Lab 2 TriaxialLab 2 Triaxial Shear Test Shear Test

Geotechnical Engineering 367
Triaxial Compression Tests

(Multistage Consolidated Undrained)
I hereby declare that this submitted report is my own work and have not been copied from any
other student or past year reports. The work of any other person contained herein is clearly
acknowledged.
Name
Kok Ka Yee
Student ID
7e1b9116/15860095
Date Performed
28 March 2014
Date Due
29 April 2014
Unit Lecturer
Dr. Muhammad Ekhlasur Rahman
1.0
Introduction
1.1
Background
Triaxial compression test, aims to determine the shear strength of soil. It is considered
as the most reliable and widely used shear strength test. This is because, triaxial test is not
only limited to cohensionless soil, it is suitable for all types of soils.
In triaxial test, the apparatus needed is consisted of a cylindrical soil specimen. The
soil specimen is usually subjected to a constant all-round pressure initially (cell pressure), and
then the axial load is applied until the failure of specimen. The axial load P will causes axial
stress
= P/Ac and
is known as deviator stress or principal stress differences, whereby Ac
is corrected cross sectional area which can be obtained from equation Ac= A o
Triaxial test normally will be performed for three times on several specimens of same
soil using different confining pressure. The confining pressure at failure applied to the soil
specimen will be the minor principal stress
whereby the major principal stress
can be
obtained from equation:
With all the recorded
and calculated
, Mohr circle of stresses can be drawn for
the failure condition. A tangent will be drawn to Mohr circles, and this tangent will form the
failure envelope for the soil specimen. If the triaxial test is an undrained test, the principal
stresses are total stresses. Therefore, pore water pressure is measured to determine effective
principal stresses. Hence, Mohr circle for effective principal stresses can be drawn and
effective shear strength parameter can be calculated in order for determination of soil shear
strength.
There are three types of triaxial test which are commonly used, it included
Consolidated Drained test (CD), Consolidated- Undrained test (CU) and UnconsolidatedUndrained test (UU). In this laboratory, CU test will be performed and effective shear
strength parameter will be determined.
1.2
Aim and Objective

The objective of triaxial consolidated undrained test is to determine the effective shear
strength of the soil. The effective shear strength of soil can be expressed by empirical MohrCoulomb relationship: s = c +
tan , while
is the normal stress on failure plane of
soil. With performed three times of triaxial test on different soil specimen but same soil type,
total principal stresses
and
of three tests can be obtained.
As consolidated undrained test is chosen for this laboratory, pore water pressure can
be obtained from experiment. Therefore, effective principal stress
and
can be
determined and Mohr circle of effective stress will be plotted. Lastly, with tangent drawn, the
shear strength parameter c and can be find out from the graph and shear strength of clay
can be determined as s = c+
tan .
2.0
Procedure
1. The initial length and diameter of the soil sample was determined after it had been trimmed.
2. The triaxial apparatus was flushed with de-aired water.
3. The soil specimen was placed in a triaxial cell. The specimen was fitted with a rubber
membrane around and secured with O-rings at each end. The cell top was then placed in
position and the cell was filled with water. The pore water drainage outlets were closed at all
times.
4. For fully saturating the sample, a back pressure of 100kPa was set, the cell pressure was
increased to give the desired consolidation pressure plus back pressure, which was 150 k Pa.
5. The cell pressure control was opened and the initial reading of pore volume that displayed
was taken. The top and bottom drainage valves were then opened and stop watch was started
for time recording. Readings of the volume displayed were taken at the following times: 7.5
s, 15 s, 30 s, 1 min, 2 min, 4 min, 8 min, 16 min, 30 min and 60 min.
6.
When the consolidation was completed, the drainage line was closed and the line to the pore
pressure transducer was ensured to be open, as well as the loop between top and bottom
drainage. An increase in cell pressure was applied and the increase of pore pressure was
recorded with time. When the pore pressure become steady with time, the final value was
taken.
7. The proving ring was set in position and re-zero after the loading plunger was in contact with
the top cap, so that the subsequent ring reading will record the difference between axial force
and the force due to the cell pressure. The vertical dial gauge was set in position and zeroed.
The axial load was increased via the loading machine which drives the plunger at a predetermined rate. The readings of proving ring dial gauge and pore pressure were taken very
quickly at the start (0.10mm) for the first 1% axial strain, then at 0.20 mm intervals, and at
0.50 mm intervals after axial strains greater than 5%. When the deviator stress, axial strain
curve had been turned over, the initiation of failure was indicated and loading was stopped.
8. The deviator stress versus axial strain curve should be plotted as the test proceeds. A
correction was requited because cross-sectional area of the specimen changes during
shearing and allowance must be made. The area changes was because a lateral expansion
must accompany the shortening of sample to maintain the constant volume condition as there
was no pore-water enters or leave the specimen. It is assumed that the specimen deformed as
a perfect cylinder, therefore Ac can be calculated as equation Ac=
A/ (1-
), where A is
initial cross-sectional area, L is axial compression and L is the initial length of the
specimen.
9. The same soil specimen was kept in the triaxial cell, while confining pressure was increased
and Steps 8 to 9 was repeated. Confining pressure was increased again for one more test and
Steps 8 was repeated.
3.0
Table 1
Test
1
2
3
Table 2
Test
1
2
3
Results and Calculations

Experimental Data
Cell Pressure
3 (kPa)
150
300
450
Deviator Stress
d (kPa)
192
341
504
Axial Deformation
L (mm)
19.7
20.2
20.6
Pore Water Pressure

U d (kPa)
80
154
222
Total and Effective Principal Stress

Major Principal Stress
1(kPa)
342
641
954
Sample Calculation:
Major Effective
Principal Stress
'1 (kPa)
262
487
732
Minor Effective
Principal Stress
'3 (kPa)
70
146
228
600
Shear Stress, (kPa)
500
400
Test 1
300
Test 2
200
Test 3
100
0
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Normal Stress, n (kPa)

Figure 1
Graph of Shear Stress verses Normal Stress
800
900

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Geotechnical Engineering 367

Triaxial Compression Tests

Dr. Muhammad Ekhlasur Rahman

is known as deviator stress or principal stress differences, whereby Ac

whereby the major principal stress

obtained from equation:

With all the recorded

, Mohr circle of stresses can be drawn for

Aim and Objective

is the normal stress on failure plane of

of three tests can be obtained.

2. The triaxial apparatus was flushed with de-aired water.

Results and Calculations

Pore Water Pressure

Total and Effective Principal Stress

Shear Stress, (kPa)

Normal Stress, n (kPa)

Graph of Shear Stress verses Normal Stress

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