Active Earth Pressure

A retaining wall backfilled with cohesion less soil shown in

Fig. If the wall does not move even after back filling, the
pressure exerted on the wall is termed as pressure for the
at rest condition of the wall
If suppose the wall gradually rotates about point A and
moves away from the backfill, the unit pressure on the wall
is gradually reduced and after a particular displacement of
the wall at the top, the pressure reaches a constant value.
The pressure is the minimum possible.
This pressure is termed the active pressure since the
weight of the backfill is responsible for the movement of
the wall.
If the wall surface is smooth, the resultant pressure acts
normal to the face of the wall. If the wall is rough, it makes
an angle with the normal on the wall. The angle is
called the angle of wall friction. As the wall moves away
from the backfill, the soil tends to move forward.

1
 Active and Passive lateral pressure
When the wall movement is sufficient, a soil mass of weight W
ruptures along surface ADC shown in Fig (a). This surface is
slightly curved. If the surface is assumed to be a plane surface
AC, analysis would indicate that this surface would make an
angle of 45 + /2 with the horizontal.
If the wall is now rotated about A towards the backfill, the
actual failure plane ADC is also a curved surface Fig (b).
However, if the failure surface is approximated as a plane AC,
this makes an angle 45 - /2 with the horizontal and the
pressure on the wall increases from the value of the at rest
condition to the maximum value possible.
The maximum pressure P that is developed is termed the
passive earth pressure. The pressure is called passive because
the weight of the backfill opposes the movement of the wall. It
makes an angle with the normal if the wall is rough.

2
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Active Earth Pressure

Active earth pressure

A
Plastic equilibrium in soil
Unit weight of soil =
refers to the condition
f c tan
where every point in a soil
z mass is on the verge of
v failure.
If wall AB is allowed to move
h away from the soil mass
gradually, horizontal stress
will decrease.
This is represented by
B
Mohrs circle in the
Earth pressure at rest subsequent slide.
 ACTIVE EARTH PRESSURE (RANKINES)
(in simple stress field for c=0 soil) Fig. 1

X = Ko z

xA Ko z z
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Active Earth Pressure
Based on the diagram :
a
Ratio coefficient of Rankine's active earth pressure
v
K a (Ka is the ratio of the effective stresses)

Therefore :
a 1 - sin
Ka tan (45 - )
2

v 2 1 sin

It can be shown that :

a z tan (45 - ) - 2c tan (45 - )
2

2 2
z K a - 2c K a
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Active Earth Pressure
Active pressure distribution

- 2c K a - 2c K a

zo

z Ka
z K a - 2c K a
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Active Earth Pressure

Active pressure distribution

Based on the previous slide, using

similar triangles show that :
2c
zo where zo is depth of tension
Ka crack

For pure cohesive soil, i.e. when = 0 :

2c
zo

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Active Earth Pressure
Active pressure distribution

z
For cohesionless
soil, c = 0
a v Ka z Ka

z Ka
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Passive Earth Pressure

2.2.4 Passive earth pressure

A
If the wall is pushed into the
Unit weight of soil =
soil mass, the principal
f c tan
stress h will increase. On
z the verge of failure the
v stress condition on the soil
element can be expressed
h by Mohrs circle b.
The lateral earth pressure,
p, which is the major
principal stress, is called
B
Rankines passive earth
Earth pressure at rest pressure
 PASSIVE EARTH PRESSURE (RANKINES)
(in simple stress field for c=0 soil) Fig. 2

X = Ko z

Ko z z xP
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Passive Earth Pressure

Mohrs circle
f c tan

Shear stress
representing
Rankines
D
b passive state.

A c
O Kov v C p
Normal stress
a

D
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Passive Earth Pressure

Referring to previous slide, it can be shown that :

p v tan (45
2
) 2c tan (45 )
2 2
z K p 2c K p

For cohesionless soil :

p 1 sin
K p tan (45 )
2

v 2 1 sin
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Passive Earth Pressure
Passive pressure distribution

For cohesionless soil,

p v K p z K p

2c K p z Kp
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Earth Pressure

Pressure
In conclusion

Earth
Passive pressure

At-rest pressure

Active pressure

Wall tilt Wall tilt

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Types of Lateral Pressure

Rankines Theory
Initial work done in 1857
Develop based on semi infinite loose granular soil
mass for which the soil movement is uniform.
Used stress states of soil mass to determine lateral
pressures on a frictionless wall

Assumptions :
Vertical frictionless wall
Dry homogeneous soil
Horizontal surface
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Types of Lateral Pressure

Active pressure for cohesionless soil

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Types of Lateral Pressure

Effect of surcharge

Effect of a stratified soil

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Types of Lateral Pressure

Effect of sloping surface

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Types of Lateral Pressure

Active pressure, ha' K a v' cos

Passive pressure, hp' K p v' cos

cos - (cos2 - cos2 ' )

where Ka
cos (cos2 - cos2 ' )

cos (cos2 - cos2 ' ) 1

and Kp
cos (cos - cos ' ) K a
2 2
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Types of Lateral Pressure

