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Shear Strength Questions CEPC16

The document contains a series of examples related to soil mechanics, focusing on determining shear strength, stress parameters, and failure conditions of various soil samples under different testing scenarios. Each example presents specific conditions and asks for calculations regarding shear strength, principal stresses, and other relevant soil properties. The examples cover a range of tests including triaxial tests, direct shear tests, and vane shear tests, highlighting the importance of understanding soil behavior under different loading conditions.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
42 views4 pages

Shear Strength Questions CEPC16

The document contains a series of examples related to soil mechanics, focusing on determining shear strength, stress parameters, and failure conditions of various soil samples under different testing scenarios. Each example presents specific conditions and asks for calculations regarding shear strength, principal stresses, and other relevant soil properties. The examples cover a range of tests including triaxial tests, direct shear tests, and vane shear tests, highlighting the importance of understanding soil behavior under different loading conditions.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Example 1:

The subsoil at a site consists of a 10 m thick homogeneous layer of Dense Sand having the following
properties ρd=1.62 gm/cc, G=2.68, φ= 35°,

The natural ground water table lies at 2m below the ground surface

1. Determine the shear strength of soil along a horizontal plane through the middle of sand layer.

2. If during mansoon the W.T rises to the ground level, how will the shear strength along the same plane
change?

Assume that the soil is dry above W.T.

Example 2:

Prove that failure plane is the one on which difference of shear stress and shear strength is min. If
η=(Shear Stress-Shear Strength)=( τ)-(C-σ tan φ )

Example 3:

Prove the Mohr Circle approach that angle of maximum obliquity is the criteria of failure for
cohesionless soil.

Example 4:

A soil sample is subjected to a major principal stress of 2 kg/cm2 and minor principal stress of 1.1kg/cm2.
Determine the normal and shear stress acting on a plane at 30° to the major principal stress.

Example 5:

A direct shear box test on a remolded sample of sand gave the following observation at the time of
failure.

Normal Load=288 N, Shear Load=173 N, Cross-sectional area of sample=36cm2.

Determine

1. Angle of Internal friction

2. Magnitude and direction of principal stress in the zone of failure.

Example 6:

A sample of dry sand tested in triaxial and direct shear test in the triaxial test the sample fails when
major and minor principal stresses are 960 kN/m2 and 260 kN/m2 respectively what shear strength
would be expected in direct shear test when normal stress is 230 kN/m2.

Example 7:

The following are the result of a set of drained triaxial tests, performed on three identical specimens of
38 mm diameter and 76 mm height.
Sample No Cell Deviator load at Change in Axial
2
Pressure(kN/m ) failure(kN) Volume(cc) deformation(mm)
1. 50 0.0711 -0.9 5.1
2. 100 0.0859 -1.3 7.0
3. 150 0.0956 -1.6 9.1
Determine the shear parameter of the soil.

Example 8:

The following results were obtained from a laboratory triaxial test with arrangements for pore pressure
measurements

Sample No Cell Deviator load at Pore pressure at


Pressure(kg/cm2) failure(kg/cm2) failure(kg/cm2)
1. 1 2.02 0.41
2. 1.5 2.18 0.62
3. 2 2.37 0.7
Determine the shear parameters of soil considering

i) Total stresses ii) Effective stresses

Example 9:

An unconfined compression test was performed on an undisturbed sample of normally consolidated


clay, having a diameter of 3.75 cm and 7.5 cm height, failure occurred under a vertical compressive load
of 116.3 kg. The axial deformation recorded at failure was 0.9 cm. A Remolded sample of the same soil
failed under a compressive load of 68.2 kg and the corresponding axial deformation was 1.15 cm.

Determine the unconfined strength and cohesion of the soil in the undisturbed as well as Remolded
state.

Also determine the sensitivity of the soil and hence classify it accordingly.

Example 10:

A Vane shear test was carried out in the field to determine the shearing strength of a deep-seated layer
of soft clay. The Vane was 11.25 cm high and 7.5 cm across the blades. The equivalent torque recorded
at the torque head at failure was 417.5 kg. cm. The Vane was then rotated very rapidly in order to
completely remold the soil. It was found that the remolded soil can be sheared by applying a torque of
283.2 kg.cm. Determine the shear strength of the soil in the undisturbed and remolded states and its
sensitivity.

