Lateral Earth Pressure
Lateral Earth Pressure
Retaining structures must resist the lateral pressure exerted by the soil backfill.
States of Stress
Stress States
- At-Rest (): Wall does not move. (Jaky's formula for normally consolidated soil)
- Active (): Wall moves away from the soil (soil expands). Pressure decreases.
- Passive (): 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:
Active Force (): (Note: Tension cracks may form where stress is negative).
Coulomb's Theory
Assumes friction between the wall and the soil (). More general than Rankine.
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