This Standard sets out a method for determining the shear strength of a soil (in terms of effective stress) by direct shearing in a shear box. Separate test procedures are described for the testing of low permeability soils such as clays or sandy clays (‘cohesive soils’) and highly permeable soils such as sands. For cohesive soils, different procedures are described for carrying out drained (or slow) shearing tests for determining the peak shear strength and for determining the residual shear strength.

This Standard sets out a method for determining the shear strength of a soil (in terms of effective stress) by direct shearing in a shear box. Separate test procedures are described for the testing of low permeability soils such as clays or sandy clays (herein called 'cohesive soils') and highly permeable soils such as sands. For cohesive soils, different procedures are described for carrying out drained (or slow) shearing tests for determining the peak shear strength and for determining the residual shear strength. A procedure for obtaining the undrained strength of a cohesive soil is not given. The test procedures apply only to small shear boxes which are usually designed to test specimens 60 mm to 100 mm square. The procedures do not apply to large shear boxes which are generally 300 mm square, as the method of assembly of the larger boxes differs from that used for small boxes.

First published as AS 1289.6.2.2-1998.