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S. Nilay KESKİN*
M. Arslan TEKİNSOY**
Soner UZUNDURUKAN***
ABSTRACT
The coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K0) changes depending on the relative density,
stress history, over-consolidation ratio, plasticity index and similar soil properties. In this
study, effect of vertical effective stress and over-consolidation ratio to the coefficient earth
pressure at rest were investigated. For this purpose, consolidation tests with thin-walled
oedometer technique were used on four different clay samples. Variations in the horizontal
stress and coefficient of earth pressure at rest were recorded during loading stage.
Empirical equations which were given in the literature for estimation of K0 of normally
consolidated and over-consolidated soils were compared with values obtained from the
tests. These results showed that, over-consolidation ratio is an important factor on K0 for
unloading stage. When over-consolidation ratio increased, the coefficient of earth pressure
at rest is also increased. K0 is almost stable for vertical effective pressures which is higher
than pre-consolidation pressure.
1. INTRODUCTION
The determination of lateral earth pressures is necessary at design and application stage of
the most engineering structure. Especially, the knowledge of lateral earth pressure is
required to design the retaining structures and deep foundations.
Coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K0 ) is defined as the ratio of horizontal stresses to
applied vertical stresses at zero lateral strain [1].
σ h = K 0 *σ v (1)
where, σ h is the horizontal stress, σ v is the vertical stress, K0 is the coefficient of earth
pressure.
If the soil is assumed as an elastic material, following equation can be derived for K0 at the
state of zero lateral principle strain state (ε2=ε3=0) [2].
*
υ
K0 = (2)
1−υ
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
Many methods has been developed depend on the result of various laboratory and field tests
to determine the coefficient at earth pressure at rest of different soil types. The
determination of earth pressure coefficient at rest by using laboratory methods has been
preferred because the laboratory tests could be easy rather than the field tests.
Bishop and Henkel stated in their study that coefficient of earth pressure at rest is
dependent on soil type, stress history and pore water pressure.
Hendron [4] used an oedometer that can measure lateral pressures by strain gauge that was
mounted on a metal ring that is sensitive to the lateral stresses. Then, Brooker and Ireland
[5] used to data obtained from Hendron’s study and they investigated the variation of earth
pressure coefficient at rest dependent on the over consolidation ratio and plasticity index.
Campanella and Vaid [6] developed a tri-axial test equipment to determine K0 and they
carried out K0 tests for saturated clay samples.
Saglamer investigated the effect of relative density (Dr), stress history, particle size and
shape of soil to K0 in coarse-grained soils. In an odometer that was developed for this aim,
loading test were carried out on four different air-dried sand. At the result of tests, it was
stated that K0 was mainly dependent on relative density of soil at loading condition. It was
also emphasise that K0 values in loose sand were higher than in dense sands. Coefficient of
earth pressure at rest was decreased in reloading stage, especially in loose sands, but in very
dense sands K0 values was remain almost constant in loading and reloading stages. In
addition, initial void ratio (eo) was also an important factor that controlled to Ko in normal
loading condition [7].
In other study concentrated on clay soils, test equipment that can be directly measure the
horizontal stresses was used. The variations of the horizontal stress and K0 values according
to applied vertical stresses were investigated. It was concluded that the K0 values was
remain constant for the vertical stresses higher than the pre consolidation pressure, but it
increased in unloading state [8].
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S. Nilay KESKİN, M. Arslan TEKİNSOY, Soner UZUNDURUKAN
In another study, the time dependent behaviour of horizontal stresses was investigated by
using K0 test tube. Pore water pressures were measured by aid of pressure transducer. At
the results of test on the turba soils with high water contents, it was observed that the
relationship between horizontal and vertical effective pressures was almost linear in loading
stage. This situation is result from the K0 values obtained in all loading stage is constant
[9].
K0 values are 0.60 and 0.35 in loose sands and dense sands, respectively. In normally
consolidated soils it varies from 0.50 to 0.60 and in over consolidated soils it can be greater
than 1 [10].
Bedişkan used the thin-walled oedometer and investigated the relationship between K0 and
OCR for loading, unloading and reloading stages. It was observed that as the OCR
increases K0 values also increases and K0 values in the loading stage is higher than in the
unloading stage. In addition, time dependent behaviour of the horizontal stresses and K0
was investigated, and it is implied that K0 values decrease under the constant vertical stress
[11].
