Question: Problem 2. In a direct shear test on a specimen of cohesionless sand, the vertical normal stress on the specimen is 260 kN/m and

Problem 2. In a direct shear test on a specimen of cohesionless sand, the vertical normal stress on the specimen is 260 kN/m and the horizontal shear stress at failure is 180 kN/m. (a) Assuming a uniform stress distribution within the failure zone and a straight line failure envelope which goes through the origin, determine by means of the Mohr circle the magnitude and direction of the principal stresses at failure. (b) Explain why it is not possible to determine the principal stresses in a direct shear specimen for an applied horizontal shear stress which is not large enough to cause failure.
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