Abstract

Triaxial shear testing is conceived as one of the most significant investigations in geotechnical laboratories. It is recommended in geotechnical engineering for designing specific projects and for studying and understanding soil behavior. Since Casagrande designed this modern shear apparatus at Harvard University, it has been developed to obtain an accurate characterization of shear strength behavior. This research paper aims to provide a brief description of the development of triaxial equipment. This is a part of the selection of the triaxial apparatus that is easy to set up, prepare for testing, and operate reliably simple and inexpensive laboratory testing. The main objective of this study is to contribute to the accurate determination of suitable techniques and devices that respond to specific testing objectives. The theoretical background of the triaxial apparatus along with the direct shear box is reviewed. The basic working principles of different volume change measurement techniques using the triaxial device are illustrated. Different operational principles that have been used in designing volume change devices for soil testing are presented. The paper identifies that some of these devices require quite complex operational techniques and equipment that are difficult to perform on a repetitive testing basis. Hence, the desirable requirements for a volume change device should be sturdiness and ease of operation in soil mechanics testing.