Measurements of shear strength parameters and stiffnesses obtained from tests in a novel torsional oedometer apparatus are discussed and evaluated in this paper. From a literature review, it was found that studies on soil behaviour relating to the influence of the soil anisotropy and mode of shearing is limited. Most of the laboratory experiments for studying this topic have been performed in triaxial devices. Unfortunately, the capability to analyse the behaviour of soils with an standard triaxial apparatus is limited to axisymmetric stress conditions without rotation of principal stress axes. Therefore, a new testing device, the torsional oedometer, has been developed. It allows specimens to be sheared in torsional mode and very large shear strains can be applied. The obtained data were analysed with a focus on anisotropy, stiffness at large shear strains and degradation of shear strength parameters.
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