Shear Strength Theory
Strength of different
materials
Steel
Tensile
strength
Concrete
Compressive
strength
Soil
Shear
strength
Presence of pore water
Complex
behavior
Introduction
Shear strength defined as the maximum stress
that a soil can sustain before failure occurs
Not a failure of soil particles
Failure by relative movement of particles
Depends on the normal stress acting on any
plane within the soil
particles move
relative to each
other
failure plane does not pass through particles
Soils generally fail in shear
Embankment
Strip footing
Failure surface
Mobilized shear
resistance
At failure, shear stress along the failure surface
(mobilized shear resistance) reaches the shear
strength.
Shear failure
mechanism
failure
surface
The
soil
grains
slide over each
other along the
failure surface.
No crushing of
individual
grains.
At failure, shear stress along the failure surface ()
reaches the shear strength (f).
Why is shear strength
important?
resistance to movement of soil
block governed by strength on
plane
movement on plane governed by
weight of soil block
Seattle, 2014
The 1993 landslide at Holbeck
Hall, North Yorkshire.
ultimate bearing
capacity of foundations
ultimate bearing
capacity of foundations
Retaining wall design lateral earth pressures
At failure, shear stress along the failure surface ()
reaches the shear strength (f).
Introduction
In order to define the shear strength of a soil,
you must be able to:
Define the state of stress in a soil mass; and
Establish a relationship between shear and normal
stress at failure define a FAILURE CRITERION
Define the state of stress in a soil mass:
Forces acting on plane (AC) through point in soil mass:
+
+
N = 1
Sign conventions
H = xsin
T = 1
Area = 1
Area = 1sin
Area = 1cos
V = ycos
Define the state of stress in a soil mass:
Summing forces in horizontal and vertical
directions gives:
Dividing by area gives:
Solving for and yields:
Square and add these
equations, gives us the
equation of the Mohr
circle of stress
Introduction
What is shear strength?
Related to three components:
Frictional resistance to sliding
Cohesion and adhesion
Interlock
Frictional resistance to sliding
N
N
At equilibrium,
T
N
=
=
Rsin
Rcos
Dividing T/N gives, Rsin/Rcos = tan
Hence T = Ntan
Dividing by area, gives
= ntan
R
T
T
R
Frictional resistance to sliding
As is increased, sliding will be imminent when a limiting value of is reached,
this is , therefore at failure - f = ntan
f
Friction +
interlock
tan
friction
Usually represented asMohr-Coulomb equation
Failure envelope:
f
f = c + ntan
Tan
note that c and are
curve fitting parameters
cohesion
n
Shear Failure in Soils
Defined previously as:
the maximum stress that a soil can sustain before failure
occurs
Can also be considered as:
the resistance to deformation by continuous shear
displacement of soil particles along surfaces of rupture
Not purely a function of peak shear stresses
Shear Failure in Soils
Engineers need to be able to define the nature and
extent of stress and deformation (strain) at the time of
failure
For frictional soils the most appropriate theory is the
Mohr Theory of Rupture
Mohrs theory indicates that there is a critical combination
of shear and normal stresses acting on a plane
Shear Failure in Soils
So, failure will occur when a state of stress
exists in the soil so that one point on the
Mohr circle touches the failure or rupture
line
i.e. failure line is a tangent to the circle at a
single point
If the shear strength is
represented by = f():
Shear stress
Mohrs envelope:
compression
tension
= f()
Normal stress
II
III
IV
Any combination of stresses that
falls below this line, represent
the STABLE condition
Shear stress
Mohrs envelope:
compression
tension
= f()
Normal stress
II
III
IV
Circles I IV touch (are tangent
to) the envelope, indicating
impending failure
Shear stress
Mohrs envelope:
compression
tension
= f()
Normal stress
II
III
IV
Since the envelope is curved, it
is clear that the friction angle
reduces with increasing
confining stress ()
Shear stress
Mohrs envelope:
compression
tension
= f()
Normal stress
II
III
IV
The non-linearity however, is
slight, and so it is more
convenient to represent this
envelope as a straight line
Shear stress
compression
tension
Mohr-Coulomb envelope:
= c + tan
Normal stress
II
III
IV
Shear Failure in Soils
Shear strength is a function of the normal stress and soil
properties (such as c and )
Shear stress
f
f
f =
3
limiting value of f is defined as
Normal stress
31
Shear Failure in Soils
Shear strength is a function of the normal stress and soil
properties (such as c and )
Shear stress
f
The shear strength for a purely
