The advantages of the direct shear test are many. They are given in the following:
1. Simple and cheap.
2. Test sample preparation is relatively easy for dry or saturated sandy soil.
3. Since sample thickness is kept small, quick drainage and rapid dissipation of excess pore water pressure can occur.
4. Both shear stress and normal stress can be measured directly on the failure plane.
5. Drained tests in cohesionless soils (sands and gravels) can be carried out within a short period of time.
6. Maintaining constant normal stress is possible throughout the test.
7. Using a reversible shear box, it is possible to conduct a test involving large shear displacement from which residual shear strengths of dense sands and overconsolidated clays can be estimated.
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