NOTES ON MOHR’S CIRCLES AND SHEAR STRENGTH

A A
( + ↑) ∑F v = 0 = −σ 1 ⋅ A + σ n ⋅
cos θ
⋅ cos θ + τn ⋅
cos θ
⋅ sin θ K K K ( 1)

A A
( →)
+
∑ FH = 0 = −σ n ⋅ cosθ ⋅ sin θ + τ n ⋅ cosθ ⋅ cosθ K K K ( 2)

From (2): σ n A tan θ = τ n A

From (1): σ1 ⋅ A = σ n A + σ n A tan 2 θ
σ1 = σ n ( 1 + tan 2 θ )
 cos 2 θ + sin 2 θ 
σ1 = σn  
 cos 2 θ 
σ 1 cos θ = σ n
2

σ1
σ n = ( 1+cos2θ )
2
2
τn =σ cos1 θtanθ
τn =σ sinθcosθ
1

σ1
τn = ⋅ sin 2θ
2
Plot of σn vs τn for various values of θ.

From the geometry of the circle,

σ σ
σ n = 1 + 1 ⋅ cos 2θ
2 2
σ1
τ n = ⋅ sin 2θ
2

When the soil sample has confining pressure, σ3 , as well as axial pressure, σ1 ; the normal
and shear stresses are:

σn = 1
( σ + σ 3 ) + ( σ1 − σ 3 ) cos 2θ
2 2
( σ − σ 3 ) sin 2θ
τn = 1
2
The normal and shear stress curves move apart

Plot of σn vs τn

The equations for normal and shear stress can be found from the geometry of the circle

σn = 1
( σ + σ 3 ) + ( σ1 − σ 3 ) cos 2θ
2 2
( σ − σ 3 ) sin 2θ
τn = 1
2

Shear strength comes from two sources

1. Cohesion- Cohesive shear strength, c
2. Friction - Angle of internal friction, φ
or Angle of shearing resistance
For Unconfined Test, For Confined Test,
σ + σ 3 σ1 − σ 3
(
σ n = σ 1 1 2 + 1 2 cos 2θ ) σn = 1
2
+
2
cos 2θ

σ −σ3
τ n = σ 1 2 sin 2θ τn = 1 sin 2θ
2

2θ f = 90 + φ '
Strength of Clay

Effective Stress:
σ '=σ -u
σ 1'=σ 1 -u
σ 3'=σ 3 -u
if σ 3' > σ 3 , then,
σ 3'-σ 3 = − u is positive
u = negative
 c
x=
sin φ '
σ 3' = x − c
c
= −c
sin φ '
 1 
σ 3' = c  − 1
 sin φ ' 
σ3 = 0
1 − sin φ ' 
σ 3' − σ 3 = −u = c  
 sin φ ' 
Suppose, φ ' = 30o
c = 5 psi
1 − 0.5 
u = − 5 psi 
 0.5 
u = − 5 psi

In fact, the cohesion in clay (all soils, actually) is due to the negative porewater pressure
in that soil.

Strength of Sand

In the absence of pore water, the strength of sand is due almost entirely to friction.
SAND STRENGTH

Strength Tests for Sand

1. Direct Shear (Poor test)

2. Triaxial Test (Much better test)
-Uniform stress: fields in the center of the sample
-Uniform strain: fields in the center of the sample
Most soils are a mixture of fine and coarse grained sizes so they usually have both c and
φ properties. How much c depends on whether the sample is loaded slowly enough to
allow the pore water pressure to dissipate. Tests are classified by the rate with which
-Confining pressure
-Deviator stress
are applied.
Rate of Application
Confining
Symbol for Deviator Stress
Pressure Type of Test
Test (drainage permitted
(consolidation
during test)
prior to test)
Q (UU) Rapidly Rapidly Unconsolidated – Undrained c, φ
Consolidated- Undrained (may
R (CU) Slowly Rapidly make measurements of pore water
pressures)
S (CD) Slowly Slowly Consolidated- Undrained c', φ'

Total Stress properties are measured in the UU test

Effective pressure properties are measured in the CD test
Effective pressure properties may be determined in the CU test if pore water pressures are
measured during the undrained portion of the test.

