LABORATORY 3

Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


Table of Contents

Introduction................................................. 2
Purpose and Objectives....................................... 2
Theory....................................................... 2
Equipment and Apparatuses.................................... 4
Method and Procedure......................................... 6
Numerical example............................................ 6
Lab Data Observation......................................... 7
Calculation.................................................. 9
Spring No.2 ................................................ 9
Spring No.3 ............................................... 11
Discussion.................................................. 14
Question and Answer: ...................................... 14
Advantages and Disadvantages: ............................. 15
Conclusion.................................................. 15
References.................................................. 16
Appendix.................................................... 16
Appendix A: ............................................... 16


LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


Vane shear test is used to measure the shear strength of a soil. It also estimated and
measured the fully saturated clays undrained shear strength without derangement in the
specimen. This test can be conducted in field and laboratory however, in laboratory can only
execute the experiment with low shear strength (0.3 kg/cm2) for which unconfined test
cannot be performed. The test apparatus are composed of 3 different diameters of 4-blade
stainless vane that is attached in a steel rod that pushed vertically in the soil. The pocket
value that can get in small vane should multiply by two however, the value can get in large
vane should divide by two and the value that can get in medium vane is as it is. The test is
performed by pushing the vane vertically in the soil and rotated it clockwise from the
surface to determine the torsional force. The soil will resist the rotation of the vane and its
resistance is the force of soil that causes the cylindrical area to be sheared by the vane.
When the rotation of the vane is continues it means that the soil fails in shear and it is
normal that the rotation is continued after measuring the shear strength.
The vane test provides a measure of the stress-strain behavior, the undrained shear
strength, and the remolded strength of soft saturated cohesive soils.
Fairly reliable results for the in situ undrained shear strength, c
u
(=0 concept) ofsoft plastic
cohesive soils may be obtained directly from vane shear tests during the drilling operation
(ASTM Test Designatin 2573). The shear vane usually consists of four thin, equal sized steel
plates welded to a steel torque rod. First, the vane is pushed into the soil. Then torque is
applied at the top of the torque rod to rotate the vane at a uniform speed. A cylinder of soil
of height h and diameter d will resist the torque until the soil fails. The undrained shear
strength of the soil can be calculated as follows; if T is the maximum torque applied at the
head of the torque rod to cause failure, it should be equal to the sum of the resisting
moment of the shear force along the side surface of the soil cylinder (M
s
) and the resisting
moment of the shear force at each end (M
e
).

Two Ends
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


The resisting moment M
s
can be given as

The standard rate of torque application is 0.1
o
/
sec
. the maximum torque T is applied to
cause failure can be given as;




Or

According to ASTM (2010), for rectangular vanes,

)
If h/d=2,

Thus

For tapered vanes,

)

Field vane shear tests are moderately rapid and economical and are used extensively in field
soil-exploration programs. The test gives good results in soft and medium stiff clays, and it is
also an excellent test to determine the properties of sensitive clays.


Surface Area Moment Arm
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


1. Laboratory Vane Apparatus [Figure 1]
2. Calibrated springs supplied with the vane apparatus [Figure 2]
3. Standard vane, 12.7mm [Figure3]
4. Attachment for holding soil sample tubes or glass sampling jars.



















1
2
3
6
8
7
9
11
12
13
10
5
4
Figure 1; Laboratory Vane apparatus
14
15
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


1. Hand Knob
2. Vertical screw control
3. Knurled Knob
4. Electrical motor
5. Pointer
6. Carrier
7. Vane deflection scale
8. Spring deflection scale
9. Vertical shaft
10. Rotating socket
11. Vane
12. Cylinder
13. Both for tighten the cylinder to plate.
14. Plate
15. Calibrated springs.
















15
Figure 2 ; Calibrated Springs
Figure 3 ; Vane
11
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION



The vane apparatus is assembled by mounting the vane and spring appropriate for
the soil to be tested. Instruction provided with the vane apparatus are to be
followed for adjustment of the pointer used in reading the spring and vane
deflection.
The soft clay to be tested may include tube samples 38mm (1 in) or 115mm (4
in) or soil in glass sampling jars or Proctor molds. The clamping attachment will
hold the soil container vertically below the vane shaft.
The soil surface should be trimmed so as to permit the vane to be lowered into the
soil to a depth sufficient to ensure that shearing will take place on the horizontal
edges of the vane without movement of the soil sample surface.
With the vane in position, apply torque to the vane at a rate that should not exceed
0.1 deg/s. This rate will normally give a time to failure of from 2 to 5 min. In very soft
clays the time to failure may be longer. Record the maximum torque with motorized
apparatus.
Record values of spring and vane deflection at intervals of 15 s or less as needed to
prepare torque or strength curves. Following determination of the vane shear
strength, remold the soil by rotating the vane rapidly through a minimum of 10
revolutions.
Immediately repeat the vane test to determine the remolded vane shear strength.
After the test select a representative portion of the sample for a water content
determination.

