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EARTH PRESSURE
Steep soil slopes will not remain stable for a long period of time; therefore, in order to
maintain a nearly vertical face, some support must be provided. The most common
permanent form of support is the retaining wall. These walls are considered to be rigid and
the design of these structures requires an estimate of the earth pressures that act on the
structure. The soil retained on the back side of wall is referred to as backfill. The induced
earth pressures are caused by the weight of the wall, the weight of the backfill, and if present,
by external loads acting on the wall or the backfill.
Earth pressure can be grouped into 3 categories depending on the movement of retaining wall
with respect to the soil retained
1. At-rest pressure
2. Active earth pressure and
3. Passive earth pressure
At-rest pressure:- The lateral earth pressure is called at- rest earth pressure, when the soil
mass is not subjected to lateral movement. This occurs when the retaining wall is firmly fixed
at the top and is not allowed to move laterally. The at-rest condition is also known as elastic
equilibrium as no part of the soil mass has failed and attained plastic equilibrium.
Active earth pressure:- When the retaining wall moves away from the backfill there is a
stretching of the soil mass and the active state of earth pressure exists. A portion of backfill
located next to the retaining wall tends to break away from the rest of the soil mass. It is a
state of plastic equilibrium, as the entire soil mass is in the verge of failure.
Passive earth pressure:- If the wall is pushed towards the backfill, the soil is compressed ad
the soil offers resistance to this movement by virtue of its shearing resistance. Since the
shearing resistance build up towards the wall, the earth pressure gradually increases. The
earth pressure at this stage is the passive earth pressure.
VARIATION OF EARTH PRESSURE WITH WALL MOVEMENT
𝜎h = ƒ(𝜎v) Eq 1
or 𝜎h = K 0 𝜎V
The distribution of earth pressure at rest behind the wall is shown in Fig
If we denote the resultant earth pressure per unit length perpendicular to plane of figure by
P0,
then we have
P0 = area of earth pressure distribution diagram
1
= 2(K0γH)H
1
= 2K0γH2
Alternatively P0 can be obtained as shown below.
𝐻
P0 = ∫0 K𝑜𝛾z 𝑑𝑧
𝐻
= K0γ∫0 z. dz
1
= 2K0γH2.
Since soils are not perfectly elastic materials, they do not have well defined values of
Poisson’s ratio.
Following are the assumptions made in the originally proposed Rankine’s theory.
Because of the assumption that there is no friction between the soil and wall, the
resultant earth pressure must be parallel to the surface of backfill. However in practise the
back of the retaining walls constructed of masonry or concrete will never be smooth and the
resultant active earth pressure will be inclined to the normal to the back of the wall at an
angle equal to the angle of friction between the soil and back of wall
Consider an element at depth z below the surface of backfill. Let σv and σh denote the
vertical and horizontal stresses acting on this element. In the active state of plastic
equilibrium
We write,
σh =Ka σv Eq1
1−sinɸ
where Ka=
1+sinɸ
pa= Kaγz
At z=0, pa = 0
At z=H, pa = KaγH
The resultant or total active earth pressure per unit length perpendicular to plane of
figure is equal to the area of earth pressure distribution diagram.
1 1
2
Pa= 2(KaγH)(H) = 2 KaγH
Pa acts at a distance H/3 above base.
At z=0, pa= 0
The active earth pressure distribution, is shown in Fig. The resultant active earth pressure is
given by the area of pressure distribution diagram.
1
Pa = ( 2Kaγ1H + γwH)H
1
= Kaγ1H2 + γwH2 acting at a
2
distance H/3 above the base.
pa = Kaγz
At z = 0, pa= 0
At z = H1, pa = KaγH1
= KaγH1 + Ka γ1 H2 + γwH2
We have, ̅
H
P1= KaqH acting at distance 2 Above base
1 H
2
P2= 2KaγH acting at distance 3 above base.
Resultant active earth pressure Pa= P1+P2
i.e Pa= KaqH + 1 KaγH2
2
Case 5: Backfill with sloping surface / Inclined surface
The fig shows a backfill with its surface inclined to the horizontal at an angle β. The
angle β is referred to as surcharge angle. For finding out the active earth pressure in this case
by Rankine’s theory, we consider an element at depth z as shown in Fig. such that the planes
of the element are conjugate and the stresses acting on them, i.e the vertical stress σ and
lateral stress p are conjugate stresses. Note stress p acts parallel to the sloping surface. p and
σ are resultant stresses on the two conjugate planes and have the same angle of obliquity β.
For cohesionless soil c=0.
1−Sinɸ
When surface of backfill is horizontal, β=0 and the equation reduces to Ka= as
1+Sinɸ
Obtained earlier.
DETERMINATION OF PASSIVE EARTH PRESSURE
Pp=KpγH
1+Sinɸ
Kp=
1−Sinɸ
1
Total earth pressure = 2KpγH