The research described herein is concerned with the establishment of a specimen geometry that will lead to a more uniform stress distribution in cyclic torsional shear testing. This goal is realized by means of a parametric study using the method of finite elements and a homogeneous, isotropic, linear-elastic soil characterization. The results of these analyses provide a good qualitative measure of the relative effects of the several parameters under consideration. On the basis of the parametric study, design charts are developed which enable an appropriate specimen geometry to be selected for any specified degree of stress uniformity
