- retaining walls

- deep foundations
- swimming pools
-tunnels
- )( Abutments
Sheet piles -
 Retaining wall

tunnel
CULVERT
 )1- lateral earth pressure at rest (K0

. .
v 1
-:
h ka v


Abutments
) ( Deformation & strain )only
( vertical Strain
Swelling
Settlement
 Modes of failure

2. ACTIVE Failure
If the force F is too small failure of the wall will occur with soil
pushing the wall out.

direction of
F soil movement
 Modes of failure

2. ACTIVE Failure
If the force F is too small failure of the wall will occur with soil
pushing the wall out.

direction of
F soil movement

For most retaining walls active failure is the primary concern.

 )2- Active earth pressure (Ka

) (
Sliding
v 1
Rotation
h ka v
v 1
h ka v
 Modes of failure

3. PASSIVE Failure
If the force F is too large failure of the wall will occur with the
wall pushing into the soil.

direction of
F soil movement
 Modes of failure

3. PASSIVE Failure
If the force F is too large failure of the wall will occur with the
wall pushing into the soil.

direction of
F soil movement

This mode of failure is usually only relevant when large

external forces are being applied.
 Modes of failure

3. PASSIVE Failure
If the force F is too large failure of the wall will occur with the
wall pushing into the soil.

direction of
F soil movement

This mode of failure is usually only relevant when large

external forces are being applied.
However, local passive conditions may occur if any part of
the wall moves towards the soil.
 Passive earth pressure (Kp)- 3

)( ) (
Sliding
v 3
Rotation
h ka v
v 3
h ka v
 Kp > K0 > Ka
-: ) Active (Passive

Active

Passive Active
P

Passive
 Rankines theory
Assume that the wall is frictionless

The normal stress acting on the wall will thus be

a principal stress

If the wall is vertical and the soil surface

horizontal the vertical and horizontal stresses
throughout the retained soil mass will be the
principal stresses

The vertical stress may then be calculated in the

usual way
 Rankines theory
Assume that the wall is frictionless

The normal stress acting on the wall will thus be a

principal stress

If the wall is vertical and the soil surface horizontal

the vertical and horizontal stresses throughout the
retained soil mass will be the principal stresses

The vertical stress may then be calculated in the

usual way
The vertical total stress at
d1
z depth z is given by

d2
 Rankines theory
Assume that the horizontal stress can be
calculated from the failure criterion. That is the
retained soil is assumed to be everywhere at
failure.
 Rankines theory

Assume that the horizontal stress can be

calculated from the failure criterion. That is the
retained soil is assumed to be everywhere at
failure.
From the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion we have
 Rankines theory

Assume that the horizontal stress can be

calculated from the failure criterion. That is the
retained soil is assumed to be everywhere at
failure.
From the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion we have
for cohesive soil

For active failure the horizontal stress will reduce

to its minimum value. That is h = the
minimum principal stress, and v = .
 Rankines theory

Assume that the horizontal stress can be

calculated from the failure criterion. That is the
retained soil is assumed to be everywhere at
failure.
From the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion we have
for cohesive soil

For active failure the horizontal stress will reduce

to its minimum value. That is h = the
minimum principal stress, and v = .
The minimum (Active) horizontal stress is then
 Rankines theory

For passive failure the horizontal stress will

increase to its maximum value. That is h =
the maximum principal stress, and v = .
 Rankines theory

For passive failure the horizontal stress will

increase to its maximum value. That is h =
the maximum principal stress, and v = .
The maximum (Passive) horizontal stress is then
 Rankines theory

For passive failure the horizontal stress will

increase to its maximum value. That is h =
the maximum principal stress, and v = .
The maximum (Passive) horizontal stress is then

If the vertical stress stays constant the horizontal

stress is bounded by the active and passive
values.
 Rankines theory

For passive failure the horizontal stress will

increase to its maximum value. That is h =
the maximum principal stress, and v = .
The maximum (Passive) horizontal stress is then

If the vertical stress stays constant the horizontal

stress is bounded by the active and passive
values.
In the Rankine method a stress state is found that
is in equilibrium with the applied loads and has
the soil at failure. In plasticity theory this
approach is referred to as a lower bound method,
a method which can be shown to produce safe,
conservative solutions.
 Rankines theory
The relation between the active and passive pressures
may be shown graphically by considering Mohr circles.

ctan

h v
 Rankines theory
The relation between the active and passive pressures
may be shown graphically by considering Mohr circles.

