Vane Shear Test.

Aim: To determine the undrained shear strength of the saturated cohesive soils for soils of
low shear strength using vane shear apparatus
Working formulae:
T
s=
D H D3
2
Shear strength of soil is given by, ( + )
2 6

Where,

T =K
T- applied torque. given by 180

K- spring constant.
- difference in degrees while torque is applied.
D- diameter of the vain.
H- height of vain.
Apparatus:
i) Vane shear apparatus.
ii) Specimen.
iii) Specimen container.
iv) Callipers.
Testing Methodology:
i) Take the soil sample and mix it with enough water so that it is at liquid limit.
ii) The container with a closed bottom is then filled with the sample and is then placed
under the vane. Also take down the dimensions of the container using a Vernier
calipers.
iii) The vane is then lowered into the sample without disturbing the sample. Care is to be
taken that the top of vane should be atleast 10mm below the top of the soil specimen.
iv) Note down the initial reading of the circular graduated scale and start rotating the
vane at a constant speed.
v) When the pointer stops, it indicate shear has taken place. Note down the final pointer
reading.
Observation and Calculations:
Table5: Observation table for vane shear test
Time
Reading Rotation (Degrees)
(mins)
0 184
1 187 3
2 190 6
3 191 7
4 191 7
5 191 7

The Maximum Vane Strength of the soil, (in kPa) is given by

1000 M
=
K

Where M is Maximum Angular Rotation X Calibration Factor (in terms of Torque per degree
of rotation)
K is a constant given by,
2 H D
K= D ( + )
2 6

Where D is Overall width of the vane

H is the length of the vane
Height of the Vane = 12.7 mm
Diameter of the Vane = 12.7 mm
Maximum Rotation = 17
Calibration Factor for No. 1 spring = 0.734245196 N.mm/
K = 4290.1233 mm3
M = 7*0.734245196 = 5.139 N.mm
Vane Shear Strength, = 1.198 kPa

Results:
The vane shear strength is found to be 1.198 kPa for the given soil at water content 62%.
Analysis and inference
Vane shear test is used for soft and saturated soils where undisturbed sample cant be
obtained. The rate of rotation should be within the limits so as to simulate field conditions.
For this we have to use Bjerrums chart for analysis.
Reference
i) GopalRanjan, A. S. R. Rao, Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics, 2nd Edition, New Age
Publishing.
ii) SP: 36 Part 1 Compendium of Indian Standards on Soil Engineering, ISI, New Delhi
iii) Karl Terzaghi, Ralph B. Peck, GholamrezaMesri, Soil Mechanics in Engineering
Practice, 3rd Edition, Wiley India.
iv) ASTM: D2166, Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compression Strength of
Cohesive Soil, ASTM.
v) ASTM: D4648, Standard Test Method for Laboratory Miniature Vane Shear Test for
Saturated Fined-Grained Clayey Soil, ASTM
 Unconfined Compression Test.

Aim: To determine the unconfined compressive strength of the given soil sample using
controlled strain as per IS:2720 Part-10.
Definitions:
Unconfined Compressive Strength: It is the load per unit area at which an unconfined
cylindrical specimen will fail in the axial compression.
Qu = P/A
Where P = compressive load at failure,
A= corrected area = A0 / (1-)
A0 = initial area of specimen
L
= axial strain= L

L- The change in specimen length as read from the strain dial indicator.
L- The initial length of specimen.
Undrained shear strength of soil = Qu / 2
Apparatus:
i) Unconfined compressive testing apparatus
ii) Dial guage
iii) Weighing balance
iv) Oven
v) Knife and spatula
vi) Vernier calipers
vii) Stop watch
viii) Sampling tube and split mould

