Shear strength characteristics of Jerash expansive soil

The results of the direct shear test on Jerash expansive soil show the effect of the initial water content on the cohesion (c) and on the angel of internal friction ( ) [shear strength parameters].it show that, as the initial water increase, the cohesion (c) of Jerash expansive soil also increase up to the shrinkage limit, after that increase of water even small amount, decrease the cohesion of the soil. On the other hand, the results of direct shear test show also  that as the water content increase, the angle of internal friction ( )remain unchanged up to shrinkage limit , any increase of water cause a large decrease on the angle of internal friction of Jerash expansive soil.