This dataset provides friction data from ring-shear tests walnut shells used for analogue modelling in the experimental tectonics laboratory at China University of Petroleum (Beijing). According to our analysis the tested materials behave as a Mohr-Coulomb material characterized by a linear failure envelope. Peak, dynamic and reactivation friction coefficients of corundum sand are µP = 0.90, µD = 0.63, and µR = 0.68, respectively (Table 4). Cohesion of the material ranges between 0-40 Pa.

The tested bulk material consists of walnut shells with grain size of 180-380 µm (Table 1) and is sold under the name "Walnut Shells" with the product number YR-98547 by the company Yiran Mineral Products (1688.com).

The data presented here are derived by ring shear testing using a SCHULZE RST-01.pc (Schulze, 1994, 2003, 2008) at HelTec, the Laboratory for experimental tectonics at the Helmholtz Center Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, Germany. The RST is specially designed to measure friction coefficients µ and cohesions C in loose granular material accurately at low confining pressures (<20 kPa) and shear velocities (<1 mm/sec) similar to sandbox experiments. In this tester, a granular bulk material layer is sheared internally at constant normal stress σN and shear velocity v while shear force and lid displacement (corresponding to density and volume change ΔV) are measured continuously. For more details see Klinkmüller et al. (2016).