TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING

TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING

TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
In a conventional triaxial compression test, a
cylindrical core sample is loaded axially to
failure, at constant confining pressure.
Conceptually, the peak value of the axial stress
is taken as the confined compressive strength
of the sample. In addition to axial stress, axial
and radial strains may be monitored during this
test, to determine basic elastic constants
(Young’s Modulus, E, and Poisson’s ratio, ν).
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
-Preparation
 A cylindrical sample, with a length-to-diameter ratio of two is
cut
 The sample is pre-saturated
 The sample is installed on bottom filter paper and porous stone
 Place top filter paper, porous stone, and loading cap.
 Place thin rubber membrane around sample and o-rings.
 The confining cell is filled with water.
 Lower the loading arm to rest on the loading cap.
-Testing
 Fill the pressure vessel with hydraulic confining fluid. Raise
the confining pressure (σ 3) (rate 3 psi/s for example)
 The axial stress difference (σ 1- σ 3) is increased up to failure
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Test Types
The required type of test controls the drainage
condition as shown below:
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Test Types
 UU (unconsolidated undrained) test: In this, cell
pressure is applied without allowing drainage. Then
keeping cell pressure constant, deviator stress is
increased to failure without drainage.
 CU (consolidated undrained) test: In this, drainage is
allowed during cell pressure application. Then without
allowing further drainage, deviator stress is increased
keeping cell pressure constant.
 CD (consolidated drained) test: This is similar to CU
test except that as deviator stress is increased, drainage
is permitted. The rate of loading must be slow enough
to ensure no excess pore water pressure develops.
 TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Consolidated drained test (CD)
-For stage 1
 3=’3
 1=3=’1
 U =0.0
- For stage 2
 3=’3 (the same value of stage1)
 1=3+ deviator stress ()=’1
 U =0.0

General case
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Consolidated drained test (CD)

For over
consolidated clay
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Test (CU)

 Shear Strength in terms of effective stress

s  c    tan  
 Shear strength in terms of total stress

s  c   tan 
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Test (CU)
 TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU) Test

-For stage 1
 3=1
 U1≠0 (due to increase in
confining pressure 3) At shearing U is measured due
to increase in 3 and 1
 - For stage 2
 3= (the same value of stage1)
’3=3- U
 1=3+ deviator stress ()
’1=1- U
 U2≠0 (due to increase in
confining pressure 1)
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU) Test
TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TESTING
Effective Stress Parameters
If the same triaxial test results of UU, CU and CD tests are
plotted in terms of effective stresses taking into consideration
the measured pore water pressures, it is observed that all the
Mohr circles at failure are tangent to the same failure
envelope, indicating that shear strength is a unique function of
the effective stress on the failure plane.
 Ex:

The following results were obtained from

consolidated undrained testes on specimens of a
saturated clay. Determine the shear strength
parameters (effective and total)

3 1-2 (kP) at beak u (kP) at peak

100 137 28
200 210 86
300 283 147
Solution