INDIAN INSTITUE OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SHIBPUR

EXPERIMENT NO.-05 Date: 14/08/2019

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT:-

UNCONSOLIDATED UNDRAINED TRIAXIAL COMPRESSION TEST

(IS: 2720 ,PART-11 - 1993)

OBJECTIVE:- To determine the Shear Strength Parameters of sand i.e. Cohesion and Friction
Angle at known density and moisture content. Sand has very less and no cohesion. Hence
primary objective is to determine friction angle.
APPARATUS REQUIRED:-

1. 3.8 cm internal diameter 7.6 cm long sample tubes

2. Rubber O-rings,
3. An open ended cylindrical section former, 3.8 cm inside
diameter fitted with a small rubber tube on its side
4. Balance- sensitivity 0.01 gm
5. Latex membrane
6. Glass platens
THEORY:-

Cohesion of soils can be defined as the extent of those powers, connecting the soil
particles. Cohesion is absolutely essential for determining the shear strength of soil,
because soils are most often violated in shear. Because the soil is three-phase, it is distinguished
effective and total cohesion parameters. Soil friction angle is a shear strength parameter of soils.
In the stress plane of Shear stress-effective normal stress, the soil friction angle is the angle of
inclination with respect to the horizontal axis of the Mohr-Coulomb shear resistance line.

For the Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) test, the specimens (assumed to be saturated prior
to test) are subjected to a confining fluid pressure in a tri-axial chamber. Once the specimen is
inside the tri-axial cell, the cell pressure is increased to a predetermined value by rotating the knob
of the constant pressure unit, and the specimen is brought to failure by increasing the vertical stress
by applying a constant rate of axial strain. Since saturation and consolidation do not exist in this
method, original structure and water content of sample is untouched. Pore and back pressures are
not measured during this test and therefore the results can only be interpreted in terms of total
stress over a confinement pressure (stress).

A loading frame in which the load is applied by yoke acting through an elastic
dynamometer, more commonly called a proving ring which used to measure the load. The frame
is operated at a constant rate by a geared screw jack. It is preferable for the machine to be motor
driven, by a small electric motor. A hydraulic pressure apparatus including an air compressor and
water reservoir in which air under pressure acting on the water raises it to the required pressure,
together with the necessary control valves and pressure dials. A tri-axial cell to take 3.8 cm
diameter and 7.6 cm long samples, in which the sample can be subjected to an all surrounded
hydrostatic pressure, together with a vertical compression load acting through a piston. The vertical
load from the piston acts on a pressure cap. The cell is usually designed with a non-ferrous metal
top and base connected by tension rods and with walls formed of Perspex.

NEED AND SCOPE:-

Shear strength parameters (C & φ) are needed to calculate the bearing capacity of soil before
construction takes place and subsequently designing the foundation.

SAMPLE PREPARATION:-

1. The volume of the cylindrical mould is calculated.

2. The natural density of the sand sample is derived and accordingly required sand sample is
weighed for the volume of the mould of 3.8cm Diameter and 7.6 cm Length.
3. The rubber membrane is kept inside the mould and the mould is kept on the glass plate.
 4. Weighed sand is then compacted inside the mould.
5. After the sand sample is compacted the O-Ring is used for binding the sample

PROCEDURE:-

1. The sample is placed in the compression machine and a pressure plate is placed on the top. Care
must be taken to prevent any part of the machine or cell from jogging the sample while it is being
setup, for example, by knocking against this bottom of the loading piston. The probable strength
of the sample is estimated and a suitable proving ring selected and fitted to the machine.
2. The cell must be properly set up and uniformly clamped down to prevent leakage of pressure
during the test, making sure first that the sample is properly sealed with its end caps and rings
(rubber) in position and that the sealing rings for the cell are also correctly placed.
3. When the sample is setup water is admitted and the cell is filled until water escapes from the bleed
valve, at the top, which is then closed.
4. The air pressure in the reservoir is then increased to raise the Hydrostatic Confining pressure (σc)
in the required amount (.5 kg/cm2, 1 kg/cm2 and 2 kg/cm2) or as per the depth where the sample is
brought and the application requirements. The pressure gauge must be watched during the test and
any necessary adjustments must be made to keep the pressure constant.
5. The handle wheel of the screw jack is rotated until the underside of the hemispherical seating of
the proving ring, through which the loading is applied, just touches the cell piston.
6. The piston is then moved down by handle until it is just in touch with the pressure plate on the top
of the sample, and the proving ring seating is again brought into contact for the beginning of the
test.

