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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

LABORATORY MANUAL
PASIR GUDANG
COURSE

BASIC SOIL MECHANICS

COURSE CODE

ECG303

LEVEL OF OPENNESS

CATEGORY

PARTIALLY OPEN ENDED

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED
(%)

33

PERIOD OF ACTIVITY

1 WEEK (WEEK 7)

TITLE

Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Test

1.1 Introduction
Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways &
means are guided and given to the students. However the answers to the
assignment are left to the students to solve using the group creativity and
innovativeness. It is hoped that the activity will slowly introduce and inculcate
independent learning amongst students and prepare them for a much harder task
of open-ended laboratory activities.
In this laboratory session, students will be introduced on how to determine the
shear strength parameters of soil using triaxial test.

1.2 Objective
The objective of the test is:
To determine the shear strength parameters for clay soil.

PREAMBLE

1.3 Learning Outcomes

At the end of the laboratory activity, students would be able to:
1. Conduct the unconsolidated undrained triaxial test to determine the shear
strength parameters for clay soil.
2. Analyse data correctly and present in typical format
3. Work in a group to produce technical report.

1.4 Theoretical Background

Triaxial test is more reliable because we can measure both drained and
undrained shear strength.
Generally 1.4 diameter (3 tall) or 2.8 diameter (6 tall) specimen is used.
Specimen is encased by a thin rubber membrane and set into a plastic
cylindrical chamber.
Cell pressure is applied in the chamber (which represents 3) by
pressurizing the cell fluid (generally water).
Vertical stress is increased by loading the specimen (by raising the platen
in strain controlled test and by adding loads directly in stress controlled
test, but strain controlled test is more common) until shear failure occurs.
Total vertical stress, which is 1 is equal to the sum of 3 and deviator
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LABORATORY MANUAL
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stress (d).
Measurement of d, axial deformation, pore pressure, and sample volume
change are recorded.
Depending on the nature of loading and drainage condition, triaxial tests
are conducted in three different ways.
UU Triaxial test
CU Triaxial test
CD Triaxial test

PROBLEM
STATEMENT

WAYS AND
MEANS

UU test measures the undrained shear strength of soils by means of axial

compression tests on cylindrical specimens in which no drainage is
permitted during the test.

2.0 Problem Statement

UU triaxial test gives shear strength of soil at different confining stresses. Shear
strength is important in all types of geotechnical designs and analyses. As a group
you are given a set of samples to determine the undrained parameters of the
soil.The group must carry out the test following the procedures outline and
subsequently analyse the data and present it in a proper technical format.

3.1 Apparatus

Strain controlled triaxial load frame

Triaxial cell assembly
Cell pressure supply panel
Scale
Balance sensitive to 0.1 g
Moisture cans
Oven

3.2 Procedures
1.
2.
3.
4.

Measure diameter, length, and initial mass of the specimen.

Measure the thickness of the rubber membrane.
Set a soil specimen in a triaxial chamber.
Increase the cell pressure to a desired value (70 kPa for the first case and
140 kPa in the second case).
5. Shear the specimen at the rate of 1%/min or 0.7 mm/min (for 70 mm
sample height).
In automated device, the software calculates it automatically based on the
soil type.
6. Record L, and d in every 10 seconds (computer does it automatically).
7. Continue the test until the deviator stress shows ultimate value or 20%
axial strain.

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LABORATORY MANUAL
PASIR GUDANG

Figure 1 triaxial compression testing device

8. After completion of the test, release the cell pressure to 0, vent the
pressure and bring the cell down by bring the lower platen down, drain the
cell, and clean the porous stone and the assembly.
9. Sketch the mode of failure.
10. Measure the weight of the soil specimen again, and put the specimen into
the oven.
11. Measure the weight again after 24 hours.
12. Repeat the test for the second specimen too (140 kPa of cell pressure and
third specimen 210 kPa of cell pressure).
USERS GUIDELINE FOR THE ELE TRIAXIAL DEVICE
(UU TRIAXIAL TEST)
A. POWER AND MAIN SUPPLY SETTINGS

(This step is already done)

1. Press the Power Display power button to the ON position. After

Stabilization (approx. 15 min.), push the Tare button to zero the display.
2. Turn on the laboratory vacuum supply. The associated amount of vacuum

available to your system will be displayed on the Vacuum Supply Gauge.