Kayadelen also used the thin-walled odometer technique on different clay samples. In that
study, it was determined that the measured horizontal stresses in the loading stage has an
linear relationship for the vertical stresses higher than pre-consolidation pressure and these
K0 values is remain constant [12].
K0 and lateral earth pressures are also determined by field tests. For this aim, total stress
cell (glötzl) method, pressuremeter method and hydraulic fracturing methods has been used
[13].
Tavenas et al. used these three method mentioned above for measuring horizontal pressure
and they investigated the validity of these methods for clays. At the results of this study,
they implied that the total stress cell method is the most useful field method due to
deformations that occurs in the soil during test is small and the result of tests can be easily
interpreted. They expressed that incorrect result can be obtained with the hydraulic
fracturing method due to disturbance of the soil during test. They also expressed that the
pressuremeter test results can be doubtful due to stress release during the boring of hole in
which the test is carried out [14].
In another study, K0 measurements was made by using the total stress cell and the hydraulic
fracturing methods in five different site, and it is expressed in the study that more reliable
results can be obtained with the total stress method [15].
Coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest can be predicted by using one of the several
empirical equations that is in the literature. Below equation is commonly used for
determination of K0 in the normally consolidated soils [16].
K 0 = 1 − sin φ ı (3)
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The Effects Of Over Consolidation Ratio And Effective…
1 − sin φ ı
K0 = (5)
1 + sin β ı
In clays coefficient of earth pressure at rest can be given as the following equations in terms
of plasticity index
Mayne and Kulhawy [18] proposed the following relationship between K0 and over
consolidation ratio (OCR) for over consolidated clay during expansion.
(
K 0 = 1 − sin φ ı ) (OCR )sin φ ı
(8)
Alpan [19] proposed the following equation for normally consolidated soils.
In same study, Alpan indicated that K0 is a function of over consolidation ratio in over
consolidated clays (Eq.10-11)
An another equation that can be used for determination of K0 in the over consolidated clays
is given in Eq .12 [5].
where, K0(NC) is coefficient of earth pressure at rest in normally consolidated clays that can
be determined Eq 6 or Eq 7.
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S. Nilay KESKİN, M. Arslan TEKİNSOY, Soner UZUNDURUKAN
Mayne and Kulhawy [20] investigated the K0 in the unloading stage (K0(unloading)) and they
gave following relationship between over consolidation ratio and K0(unloading).
ı
K 0(unloading ) = K 0( NC ) * (OCR)α (14)
where αı is slope of the relationship between log K0(unloading) and log (OCR).
Mayne and Kulhawy [21] proposed following general equation that can be used for both
clays and sands.
OCR 3 OCR
K 0 = (1 − sin φ ı ) + 1 −
(17)
OCR (1−sin φ ) 4 OCRmax
ı
max
where, OCR is the actual over consolidation ratio, OCRmax is the maximum over
consolidation ratio and φ ı is effective angle of internal friction.
Cherubine et al. [22] was carried out an laboratory study by using special oedometer
equipment on the undisturbed over consolidated clays whose natural water contents vary
from 25 to29 and plasticity indexes vary from 30 to 40. They implied that their results are
almost same with the values obtained from Eq. 16.
Tekinsoy [22, 23]developed a theoretical and iterative model for determining K0 in both
normally and over consolidated soils. In this method, determination of horizontal stress
variation was aimed. For this aim, variations of the shear stresses and deformations in the
soil under the K0 condition were investigated. A general calculation procedure that can
calculate the horizontal earth pressure was presented. An equation for initial K0 value is
given in Eq. 18.
α
K0 = 1 ± (18)
(2 − ε 1 ) 2
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The Effects Of Over Consolidation Ratio And Effective…
α
3
a
2 1
b 2
1 3
0 σv
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900
1000 1100
-
-
1 - CH (Undisturbed O.C. Pc=400kPa Cr=16.4%)
2 - CH (Undisturbed O.C. Pc=230kPa Cr=44.7%)
3 - CH (Remolded N.C. Cr=47.2%)
- a - Dense Sand (Dr = 0.89)
b - Loose Sand (Dr = 0.33)
3. SOIL PROPERTIES
4. TESTING SYSTEM
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S. Nilay KESKİN, M. Arslan TEKİNSOY, Soner UZUNDURUKAN
has diameter of 6mm and they allow entrance of cables that strain gauges are attached. The
other three are in 7 mm diameter and they belong to screws which are located inside of
oedometer cell.