OBSERVATION AND RECORDING:-

1. The machine is set in motion to give a rate of strain of 1.25mm/minute and Normal pressure
(σ1) is set at 2 kg/cm2.
2. At particular intervals of strain, dial gauge readings and the corresponding proving ring readings
are taken, and the corresponding load is determined using proving ring constant.
3. The experiment is stopped when the dial gauge reading shows constant strain i.e at failure.
4. The dial readings are converted to the appropriate displacement and load units by multiplying with
respective least counts.
5. The corresponding proving ring readings to each reading recorded at regular interval of dial gauge
is multiplied by proving ring constant to find loads.
6. The loads are divided by corrected area which is found by the formula Ac=A0/(1-€)
7. Deviator stress (σd) is found by dividing the final stress at failure by corrected area
8. Find σ3=σc +σd

CALCULATION:-
1. Length of Specimen: 7.7 Cm
2. Diameter of Specimen: 3.8 Cm
3. C/S Area: 11.34 cm2
 4. Volume: 87.33 cc
5. Density of Sand: 1.527 gm/cc
6. Mass of Sand: 132 gm
7. Strain Rate: 1.25mm/minute
8. Proving Ring Constant: 1 Div = .4536 Kg
9. Dial Gauge Constant: 1 Div = .01 mm

Deformation Corrected Prooving Deviator

area ring Stress
Dial gauge Deformation Strain Load (kg)
Reading (kg/𝒄𝒎𝟐 )
Reading (cm)