There are 3 pairs of quantities: σ1, σ3 ; σf, τf (failure plane); c,φ

The radiusof the circle is r = (σ1-σ3)/2

The projection of the failure line is x=c/tanφ

Normally, if you are given any three of the quantities you can find the other three.

1. Suppose you know σ1, σ3 and c

Find expressions for σf, τf and φ or tanφ
 2. Suppose you know σ1, σf and τf
Find expressions for σ3, c and φ

3. Suppose you know σ1, σf and c

Find expressions for σ3, τf and φ

Problem 01
Given : σ 1 = 15 kPa
σ 3 = 5 kPa
c = 2 kPa
Find : σ f = 8.45 kPa
τ f = 4.76 kPa
φ = 18o
Solution:

r=
( σ 1 − σ 3 ) = ( 15 − 5) = 5 kPa
2 2
τ f = 5cos φ
σ f = 10 − 5sin φ
2
x=
tan φ
 2 
R sin φ = sin φ (10 + x ) =  10 +  sin φ = 5
 tan φ 
10sin φ + 2 cos φ = 5
2 5
sin φ + cos φ =
10 10
φ = 20 :
o
0.529 ≠ 0.5
φ = 18o : 0.499 ≅ 0.5
τ f = 5cos φ = 4.76 kPa
σ f = 10 − 5sin φ = 8.45 kPa

Problem 02
Given : σ 1 = 20 kPa
σ f = 9 kPa
τ f = 7 kPa
Find : c = 2.80 kPa
φ = 25o
σ 3 = 4.54 kPa
Solution:
c = 7 − 9 tan φ
20 − σ 3
r=
2
c 7
x= = −9
tan φ tan φ
20 − r − r sin φ = 9
20 − r − r ( 1 + sin φ ) = 9
 20 + σ 3 c  20 − σ 3
R sin φ =  +  sin φ = r =
 2 tan φ  2
20 + σ 3 20 − σ 3
⋅ sin φ + c cos φ =
2 2
20 − σ 3
20 − (1 + sin φ ) = 9 K K K K ( 1)
2
20 + σ 3 20 − σ 3
sin φ + ( 7 − 9 tan φ ) cos φ = K K K ( 2)
2 2
From ( 1) :
20 − σ 3
( 20-9 ) = (1 + sin φ )
2
2(20 − 9)
− + 20 = σ 3
(1 + sin φ )
From ( 2 ) :
σ3 σ
sin φ + 3 + 10sin φ + 7 cos φ − 9sin φ = 10
2 2
σ3
( 1 + sin φ ) = 10 − 10sin φ + 9sin φ − 7 cos φ
2
σ3
( 1 + sin φ ) = 10 ( 1 − sin φ ) + 9sin φ − 7 cos φ
2
 1 − sin φ   sin φ   cos φ 
σ 3 = 20   + 18   − 14  
 1 + sin φ   1 + sin φ   1 + sin φ 
 22 
σ 3 = 20 −  
 1 + sin φ 
20 ( 1 + sin φ ) − 22 20 ( 1 − sin φ ) + 18sin φ − 14 cos φ
=
( 1 + sin φ ) ( 1 + sin φ )
20 + 20sin φ − 22 = 20 − 20sin φ + 18sin φ − 14 cos φ
22sin φ − 22 = −14 cos φ
1 − sin φ 14 2τ f  τf 
= = = 
cos φ 22 2 ( σ 1 − σ f )  σ 1 − σ f 
1 − sin φ 7
= = 0.636
cos φ 11
1 = sin φ + 0.636 cos φ

φ = 30o : 1 ≠ 1.051
φ = 29o : 1 ≠ 1.041
φ = 25o : 1 ≅ 0.999
c = 7 − 9 tan 25o
c = 2.80 kPa
22
σ 3 = 20 −
1 + sin 25o
σ 3 = 4.54 kPa
Problem 03

