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Chapter 3 Lateral Earth Pressure Theories

- Er. Subir Rai

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 1

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories

3.1 Definition and types of earth pressure

3.1.1 Introduction of Lateral Earth Pressure
 Steep soil slopes will not remain stable for a long period of time due to
insufficient shearing resistance of soil; therefore, in order to maintain a nearly
vertical face, some support must be provided
 The most common permanent form of support is the retaining wall
 These walls are considered to be rigid and the design of these structures
requires an estimate of the earth pressures that act on the structure
 The induced earth pressures are caused by the weight of the wall (passive
case), the weight of the backfill, and if present, by external loads acting on the
wall or the backfill

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 2

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories

3.1 Definition and types of earth pressure

3.1.1 Introduction of Lateral Earth Pressure

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 3

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories

3.1 Definition and types of earth pressure

3.1.1 Introduction of Lateral Earth Pressure

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 4

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories

3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure

3.1.2 Definition of Earth pressure
 The soil that is retained at a slope steeper than it can sustain by virtue of its
shearing strength or resistance exerts a force on any support (if any retaining
wall), which force is known as earth pressure
 This earth pressure acts by side on retaining wall, so called Lateral earth
pressure
 Generally backfill soils are often tendency of spreading so exerts lateral force

Backfill earth

Retaining wall
Lateral earth pressure
on reataining wall

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 5

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.2 Definition of Earth pressure
 Let soil element C is located at depth Z Backfill soil
from the ground surface and soil element
C is subjected to the :
vertical pressure = σv = γ*Z
Lateral pressure = σh
Considering backfill is homogeneous, Z
the both σv and σh increase linearly with H σv
depth Z
σh
σv C σh

σh = k* σv =k γ Z

Where, k=coefficient of lateral earth pressure

σh = =k γ H ; for H height of wall i.e. lateral earth pressure of earth’s H height

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 6

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories

3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure

3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
 Depending upon the movement tendency of retaining wall from the lateral
earth pressure, earth pressure are classified as :
1. Earth pressure at rest
2. Active earth pressure
3. Passive earth pressure

Wall Movement

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 7

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
1. Earth pressure at rest
 The magnitude and direction of earth
pressure acting on a retaining structure
and foundation depends largely upon
the relative strain of the soil behind the
Structure Fig : Basement Retaining wall
 When the soil is prevented from strain by an unyielding retaining structure of great
rigidity, the pressure is known as earth pressure at rest
 The lateral earth pressure is called at-rest pressure when the soil mass is not subjected to
any lateral yielding or movement
 The at rest pressure develops when the wall experiences no lateral movement. This
typically occurs when the wall is restrained from movement such as along a basement
wall that is restrained at the bottom by a slab and at the top by a floor framing system
prior to placing soil backfill against the wall i.e not allowed to rotate or move laterally
 Lateral pressure on basement wall of a building generally belongs to this category
 Example : Bridge Abutment ; restrained at top by the bridge slab

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 8

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
1. Earth pressure at rest
 The at-rest condition is also known
as the elastic equilibrium, as no part of
soil mass has failed and attained plastic
equilibrium
Fig : Bridge Abutment restrained by slab

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 9

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
1. Earth pressure at rest
 Analysis
 Let soil element E is located at depth Z
from the ground surface and soil element
E is subjected to the :
vertical pressure = σv = γ*Z
Lateral pressure = σh
Considering backfill is homogeneous,
the both σv and σh increase linearly with
depth Z
σh /σv= = 0 where, 0 = coefficient of earth pressure for at rest condition
σh = k0* σv = 0 γ Z

When Z=H
σh = 0 γH

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 10

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
1. Earth pressure at rest
Analysis
σh = 0 γH
As the distribution of σh on the wall
is triangular as figure, the total pressure
P0 per unit length of wall
for the soil at rest condition is

at H/3 from base

Fig : Lateral earth pressure at rest condition
or P0 is resultant force/unit length of wall
If a cylindrical sample of soil is acted On the basis of elastic theory ;
upon by vertical stress σv , and
horizontal stress σh , the lateral strain
may be expressed as ;
Where, μ = poisson’s ratio

