AS PER IS: 2720 (Part - XII) Introduction: Total stresses when measured in a Triaxial cell are more complex in their nature. Numerous parameters may be measured including back, pressure, Pore water pressure and volume change. From these values various engineering properties can be calculated. Triaxial cell is used to apply total stress. The sample is subjected to an around confining pressure. Load is then applied through piston of Triaxial cell on a pressure pad on the top of the specimen. In a Triaxial cell, sample is confined in a rubber membrane. Triaxial Cells are manufactured from carefully selected material. The cells are manufactured to accommodate different sizes of specimen. Universal Triaxial Cell accommodates samples of diameters 38 mm to 100 mm. It is used to determine shear strength parameters i.e. angle of shearing resistance and cohesion of a given soil sample. APPLICATION: In deep foundations, confining pressures play the significant role in changing the behavior soils. Similarly in high rise earth dams, the confining pressures are of very high magnitude. Triaxial test is only test to simulate these confining pressures. For short terms stability of foundations, dams and slopes, shear strength parameters for unconsolidated undrained or consolidated undrained conditions are used, while for long term stability shear parameters corresponding to consolidated drained conditions will give more reliable results. All such special conditions can be achieved in Triaxial tests.