3. Turn on the laboratory compressed air supply. Viewing the Pressure

Supply gauge, adjust the Master Regulator until the desired maximum
supply pressure is reached.
The displayed pressure should be about 10 psi more than the required
cell pressure. Do Not exceed 150 psi (1034 KPa) pressure.
4. Turn on the laboratory water supply.
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B. FILLING OF THE DE-AIRED WATER TANK SYSTEM (This step is
already done)
1. Turn the De-Airing Water Control valve to the Fill position.
2. When the tank water level is about 1 from the top, turn the De-Airing

Water Control valve to the vent position (Very Slowly to allow water to
drain).
C. DE-AIRING THE WATER TANK

(This step is already done)

1. Turn the De-Airing Water Control valve to the Vacuum position.

2. Apply vacuum for 10-15 minutes and, at the same time, gently shake the

tank occasionally to enhance the removal of air from water.

3. Turn the De-Airing Water Control valve to the vent position.

D. FILLING THE BURETTE CHANNELS (This step is already done)

Set all five valves on the test cell to the closed position.
Set the De-Airing Water Control valve to the Pressure position.
Set the Burette/Annulus Input Control valve to the vent position.
Set the Annulus Control Switch to the open position (Normal).
Slowly turn the Burette/Annulus Flow Control valve to the Fill position.
When the water reaches the desired level, turn the Burette/Annulus Flow
Control valve to the Cell Operate position. Do not overfill. Water should
not be allowed to flow into the pressure tube at the top.
6. Repeat the above steps until two burette channels being used are filled to
the desired level.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Note: If the water level in the De-Aired Water Tank System drops to
about 1 from the bottom, repeat the filling and de-airing procedures
described above.
E. DE-AIRING THE BURETTE CHANNELS (This step is already done)
1. Set the Burette/Annulus Input Control valve for each channel to the

vacuum position. Under normal operating conditions, the de-airing

process should be completed in about 5-10 minutes.
2. After completion, set all Input Control valves back to the vent position.
F

PREPARATION OF THE SAMPLE

1. Trim the sample to be tested using a Miter Box.

2. Measure the height and diameter of the sample at various locations to get

an average value.
3. Measure the weight of the trimmed sample before test.
4. Wrap the sample in a plastic sheeting to prevent any moisture loss.
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LABORATORY MANUAL
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5. Use the trimmings to get the Moisture Content of the sample before test.

PREPARATION FOR THE TRIAXIAL LOADING

Double click on the software icon DS7 on the desktop.

Click on the button New Test.
Select UU1 --Triaxial Quick Undrained Tests-AS.
Click on the button Select a Machine for the Test.
Fill in the spaces in this window and click on the button OK to the right
side of the screen. The fields marked * by their side can not be left blank
and the characters \ / * . , : ; @ # ~ ? can not be used while filling up the
spaces.
6. In the window Tests in Progress make sure that you select the test that
you want to run and then click on the button OK at the bottom of the
screen.
7. Switch on the Load cell machine using the button at the back.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

MONITORING THE TEST

1. In the Test Monitoring window, make sure that all the test data shown in
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.

the upper left box is correct.

Click on the button Start Test Stage located to the upper right side of the
screen.
In the next window select Test Initialization and click on button OK in
the bottom.
In the Test Initialization window, enter the previously measured sample
Diameter, weight, and height.
The bulk density of the sample will be calculated automatically by the
software.
The information regarding the Membrane Thickness and Youngs Modulus
are default values and may not be changed, unless using a different kind
of membrane around the sample.
After entering all data click on the green button Confirm Setup Data.
This will bring you back to the Test Monitoring window.
Again click on button Start Test Stage located to the upper right side of
the screen.
This time select Compression from the menu and then click on button
OK at the bottom of the window.
COMPRESSION STAGE
From the previous stage you will be directed to the screen titled
Compression Stage for Undrained Test.

1. Vent Cell Pressure Transducer to Atmosphere and Reset:

a. Set the Burette/Annulus Input Control valve to the Pressure

Position.
b. Set the Annulus Control Switch valve to the on position.
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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY MANUAL
PASIR GUDANG
Set the Burette/Annulus Flow Control valve to the Cell Operate
position.
d. Make sure the cell pressure transducer is open to atmosphere and
wait for 10 seconds.
e. In the DS-7 software window, click on the red button Reset Cell
Pressure.
c.

