A large diameter ring shear apparatus and the effects of long distance shearing on interface friction angles and grain crushing

A large diameter ring shear has been constructed at the University of Sydney. A brief description of the apparatus is presented in this paper. The ring shear is particularly suited for large displacement shearing of sand against an interface. Some data is presented from tests shearing silica and calcareous sands against rough and smooth steel interfaces to show the effect that large displacement shearing can have on the interface friction angle and grain crushing.