PROCEDURE:
i) Weigh the split mould and also note down the dimensions of the split mould.
ii) Determine the weight of the soil specimen add sufficient amount of water so that the
soil is in OMC.
iii) Oil the inside of the split mould well.
iv) Add the soil into the mould and compact using a static compactor.
v) Weight the weight of the mould with the soil specimen
vi) Using a sample ejector, eject the soil from the mould.
vii) Now the specimen is placed on the bottom plate of the compression machine. The
upper part is adjusted to make contact with the specimen.
viii) The dial guage is then set to zero and load is applied in a way that the strain rate is
constant through out
 ix) Force and deformations are recorded till the specimen fails or a strain of 20% is
reached.
Observations and Calculations:
Soil sample-1
Diameter of mould = 38 mm
Height of Mould = 76 mm
Volume of Mould = 8.619*10^-5 cu.m
Weight of Soil = 1.414 g/cc
Weight of Soil = 121.87 g
Optimum Moisture Content = 29.5%
Volume of water to be added = 35.95 ml
Strain Rate = 0.6 mm/min
Initial Cross Sectional Area of the Sample = 1134.11 mm2
Table : Observation table for specimen 1
Time Displace Load Strain Area Normal
sec ment kN % (mm2) Stress (kPa)
mm
0 0 0 0 1134.115 0
10 0.1 0.001 0.13157895 1135.6092 0.8805846
20 0.2 0.003 0.26315789 1137.1073 2.6382734
30 0.3 0.006 0.39473684 1138.6095 5.2695856
40 0.4 0.019 0.52631579 1140.1156 16.664977
50 0.5 0.027 0.65789474 1141.6256 23.650485
60 0.6 0.029 0.78947368 1143.1397 25.368727
70 0.7 0.03 0.92105263 1144.6578 26.208705
80 0.8 0.031 1.05263158 1146.18 27.046363
90 0.9 0.032 1.18421053 1147.7062 27.8817
100 1 0.032 1.31578947 1149.2365 27.844574
110 1.1 0.034 1.44736842 1150.7708 29.545413
120 1.2 0.035 1.57894737 1152.3093 30.373789
130 1.3 0.035 1.71052632 1153.8519 30.333183
140 1.4 0.035 1.84210526 1155.3986 30.292576
150 1.5 0.036 1.97368421 1156.9495 31.116311
160 1.6 0.036 2.10526316 1158.5045 31.074544
170 1.7 0.037 2.23684211 1160.0637 31.894799
180 1.8 0.038 2.36842105 1161.6272 32.712733
190 1.9 0.038 2.5 1163.1948 32.668646
200 2 0.039 2.63157895 1164.7667 33.4831
210 2.1 0.04 2.76315789 1166.3428 34.295233
220 2.2 0.04 2.89473684 1167.9233 34.248826
230 2.3 0.04 3.02631579 1169.508 34.202418
240 2.4 0.041 3.15789474 1171.097 35.009911
250 2.5 0.041 3.28947368 1172.6903 34.962343
260 2.6 0.041 3.42105263 1174.288 34.914775
270 2.7 0.041 3.55263158 1175.89 34.867207
280 2.8 0.042 3.68421053 1177.4964 35.668899
290 2.9 0.042 3.81578947 1179.1072 35.620171
300 3 0.042 3.94736842 1180.7224 35.571443
310 3.1 0.042 4.07894737 1182.3421 35.522715
320 3.2 0.043 4.21052632 1183.9662 36.318606
330 3.3 0.043 4.34210526 1185.5947 36.268718
340 3.4 0.043 4.47368421 1187.2278 36.218829
350 3.5 0.044 4.60526316 1188.8653 37.010079
360 3.6 0.044 4.73684211 1190.5074 36.959031
370 3.7 0.045 4.86842105 1192.154 37.7468
380 3.8 0.046 5 1193.8052 38.532249
390 3.9 0.046 5.13157895 1195.461 38.478881
400 4 0.046 5.26315789 1197.1213 38.425512
410 4.1 0.046 5.39473684 1198.7863 38.372143
420 4.2 0.045 5.52631579 1200.4559 37.485757
430 4.3 0.045 5.65789474 1202.1302 37.433549
440 4.4 0.045 5.78947368 1203.8092 37.38134
450 4.5 0.044 5.92105263 1205.4928 36.499595
460 4.6 0.044 6.05263158 1207.1812 36.448547
470 4.7 0.044 6.18421053 1208.8743 36.397499
480 4.8 0.043 6.31578947 1210.5721 35.520395
490 4.9 0.043 6.44736842 1212.2748 35.470506
500 5 0.042 6.57894737 1213.9822 34.596883
510 5.1 0.042 6.71052632 1215.6944 34.548155
520 5.2 0.04 6.84210526 1217.4115 32.856597

Fig : Normal Stress (kPa) v/s Axial strain (%)

 Normal Stress Vs Axial strain
50

40

30
Normal stress (kPa) 20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Strain (%)

Maximum Strength, Qu = 38.47 kPa

Undrained Cohesion, cu = Qu/2 =19.235 kPa
Failure Strain = 5.131 %
From the above chart,
Secant Modulus of Elasticity, E = 38.47/ (5.131/100) = 749.75 kPa

Soil Specimen 2:
Diameter of Mould = 3.8 cm
Height of Mould = 7.6 cm
Volume of Mould = 86.19 cc
Weight of Soil = 1.414 g/cc
Weight of Soil = 121.87 g
Optimum Moisture Content = 29.5%
Volume of water to be added = 35.95 ml
Strain Rate = 0.6 mm/min
Initial Cross Sectional Area of the Sample = 1134.11 mm2
Table : Observation table for Specimen 2
Time Displacement Load Strain Area (mm2) Normal
sec mm kN % Stress(kPa)