Data from the vane test are recorded in the term of a spring deflection and a vane
deflection on the data and calutation sheet. The torque is obtained by noting the angular
spring deflection and reading the relecant spring calibration chart. Alternatively the torque
maybe computed using the relevant spring constant. The vane shear strength is now
computed suing the vane constant T as defined at the bottom of the data sheet. The data
maybe summaried as illustrated in figure. Water content data included for use in making,
comparisons with other vane test data.
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


Vane Diameter (D) =12.7mm
Vane Length (L) =12.7mm
Vane Height (H) =12.7mm



















Observed Data from Spring No.2

LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION






















Observed Data from Spring No.3

LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


Vane Constant

Spring No.2
From the plotted Graph [Appendix B]
Gradient

Spring Data Point 1:
Spring No.2 point 1
Time Spring(
o
) Torque (Nm) Shear strength
(KN/m)
30 4.5 0.01 3.15
60 8.5 0.03 5.94
90 13.5 0.04 9.44
120 18 0.05 12.59
150 21 0.06 14.69
180 26 0.08 18.18
210 34 0.10 23.78
240 34 0.10 23.78
270 38 0.11 26.57
300 43.5 0.13 30.42
330 48.5 0.15 33.92
360 52.5 0.16 36.71
390 54.5 0.16 38.11
420 57 0.17 39.86
450 59 0.18 41.26
480 59.5 0.18 41.61
510 61 0.18 42.66

Maximum Degree of spring deflection =61.0
Maximum Torque, T = Maximum spring x Gradient for spring no 2
T
max
= 61 0.003 = 0.18 Nm

LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


Spring Data Point 2:
Spring No.2 point 2
Time Spring(
o
) Torque (Nm) Shear strength
KN/m)
30 5 0.015 3.50
60 7 0.021 4.90
90 7.5 0.0225 5.24
120 10 0.03 6.99
150 15.5 0.0465 10.84
180 21 0.063 14.69
210 26.5 0.0795 18.53
240 30 0.09 20.98
270 34.5 0.1035 24.13
300 38 0.114 26.57
330 44 0.132 30.77
360 46 0.138 32.17
390 47.5 0.1425 33.22
420 48 0.144 33.57
450 53 0.159 37.06
480 55 0.165 38.46
510 55 0.165 38.46

Maximum Degree of spring deflection =55.0
Maximum Torque, T = Maximum spring x Gradient for spring no 2
T
max
= 55 0.003 = 0.165 Nm

Spring Data for point 3:
Spring No.2 point 2
Time Spring(
o
) Torque (Nm) Shear strength
(KN/m)
30 5 0.015 3.50
60 7 0.021 4.90
90 7.5 0.023 5.24
120 9 0.027 6.29
150 12.5 0.038 8.74
180 20 0.060 13.99
210 24.5 0.074 17.13
240 28.5 0.086 19.93
270 33 0.099 23.08
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


300 36.5 0.110 25.52
330 40.5 0.122 28.32
360 44.5 0.134 31.12
390 45.5 0.137 31.82
420 47.5 0.143 33.22
450 50.5 0.152 35.31
480 51.5 0.155 36.01
510 51.5 0.155 36.01

Maximum Degree of spring deflection =51.5
Maximum Torque, T = Maximum spring x Gradient for spring no 2
T
max
= 51.5 0.003 = 0.155 Nm

Spring No.3

From the plotted Graph [Appendix B]
Gradient

Spring data, point one:
Spring 3 point 1

Time

Spring(
o
)


Torque (Nm)


Shear strength
(KN/m)
30 4.5 0.009 2.10
60 8.5 0.017 3.96
90 13.5 0.027 6.29
120 18 0.036 8.39
150 21.5 0.043 10.02
180 26.5 0.053 12.35
210 34 0.068 15.85
240 34.5 0.069 16.08
270 38.5 0.077 17.95
300 43.5 0.087 20.28
360 48.5 0.097 22.61
390 52.5 0.105 24.48
420 54.5 0.109 25.41
450 57 0.114 26.57
480 59 0.118 27.51
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


510 59.5 0.119 27.74
540 61.5 0.123 28.67
570 61.5 0.123 28.67

Maximum Degree of spring deflection =61.5
Maximum Torque, T = Maximum spring x Gradient for spring no 2
T
max
= 61.5 0.002 = 0.123 Nm