frictional soil can be written as
S f f tan
Normal stress
32
Shear Failure in Soils
Shear strength is a function of the normal stress and soil
properties (such as c and )
Shear stress
The shear strength for a purely
frictional soil can be written as
S f f tan
Normal stress
33
Failure surface
f c' ' tan '
Soil elements at different locations
Y ~ stable
X ~ failure
The soil element does not fail if
the Mohr circle is contained
within the envelope
GL
c
Y
c
Initially, Mohr circle is a point
c+
As loading progresses, Mohr
circle becomes larger
GL
c
Y
c
c
.. and finally failure occurs
when Mohr circle touches the
envelope
1 1
If we consider an element of
soil subjected to a
combination of stresses
(Principal stresses 1 > 3)
At some value, a plane of
failure will develop in the
element
1
1
3
Along this failure plane, a
critical combination of shear
stress and normal stress
will develop
Along this failure plane, a
critical combination of shear
stress and normal stress
will develop
Using a Mohr circle, we can
analyse these stress
conditions
1
3
The failure envelope is
defined by:
f c tan
The orientation of the failure
plane, and hence point D
can be established, since
we know that the angle
between the major principal
plane and the failure plane
is
1
1
3
The orientation of the failure
plane, and hence point D
can be established, since
we know that the angle
between the major principal
plane and the failure plane
is
1
1
3
Since the angle subtended
from the centre to the failure
point is 2 or:
2 90
1
2
1
1
1
2 90
which becomes:
D
45
2
1
1
1
2 90
which becomes:
45
2
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
c
B
C
3
E
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
We know that CF is
parallel to the failure
plane, inclined at angle
, and that this is equal
to 45 + /2
We can see that OF is:
c
B
C
3
E
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
We know that CF is
parallel to the failure
plane, inclined at angle
, and that this is equal
to 45 + /2
We can see that OF is:
OF OA sin ' ( AB BO ) sin '
c
B
C
3
E
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
We know that CF is
parallel to the failure
plane, inclined at angle
, and that this is equal
to 45 + /2
We can see that OF is:
OF OA sin ' ( AB BO ) sin '
c
B
C
3
E
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
We know that CF is
parallel to the failure
plane, inclined at angle
, and that this is equal
to 45 + /2
We can see that OF is:
OF OA sin ' ( AB BO ) sin '
c
B
C
3
E
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
We know that CF is
parallel to the failure
plane, inclined at angle
, and that this is equal
to 45 + /2
We can see that OF is:
OF OA sin ' ( AB BO ) sin '
c
B
C
3
E
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
We know that CF is
parallel to the failure
plane, inclined at angle
, and that this is equal
to 45 + /2
We can see that OF is:
OF OA sin ' ( AB BO ) sin '
Since OF is the radius
of the circle:
OF 0.5 '1 '3
c
B
C
3
E
1
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
OF OA sin ' ( AB BO) sin '
If,
OF 0.5 '1 '3
and
AB c' cot '
and with BO written as:
BO 0.5 '1 '3
Which defines the
centre of the circle
c
B
C
3
E
1
OF OA sin ' ( AB BO) sin '
It is useful to be able to
define the Mohr-Coulomb
failure criterion in terms of
the Principal stresses
becomes:
sin '
0.5 '1 '3
'1 '3
c' cot ' 0.5 '1 '3 2c' cot ' '1 '3
Simplifying and solving
for 3, we obtain:
1 sin '
cos '
2c'
1 sin '
1 sin '
'3 '1
c
B
C
3
E
1
Since:
To give:
1 sin '
'
tan 2 45
2
1 sin '
'
'
'3 '1 tan 2 45 2c' tan 45
2
2
and:
cos '
'
tan 45
2
1 sin '
we can rearrange this:
1 sin '
cos '
2c'
1 sin '
1 sin '
'3 '1
or:
'
'
'1 '3 tan 45 2c' tan 45
2
2
'
'
'3 '1 tan 2 45 2c' tan 45
2
2
These are alternative forms of the
Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion,
written in terms of effective stress
'
'
'1 '3 tan 45 2c' tan 45
2
2
Determination of
Shear Strength
Introduction
Only considered theoretical
considerations to this point
Validity and value of these
considerations is closely related to
the parameters and observations
from experimental and field studies
Strength parameters are obtained
from:
direct shear test
triaxial test; and
Determination of
Shear Strength
Introduction
Soils are neither continuous,
homogenous nor isotropic
Limited number of tests will only give
approximations to the characteristics
of the soil mass
Samples should be representative
ideally undisturbed
sample quality is profoundly important
Test conditions should be
representative
Determination of
shear strength
parameters of soils (c, orc
Field tests
Laboratory
tests
on
specimens
taken
from
representative
undisturbed
samples
