1.1 This test method covers the determination of the consolidated drained shear strength of one specimen of a soil material under direct shear boundary conditions. The specimen is deformed at a controlled rate on or near a single shear plane determined by the configuration of the apparatus.

1.2 Shear stresses and displacements are nonuniformly distributed within the specimen. An appropriate height of the failure zone cannot be defined for calculation of shear strains. Therefore, stress-strain relationships or any associated quantity such as the shear modulus, cannot be determined from this test.

1.3 The results of the test are affected by the presence of coarse-grained soil or rock particles, or both, which may make the testing data invalid in some cases. Check requirements of maximum soil particle size in 6.2.1 and 6.2.2.

1.4 Test conditions, including normal stress, access to water during consolidation and shearing, and specimens conditions should be selected to represent the field conditions being investigated and are left to the engineer or office requesting the test. The rate of shearing must be slow enough to ensure drained conditions.

1.5 Generally, three or more tests are performed on specimens from one soil sample, each under a different normal load, to determine the effects upon shear resistance and displacement. The development of criteria to interpret and evaluate test results is left to the engineer or office requesting the test. Interpretation of multiple tests requires engineering judgment and is beyond the scope of this test method. This test method pertains to the requirements for a single test.

1.6 This test method limits the maximum particle size of the test specimen based on the size of the shear box. Likewise, the gap size during shear is specified. It is acceptable for the testing requester to require a certain gap size between the upper and lower shear box halves to accommodate certain sand size particles. Presently there is insufficient information available for specifying the gap dimension based on particle size distribution.

1.7 Units—The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units [given in brackets] are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in nonconformance with the standard.

1.8 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026, unless superseded by this test method.

1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.10 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.