2. Fill and Pressurise Cell. Select Material Type and Press Button to

Calculate Suggested Rate of Strain on Enter Directly:

a. Close the valve on the test cell marked CP.
b. Carefully place the sample on the Triaxial cell base pedestal.
c. Place the top pressure pad and use black O-rings to secure the
membrane around the base pedestal and top pressure pad.
d. Place the Triaxial cell cover over the sample and use the three rods to
secure it in place.
e. Open the knob at the top of the glass cylinder and attach the tube
marked CP to the knob marked water located at the bottom left of
the panel.
Open the valve on the test cell marked CP. This will gradually fill the
cell. Control the flow using the valve marked CP.
f. Close the knob at the top of the glass cylinder when the cell is filled
with water.
g. Detach the tube marked CP from the knob marked water and
attach it back to the knob marked CP on the panel.
h. Close the valve on the test cell marked CP.
i. Use the knob in the Set Pressure Control panel to increase the
pressure to the desired cell pressure level. Monitor the cell pressure
box in the DS-7 software to get the accurate reading.
j. Set the Burette/Annulus Input Control valve to Pressure position.
k. Slowly open the valve on the test cell marked CP. This will transfer
the cell pressure to the water inside the glass cylinder.
l. In the DS-7 software window, select the right Material Type to the
right side of the window and click on the button Calculate Rate of
Strain.
m. Input the calculated rate of displacement value from the computer
screen to the display window at the bottom of the test cell and press
Enter ().
3. Calculate Logger Sampling Rates (based on percentage of length of

specimen at failure):
a. On the DS-7 software window, fill up the boxes marked first
increments, upto, and second increments. This is the increment at
which the results will be captured by the transducers. The default
values are from the ASTM Standard. Set both for 0.01%.
4. Reset Force Transducer & Bring Piston just into contact with top cap:
a. Raise the sample using the key on the keypad on the loading frame

until the load piston just touches the top notch of the top plate above
the soil sample.
b. On the DS-7 software window, click on the red button marked Reset
Force Transducer.
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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY MANUAL
PASIR GUDANG
c.

This should reset the lower right window on the Test Monitoring
Window in the DS-7 software to 0.0 lbf.

5. Reset Axial Displacement & Start Compression at End of Count

Down:
a. Place the axial displacement transducer bottom touching the
horizontal rod and click on the button Reset Axial Displacement
Transducer on the DS-7 software window.
b. This should reset the lower left window on the Test Monitoring
window of the DS-7 software to 0.0 inches.
6. Click on the green Continue button at the bottom of the page of the

software window.
7. A window will appear that will instruct you to press enter (Green Button) to

start the Test Countdown. If everything is ready, click on the green button
Start Test Countdown.
8. Once the two whistles go, press the green button Run on the keypad at
the bottom of the test cell.
J

TO STOP THE TEST

1. To stop the loading at any time press the red button Stop on the keypad

of the load frame.

2. In the DS-7 software, on Test Monitoring window click on button End

Test Stage
3. Click on button Start Test Stage button.
4. Select Final Measurements and click on OK.
5. Enter all parameters that are available at this time

Final Specimen Weight (wet)

Final Specimen Weight (dry)
Initial Moisture Content from Trimmings
Lab Temperature during test
Particle Specific Gravity
6. Click on green button Confirm Data.
7. Click OK on the window stating FINAL STAGE IS NOW COMPLETE.
PRESS OK TO STORE THE TEST DATA READY FOR ANALYSIS OR
PRESS CANCEL TO PERFORM FURTHER STAGES.
8. Save the Raw data obtained from the test to a directory of your choice.
The software will prompt to a default directory.

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9. Click on button exit to exit from the software.

K DRAINING THE CELL

1. Turn the set Pressure Control knob in counterclockwise direction to
2.
3.
4.
5.

reduce the cell pressure.