Given : σ 1 = 20 kPa
σ f = 8 kPa
c = 3 kPa
Find : σ 3 = 3.65 kPa
τ f = 7.24 kPa
φ = 27.9o
Solution:
τ f − 3 = 8 tan φ K K K ( 1)
20 − r − r sin φ = 8 K K K ( 2 )
20 − σ 3
r= K K K ( 3)
2
3
x= K K K ( 4)
tan φ
 20 + σ 3 3  20 − σ 3
R sin φ =  +  sin φ = K K K ( 5)
 2 tan φ  2
20 − σ 3
τf = cos φ K K K ( 6 )
2
From ( 2 ) :
20 − r (1 + sin φ ) = 8
 20 − σ 3 
20 −   (1 + sin φ ) = 8
 2 
 20 − σ 3 
 2  (1 + sin φ ) = 20 − 8 = 12
 
20(1 + sin φ ) − σ 3 (1 + sin φ ) = 24
From ( 5 ) :
 20 + σ 3   20 − σ 3 
 2  sin φ + 3cos φ =  2 
   
σ σ
10sin φ + 3 sin φ + 3 + 3cos φ = 10
2 2
σ3
( 1 + sin φ ) + 3cos φ = 10 − 10sin φ = 10 ( 1 − sin φ )
2
σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = 20 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 6 cos φ K K K ( B )
σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = 20 ( 1 + sin φ ) − 24 K K K From ( A )
20 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 6 cos φ = 20 ( 1 + sin φ ) − 24
20 − 20sin φ − 20 − 20sin φ − 6 cos φ = −24
−40sin φ − 6 cos φ = −24
20sin φ + 3cos φ = 12
sin φ + 0.15cos φ = 0.6

Trial and Error:

φ = 30o : 0.630 ≠ 0.6
φ = 27 :o
0.588 ≠ 0.6
φ = 28o : 0.602 ≠ 0.6
φ = 27.9o : 0.6005 ≠ 0.6
τ f = 8 tan φ + 3
τ f = 7.24 kPa
24
σ 3 = 20 −
1 + sin φ
σ 3 = 3.65 kPa

Problem 01
Draw the sketch of the Mohrs Circle, marking all that is known and all that is to be found.
Solution:

r=
( σ1 − σ 3 )
2
r cosφ = τ f
( σ 1 + σ 3 ) − r sin φ = σ
f
2
c
x=
tan φ
 ( σ1 + σ 3 ) c  ( σ1 − σ3 )
 +  sin φ = r =
 2 tan φ  2
( σ 1 + σ 3 ) sin φ + c cos φ = ( σ1 − σ3 )
2 2

sin φ + 
2c  ( σ1 − σ 3 )
 cos φ = Find φ by trial and error
 ( σ1 + σ 3 )  ( σ1 + σ 3 )

τf =
( σ1 − σ 3 ) cos φ
2

σf =
( σ1 + σ 3 ) −
( σ1 − σ 3 ) sin φ
2 2
Problem 02
Given : σ 1 , σ f , τ f
Draw Sketch
Find : c, φ , σ 3
Solution:
c = τ f − σ f tan φ
σ1 − σ 3
r=
2
c
x=
tan φ
σ1 − σ 3
σ 1 − r ( 1 + sin φ ) = σ1 − r − r ( 1 + sin φ ) = σ f = σ1 − ( 1 + sin φ )
2
σ1 + σ 3 c  σ1 − σ 3
 2 + tan φ  sin φ = 2
 

