 10.625
4-30 71.3 0.216 60.011 11.25
4-45 72.5 0.220 61.021 11.875
5-00 72.5 0.220 61.021 12.5
5-15 72.5 0.220 61.021 13.125
Table 3: Test 3

Normal Stress = 163.5 kN/m²

Vertical load = 6kg

Area = 0.0036m²

Lever arm ratio = 1:10

Proving ring factor: 1 Div. = 0.00303kN

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Shear stress vs. Displacement graph
70.000

61.2
60.000
kN/m²

50.000
SHEAR STRESS (kN/m²)

40.000
33.5 Test 1
30.000 kN/m² Test 2
Test 3
20.000
14
10.000 kN/m²

0.000

DISPLACEMENT (mm)

Figure 5: Shear stress vs displacement graph

Shear stress vs. Normal stress graph

Normal Stress (kN/m²)

70
SHEAR STRESS (kN/m²)

60
50
40
30 Normal Stress
20 (kN/m²)
10
0 Linear (Normal
Stress (kN/m²))
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
NORMAL STRESS (kN/m²)

Figure 6: Shear stress vs. Normal Stress grapth

Cohesion = -11 kN/m²

Angle of internal friction = 23°

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Discussion
The test was completed to determine the cohesion as well as the angle of the internal
friction of the soil. The results of these values were gained from placing a compacted
soil sample into the shear box apparatus under normal stress and then applying a
horizontal stress, the horizontal stress was increased with each test.

The properties and the application of the shear box test can be used in the engineering
field to determine the following:

 The pressure against retaining walls.

 The bearing capacity of a soil under a foundation.
 The stability of embankments.

Therefore it is important to obtain these results before any design work can
commence.

The advantages and disadvantages of a shear box test.

Disadvantages
Advantages
A soil is tested under various loads Sample shears over a known plane
Is not very time consuming Do not take into account pore water
pressure
Can be carried out on site Horizontal stress is not applied evenly
Figure 7: Shear box test advantages and disadvantages:

When a force is applied to a soil it forces it to move in opposite directions. The deree
of difficulty of the soil to move in opposite directions is known as friction and is
measured in degrees (°). The difficulty of movement can be influenced by the
following:

 The moisture content of the soil.

 The form of the soil.
 The density of the soil particles.
 The amount and shape of the aggregates in the soil.

Cohesion is the ability of a soil to “stick together” in its natural compacted state. This
can be influenced by the moisture of the soil as well as the density and shape of the
particles. The amount and shape of the aggregates can also affect its cohesion.

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 Soil types: Loose Dense
Sand Round Angular Round Angular
Uniform 30 35 37 43
Well graded 34 39 40 45
Sandy Gravel 36 42 40 48
Gravel 35 40 45 50
Silt 28-32 30-32
Figure 8: Typical values for cohesion for various soil types

Soil types: Shear Box movement

Loose Sand 5 - 8 mm
Dense Sand 2 - 5 mm
Plastic Clay 8 mm (max)
Stiff Clay 2 - 5 mm
Hard Clay 1 - 2 mm

Figure 9: Strength properties of various soil types

Conclusion
All the tests were completed as per the method expressed in the report. The tests
were completed on three individual samples. The recordings were made and the
results indicated that the cohesion of -11 kN/m² were obtained and an internal angle
of friction of 23˚.

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