ctan

hmin v
 Rankines theory
The relation between the active and passive pressures
may be shown graphically by considering Mohr circles.

ctan

Active Passive

hmin v hmax
 Coefficients of Lateral earth pressure

K0Coefficient of Lateral earth pressure at rest
-:
from Elasticity theory- 1 v Stress
h h v E
h 0 v Strian
E E E
v Ev
h h v
Lateral .Strain
E E E
Axial.Strian
poissons Ratio
h v
1 At rest h=0
h K 0
of sandy soil 0.3 K0=0.43
v 1
Bishop Equation K0 = (1-Sin )- 2
1 Sin
Kezdi Equation- 3 K 0
1 Sin

Broken&Ireland Equation K0 = 0.95-Sin - 4

Alpan Equation K0 = 0.19-0.233Log P.I- 5
Equation for Normally consolidated clay) 5)&(4(
Now, to find lateral earth

pressure
h
K0
v
h K 0v k 0(m.Z )
Ka active coefficient Of lateral earth pressure
Ka
h 1 sin
N tan (45 )
2
v 2 1 sin
But at failure

1 3 N 2C N v 1
( 1 v ).....( 3 h) h 3 h
h
1

1 1 a (45 )
3 2C 2
N N
Kam.h
( 1 v ).....( 3 h )
v m.h
1 2C
3

tan (45 )
2
tan(45 )
2 2
 1 2C
3

tan 2 (45 ) tan(45 )
2 2

3 1 tan (45 ) 2C tan(45 )
2

2 2

3 m.Z tan (45 ) 2C tan(45 )
2

2 2
for...cohsionless...soil
1 3 N
3 h 1
tan (45 )
2

1 v N 2
1 sin
but...Ka tan (45 )
2

1 sin 2 See table 3-10 pp

485 for some typical
cohesionless soil values of Ka
 Kp Passive coefficient Of lateral earth
h 1 pressure
Kp
v 3 v 3
v 1 h
1 3 N 2C N h
3
( 1 h ).....( 3 v )
p (45 )
2
h vN 2C N
h Kpm.h

3 m.Z tan (45 ) 2C tan(45 )
2
v m.h
2 2
for...cohsionless...soil
1 3 N
1 h
N tan 2 (45 )
3 v 2
1 sin
but...Kp tan 2 (45 )
1 sin 2
 Calculation of lateral earth pressure of soil
-:
-1 ) (
-2
-3

) ( A- cohesive soil
( ) B- cohesionless soil
 cases of cohesionless soil- 1

A- Dry soil d
H
Pa
H/3

( Ka, Kp, K 0)m.H

H ( Ka, Kp, K 0)H 2
PA Pp P 0 ( Ka, Kp, K 0) * H *
2 2
B- Submerged soil (G.W.T at surface)

sub
H
Pa
H/3

( Ka, Kp, K 0)sub.H w.H

H
PA Pp P 0 ( Ka, Kp, K 0)sub * H *
2
( Ka, Kp, K 0)subH 2 w * H * H

2 2
C- Partially Submerged soil (G.W.T at Depth H)

H1 Pa1 m
H
Pa2
H2
Pa3 Pa4 sub

Ka m.H1
Kasub.H2 w.H2
H1
PA Pp P 0 ( Ka, Kp, K 0)m * H 1 * ( Ka, Kp, K 0)m * H 1 * H 2
2
H 2 w * H 2 * H 2
( Ka, Kp, K 0)sub * H 2 *
2 2
D- Partially Submerged soil (G.W.T at Depth H) with uniformly
distributed Surcharge (Load backfilled )
qs

H1 Pa1 m
H
Pa2 sub
H2
Pa3 P a4

Kaqs
Ka m.H1
Kasub.H2 w.H2
H1
PA Pp P 0 ( Ka, Kp, K 0)m * H 1 * ( Ka, Kp, K 0)m * H 1 * H 2
2
H 2 w * H 2 * H 2
( Ka, Kp, K 0)sub * H 2 * Kaqs ( H 2 H 1)
2 2
E- Inclined cohesion less ground
H (cos )
PA * H (cos ) * Kas
2

H (cos ) Pa
Pp * H (cos ) * Kps
2 H
H cos
y y
3

The max. slop its =

cos cos 2 cos 2

Kas ( slop active) cos H H cos
cos cos 2 cos 2
cos cos 2 cos 2
Kps ( slop passive) cos
cos cos 2 cos 2
 cases of cohesive soil- 2
-: ( Cohesion)

A- Active case

v 1
h 2C
N N
( 1 v ).....( 3 h )

