CE313 Laboratory Manual

Triaxial Consolidated Drained (CD) Test

Aim of the experiment

To determine shear strength parameters i.e. angle of shearing and cohesion of a given soil
sample.
Theory
In triaxial test a cylindrical soil specimen is covered by a rubber membrane, put under pressure
in a confining chamber, and then loaded on the main axis until the soil specimen fails. During
testing, several parameters are measured including the confining pressure, the axial force, the
axial deformation, the generated pore water pressure and the specimen volume change. The test
is repeated on similar specimen at different confining pressures. The results are then used to
draw the Mohrs circles of each of the specimens at failure and then to determine the shear
strength parameters: the shear intercept and the friction angle.
There are three different types of triaxial tests: unconsolidated-undrained (UU) tests,
consolidated- undrained (CU) tests, and consolidated-drained(CD) tests. The difference between
all these tests is the drainage condition and they refer to saturated soil specimens. Different
parameters are measured under different specimen condition: a) during undrained and
unconsolidated conditions, the pore water pressure is measured; b) during drained and
consolidated conditions, the volume change in the specimen is measured.
Apparatus
1. Triaxial test cell with base, perspex cell and head. Compression machine.
2. Lateral pressure assembly.
3. Proving rings.
4. Dial gauge.
5. Rubber membranes.
6. Rubber O rings.
7. Split mould of 3.8 cm dia and 7.6 cm height.
8. Deaired water supply.
9. Porous stone.
10. Filter paper.
11. Balance of 0.01 gm accuracy.
12. Drying oven.
13. Stop watch.
14. Volume change burette.
15. Scale and vernier calipers
Procedure of CD Test for sandy soil specimen
First the weight of the specimen i.e., sand is obtained. Then a split mold is used to form the
specimen during preparation. The rubber membrane is already located to the lower palten using
the O rings. The split mold is placed around the membrane, and a porous stone is placed on the
lower palten inside the membrane. Next, the mold is filled with sand, which is introduced using a
funnel to achieve a very loose condition. A densely packed specimen can be achieved by
tamping moist sand. The porous stone and top cap are put in place, and the membrane is sealed
to the top cap. Finally, the split mould is dismantled. After that the cell is placed, bolted, and
filled with water. Pressure is applied to the water and the vacuum inside the specimen is released.

CE313 Laboratory Manual

Triaxial Consolidated Drained (CD) Test

The test must be conducted following the stress path that closely simulates the stress history of
the specimen in the field. The most common stress path consists of applying the confining
pressure (by means of the control panel) followed by the deviator load.
The dial indicators used for measuring the force and deformation are zeroed. Valves connecting
the top and bottom of the specimen are kept open for drained tests or closed for undrained tests
conditions. In the simplest case, only the dial indicator for the force and dial indicator for the
deformations are read at predetermined increments. For more elaborate testing, volumetric
changes must also be monitored as indicated on the control panel, using the pipettes as well as
changes in pore pressure if they are allowed. The test ends when the sample get failed or when
the strain exceeds 20%. The cell is unloaded and dismantled, and the specimen is removed.
Calculations and results:
A) Specimen Data
: (Specimen No.________)
1) Type of test performed
: Consolidated drained (CD)
2) Type of specimen
:
3) Diameter of specimen, Do (mm) :
4) Initial area of specimen, Ao (mm2) :
5) Initial height of specimen, Ho (mm):
6) Volume of specimen, Vo (mm3) :
7) Mass of specimen (gm)
:
8) Wet unit weight of specimen
:
9) Water content of the specimen
:
10) Dry unit weight of specimen
:
B) Triaxial Compression Data:
1) Consolidation pressure on test specimen, 3 (N/mm2)
2) Rate of axial strain
3) Initial height of specimen, H0(mm)
4) Proving ring calibration

:
:
:
:

CE313 Laboratory Manual

Triaxial Consolidated Drained (CD) Test

Observations:
Axial Deformation

Axial
Strain, a

H
(2) = (1)x
LC (mm)

(3)=H/H0

(Div)
(1)

Volume
change,
V
(4)

Volumetric
strain
v
(5)= V/V0

Corrected
area
Ac
(6)=A0x[(1
-v)/(1-a)]

Minor principal stress (i.e. chamber pressure, 3) (N/mm2) =

Unit axial load at failure, p (N) =
Major principal stress at failure (i.e., 1= 1+p) (N/mm2) =

Proving
Ring
Dial
(Divn)
(7)

Applied Axial
Load

Deviator
Stress

(8)= (7)x
proving ring
calibration (N)

(9) =

(N/mm2)