This paper deals with the behavior of an Israeli fat clay under the combined action of shrinkage due to drying and tensile stresses which develop as a result of controlled shrinkage. Since the behavior is known to be nonlinear, an appropriate theoretical background which permits design of apparatuses and tests is presented. Two apparatuses are described which allow for the measurement of stress and strain in a two-dimensional state of stressing. Results of preliminary tests are presented and analyzed.