Direct Shear Test Procedure

A proving ring is used to indicate the shear load taken by the soil initiated in the shearing plane.

PROCEDURE
1. Check the inner dimension of the soil container.
2.  Put the parts of the soil container together.
3. Calculate the volume of the container. Weigh the container.
4. Place the soil in smooth layers (approximately 10 mm thick). If a dense sample is desired tamp the soil.
5. Weigh the soil container, the difference of these two is the weight of the soil. Calculate the density of the soil.
6. Make the surface of the soil plane.
7. Put the upper grating on stone and loading block on top of soil.
8. Measure the thickness of soil specimen.
9. Apply the desired normal load.
10.Remove the shear pin.
11. Attach the dial gauge which measures the change of volume.
12. Record the initial reading of the dial gauge and calibration values.
13. Before proceeding to test check all adjustments to see that there is no connection between two parts except sand/soil.
14. Start the motor. Take the reading of the shear force and record the reading.
15.Take volume change readings till failure.
16. Add 5 kg normal stress 0.5 kg/cm² and continue the experiment till failure
17. Record carefully all the readings. Set the dial gauges zero, before starting the experiment