Confining Pressure= 0.5 kg/ 𝒄𝒎𝟐

0 0 0.0000 11.34 0 0.00 0.00

25 0.025 0.0032 11.38 23 10.43 0.92

50 0.05 0.0065 11.41 38 17.24 1.51

75 0.075 0.0097 11.45 42 19.05 1.66

100 0.1 0.0130 11.49 45 20.41 1.78

125 0.125 0.0162 11.53 48 21.77 1.89

150 0.15 0.0195 11.57 49 22.23 1.92

175 0.175 0.0227 11.60 51 23.13 1.99

200 0.2 0.0260 11.64 53 24.04 2.06

225 0.225 0.0292 11.68 54 24.49 2.10

275 0.275 0.0357 11.76 56 25.40 2.16

300 0.3 0.0390 11.80 57 25.86 2.19

350 0.35 0.0455 11.88 58 26.31 2.21

400 0.4 0.0519 11.96 59 26.76 2.24

450 0.45 0.0584 12.04 61 27.67 2.30

500 0.5 0.0649 12.13 61 27.67 2.28

550 0.55 0.0714 12.21 62 28.12 2.30

600 0.6 0.0779 12.30 61 27.67 2.25

650 0.65 0.0844 12.39 61 27.67 2.23

700 0.7 0.0909 12.47 61 27.67 2.22

800 0.8 0.1039 12.65 61 27.67 2.19

Confining Pressure= 1 kg/ 𝒄𝒎𝟐

0 0 0.0000 11.34 0 0.00 0.00

25 0.025 0.0032 11.38 33 14.97 1.32

50 0.05 0.0065 11.41 57 25.86 2.27

75 0.075 0.0097 11.45 69 31.30 2.73

100 0.1 0.0130 11.49 75 34.02 2.96

125 0.125 0.0162 11.53 78 35.38 3.07

150 0.15 0.0195 11.57 82 37.20 3.22

175 0.175 0.0227 11.60 85 38.56 3.32

200 0.2 0.0260 11.64 86 39.01 3.35

225 0.225 0.0292 11.68 88 39.92 3.42

275 0.275 0.0357 11.76 90 40.82 3.47

300 0.3 0.0390 11.80 91 41.28 3.50

350 0.35 0.0455 11.88 94 42.64 3.59

400 0.4 0.0519 11.96 95 43.09 3.60

450 0.45 0.0584 12.04 96 43.55 3.62

500 0.5 0.0649 12.13 97 44.00 3.63

550 0.55 0.0714 12.21 98 44.45 3.64

600 0.6 0.0779 12.30 98 44.45 3.61

650 0.65 0.0844 12.39 96 43.55 3.52

700 0.7 0.0909 12.47 95 43.09 3.45

800 0.8 0.1039 12.65 92 41.73 3.30

Confining Pressure= 2 kg/ 𝒄𝒎𝟐

0 0 0.0000 11.34 0 0.00 0.00

25 0.025 0.0032 11.38 32 14.52 1.28

50 0.05 0.0065 11.41 87 39.46 3.46

75 0.075 0.0097 11.45 113 51.26 4.48

100 0.1 0.0130 11.49 126 57.15 4.97

125 0.125 0.0162 11.53 134 60.78 5.27

150 0.15 0.0195 11.57 140 63.50 5.49

175 0.175 0.0227 11.60 145 65.77 5.67

200 0.2 0.0260 11.64 149 67.59 5.81

225 0.225 0.0292 11.68 152 68.95 5.90

275 0.275 0.0357 11.76 158 71.67 6.09

300 0.3 0.0390 11.80 161 73.03 6.19

350 0.35 0.0455 11.88 165 74.84 6.30

400 0.4 0.0519 11.96 168 76.20 6.37

450 0.45 0.0584 12.04 170 77.11 6.40

500 0.5 0.0649 12.13 172 78.02 6.43

550 0.55 0.0714 12.21 174 78.93 6.46

600 0.6 0.0779 12.30 174 78.93 6.42

650 0.65 0.0844 12.39 175 79.38 6.41

700 0.7 0.0909 12.47 176 79.83 6.40

800 0.8 0.1039 12.65 176 79.83 6.31

Deviator stress Vs Strain Graph for Confining pressure 0.5 kg/ 𝒄𝒎𝟐 :-

2.50

2.00
Deviator Stress

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
0.0000 0.0100 0.0200 0.0300 0.0400 0.0500 0.0600 0.0700 0.0800
Strain

Deviator stress Vs Strain Graph for Confining pressure 1 kg/ 𝒄𝒎𝟐 :-

4.00

3.50

3.00

2.50
Deviator Stress

2.00

1.50

1.00

0.50

0.00
0.0000 0.0100 0.0200 0.0300 0.0400 0.0500 0.0600 0.0700 0.0800
Strain
 Deviator stress Vs Strain Graph for Confining pressure 2 kg/ 𝒄𝒎𝟐 :-

7.00

6.00

5.00
Deviator Stress

4.00

3.00

2.00

1.00

0.00
0.0000 0.0100 0.0200 0.0300 0.0400 0.0500 0.0600 0.0700 0.0800 0.0900 0.1000
Strain

MOHR’S CIRCLE:-
 Confining Stress (σ3) (kg/𝒄𝒎𝟐 ) Deviator Stress (σd) (kg/𝒄𝒎𝟐 ) Major Principal Stress

(σ1= σ3+ σd)(kg/𝒄𝒎𝟐 )

0.5 2.3 2.8

1 3.64 4.64

2 6.4 8.4

PRECAUTIONS:-

1. We should be very careful while preparing the test specimen.

2. We should carefully extracted the specimen from the tube taking care of both sides of the specimen is
as smooth as possible so that no air is in between membrane and sample.
3. We should taking care while adjusting the confining stress by adjusting the mercury level.
4. We should take all the necessary readings very carefully.
5. We should handle the instrument very carefully.

RESULT AND CONCLUSION:-

2.3+3.64+6.4
 Average deviator stress at failure of given soil is (𝜏𝑎𝑣 ) = = 4.113 Kg/𝑐𝑚2
3
 From Mohr’s circle we get the value of angle of shearing resistance,
ϕ = 35°
 So failure criteria of sand particles are the combination of General shear failure and Local shear
failure because in this soil angle of shearing resistance is in between 28° and 36°.