Vertek CPT

Division of ARA

  • Products
    • CPT – S4 Modular Push System
    • CPT – Cones and DAS
    • Automated DCP Testing Systems
    • SmartDCP
    • CPT – Track-Based Push Systems
    • CPT – Truck-Based Push Systems
    • CPT – S4 Mini-Track Rig
    • Drilling to CPT Conversion Kits
    • Versatile CPT Push Systems
    • Accelerated Pavement Testing
    • Environmental Screening and Sampling Products
  • Case Studies
    • GEI Consultants
    • Terracon Consulting Engineers
    • Incotec Bolivia CPT
  • Company
    • About Vertek
    • CPT Industry Leadership
    • Careers
    • Financing for CPT Equipment
    • Blog
  • Service & Support
    • General FAQs for Vertek CPT
    • Troubleshooting FAQs
    • Software Downloads
    • Support Video Library
    • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • CPT Blog
  • +1 (800) 639-6315

CPT Dictionary: Soil Shear Strength

May 31, 2015 by Vertek Team

tensional compressional stress

Shear strength is the ability of a material to resist shear forces—that is, forces that produce a sliding failure in the material parallel to the direction of the force. The diagram at right demonstrates shear stress, along with tensional and compressional stress. (What’s the difference between stress and a force? Stress is defined as force per area.)

How is this relevant to soil testing? Well, consider a sliding failure in soil, such as occurs along a fault plane in an earthquake. Shear strength tells us a great deal about how the soil will behave under shear forces and during changes in stress, for example, due to an earthquake or excavation. 

The in-situ shear strength of soil is difficult to measure, and many methodologies for doing so have been proposed. In general, estimating undrained shear strength–that is, the shear strength of the soil with in-situ moisture–using the CPT is accomplished via the relationship between overburden stress and cone resistance, as shown in the equation below.

su = (qc – σvo)/Nk

Where:

su = undrained shear strength (unitless)
qc = cone resistance (psi)
σvo = overburden stress (psi)
Nk =
empirical cone factor (a unitless constant)

Nk is determined in the lab, for example via triaxial compression tests. The exact value varies based on the type of reference test used, so it is important to be consistent in this regard. Most test methods return values between 10 and 30, varying with factors such as OCR (over-consolidation ratio), pore pressure, and soil plasticity.

Several alternative methods may be used to estimate undrained shear strength via CPT, depending on the test conditions and available data. One such method uses pore pressure at u2 (directly behind the cone) in place of overburden stress:

su = (qc – u2)/Nk

The disadvantage of this method is that in some soils, for example soft, normally consolidated clays, the pore pressure at u2 may be very large, up to 90% the total cone resistance. This results in a tiny value for su that is sensitive to even small errors in the measurement of u2 or qc. In such soils, it is preferable to estimate su using the first method discussed if overburden stress data is available.

As we mentioned above, knowledge of a soil’s undrained shear strength is important in determining what will happen to the soil during changes in stress: the hope, of course, is that not much will happen at all!

To calculate the chance that something will happen, we use the undrained shear strength and other factors to determine the soil’s liquefaction potential—that is, the chance that the soil will dramatically lose strength if subjected to cyclic loading or a change in strain. We’ll discuss this complex phenomenon in our next blog.

Offset crop rows demonstrate shear forces at work after a 1979 California earthquake. 


Filed Under: CPT

You May Also Like

in situ soil testing
In Situ Soil Testing 101: The Different Types of Tests
Geotechnical Services: Learn How to Grow Your Business
automated DCP systems
What is DCP testing and how does it compare to CPT?

Quick Links

  • CPT – S4 Modular Push System
  • CPT – S4 Mini-Track Rig
  • CPT Cones and Data Acquisition Systems
  • Drilling to CPT Conversion Kits
  • Versatile CPT Push Systems
  • Track-based CPT Push Systems
  • CPT – Truck-Based Push Systems
  • Automated DCP Testing Systems
  • SmartDCP
  • Environmental Screening and Sampling Products

Company

  • About Vertek
  • CPT Industry Leadership
  • Careers

Service and Support

  • General FAQs for Vertek CPT
  • Troubleshooting FAQs
  • Support Video Library | Vertek CPT
  • Vertek CPT Software Downloads
  • Resource

Integrated Products Division of ARA

250 Beanville Road
Randolph, VT  05060
Phone: 802.728.4588
Fax: 802.728.9871
Email: sales@vertekcpt.com

ARA Corporate: www.ara.com

Search

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 · Applied Research Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved