vane shear test for the measurement of shear strength of cohesive soils is useful for soils of low shear strength of less than about 0'5 kgf/cml . This test gives the undrained strength of the soil and the undisturbed and rernoulded strengths obtained are used for evaluating the sensitivity of the soil.
Principle of Vane Shear Test
The specimen in the tube should be at least 37'5 mm in diameter and 75 mm long. Mount the specimen container with the specimen on the base of the vane shear apparatus and fix it securely to the base. If the specimen container is closed at one end it should be provided at the bottom with a hole of about I mm diameter. Lower the shear vanes into the specimen to their full length gradually with minimum disturbance of the soil specimen so that the top of the vane is at least 10 mm below the top of the specimen. Note the readings of the strain and torque indicators. Rotate the vane at a uniform rate approximately 0'1 o/s by suitably operating the torque applicator handle until the specimen fails. Note the final reading of the torque indicator. Torque readings and the corresponding strain readings may also be noted at desired intervals of time as the test proceeds.
Just after the determination of the maximum torque rotate the vane rapidly through a minimum of ten revolutions. The remoulded strength should then be determined within I minute after completion of the revolution.
Laboratory Vane Shear Apparatus
Torque(T)=K×Diffrence of Reading180 Cohesion(Cu)=TπD2D6 + H2