KNS 2601 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 4

Faculty of Engineering
University Malaysia Sarawak

TITLE
G1 Direct Shear Test
INTRODUCTION
Soil is one of the important things that need to be considered
before starting a project. This is because the soils on the site play
an important role for the success of the project. If the soil conditions
are not suitable for the project, the project cannot be executed.
Hence, a few tests must be carried out for in-situ soils to determine
the soils properties.
One of the tests that can be carried out is direct shear test.
This test is done to determine the shear strength of the in-situ soil.
The shear strength is importance in designing the foundation of a
building. This is because the bearing capacities of the soils are
depend on the shear strength of the soils.
The strength of a soil depends on its resistance towards the
shearing stresses. The strength is made up of basically the
components of:
1. Frictional due to friction between individual particles.
2. Cohesive due to adhesion between the soil particles.
The shearing resistance of soil at failure can be calculated by
Colulombs shear strength equation where the two components
above are combined as below:
f =c+ f tan

Where;

= shearing resistance of soil at failure

KNS 2601 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 4

Faculty of Engineering
University Malaysia Sarawak

c = apparent cohesion of soil

f

= total normal stress on failure plane

= angle of shearing resistance of soil(angle of

internal friction)
This equation can also be written as effective stresses as shown
below:
Where;

f =c '+ ' f tan '

f

= shearing resistance of soil at failure

c = apparent cohesion of soil in term of effective

stresses
'f
'

= effective normal stress on failure plane

= angle of shearing resistance of soil in term of

effective stresses
' f = f f
f

= pore water pressure on failure plane

Direct shear test is a simple lab test that can be done on the
in-situ soils. This test is done with the help of direct shear device.
This test can be carried out at different moisture contents. However,
it is better to saturate the sample before running the test. This is
because if the soils are too dry, a sample cannot be taken out. Thus,

KNS 2601 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 4

Faculty of Engineering
University Malaysia Sarawak

the soils are saturated first by adding some water to it. The soils will
be subjected to a controlled normal stress and it will be pulled
laterally at a control strain rate until it fails. These conditions are
caused by the load applied on the soil sample. In this test, the load
is applied through a simple hanger system. The load will cause the
soil sample to move both horizontally and vertically. The movement
of the soil sample and the stress applied to it will be read by 3
different dial gauge.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the shearing strength of the soil using the direct shear box test
apparatus.

APPARATUS:
a) Direct shear box apparatus

Figure 1: Direct shear box apparatus

b) Loading frame with attached motor
c) Dial gauge

KNS 2601 CIVIL ENGINEERING LABORATORY 4

Faculty of Engineering
University Malaysia Sarawak

Figure 2: Dial gauge

d) Proving ring

Figure 3: Proving ring with dial gauge attached to it.

e)
f)
g)
h)
i)

Tamper
Straight edges or sample trimmer
Balance to weigh up to 200mg
Aluminum container
Spatula

Figure 4: Sample trimmer, tamper and aluminium container