Rankine v ( 1)
3(h)
for...cohsionless...soil

1 3 N
C ( Active)
3 h 1 1 sin
=Ka tan ( 45 ) Ka
2

1 v N 2 1 sin .
3 ha ( Pa ) Kav ( 1) 2C Ka
 B- passive case

h vN 2C N
p(h) p Kpv 2C Kp
Rankine & Bell equation
C ( Active)
.
 Pa determination (Cohesive soil)
A- Active state
h( Pa ) Ka 1 2C Ka H1
H
Pa KaH 2C Ka 2C Ka

H2
at Pa(h)=0 at H=H1- 1
0 KaH 2C Ka KaH2
KaH 1 2C Ka
2C Ka 2C
H1
Ka Ka
2C
H1
Ka
at H=0- 2

Pa KaH 2C Ka
At H=0 on the surface
Pa 2C Ka

at H=(H1+H2)- 3
Pa KaH 2C Ka
Pa Ka ( H 1 H 2) 2C Ka
2C
Pa Ka ( H 2) 2C Ka
Ka
Pa KaH 2
 Tension cracks

The analysis indicates negative, tensile, stresses

at the surface.

Soil particles cannot provide tension

The negative stresses have to come from

suctions in the pore water

It is difficult to rely on the tensile forces and they

are usually ignored

The tensile stresses reduce the force required for

stability of the wall. Ignoring the tensile stresses
therefore gives a more conservative solution.
 Tension cracks
The horizontal stress distribution becomes

z0
H z

cu, u
sat
 Tension cracks
The horizontal stress distribution becomes

z0
H z

cu, u
sat

The depth of the tensile region z0 may be determined from

h =0
 Tension cracks
In the tensile region a crack can develop.
 B- Passive state
Pp Kpv 2C Kp
Pp KpH 2C Kp d
H
at H=0- 1 Pa
Pp 2C Kp
at Depth=H- 2 KpH2
2C Kp
Pp KpH 2C Kp
Soil wall Friction effect

-:
Ka Active
Kp Passive
.
-:
-1
-2
-3
-4
 -:

Zero=S -1
/3 =S -2
2 /3= S -3
=S -4

) (6-10
 Wedge
.
.
-:
-1 .
-2 & C & .
- 3 .
- 4 .
-5 Active Passive
.
- 6 .
.
 Force acting on the wedge
(Cohesionless soil)

wt. of wedge acting on the center of ) = W- (1

gravity of the triangle Sliding wedge
pressure acting on the wall, inclined) = Pa- (2
.as S to the normal of the wall
resultant of soil pressure on wedge,) = R- (3
inclined at angle to the normal of sliding
.surface
 Studied conditions
Active state of cohesion less soil- 1
-:
W= BC*AB**1

B C
W
H
S
R
Pa H/3

A 45
2 S S-90
W Pa R Pa

sin( angle) sin( ) sin(90 ) S W
S

(H/3) R & Pa
R

 Passive state of cohesion less soil - 1
W Pa R

sin(3) sin(1) sin( 2)
W
Pp R
S
H
H/3

A 45
2

W 1
(H/3) R & Pa R
2
3
Pp
 Inclined soil surface & wall- 3
(cohesionless soil)
ABC=W C
W= *AC*BO**1 B
W
OR
H
S
Pa
45

A 2

S
Pa - S
S
S W

R

 cohesive soil- 4

:-Some information must be determined

..?force acting here are:- W, P, R and- 1
C :- soil- soil cohesion
Cw :- Soil wall cohesion
-2 ( /2 -45) ( /2 +45)
( Trial wedge)
 Active state (cohesive)) A- (4
-:
() Failure plane -1
W, P, R, -2
B
C,Cw
D
c
cw
W

R H
S
P1
a- W weight of wedge A
b- Cw = cw*AD*1
c- C= c*AB*1
-3 ) (3 C, Cw, W
.

Cw
C P1
P1
W W
R W
P1 R R Cw
Cw C -4 C .P
1
-5 ) ( .
-6 . .Pamax
.Pamax

Pa

Wedge angle
 Passive state) B-(4
) (Active

C
B c
cw
Pp W R
Pp
W S

O H

C A
Cw
R
 -3
= 0 & at =90 -:

Cw
Pa h 2C 1
2

at.....Cw 0
Pa h 2C

Note C always > Cw

 Pa
C
B c
cw
W 1-
R H
S

H/3 A
C -2
B -1 Center of Gravity
)(G
G
-2
W
H
S