Lateral Earth Pressure

Lateral Earth Pressure

Retaining structures must resist the lateral pressure exerted by the soil backfill.

States of Stress

Stress States

  1. At-Rest (KoK_o): Wall does not move. Ko1sinϕK_o \approx 1 - \sin \phi' (Jaky's formula for normally consolidated soil)
  2. Active (KaK_a): Wall moves away from the soil (soil expands). Pressure decreases.
  3. Passive (KpK_p): Wall moves into the soil (soil compresses). Pressure increases.

Rankine's Theory

Assumptions: Smooth vertical wall, horizontal ground surface (can be inclined).

Rankine Coefficients

For horizontal backfill: Ka=tan2(45ϕ/2)=1sinϕ1+sinϕK_a = \tan^2(45 - \phi/2) = \frac{1 - \sin \phi}{1 + \sin \phi} Kp=tan2(45+ϕ/2)=1+sinϕ1sinϕK_p = \tan^2(45 + \phi/2) = \frac{1 + \sin \phi}{1 - \sin \phi}

Active Force (PaP_a): Pa=12γH2Ka2cHKaP_a = \frac{1}{2} \gamma H^2 K_a - 2c H \sqrt{K_a} (Note: Tension cracks may form where stress is negative).

Coulomb's Theory

Assumes friction between the wall and the soil (δ\delta). More general than Rankine.

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