Apparatus and method capable of simulating action of soaking-air drying cycle and used for direct shear test of soil

The invention provides an apparatus and method capable of simulating action of a soaking-air drying cycle and used for direct shear test of soil. The apparatus comprises a testing stand, an air-water exchanger and a support, wherein the air-water exchanger is connected with a water storage tank through a pipeline, the water storage tank is communicated with a water storage groove pm the testing stand via a water inlet pipe, and the testing stand is installed on the support. In a shearing device on the testing stand, the two interior side surfaces, located at a non-shear displacement direction, of the water storage groove are provided with heating plates; the heating temperature and time of a temperature sensing and controlling instrument are set to control the process of heating and drying of a soil sample by the heating plates; and the air-water exchanger communicated with the water storage tank realizes monitoring and measurement of water pressure in the water tank by converting air pressure into hydraulic