σ1 − σ 3
σ1 − σ f = (1 + sin φ )
2

2
(σ 1 −σ f )
= σ1 −σ 3
(1 + sin φ )
σ1 + σ 3 σ − σ3
sin φ + c cos φ = 1
2 2
σ1 σ σ σ
sin φ − 1 + c cos φ = − 3 sin φ − 3
2 2 2 2
σ1 σ
( sin φ − 1) + c cos φ = − 3 (1 + sin φ )
2 2
σ1  σ 1 
( sin φ − 1) + ( τ f − σ f tan φ ) cos φ =  − 1 + ( σ 1 − σ f )  (1 + sin φ ) Find φ by trial and error
2  2 1 + sin φ 
2
Then σ 3 = σ 1 −
1 + sin φ
( σ1 − σ f )
σ1 −σ 3 1 σ + σ3
And c= ⋅ − 1 tan φ
2 cos φ 2
 σ1 σ (1 + sin φ )
τ f cos φ − σ f sin φ = − ( 1 + sin φ ) − 1 ( sin φ − 1) + ( σ 1 − σ f )
2 2 (1 + sin φ )
σ1
=  −1 − sin φ − sin φ +1  + σ 1 − σ f
2  
σ
= − 1 ⋅ 2 sin φ + σ 1 − σ f
2
τ f cos φ − σ f sin φ + σ f = σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ )
τ f cos φ + σ f ( 1 − sin φ ) = σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ )
 cos φ 
τf   = ( σ1 − σ f )
 ( 1 − sin φ ) 

cos φ
=
(σ 1 −σ f )
( 1 − sin φ ) τf

Problem 03
Given : σ 1 , σ f , c
Find : σ 3, τf , φ
Solution:
σ −σ3
r= 1 K K K ( 1)
2
c
x= K K K ( 2)
tan φ
σ + σ 3 c  σ − σ3
R sin φ =  1 +  sin φ = 1 K K K ( 3)
 2 tan φ  2
c = τ f − σ 1 tan φ K K K ( 4 )
σ1 − σ 3
τf = cos φ K K K ( 5 )
2
 σ + σ 3   σ1 − σ 3 
σf =  1 −  sin φ K K K ( 6 )
 2   2 
From ( 6 ) :
σ1 σ1 σ σ
− sin φ + 3 + 3 sin φ = σ f
2 2 2 2
σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) + σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = 2σ f K K K ( A)
From (3):

c cos φ +
( σ 1 + σ 3 ) sin φ = ( σ1 − σ 3 )
2 2
σ1 σ σ σ
c cos φ + sin φ − 1 + 3 sin φ + 3 = 0
2 2 2 2
σ σ
c cos φ − 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) + 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = 0
2 2
σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 2c cos φ K K K ( B)
From (A):
σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = −σ1 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 2σ f
From (B):
σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 2c cos φ
−σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) + 2σ f = σ1 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 2c cos φ
−2σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) = −2σ f − 2c cos φ

 σ f + c cos φ 
( 1 − sin φ ) =   Find φ by trial and error
 σ1 
Then, τ f = c + σ f tan φ

2σ f − σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ )
And, σ 3 =
( 1 + sin φ )
Check Derivation
From(6):
 σ − σ 3   σ1 − σ 3 
σ f = σ1 −  1 −  sin φ
 2   2 
σ σ  σ −σ3 
σ f = σ1 − 1 + 3 −  1 sin φ
2 2  2 
 σ + σ 3   σ1 − σ 3 
σf = 1 −  sin φ
 2   2 
σ σ σ σ
σ f = 1 − 1 sin φ + 3 + 3 sin φ
2 2 2 2
2σ f = σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) + σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ )
Alternatively,
 σ −σ3 
σ f = σ1 −  1  ( 1 + sin φ )
 2 
2 ( σ 1 − σ f ) = ( σ 1 − σ 3 ) ( 1 + sin φ )
2 ( σ 1 − σ f ) = σ 1 ( 1 + sin φ ) − σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ )

σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = σ1 ( 1 + sin φ ) − 2 ( σ1 − σ f )
σ 3 ( 1 + sin φ ) = σ 1 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 2c cos φ
σ 1 ( 1 + sin φ ) − 2 ( σ1 − σ f ) = σ1 ( 1 − sin φ ) − 2c cos φ
σ 1 + σ 1 sin φ − σ 1 + σ 1 sin φ = 2 ( σ 1 − σ f ) − 2c cos φ
2σ 1 sin φ = 2 ( σ 1 − σ f ) − 2c cos φ

sin φ =
(σ 1 −σ f )
−
c cos φ
σ1 σ1

c cos φ ( σ 1 − σ f )
sin φ + =
σ1 σ1