The ShearTrac II cyclic direct simple shear (CDSS) system performs the consolidation and cyclic shear phases of a test under fully automatic control. Typical applications include earthquake engineering, liquefaction analysis, or offshore studies. The DSS test generates a fairly homogeneous state of shear stress throughout the specimen, which provides initial stress condition, stress path, and deformation configuration that models numerous field loading conditions more closely than other strength tests (such as triaxial). The system utilizes a micro-stepper motor to apply the vertical load and an advanced zero-backlash servo actuation system to apply shear force and displacement to the soil specimen.