Most common laboratory
determine
the
shear
parameters are,
tests to
strength
[Link] shear test
[Link] shear test
Other laboratory tests include,
Direct simple shear test, torsional ring
shear test, plane strain triaxial test,
laboratory vane shear test, laboratory
fall cone test
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Vane shear test
Torvane
Pocket penetrometer
Fall cone
Pressuremeter
Static cone penetrometer
Standard penetration test
Laboratory tests
Field conditions
A representative
soil sample
vc
hc
hc
vc
Before construction
vc +
hc
hc
vc +
After and during
construction
vc +
Laboratory tests
Simulating field conditions in
the laboratory
0
vc
0
0
0
Representative
soil
sample
taken from the
site
l
a
i
ax
r
T
t
s
te
Di
r
hc ect s
he
ar
hc
vc
Step 1
Set the specimen in
the apparatus and
apply the initial
stress condition
hc
hc
vc +
vc
te
st
vc
Step 2
Apply
the
corresponding field
stress conditions
Determination of
Shear Strength
Direct shear test
usually carried out in a shear box
Determination of
Shear Strength
Direct shear test
usually carried out in a shear box
shear force applied to one half
soil sample
other half is
restrained
Determination of
Shear Strength
Direct shear test
usually carried out in a shear box
vertical load N applied
through the top platen
shear force applied to one half
soil sample
other half is
restrained
Determination of
Shear Strength
Direct shear test
usually carried out in a shear box
very simple arrangement
very rapid test
no facility to control drainage and no
means of measuring pore water
pressures
tend to be used on coarse grained soils
free-draining
excess pore pressures will dissipate
instantaneously, hence u = 0
total stress = effective stress
Direct shear test
Test procedure
Steel ball
Pressure plate
Porous
plates
S
Proving ring to
measure
shear force
Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation
Direct shear test
P
Test procedure
Steel ball
Pressure plate
Porous
plates
S
Proving ring to
measure
shear force
Step 1: Apply a vertical load to the specimen and wait for consolidation
Step 2: Lower box is subjected to a horizontal displacement at a constant rate
Direct shear test
Analysis of test results
Normal force (P)
Normal stress
Area of cross section of the sample
Shear resistance developed at the sliding surface (S)
Shear stress
Area of cross section of the sample
Note: Cross-sectional area of the sample changes with the horizontal displacement
Direct shear tests on sands
Stress-strain relationship
Dense sand/
OC clay
Loose sand/
NC clay
Expansion
Compression
Change in height
of the sample
Dense sand/OC Clay
Shear displacement
Loose sand/NC Clay
Determination of
Shear Strength
Direct shear test
For any soil material, a number of
tests will be carried out (>3) at
different values of normal stress
From each test, the maximum
shear stress f is plotted against
the corresponding value of n
The straight line plotted through
the points is the effective stress
failure envelope for that soil, and
satisfies:
f c' n ' tan '
Direct shear tests on sands
How to determine strength parameters c and
Shear stress,
Normal stress = 3
Normal stress = 2
f3
f2
f1
Normal stress = 1
Shear displacement
Normal stress,
Shear stress at failure,
Mohr Coulomb failure
envelope
Direct shear tests on sands
Some important facts on
strength parameters c and
of sand
Sand is cohesionless
hence c = 0
Direct shear tests are
drained and pore water
pressures are dissipated,
hence u = 0
Therefore,
= and c = c = 0
Direct shear tests on clays
In case of clay, horizontal displacement should be applied at a very slow rate to
allow dissipation of pore water pressure (therefore, one test would take several
days to finish)
Failure envelopes for clay from drained direct shear tests
Normally consolidated clay (c = 0)
Normal force,
Shear stress at failure,
Overconsolidated clay (c 0)
Interface tests on direct shear apparatus
In many foundation design problems and retaining wall problems, it is required to
determine the angle of internal friction between soil and the structural material
(concrete, steel or wood)
Soil
Foundation material
f ca ' tan
Where,
ca = adhesion,
= interface angle of friction
Advantages of direct shear apparatus
Due to the smaller thickness of the sample, rapid drainage can be achieved
Can be used to determine interface strength parameters
Clay samples can be oriented along the plane of weakness or an identified
failure plane
Disadvantages of direct shear apparatus
Failure occurs along a predetermined failure plane
Area of the sliding surface changes as the test progresses
Non-uniform distribution of shear stress along the failure surface
