Measuring Drained Residual Strengths in the Bromhead Ring Shear

Christopher L. Meehan¹; Thomas L. Brandon²; J. Michael Duncan³

¹Assistant Professor, University of Delaware, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 301 DuPont Hall, Newark, DE 19716, U.S.A.
E-mail: cmeehan@udel.edu (corresponding author)
²Associate Professor, Virginia Tech, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 200 Patton Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, U.S.A.
E-mail: tbrandon@vt.edu
³Univ. Distinguished Professor, Virginia Tech, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 200 Patton Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, U.S.A.
E-mail: jmd@vt.edu

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Geotechnical Testing Journal, 2007, Volume 30, Number 6, pp. 466-473

Abstract
A series of Bromhead ring shear tests were conducted to measure the drained residual strength of Rancho Solano Fat Clay. Tests conducted using different test procedures demonstrate the significant effect that wall friction can have in the Bromhead ring shear device. This problem was addressed by beveling the top loading platen, which led to measurements of drained residual strength that were 21-23% lower than those measured with the unmodified platen. Using the modified platen, similar test results can be achieved independent of the details of the test procedure that is followed, giving greater confidence in the measured residual shear strength.

Keywords
Ring shear tests; Clays; Residual strength; Slickensides; Laboratory test; Shear tests

Reference
Meehan, C. L., Brandon, T. L., and Duncan, J. M. (2007). “Measuring Drained Residual Strengths in the Bromhead Ring Shear.” Geotechnical Testing Journal, ASTM, 30(6), 466-473. (doi:10.1520/GTJ101017)

DOI
10.1520/GTJ101017