UNCONSOLIDATED UNDRAINED TEST

1.0

INTRODUCTION
In an unconsolidated undrained test the sample is not allowed to drain. The sample is
compressed at a constant rate (strain-controlled). The UU test is applicable to undisturbed
sample in which no change in moisture content from the in-situ value can be permitted. Test
can be carried out over a range of moisture content to enable Mohr envelopes for the required
to be interpolated. The UU test procedure is useful for determining the total strength
parameters for soils that have suffered disturbances or moisture change during sampling.

2.0

PRINCIPLES
This method can be used for determining the undrained shear strength of cohesive soil when
it is subjected to a constant confining pressure and to strain controlled axial loading, when no
change in total moisture content is allowed.

3.0

OBJECTIVES
To establish a procedure for determining the Unconsolidated Undrained Test by Triaxial
Compression without measurement of pore pressure, which gives the shear strength of
cohesive soil.

4.0

APPARATUS

Soil sampling
NO ITEMS
1

Sampling tube

Sample extruder

Wire saw

Automatic balance

Callipers

Soil testing
NO ITEMS
1

Rubber membrane

Membrane stretcher

o-ring seal

FIGURE

5.0

PROCEDURES
SAMPLE PREPARATION

Bulk sample is prepared in

The height, Lo, diameter, Do

The sample is carefully put inside the

SAMPLE TESTING
The triaxial cell chamber (with the specimen inside) is place on
the platform of the compression machine.

The proper adjustment is making so that the piston of the

The chamber of the triaxial cell is filled with the water by opening valve mark with (a), (b), and (c)
and all the air must be displaced through the air vent. Those valves immediately closed when the
chamber full with water.
The cell pressure is applied to the specimen through the chamber fluid. It done by opening valves
mark with (b), (c), (d), and (e) and the required pressure is set. All drainage to and from the
specimen are closed so the drainage from the specimen does not occur.

Inside the Local Disk (c), the Winsclip program is selected and
new folder is created.
Then, from the Winsclip program, the Files is pressed and New job file is
choose. Folder and input file name is selected and press Ok. Job file name,
borehole name and sample name are input before press Ok and Close.

Configuration menu is pressed and new test (total triaxial) is selected by name.
The total UU S, Stage M and Specimen are choosing before click Ok.
Then, Total triaxial configuration is selected and the proper load and strain source
are identified. The loadcell for load is selected while the displacement for strain
and the correct number of the specimen and machine also selected. When to stop
the test is decided by selecting the appropriate box.

The test is proceeding and the control menu pressed to overview the data.
Then, shear stage menu is selected and go to the initial condition. The specimen
detail and condition are filled before press Ok.
It proceed to control menu and Run is selected. The specimen of application is
clicked and press Ok. The data is double checked and confirmed by pressing Ok.
Then, button Up at the compression machine is pressed immediately.
Shear stage menu is selected to view the data and either data entry are choosing
to view tabulated data, stress-strain to monitor, the stress-strain curve or Mohr
Circle to view the Mohr Circle.
Then, select stop at the control menu when the specimen showing sign of failure.
The button Stop at the compression machine is immediately pressed.
The Mohr circle is viewed and keyboard control button is pressed simultaneously
with the right click to generate the Mohr-Coulumb envelope. The envelope then
adjusted so that the shear strength parameter is determined.

Then, the chamber pressure is released, the water inside the triaxial chamber is
drained, the compression machine is reversed, the triaxial cell is lowered and the
machine shut off.
The specimen is carefully removed and all apparatus are disassembled. The
specimen condition is examined and the final weight is determined.

6.0

RESULTS

Length of specimen

: 76 mm

Diameter of specimen

: 38 mm

Area specimen

: 0.001134m2

Volume specimen

: 8.619 x 10-5 m3

STAGE 1
No

Strain
(mm)

Strain1 (%)

Area(mm)

Load(N)

Dev stress(kPa)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

8.86
8.94
9.07
9.2
9.33
9.46
9.6
9.73
9.87
10.01
10.14
10.28
10.42
10.56
10.7
10.84
10.98
11.12
11.26
11.4
11.54
11.68
11.82
11.95
12.09
12.23
12.36
12.49
12.63
12.76
12.76

0
0.11
0.28
0.45
0.62
0.79
0.97
1.14
1.33
1.51
1.68
1.87
2.05
2.24
2.42
2.61

0.001134
0.001135249
0.001137184
0.001139126
0.001141075
0.00114303
0.001145108
0.001147077
0.001149285
0.001151386
0.001153377
0.00115561
0.001157734
0.001159984
0.001162123
0.001164391
0.001166547
0.001168711
0.001171004
0.001173184
0.001175495
0.001177692
0.001179898
0.001182112
0.001184334
0.001186565
0.001188804
0.001190926
0.001193182
0.00119532
0.001195824

