Hydraulics and Geotechnical

Engineering

Set 5
Triaxial and Direct Shear Stresses
Permeability
 SHEAR STRENGTH OF SOIL
MOHR-COULOMB FAILURE CRITERION DIRECT SHEAR TEST
Is one of the simplest laboratory or field test used to measure
Shear strength is defined as the maximum resistance that a
the shear strength properties of soil or rock material
material can withstand when subjected to shearing. In soil
mechanics, this is evaluated by the Mohr-Coulomb Failure
Criterion. It assumes that the shear strength (𝜏) depends
on three factors:

1. The normal effective stress (σ)

2. The angle of internal friction (Ø)
3. The cohesion of the material (c)

It represents the linear envelope that is obtained from a

plot of the shear strength of a material versus the applied
normal stress and represented by the equation below

𝜏 = 𝑐 + 𝜎 tan ∅
 TRIAXIAL SHEAR TEST Depending on the combination of loading and drainage
condition, three main types of triaxial tests can be carried
A common method to measure the shear strength out:
parameters of soil or rock material. It involves subjecting a
cylindrical soil sample to radial stresses (confining pressure 1. UU: Unconsolidated-Undrained Test
σ3) and controlled increases in axial stresses or displacements 2. CD: Consolidated-Drained Test
(deviator stress Δσ) 3. CU: Consolidated-Undrained Test

Angle of failure
∅
𝜃 = 45 +
2
 PERMEABILITY PUMPING TEST (UNCONFINED AQUIFER)

Coefficient of permeability or hydraulic conductivity (K)

Discharge (Q) 𝑟1
𝑄 ln 𝑟2
𝑄 = 𝐴𝑉 = 𝑘𝑖𝐴 𝑘=
CONSTANT HEAD TEST FALLING HEAD TEST 𝜋(ℎ12 − ℎ22 )
Velocity (v) ℎ1
𝑉𝑜𝑙 𝐿 𝑎𝐿 𝑙𝑛
𝑘= ℎ2
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑖 𝐴ℎ𝑡 𝑘=
𝐴𝑡
PUMPING TEST (CONFINED AQUIFER)
Seepage velocity or
interstitial velocity 𝑟1
𝑄 ln 𝑟2
𝑉 𝑘=
𝑉𝑠 = 2𝜋𝑡(ℎ1 − ℎ2 )
𝑛
Seepage force
𝑗 = 𝑖𝛾𝑤

Transmissivity (T) Equivalent hydraulic conductivity (K eq)

𝑇 = 𝑘𝑡
PERPENDICULAR FLOW PARALLEL FLOW
Hydraulic gradient (i) 𝐻 σ 𝑘ℎ
ℎ 𝑘𝑒𝑞 = 𝑘𝑒𝑞 =
𝑖= ℎ 𝐻
σ
𝐿 𝑘
Sample
Problems
 PROBLEM 1 Undrained angle of internal friction

62
sin ∅ =
1. A consolidated-undrained soil test was conducted on a 140 + 62
normally consolidated sample with a chamber pressure of 140
kPa. The sample failed when the deviator stress was 124 kPa. The ∅ = 17.87°
pore water pressure in the sample at that time was 75 kPa.
Determine the following:
Drained angle of internal friction
a. Undrained angle of internal friction
62
b. Drained angle of internal friction sin ∅ =
65 + 62
c. Drained angle of internal friction if the soil possess a cohesion
of 12 kPa ∅ = 29.22°

If cohesion is 12 kPa
62
sin ∅ =
𝑥 + 65 + 62
12
tan ∅ =
𝑥

∅ = 23.68°
 PROBLEM 2
2. The soil sample in a tri-axial test have the following stresses: Drained angle of internal friction

10 10
sin ∅ = sin ∅ =
𝑥 + 13 + 10 7 + 13 + 10
15.5
sin ∅ =
𝑥 + 24 + 15.5
∅ = 19.471°
𝑥=7
Determine the following:
a. Drained angle of internal friction Cohesion of soil
b. Cohesion of soil 𝐶
tan 19.47 = 𝐶 = 2.47 𝑘𝑃𝑎
c. Angle of failure in shear 7

Angle of failure in shear

∅
𝜃 = 45 +
2
19.47
= 45 + = 54.74°
2
 PROBLEM 3-4 4. A sample of soil is subjected to direct shear testing at its
normal water content. Two tests were performed. For one of the
3. In a direct shear test, the soil was determined to have an angle test, the sample fails at a shear stress of 3000 psf when the
of internal friction of 31 degrees and cohesion of 26 kPa. If the normal stress is 4000 psf. In the second test, the sample shears at
normal stress is 150 kPa, determine the following: a stress of 4000 psf when the normal stress is 6000 psf. From
these data, determine the following:
a. Total shear stress
b. Force required to cause failure in shear when the sample has a. Angle of internal friction
a dimension of 50 mm by 50 mm and height of 75 mm b. Cohesion of soil
By ratio and proportion

3000 4000
=
𝑥 + 4000 𝑥 + 6000

𝑥 = 2000

3000
tan ∅ =
2000 + 4000
Total shear stress Force to cause failure
𝜏 ∅ = 26.57°
26 𝑉 116.13 𝑉
tan 31 = tan 31 = 𝜏= = 𝑐
𝑥 43.27 + 150 𝐴 1000 50(50) tan 26.57 =
2000

