Assumptions:

1. Wall is stiff enough to remain vertical when subjected to horizontal loads

2. Any type of surcharge (except triangular-shaped loads) can be solved by this
spreadsheet.
3. This spreadsheet does not cover surcharges loaded on sloping backfill. It is
up to the Engineer to calibrate the results to fit the parameters unique to
sloping backfills.
4. For point loads, use sheet 1. For UDLs use sheet 2. Other load types (strip, patch,
etc., but with the exception of triangular) can be calibrated to suit the conditions
of this spreadsheet.
Methodology:
1. Soil fill is automatically divided into 11 points by dividing its height by 10 to
create 10 strips of equal height.
2. These points will serve as the locations where
h
will be evaluated, and
h
will
serve as the x-axis of the surcharge idealization model.
3. The mentioned strips will be used to evaluate the area of the surcharge (force),
and the 1st moment of area (moment).
4.
h
is evaluated using the elastic theory of soils (Boussinesq Equation)
Surcharge Calculator
5. A factor of two is necessary when dealing with Distributed Loads. That is be-
cause experimental data does not agree with the predicted theorectical results.
Below is the corrected equation that should be applied to cases b,c, and d above.
References:
1. Foundation Analysis and Design by Joseph E. Bowles
2. CWALSHT by William P. Dawkins
3.The Factor of Two Question by Mete Oner
mH
nH fill
H
7.5 m
7 m
1 m
0.7 m :.set at 10% of H
fill
5 kN
3 m
0.428571 :.case a
0.34 (should this be applied?)
Point Depth* n
h
0 0 0 0.00
1 0.7 0.1 0.45
2 1.4 0.2 0.67
3 2.1 0.3 0.67
4 2.8 0.4 0.57
5 3.5 0.5 0.44
6 4.2 0.6 0.34
7 4.9 0.7 0.26
8 5.6 0.8 0.20
9 6.3 0.9 0.15
10 7 1 0.12
*from top surface
Point Load
Distance of Load from Back of Wall
m
Coefficient of Lateral Earth Pressure
Point Load Surcharge
Height of Wall
Height of soil fill
Unit Strip Width
Vertical Discretization Size
Using approximate areas:
2.73067 kN/m-strip
4.130043 m
11.27778 kNm
Area of Surcharge (Force)
Lever arm
Moment per strip
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70 0.80
H
e
i
g
h
t

o
f

S
o
i
l
,

m

Surcharge, kPa
Point Load Surcharge Idealization
' '
/2
H
h
7.5 m
7 m
1 m
0.7 m :.set at 10% of H
fill
1.25 kN/m
1 m
4 m
Yes (dropdown cell)
Point Depth* x
1
x
2

h
0 0 1 5 0.00
1 0.7 1 5 0.38
2 1.4 1 5 0.54
3 2.1 1 5 0.58
4 2.8 1 5 0.57
5 3.5 1 5 0.54
6 4.2 1 5 0.50
7 4.9 1 5 0.47
8 5.6 1 5 0.43
9 6.3 1 5 0.40
10 7 1 5 0.38
*from top surface
Uniformly Distributed Load Surcharge
Apply max limit on distance of load?
Length of distributed load
q
Height of Wall
Height of soil fill
Unit Strip Width
Vertical Discretization Size
distributed load, q
Distance of Load from Back of Wall
Using approximate areas:
Area of Surcharge (Force) 3.227813 kN/m-strip
Lever arm 3.444833 m
Moment per strip 11.11928 kNm
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50 0.60 0.70
H
e
i
g
h
t

o
f

S
o
i
l
,

m

Surcharge, kPa
UDL Surcharge Idealization