Question

What will be the shearing resistance of a sample of clay in an unconfined compression test, falls under a load of 150 N? Take change of cross-section Af=2181.7 mm^2.

(a) 68.75 kN/m^2

(b) 34.38 kN/m^2

(c) 11.35 kN/m^2

(d) 0.6875 kN/m^2

This question was addressed to me in semester exam.

My enquiry is from Shear Strength of Cohesive Soil topic in chapter Shear Strength of Geotechnical Engineering I

Answer 1

Right option is (b) 34.38 kN/m^2

The best I can explain: Given,

Af=2181.7 mm^2; Pf=150 N

qu = Pf/ Af = 150/2181.7

= 68.75 kN/m^2

Shear resistance = qu/2 = 68.75/2

= 34.38 kN/m^2

Therefore, Shearing resistance = 34.38 kN/m^2.