25.5
54
68
77.5
84.5
91.5
96
101

0
25.1
37.37
45.65
51.2
57.24

2.79
2.97
3.16
3.34
3.53
3.71
3.89
4.07
4.25
4.43
4.61
4.78
4.96
5.13
5.17

103
105.5
110
112.5
112.5
115
117
119.5
122
124

61.06
65.31
66.93
68.6
72.38
74.4
74.26
76.28
77.85
79.6
81.59
83.14

126
129
133.5
136
138.5
140.5
143
147.5
150

85.12
87.09
90.37
92.32
94.26
95.78
97.7
101.3
102.93

152.5
152.5
152.5
154.5

104.88
104.68
104.48
106.11

STAGE 2
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Strain
(mm)
12.83
12.94
13.07
13.21
13.33
13.47
13.6
13.73
13.86
13.99
14.12
14.25
14.38
14.52
14.65
14.78
14.91
15.04
15.18
15.31
15.45
15.58
15.72
15.86
16
16.13
16.27
16.41
16.55
16.69
16.72

Strain
(%)
0
0.14
0.32
0.5
0.66
0.84
1.01
1.18
1.36
1.53
1.7
1.87
2.04
2.22
2.39
2.57
2.74
2.91
3.09
3.26
3.45
3.62
3.8
3.99
4.17
4.34
4.53
4.71
4.89
5.08
5.12

Area
(mm)
0.001134
0.00113559
0.00113764
0.001139698
0.001141534
0.001143606
0.00114557
0.001147541
0.001149635
0.00115162
0.001153611
0.00115561
0.001157615
0.001159746
0.001161766
0.001163913
0.001165947
0.001167988
0.001170158
0.001172214
0.001174521
0.001176593
0.001178794
0.001181127
0.001183346
0.001185448
0.001187808
0.001190051
0.001192304
0.00119469
0.001195194

Load
(N)
131.5
161.5
166.5
169
171
173.5
176
178
178
180.2
183
185
187.5
187.5
187.5
187.5
187.5
190
187.5
190
187.5
190
187.5
187.5
190
187.5
190
190
194.5
199
199

Dev stress
(kPa)
0
26.41
30.76
32.4
34.1
36.22
38.34
40.02
39.95
41.67
43.76
43.69
45.34
47.4
47.32
46.99
46.9
48.96
46.73
48.77
46.55
48.22
46
45.91
47.93
45.73
47.5
47.4
51.08
54.74
54.72

STAGE 3
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38

Strain
(mm)
16.76
16.85
16.99
17.12
17.26
17.39
17.53
17.66
17.8
17.93
18.06
18.19
18.33
18.46
18.59
18.72
18.86
18.99
19.12
19.25
19.38
19.51
19.65
19.78
19.91
20.04
20.17
20.31
20.44
20.58
20.71
20.84
20.98
21.12
21.25
21.39
21.53
21.67

Strain
(%)
0
0.12
0.3
0.47
0.66
0.83
1.01
1.18
1.37
1.54
1.71
1.88
2.07
2.24
2.41
2.58
2.76
2.93
3.11
3.28
3.45
3.62
3.8
3.97
4.14
4.32
4.49
4.67
4.84
5.03
5.2
5.37
5.55
5.74
5.91
6.09
6.28
6.46

Area
(mm)
0.001134
0.001135362
0.001137412
0.001139355
0.001141534
0.001143491
0.00114557
0.001147541
0.001149752
0.001151737
0.001153729
0.001155728
0.00115797
0.001159984
0.001162004
0.001164032
0.001166187
0.001168229
0.001170399
0.001172457
0.001174521
0.001176593
0.001178794
0.001180881
0.001182975
0.001185201
0.00118731
0.001189552
0.001191677
0.001194061
0.001196203
0.001198351
0.001200635
0.001203055
0.001205229
0.001207539
0.001209987
0.001212316

Load
(N)
171
208.5
211
215.5
220.5
222.5
227.5
229.5
232
234.5
234.5
237
237
239
239
241.5
244
244
239
241.5
246
246
246
248.5
248.5
246
246
244
246
244
241.5
241.5
241.5
239
239
237
237
237

Dev stress
(kPa)
0
33.03
35.16
39.05
42.86
44.53
48.81
50.47
52.55
54.25
54.16
56.23
56.12
57.74
57.64
59.43
61.46
61.35
56.97
59
62.73
62.24
62.12
64.12
64
61.78
61.66
59.61
61.18
59.38
57.18
57.08
56.71
54.52
54.42
52.65
52.54
52.44

39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59

21.81
21.95
22.08
22.23
22.37
22.5
22.64
22.78
22.91
23.05
23.18
23.13
23.45
23.58
23.71
23.85
23.98
24.11
24.25
24.38
24.41