Four strain gauges with resistance of 120 ohm in 90 degrees angles reciprocal positions to
obtain a Wheaston bridge are mounted in the outer centre surface of the ring. Two of the
strain gauges which are bonded in the centre surface of thin walled ring are positioned in
parallel to horizontal plane and the other two has a right angle with these strain gauges. The
strain gauges which are positioned in parallel to horizontal plane work actively after soil
sample is loaded. The other two strain gauges balance the deformations as a result of heat
changes during the experimentation. The resistance changes in strain gauges are read from
deformation meter. The ring is calibrated by adding water with increasing pressure into the
ring in three-dimensional pressure equipment before experiments start. The calibration
factor (k) of 1.99 is obtained by measuring the amount deformations for each pressure
values [13].
In experiments, soil samples which are undisturbed and taken out from tubes are placed in
load mechanism by located in thin walled oedometer ring. Samples are loaded in 50, 100,
200, 400, and 800 kPa vertical strain stages and emptying stage is carried out later. It is
waited in each load stage until fixations are completed. Afterward, horizontal strain values
are determined by using deformation meters and following load stage is carried out.
5. FINDINGS
In this study, coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K0) was determined from directly
measured horizontal stresses (σh) by means of strain gauges that were placed on thin wall of
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The Effects Of Over Consolidation Ratio And Effective…
ring. The variation of measured horizontal stresses (σh) and coefficient of earth pressure at
rest (K0) according to applied vertical stress (σv) was investigated for all samples. In
addition, the relationship between coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K0) and over
consolidation ratio (OCR) was investigated for loading-unloading conditions. At the result
of tests, the variation of coefficient of earth pressure at rest (K0) with over consolidation
ratio was given in Table 2. The variation of measured horizontal stresses according to
different vertical stresses was given in Figure 2, and the variation of coefficient of earth
pressure at rest according to different vertical stresses was given in Figure 3 for Sample I. It
is seen from the Figure 2 and 3 that the variation is linear for vertical stresses greater than
pre-consolidation pressure.
Similar relationships were obtained for the other samples, but only the results that were
obtained for Sample I were graphically presented in this article. K0 values that were
obtained from empirical equations and values obtained from laboratory tests were
compared. Results of this comparison were given in Table 4 and 5 for normally
consolidated and over consolidated condition, respectively. Eq. 8 and Eq. 17 gave same
results for over consolidated soils. So, only the results obtained from Eq. 8 were given in
Table 4 and 5.
6. CONCLUSIONS
The effects of vertical stress and over consolidation ratio on the coefficient of earth
pressure at rest were investigated experimentally in fine-grained soils. K0 values were
determined from directly measured horizontal stresses by means of thin-walled oedometer
technique and these values were compared with K0 values that were calculated from
empirical equations. Findings were evaluated and following conclusions were derived.
1. The variation of horizontal stresses is linear for vertical stresses greater than pre-
consolidation pressure in loading stage. Therefore, K0 values remain as a constant
value for vertical stresses greater than pre-consolidation pressure.
2. It was observed that experimental K0 values is greater than K0 values calculated from
empirical equations for normally consolidated state. However, experimental K0 values
is lower than calculated K0 values for over consolidated state. K0 values that were
calculated for low over consolidation ratio values are approximate to test results.
3. In the unloading stage, horizontal stresses decreased slower than vertical stresses, so K0
values were increased. Therefore, K0 values are affected considerably from over
consolidation ratio in unloading stage. As over consolidation ratio increases,
coefficient of earth pressure at rest also increases.
