ACTIVE AND PASSIVE EARTH PRESSURE

Design Example:

Determine the height of a vertical retaining wall to resist the following:

(i) Must have factor of safety (FOS) = 3.0 in sliding
(ii) Must have FOS = 1.5 in bending
(iii)
A 3m thick layer of gravel Φ = 28o, c = 0, γdry = 18 kN/m3. This is underlain by an
extensive layer of silty sand Φ = 20o, c = 8 kPa, γsat = 21 kN/m3
(iv) A uniform load of 100kPa.
Groundwater level is at 2.5m depth

q = 100 kPa

2.5 m
Φ = 28o, c = 0, γdry = 18 kN/m3
3m
G.W.L.
0.5 m
H? γsat = 20 kN/m3
Φ = 20o, c = 8 kPa, γsat = 21 kN/m3

SOLUTION:

** Ka1 = = 0.36 ** Ka2 = = 0.49

2.5 m SOIL – (1)

2
1

3 0.5 m
7

SOIL – (2)
6 5 4 8 10
9

Note that the shape located at Soil (2) are larger than shapes above i.e. soil (1) because K a2 value is
greater than Ka1 value, (P = Ka).
 1. Due to q in soil (1)
6. Due to q in soil (2)
2. Due to dry weight of soil (1)
3. Due to 2 as surcharge
5. Due to 2 as surcharge in soil (2)

4. Due to weight of water

7. Due to dry weight of saturated soil (1)

8. Due to 7 as surcharge in soil (2)
9. Due to dry weight of soil (2)
10. Due to c in soil (2)

For retaining wall to be stable/safe those given FOS should be satisfied as written above (**).

Procedure (for soil)

1. Find Ka values
2. Determine Pa for each layer and the point of action.
3. Find total Pa and center of pressure force
4. Satisfy the given FOS conditions viz

Sliding: FOS = Vertical Component of Pa x Coefficient of Friction

Total Component of Pa

Overturning (OT): FOS = Restoring Moment

Overturning Moment

Find the distance to the centre of gravity where the vertical component of Pa acts.

FOS (O.T) = Pp * 1 + Pav * 2

PaH * Cp

2 Pa active

Pp PaH

Passive 1 Cp

Ka1 = 0.36 Ka2 = 0.49

Refer to pressure diagrams:

Pa1 = Ka1 * q = 0.36 * 100 = 36 kPa acts at (h + 1.5 m) above the base of the wall.

Pa2 = ½ Ka1 * * (H1)2 = ½ * 0.36 * 18 * (2.5)2 = 20.25 acts at (h + ½ + 1/3 (2.5) ) i.e. (h + 1.3m)
above the base of the wall.
Pa3 = ( 1 H1 * Ka1)(1/2) = 1 H1 * Ka1 (1/2)

= 18 x 0.36 x (2.5) (0.5) = 8.1 kN/m acts at (h + 0.25) m above the base of the wall.
Pa4 = ( w. H) ( ½ * H) = ½ w. H2 = ½ * 9.81 ( h + 0.5 )2 = 9.812 / 2 (h2 + h + 0.25) acts at 1/3
(h+0.25) m from the base of the wall.

Note: The h will be found when we try to satisfy the conditions for the FOS (sliding, overturning,
bearing)

Pa5 = ( 1H1) Ka2 * h * 1 = 18 * 2.5 * 0.49 * h = 22.05 kN/m acts at h/2 above the base of the wall.

Pa6 = q.Ka2 * h * 1 = 100 * 0.49 * h = 49h acts at h/2 above the base of the wall.

Pa7 = ( sat – w) * 0.5 * (½ * 1) * Ka1 = (20 – 9.81) * 0.5 * ½ * 0.36 = 0.92 kN/m acts above the base
of the wall.

Pa8 = ( sat – w) * ½ * Ka2 * (h*1) = (20 - 9.81) * ½ * 0.49h = 2.5h acts at h/2 above the base of the
wall.

Pa9 = ( sat – w) h * Ka2 * (h*1*1/2) = (21 - 9.81) * 0.49 * h * 0.5 = 2.74 h2 acts at h/3 above the base
of the wall.

Pa10 = (-2*c* ) * (h*1) = -2 * 8 h acts at h/2 above the base of the wall.

Active pressure will be negative and Passive pressure will be positive.

To find h:

FOS is given:

Sliding: FOS = Vertical Component of Pa x Coefficient of Friction

Total Component of Pa

Overturning (OT): FOS = Restoring Moment

Overturning Moment