Initial Condition

6.64
6.83
7
7.2
7.38
7.55
7.74
7.92
8.09
8.28
8.45
8.62
8.8
8.97
9.14
9.33
9.5
9.67
9.86
10.03
10.07

0.001214653
0.00121713
0.001219355
0.001221983
0.001224358
0.001226609
0.001229135
0.001231538
0.001233816
0.001236372
0.001238667
0.001240972
0.001243421
0.001245743
0.001248074
0.001250689
0.001253039
0.001255397
0.001258043
0.00126042
0.001260981

237
239
239
241.5
241.5
244
246
248.5
253
255.5
258
260
260
262.5
262.5
267
267
267
269.5
269.5
269.5

52.08
53.61
53.51
55.44
55.32
57.01
58.51
60.42
63.95
65.84
67.73
68.96
68.82
70.69
70.55
74
73.86
73.46
75.29
75.14
75.11

Sample 1

Sample2

Sample 3

Dry unit weight kg/m3

623.72

678.36

646.49

Moisture content

29.56

23.49

27.46

50

100

150

Deviator stress kN/m2

104.68

54.72

73.86

Axial Stress kN/m2

154.68

154.72

223.86

Failure Conditions:
Cell pressure kN/m2

Samples

Weight of evaporation dish (g)

20.20

20.01

20.10

Weight of evaporation dish + wet soil (g)

27.30

27.37

27.34

Weight of evaporation dish + dry soil (g)

25.68

25.97

25.78

Weight of dry soil (g)

5.48

5.96

5.68

Moisture loss (g)

1.62

1.4

1.56

Moisture content %

29.56

23.49

27.46

6.1

CALCULATION

Initial Area of the sample

= d2/4
= (38)2/4
=0.001134m2
= Ao / (1- )

Area

= (0.001134)/ (1-0.66%)
=0.001141534 mm
Axial stress

= cell pressure + deviator stress

For Sample 1:
Moisture loss= (Weight of evaporation dish + wet soil) (Weight of evaporation dish + dry soil)
= 27.30 g - 25.68 g
= 1.62 g
Weight of dry soil = (Weight of evaporation dish + dry soil) - Weight of evaporation dish
= 25.68 g - 20.20 g

10

= 5.48 g
Moisture content = Moisture loss / Weight of dry soil 100%
= 1.62 g / 5.48 g 100%
= 29.56 %

11

TOTAL TRIAXIAL STRESS-STRAIN

100

Deviator Stress (kPa)

80

STAGE 1

60

STAGE 2
STAGE 3

40

20

0
0

Strain (%)

12

MOHR CIRCLE GRAPH

13

7.0

DISCUSSION

The triaxial test is one of the most reliable methods available for determining shear strength
parameters. It is widely used for research and conventional testing. When conducting site
investigations for buildings, in most circumstances short term stability will be the most critical.
Therefore the Unconsolidated Undrained Tests will be use in the determination of total shear
strength parameters of cohesive soil.
The specimen is subjected to a confining pressure by compression of the fluid in the chamber.
(Air is sometimes used as a compression medium). To cause shear failure in the specimen, one
must apply axial stress through a vertical loading ram (sometimes called deviator stress). This
stress can be applied in one or two ways:
1. Application of dead weights or hydraulic pressure is equal increments until the specimen
fails. (Axial deformation of the specimen resulting from the load applied through the ram
is measured by a dial gauge.)
2. Application of axial deformation at a constant rate by means of a geared or hydraulic
loading press. This is strain-controlled test.
The axial load applied by the loading ram corresponding to a given axial deformation is
measured by a proving ring or load cell attached to the ram.

14

The undrained tests can also be used to determine the total (or undrained) strength parameters cu,
fu. In this method ,compressive strength of soil are determined in term of total stress which
resulting of the strength is depends on the pressure in the fluid during the loading. If the
specimen 100% saturated,consolidation will not occur when the confining pressure applied
during the shear portion because drainage is not permitted. The unconsolidated undrained traixial
strength is applicable when the load are asssumed to take rapidly in sufficient time for the
induced pore pressure to dissipate and consolidation occur during loading period. The error
occurs during the experiment are:
The specimen prepared not perfectly straight from the site (disturbed) which this can
affect the shear strength and moisture content.
Some mistakes in handling the load and setting up the specimen.

There are three different cell pressure applied in our experiment which are 50 KN/m2, 100
KN/m2 and 150 KN/m2.

The Mohrs circle envelope is obtained throughout the graph of stress (kPa) against strain (%).
For cohesive soil, the value of C which is the y-intercept of the graph cannot be equal to 0; as 0
is for non-cohesive soil.
Non-Cohesive

Cohesive

15

8.0

CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, the value of shear strength parameter is obtained from this experiment.
So the objective, which is to establish a procedure for determining the Unconsolidated
Undrained Test by Triaxial Compression without measurement of pore pressure, which gives
the shear strength of cohesive soil, is achieved. The value that we get is

16