Spring data, point two:
Spring 3 point 2
Time Spring () Torque (Nm) Shear strength
(KN/m^2)
30 3.5 0.007 1.63
60 8 0.016 3.73
90 12.5 0.025 5.83
120 17.5 0.035 8.16
150 21 0.042 9.79
180 24 0.048 11.19
210 31 0.062 14.45
240 33 0.066 15.38
270 35.5 0.071 16.55
300 37.5 0.075 17.48
360 38.5 0.077 17.95
390 41 0.082 19.11
420 42.5 0.085 19.81
450 45 0.090 20.98
480 46.5 0.093 21.68
510 51 0.102 23.78
540 53.5 0.107 24.94
570 53.5 0.107 24.94

Maximum Degree of spring deflection =53.5
Maximum Torque, T = Maximum spring x Gradient for spring no 3
T
max
= 53.5 0.002 = 0.107 Nm

LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


Spring Data Point 3:
Spring 3 point 2
Time Spring () Torque (Nm) Shear strength
(KN/m^2)
30 3.5 0.007 1.63
60 4.5 0.009 2.10
90 8.5 0.017 3.96
120 13 0.026 6.06
150 15 0.030 6.99
180 16.5 0.033 7.69
210 25 0.050 11.66
240 26 0.052 12.12
270 28.5 0.057 13.29
300 31.5 0.063 14.69
360 33 0.066 15.38
390 35 0.070 16.32
420 36 0.072 16.78
450 40 0.080 18.65
480 43 0.086 20.05
510 54 0.108 25.17
540 58 0.116 27.04
570 61 0.122 28.44
600 61 0.122 28.44

Maximum Degree of spring deflection =61.0
Maximum Torque, T = Maximum spring x Gradient for spring no 3
T
max
= 61.0 0.002 = 0.122 Nm

/m
2


LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


Question and Answer:

I. For the Tapered Vane shown in [Figure 6] develop an expression for the constant K
needed in computation of S
u
=T/K, where T is the torque required to rotate the vane.

Answer:

)

II. For the same vane, develop an expression for evaluation of the vertical (S
uv
) and
horizontal (S
UH
) undrained shear strengths.
Answer:

)

Where:
T is the Maximum Torque measured
H/D is the aspect ratio of the vane

Figure 4 ; Geometry of field vane Tapered Vanes
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


D is the Diameter of the vane
S
uh
/S
uv
is the ratio of the undrained strength in both vertical and horizontal planes.
X is the factor describing the location of the failure surface with respect to diameter of the
vane .
n is the power law describing the shear stress distribution on the horizontal planes.
Advantages and Disadvantages:
Advantages:
The test is simple and quick.
It is ideally suited for the determination of the undrained shear strength of non-fissured
fully saturated clay.
The test can be conveniently used to determine the sensitivity of the soil.
The test can be conducted in soft clays situated at a great depth, samples of which are
difficult to obtain.
Disadvantages:
The test cannot be conducted on the clay containing sand or silt laminations or the fissured
clay.
The test does not give accurate results when the failure envelope is not horizontal.
Vane shear test is used to measure the shear strength of a soil. It also estimated and
measured the fully saturated clays undrained shear strength without derangement in the
specimen. This test can be conducted in field and laboratory however, in laboratory can only
execute the experiment with low shear strength (0.3 kg/cm2) for which unconfined test
cannot be performed. The test apparatus are composed of 3 different diameters of 4-blade
stainless vane that is attached in a steel rod that pushed vertically in the soil. The pocket
value that can get in small vane should multiply by two however, the value can get in large
vane should divide by two and the value that can get in medium vane is as it is. The test is
performed by pushing the vane vertically in the soil and rotated it clockwise from the
surface to determine the torsional force. The soil will resist the rotation of the vane and its
resistance is the force of soil that causes the cylindrical area to be sheared by the vane.
When the rotation of the vane is continues it means that the soil fails in shear and it is
normal that the rotation is continued after measuring the shear strength.
LABORATORY 3
Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory [Consolidation Test]

SAYED ASADULLAH UNISEL, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DIVISION


1. Mr. Khatta Marwah, Laboratory Sheet, 2014, UNISEL, Civil Engineering Department.
2. Braja M Das, Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering.
3. ASTM Standards, 2002, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Hrbor Drive.
4. Roy Whitlow, Basic Soil Mechanics.
Appendix A:


















Figure 6; Vane Apparatus Figure 7; Top View of the Vane & Spring Deflection Scale
Figure 5 ; Calibrated Spring Supplied