Example 11:

Three identical specimen of a partially saturated clay were subjected to an unconsolidated undrained
triaxial test and the following results were obtained.

Sample No Cell pressure(kg/cm2) Deviator stress (kg/cm2)


1. 0.5 0.8
2. 1 0.97
3. 1.5 1.13
Determine the shear parameters of the soil.

Example 12:

A sample of dry coarse sand is tested in the laboratory triaxial apparatus in the undrained condition.
Under a cell pressure of 2kg/cm² the sample failed when the deviator stress reached 4.38 kg/cm².

(i) Determine the shear parameter of the soil.

(ii) At what deviator stress will the soil fail if the cell pressure be 3 kg/cm².

Example 13:

The shear strength parameter of a given soil are c = 0.26 kg/cm² and φ = 21°. Undrained triaxial tests are
to be carried out on specimens of the soil. Determine

(i) Deviator stress at which failure will occur if the cell pressure be 2.5 kg/cm²

(ii) The cell pressure during the test. it the sample tails when the deviator. Stress reaches 1.68 kg/cm2

Example 14:

A CU (Consolidated Undrained) test was conducted on a soil sample with cell pressure, σc = 100 kN/m².
The deviator stress at failure, (σ1 - σ3 ) was observed to be 60 kN/m². The soil is known to have a
cohesion (c' = 0) and the angle of shearing resistance φ’ = 30° (Referred to effective stress) and an
undrained cohesion C = 0 and angle of shearing resistance φ = 13.3° (Referred to total stress). What was
the pore water pressure at Failure?

Example 15:

(i) A saturated clay sample was obtained in field without allowing the water content and void ratio to
change. The sample was subjected to the following stresses in field.

σ= 240 kN/m², u = 140 kN/m², σ’= 100 kN/m².

(ii) Sample was placed in a triaxial cell & cell pressure applied =100kN/m2 under undrained condition.
What are the stress acting on it?

(iii) Cell pressure raised to 320kN/m2 with drainage valve closed. What are σ, u and σ’.

(iv) The drainage valve opened and soil allowed to consolidate under the cell pressure. What are σ, u
and σ’.

(v) Comment on nature of change in water content & degree of saturation after consolidation.

(vi) Drainage valve is closed and additional axial stress applied with cell pressure held constant. When
additional stress was 100kN/m2, the pore water pressure was found to be 80 kN/m2. What is the value
of A at this stage.

Example 16:
Two identical specimens of a backfill soil, when tested in a triaxial compression test, gave the following
stresses (in kg/cm²) at failure.

Sample No. All round pressure Axial stress Pore pressure


1 1 2.2 0.6
2 2 3.6 1.1

(i) Find axial stress at which, the third identical specimen of the same soil will fail if all round pressure is
2.8 kg/cm².

(ii) Find total & effective shear strength parameters of soil.

Example 17:

In a triaxial test, a sample was consolidated under a cell pressure of 700 kN/m² and a back pressure of
350 kN/m². Thereafter with drainage not allowed, the cell pressure was raised to 800 kN/m². Resulting
in the increased pore water pressure reading to 445 kN/m². The axial load was than increased to give a
deviator stress of 575 kN/m² (while the cell pressure remained at 800 kN/m²) and a pore water reading
of 640 KN/m². Calculate pore pressure coefficient.

Example 18:

In a consolidated drained triaxial test, a specimen of clay fails at a cell pressure of 60 kN/m². The
effective shear strength parameter are C=15 kN/m² and 4 20°. Determine the compressive strength

Example 19:

An Embankment is being built of a soil whose effective stress shear strength parameter c' and ' are
respectively c' = 100 kN/m² and ' = 20°. The unit weight of soil 17 kN/m³. The pore pressure parameter
are A = 0.6, B=0.8. The height of Embankment has just been raised from 5 m to 8m. Determine the shear
strength of the soil at the base of embankment. It can be assumed that lateral pressure at any point is
one half the vertical pressure.

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