Direct Shear Test and Apparatus

The geotechnical direct shear test is a mechanical test used to study the shear strength and deformation characteristics of soil or geosynthetics. Principle of direct shear test The principle of the direct shear test is to place the sample in a shear test frame, apply two parallel horizontal forces above and below, so that the sample undergoes shear failure in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and calculate the shear strength of the sample based on the stress-strain curve obtained in the experiment. Direct shear formula Now that we understand the principles of direct shear, how do we calculate a shear test? A shear test typically involves applying a force to a specimen and measuring the amount of shear stress the specimen can withstand before failing or undergoing plastic deformation. The calculations in a shear test depend greatly on the geometry of the specimen and the type of test being performed, but a typical calculation generally involves the following steps: Mea...