Standard Test Method for Field Vane Shear Test in Cohesive Soil

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the field vane test in saturated clay and silt soils for determination of undrained shear strength. Knowledge of the nature of the soil in which each vane test is to be made is necessary for assessment of the applicability and interpretation of the test. The test is not applicable for sandy soils which may allow drainage during the test.
1.2 This test method addresses testing on land and for testing in drill holes or by self drilling or continuous push methods from the ground surface. This method does not address marine testing where special test requirements or variations in equipment may be required. The user is referred to ASTM STP 1014 for additional information on in-place vane shear testing.
1.3 This method is often used in conjunction with fluid rotary drilling (D 5783) or hollow-stem augers (D 6151). Some apparatuses have the vane retracted in protective shoe for advancement and incremental testing. Sampling, such as with thin wall tubes (D 1587) is often combined with vane testing. Subsurface geotechnical explorations are reported in accordance with practice (D 5434).
1.4 Undrained shear strength and sensitivity of cohesive soils can also be measured in Unconfined Compression D 2166 and Laboratory Vane Test (D 4648).
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. English (Imperial) units are given in parentheses.
1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

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ASTM D2573-94 - Standard Test Method for Field Vane Shear Test in Cohesive Soil
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 2573 – 94
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Field Vane Shear Test in Cohesive Soil
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2573; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope * geotechnical explorations, such as in cases where a sample for
laboratory testing cannot be obtained.
1.1 This test method covers the field vane test in soft,
saturated, cohesive soils. Knowledge of the nature of the soil in
4. Apparatus
which each vane test is to be made is necessary for assessment
4.1 The vane shall consist of a four-bladed vane as illus-
of the applicability and interpretation of the test.
trated in Fig. 1. The height of the vane shall be twice the
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
diameter. Vane dimensions shall be as specified in Table 1.
as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for
Sizes other than those specified in Table 1 shall be used only
information only.
with the permission of the engineer in charge of the boring
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
program. The ends of the vane may be tapered (see Fig. 1). The
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
penetrating edge of the vane blade shall be sharpened having
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
an included angle of 90°.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.2 The vane shall be connected to the surface by means of
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
steel torque rods. These rods shall have sufficient diameter such
2. Summary of Test Method that their elastic limit is not exceeded when the vane is stressed
to its capacity (Note 1). They shall be so coupled that the
2.1 The vane shear test basically consists of placing a
shoulders of the male and female ends shall meet to prevent
four-bladed vane in the undisturbed soil and rotating it from the
any possibility of the coupling tightening when the torque is
surface to determine the torsional force required to cause a
applied during the test. If a vane housing is used, the torque
cylindrical surface to be sheared by the vane; this force is then
rods shall be equipped with well-lubricated bearings where
converted to a unit shearing resistance of the cylindrical
they pass through the housing. These bearings shall be pro-
surface. It is of basic importance that the friction of the vane
vided with seals to prevent soil from entering them. The torque
rod and instrument be accounted for; otherwise, the friction
rods shall be guided so as to prevent friction from developing
would be improperly recorded as soil strength. Friction mea-
between the torque rods and the walls of casing or boring.
surements under no-load conditions (such as the use of a blank
stem in place of the vanes, or a vane that allows some free
NOTE 1—If torque versus rotation curves are to be determined, it is
rotation of the rod prior to loading) are satisfactory only essential that the torque rods be calibrated (prior to use in the field). The
amount of rod twist (if any) must be established in degrees per foot per
provided that the torque is applied by a balanced moment that
unit torque. This correction becomes progressively more important as the
does not result in a side thrust. As torsional forces become
depth of the test increases and the calibration must be made at least to the
greater during a test, a side thrust in the instrument will result
maximum depth of testing anticipated:
in an increase in friction that is not accounted for by initial
4.3 Torque shall be applied to the torque rods, thence to the
no-load readings. Instruments involving side thrust are not
vane. The accuracy of the torque reading should be such that it
recommended. The vane rod may be of sufficient rigidity that
will produce a variation not to exceed 625 lb/ft (1.20 kPa)
it does not twist under full load conditions; otherwise a
shear strength.
correction must be made for plotting torque-rotation curves.
4.4 It is preferable to apply torque to the vane with a geared
3. Significance and Use
drive. In the absence of a geared drive, it is acceptable to apply
the torque directly by hand with a torque wrench or equivalent.
3.1 This test method provides an indication of in-situ shear
The duration of the test should be controlled by the require-
strength.
ments of 5.3.
3.2 This test method is used extensively in a variety of
5. Procedure
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil
5.1 In the case where a vane housing is used, advance the
and Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and
Related Field Testing for Soil Investigations. housing to a depth which is at least five vane housing diameters
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 1994. Published November 1994. Originally
less than the desired depth of the vane tip. Where no vane
published as D 2573 – 67 T. Last previous edition D 2573 – 72 (1978).
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
D 2573
immediately after completion of rapid rotation and in all cases
within 1 min after the remoulding process.
5.5 In the case where soil is in contact with the torque rods,
determine the friction between the soil and the rod by means of
torque tests conducted on similar rods at similar depths with no
vane attached. Conduct the rod friction test at least once on
each site; this shall consist of a series of torque tests at varying
depths.
5.6 In apparatus in which the torque rod is completely
isolated from the soil, conduct a friction test with a blank rod
(Note 2) at least once on each site to determine the magnitude
of the friction of the bearings. In a properly functioning vane
apparatus, this friction should be negligible.
NOTE 2—In some cases it is not necessary to remove the vane for the
friction test. As long as the vane is not in contact with the soil, that is,
where it is retracted into a casing, the friction measu
...

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