Passive resistance in undrained clay

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Criteria

The stability of the retaining wall should be checked against :

(i) FOS against overturning (recommended FOS = 2.0)

Resisting moment
FOS
Disturbing moment

(ii) FOS against sliding (recommended FOS = 2.0)

RV tan (0.5 - 0.7) Pp cw B
FOS
RH
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
The stability of the retaining wall should
be checked against :

2.3.1 FOS against overturning

(recommended FOS = 2.0)
Resisting moment
FOS
Disturbing moment V

Ph
Pp

.. overturning about A
A
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Criteria

2.3.2 FOS against sliding

(recommended FOS = 2.0)

RV tan (0.5 - 0.7) Pp cw B

FOS
RH
V

Ph

Pp

Friction & wall base adhesion

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Criteria

2.3.3 For base pressure (to be compared against the

bearing capacity of the founding soil. Recommended
FOS = 3.0)

RV 6e
qb 1
B B
Now, Lever arm of base resultant

Moment
x
RV
B
Thus eccentricity e - x
2
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

Ph

Pp

Base pressure on the founding soil

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

Worked example :
Figure below shows the cross-section of a reinforced concrete
retaining structure. The retained soil behind the structure and
the soil in front of it are cohesionless and has the following
properties:

SOIL 1 : u = 35o, d = 17 kN/m3,

SOIL 2 : u = 30o, = 25o , d = 18 kN/m3,
sat = 20 kN/m3
The unit weight of concrete is 24 kN/m3. Taking into account the
passive resistance in front of the wall, determine a minimum value
for the width of the wall to satisfy the following design criteria:

Factor of safety against overturning > 2.5

Factor of safety against sliding > 1.5
Maximum base pressure should not exceed 150 kPa
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
THE PROBLEM 30 kN/m2

0.5 m

SOIL 1
2.0 m

4.0 m GWT

SOIL 2
2.9 m

SOIL 2

0.6 m

4.5 m

2.0 m
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
30 kN/m2
THE SOLUTION
0.5 m

SOIL 1
W1 2.0 m P1 P3
W3 GWT
4.0 m

SOIL 2
W41
2.9 m
W2 P2 P4
SOIL 2
PP P5 P6
0.6 m
4.5 m
2.0 m
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
Determination of the Earth Pressure Coefficients

1 sin 1 - sin 35o

K a1 0.271
1 sin 1 sin 35 o

1 sin 1 - sin 30o

K a2 0.333
1 sin 1 sin 30 o

1 sin 1 sin 30 o
K p2 3.00
1 sin 1 sin 30 o
LATERAL
ELEM.
EARTH PRESSURE
FORCE (kN/m) TOTAL
L. ARM MOMENT
(m) (kNm/m)
Stability Analysis
HORIZONTAL
Active
P1 0.271 x 30 x 2 16.26 4.5 73.17
P2 0.333 x 30 x 3.5 34.97 1.75 61.20
P3 0.5 x 0.271 x 17 x 2 x 2 9.21 4.17 38.41
P4 0.333 x 17 x 2 x 3.5 39.63 1.75 69.35
P5 0.5 x .333 x (20-9.81) x 3.5 x 3.5 20.78 1.167 24.25
P6 0.5 x 9.81 x 3.5 x 3.5 60.09 1.167 70.13

SUM 180.94 336.50

Passive
Pp 0.5 x 3 x 18 x 1.5 x 1.5 60.75 0.5 30.38

VERTICAL
W1 0.5 x 4.9 x 24 58.8 1.75 102.90
W2 0.6 x 4.5 x 24 64.8 2.25 145.80
W3 2 x 2.5 x 17 + 2.9 x 2.5 x 20 + 30 x 2.5 305 3.25 991.25
W4 0.9 x 1.5 x 18 24.3 0.75 18.23

SUM 452.9 1288.55

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

To check for stability of the retaining wall

(i) FOS against overturning > 2.5

Resisting moment 1288.55

FOS 3.83 2.5, thus it is OK
Disturbing moment 336.50

(ii) FOS against sliding > 1.5

RV tan 0.5 Pp 452.9 tan 25o 0.5 x 60.75

FOS 1.34 1.5
RH 180.94

Thus it is not OK
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

(iii) For base pressure

RV 6e
qb 1
B B
Now, Lever arm of base resultant

Moment 1288.55 - 336.5

x 2.10
RV 452.9
B
Thus eccentricity e - x 2.25 - 2.10 0.15
2

452.9 6 x 0.15
Therefore qb 1
4.5 4.5
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

qb = 120.8 and 80.5 kPa

Since maximum base pressure is less than the bearing pressure of the
soil, the foundation is stable against base pressure failure.

DISTRIBUTION OF BASE PRESSURE

80.5 kPa
120.8 kPa

In conclusion the retaining wall is not safe against sliding. To

overcome this the width of the base may be increased or a
key constructed at the toe.