𝑥 = 43.27 𝜏 = 116.13 𝑘𝑃𝑎 𝑉 = 290.322 𝑁 𝑐 = 1000 𝑝𝑠𝑓

 PROBLEM 5
5. A cohesive soil with an angle of shearing resistance of 28 Normal stress
degrees has a cohesion of 32 kPa. The shear stress at failure is 64
kPa. Determine the following: 32 64
tan 28 = tan 28 =
𝑥 60.18 + 𝜎
a. Normal stress 𝑥 = 60.18 𝜎 = 60.19 𝑘𝑃𝑎
b. Confining pressure
c. Maximum principal stress Confining pressure
72.48
64 sin 28 =
cos 28 = 60.18 + 𝜎3 + 72.48
𝑅

𝑅 = 72.48 𝜎3 = 21.73 𝑘𝑃𝑎

Maximum principal stress

𝜎1 = 𝜎3 + ∆𝜎

= 21.73 + 2 72.48 = 166.69 𝑘𝑃𝑎

 PROBLEM 6-7 7. A falling head hydraulic conductivity test is performed on a
6. A constant-head permeability test is performed on a sample of sample of soil. The standpipe having a diameter 0.2 cm is
granular soil. The length of soil sample is 15 cm and the cross- observed and it takes 60 seconds for the water to drop by 50 cm
sectional area is 10 cm2. If a 24 cm3 volume of water passes from an initial hydraulic head of 90 cm. The sample has a length
through the soil sample in a 3-minute period and the constant of 20 cm, and a diameter of 4 cm. Determine the following:
head is 30 cm. Determine the following:
a. Coefficient of permeability of the soil
b. Hydraulic gradient after 60 secs
a. Coefficient of permeability of the soil
c. Rate of flow of water in the soil after 60 secs
b. Discharge velocity
c. Seepage velocity if the void ratio is 0.64
Coefficient of permeability Flow rate after 60 secs

Coefficient of permeability Seepage velocity ℎ1 𝑄 = 𝑘𝑖𝐴

𝑎𝐿 𝑙𝑛
ℎ2
𝑒 𝑘= 𝜋
𝑉𝑜𝑙 𝐿 𝑛= 𝐴𝑡 𝑄 = 6.758 𝑋 10−4 2 4 2
𝑘= 1+𝑒 4
𝐴ℎ𝑡 𝜋 90 𝑐𝑚3
0.2 2 20 ln(40) = 0.017
0.64 4 𝑠
24(15) 𝑐𝑚 𝑛= = 0.390 𝑘= 𝜋
𝑘= = 0.4 1 + 0.64 4 2 (60)
10 30 3) 𝑚𝑖𝑛 4
𝑐𝑚
𝑉 = 6.578 𝑥 10−4
𝑉𝑠 = 𝑠𝑒𝑐
Discharge velocity
𝑛
𝑉 = 𝑘𝑖 0.8 𝑐𝑚 Hydraulic gradient after 60 secs
𝑉𝑠 = = 2.051
30 𝑐𝑚 0.390 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑉 = 0.4( ) = 0.8 ℎ 40
15 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑖= = =2
𝐿 20
 PROBLEM 8
8. A pumping test was made in a sand layer extending to a depth
of 15 m. The initial ground water table is located 2 m below the
ground surface. Observation wells were sighted at distances 3 m
and 7.5 m from the pumping well. Using a discharge of 0.4 m3
per hour, a steady level is attained at the pumping well. The
measured drawdowns at the two observation wells are 1.5 m
and 0.35 m respectively. Determine the following:

a. Hydraulic head at the observation well farther from the

Hydraulic head at observation wells
pumping well
b. Hydraulic head at the observation well nearer from the ℎ1 = 15 − 2 − 0.35 = 12.65 𝑚
pumping well
c. Coefficient of permeability of the soil ℎ2 = 15 − 2 − 1.5 = 11.5 𝑚

Coefficient of permeability

𝑟1 7.5
𝑄 ln 𝑟2 0.4 ln
3
𝑘= 𝑘= = 4.201 𝑥10−3 𝑚/ℎ𝑟
𝜋(ℎ12 − ℎ22 ) 𝜋(12.65 − 11.52 )
2
 PROBLEM 9
9. The figure shows the layers of soil in the tube that is 10 cm by Equivalent coefficient of permeability
10 cm in cross section. When the tube is supplied with water, a 𝐻 ℎ
=෍
constant head difference of 30 cm is observed. The coefficient of 𝐾𝑒𝑞⊥ 𝑘
permeability of each sample are as follows.
60 15 20 25
= −3
+ −3
+
𝐾𝑒𝑞⊥ 2 𝑥 10 3 𝑥 10 4 𝑥 10−3

𝐾𝑒𝑞⊥ = 2.939 𝑥 10−3 𝑐𝑚/𝑠

Hydraulic gradient

ℎ 30
𝑖= = = 0.5
𝐿 60

Rate of water supply

𝑄 = 𝑘𝑖𝐴
𝑄 = 2.939 𝑥 10−3 0.5 (10)(10)
Determine the following: 𝑐𝑚3
= 0.147
a. Equivalent coefficient of permeability 𝑠

b. Hydraulic gradient
c. Rate of water supply