SHEAR STRENGTH TEST OF SOIL – ADVANTAGES, LIMITATIONS & APPLICABILITY

Types of soil shear test based on drainage condition

Shear Strength Test of Soil The choice of appropriate shear strength tests for a particular project depends on the soil type, whether the parameters will be used in a total or effective stress analysis, and the relative importance of the structure. Common laboratory tests include direct shear, triaxial, unconfined compression, and laboratory vane shear test. … Read more

HOW TO CLASSIFY SOIL SHEAR TEST AS PER DRAINAGE CONDITION?

Types of soil shear test based on drainage condition

Types of Soil Shear Test Based on Drainage Condition The shear strength parameters in the case of saturated soils depend very much upon the drainage conditions and therefore in the laboratory shear test, the drainage condition expected in the field for a particular problem should be simulated. Based on drainage condition the shear tests are … Read more

HOW TO DETERMINE RELATIVE DENSITY OF SAND?

Realtive Density Test

Relative Density or Density Index Test of Sand Purpose: This lab is performed to determine the relative density of cohesionless, free-draining soils using a vibrating table. The relative density of a soil is the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the difference between the maximum index void ratio and the field void ratio of a … Read more

HOW TO DETERMINE UNIT WEIGHT OR DENSITY OF SOIL?

Density Test of Soil Purpose: This lab is performed to determine the in-place density of undisturbed soil obtained by pushing or drilling a thin-walled cylinder. The bulk density is the ratio of mass of moist soil to the volume of the soil sample, and the dry density is the ratio of the mass of the … Read more

7 STEPS COMPRISING VISUAL CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL ON SITE

on site identification & classification of soil

How to Classify Soil Visually on site? Purpose: Visually classify the soils. Standard Reference: ASTM D 2488 – Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils (Visual – Manual Procedure) Significance: The first step in any geotechnical engineering project is to identify and describe the subsoil condition. For example, as soon as a ground is … Read more

HOW TO DO UNCONFINED COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH TEST OF SOIL?

Unconfined Compressive Strength Test of Soil Purpose The primary purpose of this test is to determine the unconfined compressive strength, which is then used to calculate the unconsolidated undrained shear strength of the clay under unconfined conditions. According to the ASTM standard, the unconfined compressive strength (qu) is defined as the compressive stress at which … Read more

PERMEABILITY TEST OF SOIL – CONSTANT HEAD METHOD

Constant Head Permeability Test of Sandy Soil Purpose: The purpose of this test is to determine the permeability (hydraulic conductivity) of a sandy soil by the constant head test method. There are two general types of permeability test methods that are routinely performed in the laboratory: The constant head test method, and (2) the falling … Read more

HYDROMETER ANALYSIS OF SOIL – WHAT, WHY & HOW?

In geotechnical engineering, hydrometer analysis is primarily used to know the grain size distribution of a fine grained soil. In this post I will share with you the following things. What is a hydrometer? Why hydrometer analysis is done? What is the theory behind hydrometer analysis of soil? How to perform hydrometer analysis of soil? … Read more

DETERMINATION SHEAR STRENGTH OF CLAY SOIL BY VANE SHEAR TEST (IS-2720-PART-30)

Vane shear test apparatus

Laboratory Vane Shear Test of Soil Aim To determine shear strength of clay soil using laboratory vane shear apparatus. Theory In soil, shear strength is contributed by the two properties. Cohesion, and Angle of internal friction In pure clays the shear resistance due to internal friction is negligible. Hence, the complete shear strength in clays … Read more