0 0 0 0 1134.1149 0
10 0.1 0.001 0.1315789 1135.6092 0.8805846
20 0.2 0.002 0.2631579 1137.1073 1.7588489
30 0.3 0.004 0.3947368 1138.6095 3.5130571
 40 0.4 0.017 0.5263158 1140.1156 14.910769
50 0.5 0.028 0.6578947 1141.6256 24.526429
60 0.6 0.03 0.7894737 1143.1397 26.243511
70 0.7 0.031 0.9210526 1144.6578 27.082329
80 0.8 0.031 1.0526316 1146.18 27.046363
90 0.9 0.032 1.1842105 1147.7062 27.8817
100 1 0.033 1.3157895 1149.2365 28.714717
110 1.1 0.033 1.4473684 1150.7708 28.67643
120 1.2 0.034 1.5789474 1152.3093 29.505967
130 1.3 0.034 1.7105263 1153.8519 29.46652
140 1.4 0.035 1.8421053 1155.3986 30.292576
150 1.5 0.037 1.9736842 1156.9495 31.980653
160 1.6 0.037 2.1052632 1158.5045 31.937726
170 1.7 0.038 2.2368421 1160.0637 32.756821
180 1.8 0.038 2.3684211 1161.6272 32.712733
190 1.9 0.039 2.5 1163.1948 33.528347
200 2 0.039 2.6315789 1164.7667 33.4831
210 2.1 0.041 2.7631579 1166.3428 35.152614
220 2.2 0.042 2.8947368 1167.9233 35.961267
230 2.3 0.042 3.0263158 1169.508 35.912539
240 2.4 0.044 3.1578947 1171.097 37.571612
250 2.5 0.044 3.2894737 1172.6903 37.520563
260 2.6 0.045 3.4210526 1174.288 38.321095
270 2.7 0.045 3.5526316 1175.89 38.268886
280 2.8 0.045 3.6842105 1177.4964 38.216678
290 2.9 0.046 3.8157895 1179.1072 39.012568
300 3 0.046 3.9473684 1180.7224 38.9592
310 3.1 0.047 4.0789474 1182.3421 39.75161
320 3.2 0.049 4.2105263 1183.9662 41.386318
330 3.3 0.049 4.3421053 1185.5947 41.329469
340 3.4 0.049 4.4736842 1187.2278 41.27262
350 3.5 0.05 4.6052632 1188.8653 42.056908
360 3.6 0.05 4.7368421 1190.5074 41.998899
370 3.7 0.05 4.8684211 1192.154 41.940889
380 3.8 0.051 5 1193.8052 42.720537
390 3.9 0.051 5.1315789 1195.461 42.661368
400 4 0.051 5.2631579 1197.1213 42.602198
410 4.1 0.051 5.3947368 1198.7863 42.543028
420 4.2 0.052 5.5263158 1200.4559 43.316875
430 4.3 0.052 5.6578947 1202.1302 43.256545
440 4.4 0.052 5.7894737 1203.8092 43.196215
450 4.5 0.052 5.9210526 1205.4928 43.135886
460 4.6 0.05 6.0526316 1207.1812 41.418804
470 4.7 0.05 6.1842105 1208.8743 41.360794
480 4.8 0.049 6.3157895 1210.5721 40.476729
 490 4.9 0.048 6.4473684 1212.2748 39.594984
500 5 0.048 6.5789474 1213.9822 39.539295
510 5.1 0.048 6.7105263 1215.6944 39.483606
520 5.2 0.046 6.8421053 1217.4115 37.785087

Figure : Normal Stress (kPa) v/s Axial strain(%)

Normal Stress Vs Axial strain

50

40

30
Normal stress (kPa) 20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Strain (%)

Maximum Strength, Qu = 43.196 kPa

Undrained Cohesion, Cu = Qu/2 = 21.598 kPa
Failure Strain = 5.79 %
From the above chart,
Secant Modulus of Elasticity, E = 43.196./ (5.79/100) = 746.04 kPa

Result:
The undrained shear strength of the soil sample is 20.41 kPa.
Inference:
The obtained value corresponds to that of shear strength at plastic limit as the soil is at OMC
which is very near to plastic limit. From the data we can understand that the strength of
kaolinite is greater than the rest. But the obtained value is slightly less than the actual value.
This may be due to some experimental errors that might have occurred during experiment.
Further the value for clay is very less which indicates careful precautions or ground
improvement work need to be done during construction.
Table : Comparison of results
Type of soil Undrained Shear strength(kPa)

Red soil 90

Marine soil 36

Kaolinite soil 124.67