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S. Nilay KESKİN, M. Arslan TEKİNSOY, Soner UZUNDURUKAN
Sample I Sample II
Before Test After Test Before Test After Test
W (%) e H (mm) w (%) e H (mm) w (%) e H (mm) w (%) e H (mm)
30 0.74 63.00 21 0.53 55.50 35 0.99 63.00 33 0.87 59.2
OCR σv (kPa) Σhö (kPa) Ko OCR σv (kPa) σhö (kPa) Ko
2.4 50 66 1.320 4.60 50 94.62 1.892
1.2 100 51 0.510 2.30 100 104.88 1.049
NC 200 88 0.440 1.15 200 133.48 0.667
NC 400 168 0.420 NC 400 214.23 0.536
NC 800 341 0.426 NC 800 423.23 0.529
2 400 256 0.640 2 400 308.28 0.771
4 200 196 0.980 4 200 230.85 1.154
8 100 140 1.400 8 100 160.55 1.606
16 50 101 2.020 16 50 116.38 2.328
Sample III Sample IV
Before Test After Test Before Test After Test
W (%) e H (mm) w (%) e H (mm) w (%) e H (mm) w (%) e H (mm)
21 0.62 63.00 20 0.54 60.00 56 1.33 63.00 32 0.85 49.95
OCR σv (kPa) Σhö (kPa) Ko OCR σv (kPa) σhö (kPa) Ko
2.80 50 64.20 1.284 2.8 50 58.43 1.169
1.40 100 70.40 0.704 1.4 100 81.70 0.817
NC 200 102.40 0.512 NC 200 144.88 0.724
NC 400 201.00 0.503 NC 400 294.50 0.736
NC 800 394.00 0.493 NC 800 570.48 0.713
2 400 303.80 0.760 2 400 418.48 1.046
4 200 216.20 1.081 4 200 304.95 1.525
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The Effects Of Over Consolidation Ratio And Effective…
400
Measured Horizontal Stress, σh (kPa)
300 Unloading
200
Loading
100
0
200 400 600 800 100
Applied Vertical Stress, σv (kPa)
Figure 2.The variation of measured horizontal stresses (σh) at different aplied vertical
stresses (σv) for Sample I
3.00
2.00
K0
1.00
Unloading
Loading
0
200 400 600 800 1000
Applied Vertical Stress, σv (kPa)
956
S. Nilay KESKİN, M. Arslan TEKİNSOY, Soner UZUNDURUKAN
2.50
2.00
1.50
Loading
K0
1.00
Unloading
0.50
0
1 10 100
Log (OCR)
Figure 4. The variation of coefficient of earth pressure at rest(K0) according to over
consolidation ratio for Sample I
Table 3. The comparison between experimental K0 values and K0 values obtained from
empirical equations
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The Effects Of Over Consolidation Ratio And Effective…
Table 4. Comparison between K0 values obtained from empirical equations and values
obtained from laboratory tests for over consolidated state (Sample I and Sample II)
( )
K 0 = 1 − sin φ ı (OCR )sin φ
ı Loading 0.8 0.58 - - - -
( )
K 0 = 1 − sin φ ı (OCR )sin φ
ı Loading 1.108 0.885 0.706 - - - -
[18]
Sample II
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S. Nilay KESKİN, M. Arslan TEKİNSOY, Soner UZUNDURUKAN
Table 5. Comparison between K0 values obtained from empirical equations and values
obtained from laboratory tests for over consolidated state (Sample III and Sample IV)
( )
K 0 = 1 − sin φ ı (OCR )sin φ
ı Loading 0.936 0.715 - - -
Sample III
( )
K 0 = 1 − sin φ ı (OCR )sin φ
ı Loading 0.973 0.882 - - - -
[18]
Sample IV
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The Effects Of Over Consolidation Ratio And Effective…
Nomenclature
References
[1] Donath, A.D., Untersuchungen Veber den Erddruck auf Stuetzwaende. Zeitschrift
Fuer Bauwesen., 1891.
[2] Lambe, W., Whitman, R.V., Soil Mechanics, John Wiley&Sons, New York, 1969.
[3] Bishop, A.W., Henkel, D.J., The Measurement of Soil Properties in the Triaxial
Test., Arnold Publishing Company, London, 1962.
[4] Hendron, A.J., The Behaviour of Sand in One Dimensional Compression,
Ph.D.Thesis, University of Illinois, 1963.
[5] Brooker, E.W., Ireland, H.O., Earth Pressures at Rest Related to the Stress History.
Canadian Geotechnical Journal, Vol.2, 1-15, 1965.
[6] Campanella, R., Vaid, Y., A Simple Ko Triaxial Cell. Canadian Geotechnical
Journal, Vol.9, No.3, 249-260, 1972.
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S. Nilay KESKİN, M. Arslan TEKİNSOY, Soner UZUNDURUKAN
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