Ch23.

qxd 6/16/00 7:45 AM Page 1

Active pressure

Passive
Pressure Sliding
Friction

Figure 23.1 Forces and pressures acting between an earth retaining structure and the ad-
jacent ground.
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Backfill
Wall

H At-rest
lateral
earth pressure

b
 K0H

Figure 23.2 At-rest pressure acting on a retaining wall.

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τ
Failure φ
Plane

Active Condition

c
σ'x σ'x σ'z
σ'

A
B

At-Rest Condition

Failure
Plane

Figure 23.3 Changes in the stress conditions in a soil as it transitions from the at-rest
condition to the active condition.
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Movement

Shear-failure
Planes

45 + φ/2

Figure 23.4 Development of shear failure

planes in the soil behind a wall as it transi-
tions from the at-rest condition to the active
conditon.
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Kp

Coefficient of Lateral Earth Pressure

Ko

Ka

0
Figure 23.5 Effect of wall movement on Movement Away Movement Toward Backfill
lateral earth pressure in sand. from Backfill
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Movement

Shear-failure
Planes

45 – φ/2

Figure 23.6 Development of shear failure planes in the soil behind a wall as it transi-
tions from the at-rest condition to the passive condition.
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τ
Failure
Plane φ

Passive
Condition
c
σ'x σ'z σ'x
σ'
A
B

At-Rest
Condition
Figure 23.7 Changes in the stress condi-
tion in a soil as it transitions from the at-rest Failure
condition to the passive condition. Plane
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Active Pressure

Passive
Sliding
Pressure
Friction

Figure 23.8 Active and passive pressures acting on a cantilever retaining wall.
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W/b

T/b

H
β
N/b
Va/b
Pa/b

45 + φ/2

(a)

W/b
T/b

H
N/b
Pp/b
β Vp/b
45 – φ/2

(b)

Figure 23.9 Free body diagram of soil behind a retaining wall using Rankine’s solution:
(a) active case; and (b) passive case.
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Figure 23.10 Comparison between (a) the-

oretical and (b) observed distributions of
earth pressures acting behind retaining struc-
tures. (a) (b)
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1
3

44 kN/m
6m

136 kN/m

Figure 23.11 Results from Example 23.2.

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H
Pa/b
φw

Va /b

Figure 23.12 Parameters for Coulomb’s active earth pressure equation. Walls inclined
in the opposite direction have a negative . Va /b normally acts in the direction shown,
thus producing a positive w.
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2
1

c = 0
 = 32°
 = 19.8 kN/m3

2°
5.60 m

Figure 23.13 Retaining wall for Example 23.4.

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Hc

Figure 23.14 Theoretical active pressure

distribution in soils with cohesion (c ≥ 0,
 ≥ 0).
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Figure 23.15 Theoretical distribution of

passive earth pressure in soils with cohesion
(c ≥ 0,  ≥ 0).
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80
β 2 :1 max. 10
60
3
Gv 5 Gv
40 2
(lb/ft3) (kN/m3)
H 5
1
20

0 0
4
160 25
β 5
2 :1 max.
140
20
120
H 4
100 3 :1 max.
15
Gh Gh
80
(lb/ft3) 3 2 (kN/m3)

60 10

40
1 5
20
6:1 3:1 2:1 1 12 : 1
0
0° 10° 20° 30° 40°
Slope Angle β

Figure 23.16 Charts for estimating the loads acting against a retaining wall beneath a planar
ground surface (Adapted from Terzaghi and Peck, 1967).
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H1 H1

H1 = 0

β β β
H
H H

Soil Type 1 Soil Type 2 Soil Type 3

100
1
15
Slope 1 2 : 1
80
Slope 1 12 : 1 1 34 : 1 3 :1
Slope 1 12 : 1 2 :1 10
G 60 1 34 : 1 3 :1 G
(lb/ft)3 1 34 : 1 3 :1 2 :1
(kN/m3)
2 :1 6 :1
40
1
6 :1 1 12 : 1 3
6 :1 12 : 1 3 :1 1 34 : 1 3 :1 1 4 : 1 5
20 1 12 : 1 3 :1 1 34 : 1 2 :1 2 :1
2 :1
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
H1/H Legend
Soil Type 4 Soil Type 5 Gh
160 Gv
25
3 :1
140
6 :1
20
120
Max Slope 2 : 1
Max Slope 3 : 1
100
15
G G
(lb/ft)3 80 Max Slope 2 : 1 (kN/m3)

60 10

3 :1
40
Gv = 0 5
6 :1
20

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
H1/H

Figure 23.17 Charts for estimating the loads acting against a retaining wall below a ground surface
that is sloped and then becomes level. For soil type 5, use an H value 4 ft (1 m) less than the actual
height (Adapted from Terzaghi and Peck, 1967).
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Point Load
Surcharge

Uniform
Surcharge

Figure 23.18 Typical surcharge loads near a retaining wall.

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1000 kN
2.5 m
q = 13.0 kPa
σ (kPa)
0 5 10 15 20

1
c′ = 0
9.0 m
φ′ = 31° σ Due to

z (m)
ν = 0.3 2 Uniform
Load σ Due to
Point Load
3

Figure 23.19 Proposed retaining wall with surcharge load for Example 23.6.
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Pressure due to Backfill

(Lateral Earth Pressure)

Pressure due to Groundwater

(Hydrostatic Pressure)
σ u

Figure 23.20 Theoretical lateral pressure

distribution with shallow groundwater table.
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2.5 m

b
5.3 m
6m

Groundwater Groundwater
at a at b

a Pressure due to Backfill Hydrostatic Pressure

Figure 23.21 Retaining wall for Example 23.7.