Turn the Burette/Annulus Input Control valve to Bridge Off position.
Open the top knob of the glass cylinder in the load cell assembly.
Set the Burette/Annulus Flow control to drain position.
Open the valve on the test cell marked CP. This will drain the water from
the glass cylinder.
DISMANTLING THE CELL

1. Use the button on the keypad of the load frame to lower the sample
away from the load piston.
2. Unscrew the three rods from the sides of the glass cylinder and take out
the cylinder.
3. Dismantle the sample from the test cell and secure the membrane, top
and bottom end plates.

3.3 Data Acquisition

1. Calculate axial strain,

L
L

L = Vertical deformation of the specimen.

2. Calculate vertical load on the specimen.
You will get it directly from the force transducers.
3. Calculate corrected area of the specimen (Ac) Ac = A0
1

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LABORATORY MANUAL
PASIR GUDANG
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

A0 = Initial cross-sectional area i.e. x D2/4

Calculate the stress on the specimen.
= Load
Ac
Plot d versus axial strain separately for three tests.
Plot d vs a for three tests in the same plot.
Plot Mohr circle based on 1 and 3 at failure. They should give the same
d value. Add one Mohr circle for unconfined compression test too.
Make a straight line, which is tangent to all Mohrs circles. This gives c u
with a horizontal line, i.e. u = 0. Therefore this test is called = 0 test.
cu = d
2

Figure 2 Total stress Mohr circle and failure envelope obtained from UU triaxial test

9. Calculate the moisture content of the specimen after the test.

10. Calculate the initial void ratio of the specimen (Use the equations provided
in the earlier classes).

UU Triaxial Test Laboratory Data Sheet

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GENERAL INFORMATION
Tested by:
Lab partners/organization:
Client: CSUF
Boring no.: N/A
Recovery date:
Soil description:
I.

Date tested:
Project: Soils Lab
Recovery depth: N/A
Recovery method: N/A

II. TEST DETAILS

Initial specimen diameter, Do:

Initial specimen area, Ao:
Initial specimen length, Lo:
Initial specimen volume, Vo:
Moist mass of specimen after test, M:
Dry mass of specimen, Ms:
Moisture content, w:
Total unit weight, :
Dry unit weight, d:
Degree of saturation, S:
Membrane
type:
Standard
Rubber
Axial strain rate, 1/t:
Membrane
Deformation indicator: LVDT
Force indicator: LVDT
Cell pressure, 3:
Specimen
preparation
method:
Hand
Compaction
Notes, observations, and deviations from ASTM D2850 test standard:

Axial
Defor
mation
(L)

III. MEASUREMENTS

Axial
Load
(P)

AND

Axial
Strain
(1)

Corrected
Area
(A)

Deviator
Stress
()

CALCULATIONS

EQUATIONS:

a = L/Lo
A = Ao/(1-a)
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3:
f:
1f:

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= P/A

1f = 3 + f

GENERAL INFORMATION
Tested by:
Lab partners/organization:
Client: CSUF
Boring no.: N/A
Recovery date:
Soil description:
I.

II. TEST DETAILS

Axial
Deforma
tion (L)

Date tested:
Project: Soils Lab
Recovery depth: N/A
Recovery method: N/A
Axial
Load
(P)

Axial
Strain
(1)

Corrected
Area
(A)

Deviator
Stress
()

Initial specimen diameter, Do:

Initial specimen area, Ao:
Initial specimen length, Lo:
Initial specimen volume, Vo:
Moist mass of specimen after test, M:
Dry mass of specimen, Ms:
Moisture content, w:
Total unit weight, :
Dry unit weight, d:
Degree of saturation, S:
Membrane
type:
Standard
Rubber
Axial strain rate, 1/t:
Membrane
Deformation indicator: LVDT
Force indicator: LVDT
Cell pressure, 3:
Specimen preparation method: Hand Compaction
Notes, observations, and deviations from ASTM D2850 test standard:

III.

MEASUREMENTS
EQUATIONS:

AND

CALCULATIONS

a = L/Lo
A = Ao/(1-a)
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3:
f:
1f:

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SARAWAK
LABORATORY MANUAL
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= P/A

1f = 3 + f

RESULTS

4 Results, Analysis and Conclusion

The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory results
highlighting the data acquisition process, analysis carried out and the relevancy of
the set-out output to achieve the objective.
The report must be submitted 7 days after the completion of the test.

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