Design using Free Earth Support Method

Assumptions:
1. Sheet pile is rigid and lateral deflection is small.
2. The lateral pressure distributes according to Rankine’s theory.
3. The tie back of strut is strong and sheet pile rotates about the anchor point at failure.
4. Bottom of sheet pile is free to move.

Surcharge, q kN/m

Tie / strut

Active
pressure

Dredge level

Passive pressure

Anchored sheet pile Lateral Earth Pressure diagram

 

A pao

b Unit weight of soil = 𝛾

B
T
Active Active pressure coefficient = 𝐾
H pressure Passive pressure coefficient = 𝐾
Fa1
Fa2
C pac
Fa3 Z
Passive
D G
pressure x
Fp
E
F pp

Net Pressure diagram

 

Calculation of active earth pressures

 Assume a surcharge of q (kN/m) is acting at the top of the retaining soil. The active
pressure is
𝑝 𝐾 𝛾ℎ 𝑞
At top of the sheet pile, with ℎ 0,
𝑝 𝐾 𝑞
At the root of the sheet pile, with ℎ 𝐻,
𝑝 𝐾 𝑞 𝛾𝐻

Consider the zero pressure at G.

Active pressure at G = Passive pressure at G
 𝐾 𝑞 𝛾 𝐻 𝑧 𝐾 𝛾𝑧
 𝐾 𝑞 𝛾𝐻 𝛾𝑧 𝐾 𝛾𝑧
 𝑝 𝐾 𝛾𝑧 𝐾 𝛾𝑧

 𝑧

Calculation of passive earth pressure

The slope from point G to F in the net pressure diagram above is 𝛾 𝐾 𝐾 .
The passive pressure at a depth 𝑥 𝐷 𝑍 below a is calculated as
𝑝 𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑥

Equilibrium of the sheet pile

Taking moment about the strut, O,

Force Magnitude, kN/m Moment arm, m Moment, kNm/m

𝑀 (Clockwise moment)
𝐻 𝐻
𝐹 𝐾 𝑞𝐻 𝑏 𝐾 𝑞𝐻 ∗ 𝑏
2 2
1 2𝐻 1 2𝐻
𝐹 𝐾 𝛾𝐻 𝑏 𝐾 𝛾𝐻 ∗ 𝑏
2 3 2 3
1 𝑍 1 𝑍
𝐹 𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑍 𝐻 𝑏 𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑍 ∗ 𝐻 𝑏
2 3 2 3
𝑀 (Anti-clockwise moment)
1 2𝑥 1 2𝑥
𝐹 𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑥 𝐻 𝑍 𝑏 𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑥 ∗ 𝐻 𝑍 𝑏
2 3 2 3
 Σ𝑀 0
1 2𝑥
𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑥 ∗ 𝐻 𝑍 𝑏
2 3
𝐻 1 2𝐻 1 𝑍
𝐾 𝑞𝐻 ∗ 𝑏 𝐾 𝛾𝐻 ∗ 𝑏 𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑍 ∗ 𝐻 𝑏
2 2 3 2 3

The above is a cubic equation in x and x can be solved by trial & error process, then
depth of embedment, D = Z + x

When ∑ 𝐹 0
The tie load or strut load, 𝑇 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹
(Note that lateral pressure is in kN/m)
Total load of each strut = T * spacing of the strut

If a FOS is applied for overturning effect, then 𝑀 𝑀 ∗ 𝐹𝑂𝑆.

1 2𝑥
𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑥 ∗ 𝐻 𝑍 𝑏
2 3
𝐻 1 2𝐻 1 𝑍
𝐾 𝑞𝐻 ∗ 𝑏 𝐾 𝛾𝐻 ∗ 𝑏 𝐾 𝐾 𝛾𝑍 ∗ 𝐻 𝑏 ∗ 𝐹𝑂𝑆
2 2 3 2 3