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 11

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
1. Earth pressure at rest
Analysis :

If a material will be loaded within elastic limit, ratio of lateral strain and linear strain or axial strain
will be constant and this ratio will be termed as Poisson ratio”.
Poisson ratio = Lateral strain/ Linear strain
we can also say that, Lateral strain = Poisson ratio x Linear strain

 Value of Poisson ratio will be in between 0.1 to 0.5 i.e. less

than one and hence we can say that when a material will be
loaded within elastic limit, lateral strain will be less than the
linear strain or axial strain

 According to Jaky (1944). K0 value is given by,

 K0 = 1-sin ϕ ; ϕ = angle of internal friction

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 12

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
1. Earth pressure at rest
 Example 1 :
If a retaining wall 5 m high is restrained from yielding, what will be the at-rest earth
pressure at the back face of the wall? Given : the backfill is cohesionless soil having ϕ
= 30º and γ = 18 KN/m3. Also determine the resultant force per unit length of wall for
the at rest condition.
Sloution :
Given ; H = 5 m, ϕ = 30º, γ = 18 KN/m3
We know, K0 = 1-sin ϕ = 1-sin 30º = 0.5
And at-rest earth pressure,
σh = 0 γ H = 0.5x18x5 = 45 KN/m2
𝟏 𝟏
And Resultant force, P0 = K0γ H2= x0.5x18x52 = 112.5 KN/m length of wall
𝟐 𝟐

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 13

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
2. Active Earth pressure
 A state of active pressure occurs when the
Soil yields in such a way that it tends to stretch
horizontally
 A retaining wall when moves away from the
backfill, there is a stretching of the soil mass and
the active state of earth pressure exists
 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 Fig : Active earth pressure
after a particular displacement of the wall at top , the
pressure reaches a constant value, the pressure is the minimum possible pa , this
pressure is termed as the active pressure since the weight of the backfill is responsible
for the movement of the wall

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Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
2. Active Earth pressure
 If the wall is smooth, the resultant pressure
acts normal to the face of the wall
 If the wall is rough, it makes an angle ẟ with
the normal on the wall
 The angle ẟ is called the angle of wall friction
 As the wall moves away from the backfill,
the soil tends to move forward
 When the wall movement is sufficient, a soil
mass of weight W ruptures along surface AC'C Fig : Active earth pressure
 This surface is slightly curved
 If the surface is assumed to be a plane AC, analysis would indicate that this surface
would make an angle of 45º + ϕ/2 with the horizontal
 The soil will be on plastic equilibrium on this state
NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 15
Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
2. Active Earth pressure

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 16

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
3. Passive Earth pressure
 A state of passive pressure occurs when the
soil yields in such a way that it tends to
compress horizontally
 A retaining wall when moves into (towards)
the backfill, there is compression of the soil
mass and the passive state of earth pressure
exists
 If the wall is now rotated about A towards Fig : Passive earth pressure
the backfill, the actual failure plane AC'C is also
curved surface
 However, if the failure surface is approximately as a plane AC, this makes an angle
45º - ϕ/2 with the horizontal and pressure on the wall increases from the value of the at
rest condition to the maximum value possible
NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 17
Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
3. Passive Earth pressure
 The maximum pressure Pp that is
developed is termed as 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 ẟ with the normal if
the wall is rough
 The soil will be in state of plastic
equilibrium
Fig : Passive earth pressure

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Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure
3. Passive Earth pressure

passive

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Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure

Fig : Development of
active and passive
earth pressure

NCIT/Foundation Engineering/Chapter 2. Site Investigation/Er. Subir Rai 20

Chapter 3. Lateral Earth Pressure Theories
3.1 Definition and types of Earth Pressure
3.1.3 Types of Earth pressure

Fig : Development of
active and passive
earth pressure

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