SOLUTIONS

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

QUESTION 1.

a) Dry backfill

ɸ = 300, H = 6m

K0 = 1 – Sin ɸ = 1 – Sin (30) = 0.5

Also, K0 = 0.5 for medium dense sand

σ0 = K0γH = 0.5 Χ 16.3 Χ 6

σ0 = 48.6 KN/m2

Thrust per meter length of the wall = 48.6 Χ ½ Χ 6 = 145.8 KN/m2

b). Water level at the top of the wall

The total lateral thrust is the sum of effective and neutral lateral thrusts.

Effective lateral earth thrust, P0 = ½ K0γH2 = ½ Χ 10 Χ 6 Χ 6 = 90 KN/m.run

Neutral lateral pressure, Pw = ½γH2 = ½ Χ 10 Χ 6 Χ6 = 180 KN/m.run

Total lateral thrust = 270 KN/m.run

Increase in thrust = 124.2 KN/m.run

This represents an increase of about 85.2% over that of dry fill.

QUESTION 2.

H = 3m, ɸ = 350, γ = 20KN/m2

Limiting values of lateral earth pressure

Active Pressure, Ka = (1- Sin ɸ) / (1+ Sin ɸ) = (1- Sin (35)) / (1+ Sin (35)) = Ka γ H

Ka = 0.271 Χ 20 Χ 3 = 16.26 KN/m2

Passive Pressure, Kp = (1+ Sin ɸ) / (1- Sin ɸ) = (1+ Sin (35)) / (1- Sin (35)) = Kp γ H

Kp = 3.69 Χ 20 Χ 3 = 221.4 KN/m2

Total active thrust per meter run of the wall

Pa = ½ Ka γ H2 = ½ Χ 20 Χ 32 Χ 16.26 = 1463.4 KN

Total passive resistance per meter run of the wall

Pp = ½ Kp γ H2 = ½ Χ 20 Χ 32 Χ 221.4 = 19926 KN

QUESTION 3

H =6.3m, ɸ = 180, γ = 18 KN/m2

q = 4.5 KN/m2

Ka = (1- Sin ɸ) / (1+ Sin ɸ) = (1- Sin (18)) / (1+ Sin (18)) = 0.528

Active pressure due to weight of soil at the base of wall = Ka γ H

= 0.528 Χ 18 Χ 6.3

= 59.9 KN/m2

Active pressure due to uniform m surcharge = Ka q = 0.528 Χ 4.5 = 2.38 KN/m2

Total active thrust per lineal metre of wall,

Pa = Area of pressure distribution diagram = ½ Ka γ H + Ka qH

Pa = (½ Χ 59.9 Χ 6.3) + (2.38 Χ 6.3) = 203.68kN

The height of its point of application above the base may be obtained by taking moments:

Z = (188.7 Χ 1/3 Χ 6.3 + 149.9 Χ ½ Χ 6.3) / 338.6 = 2.56m

QUESTION 4

H = 7.2 m,  = 9°, γ = 27° , ɸ = 20 kN/m3

According to Rankine’s theory,

Ka = cos((cos -  cos2 - cos2ɸ) / (cos +  cos2 - cos2ɸ))

= cos 9ᵒ ((cos 9ᵒ -  cos2 9ᵒ - cos2 27ᵒ) / (cos 9ᵒ +  cos2 9ᵒ - cos2 27ᵒ))

= 0.988 Χ 0.397 = 0.392

Kp = cos((cos +  cos2 - cos2ɸ) / (cos -  cos2 - cos2ɸ))

= 0.899 Χ 1/ 0.397 = 2.488

Total active thrust per metre run of the wall

Pa = ½ γ H2 Ka = ½ Χ 20 Χ (7.2)2 Χ 0.392 = 208.2KN

Total active thrust per metre run of the wall

Pp = ½ γ H2 Kp = ½ Χ 20 Χ (7.2)2 Χ 2.488 = 1289.8KN

The pressure is considered to act parallel to the surface of the backfill soil and the distribution in
triangular for both cases. This resultant thrust thus acts at s height of (1/3)H OR 2.4m above the
base at 9ᵒ to horizontal.

QUESTION 5

H = 6 m, γ = 20°, ɸ = 20 kN/m3, q = 50 kPa

Ka = (1- Sin ɸ) / (1+ Sin ɸ) = (1- Sin (20)) / (1+ Sin (20)) = 0.49

Pa = Ka γ H = 0.49 Χ 20 Χ 6 = 58.8 KN/m2

Since soil surface behind wall is horizontal,

Pq = Ka q = 0.49 Χ 50 = 24.5 kPa

Total thrust = Area of pressure diagram = Pa + Pq = (1/2 Χ 58.8 Χ 6) + (24.5 Χ 6)

= 176.4 + 147 = 323.4 KN

The point of application of this thrust is obtained by taking moments of forces about
the base of the wall.

323.4 Χ h = 147 Χ 3 + 176.4 Χ 6/3

h = 793.8 / 323.4 = 2.45m

Resultant thrust acts at 2.45 m above base of wall.

QUESTION 6

H = 6 m, γ = 20 kN/m3°, ɸ = 36°, q = 10 kPa

Ka = (1- Sin ɸ) / (1+ Sin ɸ) = (1- Sin (36)) / (1+ Sin (36)) = 0.26

Pa = Ka γ H = 0.26 Χ 20 Χ 6 = 31.2 KN/m2

Without the uniform surcharge

= ½ Χ 31.2 Χ 6 = 93.6 kPa

Since soil surface behind wall is horizontal,

Pq = Ka q = 0.26 Χ 10 = 2.6 kPa

Total thrust = Area of pressure diagram = Pa + Pq = (1/2 Χ 31.2 Χ 6) + (2.6 Χ 6)

 = 109.2 KN

QUESTION 7

Active pressure coefficient of Rankine for inclined surcharge:

Kai = cos ((cos -  cos2 - cos2ɸ) / (cos +  cos2 - cos2ɸ))

when  = 0° for horizontal surface of the backfill,

Ka = (1- Sin ɸ) / (1+ Sin ɸ)

Kai for  = 20° and ɸ = 35° is given by

Kai = cos 20° ((cos 20° -  cos2 20° - cos235°) / (cos 20° +  cos220° - cos235°))

Kai = 0.322

Ka for  = 0° and ɸ = 35° is given by

Ka = (1- Sin 35°) / (1+ Sin 35°) = 0.271

Percentage error in the computed active thrust by assuming a level fill when it is actually
inclined at 20° to horizontal

= ((0.322 – 0.271) / (0.322)) Χ 100 = 15.84%

The thrust is underestimated by assuming a level fill, obviously.

QUESTION 8

Ka for top layer = (1- Sin 30°) / (1+ Sin 30°) = 1/3

Ka for bottom layer = (1- Sin 20°) / (1+ Sin 20°) = 0.49

Active pressure at 3 m depth – considering first layer

Ka1 = 1/3 Χ 3 Χ 18 = 18 kN/m2

Active pressure at 3 m depth – considering second layer

Ka2 = 0.49 Χ 3 Χ 18 = 26.46 kN/m2

Active pressure at the base of the wall

(Ka2 Χ 3 Χ 18) + (Ka2 Χ 4.5 Χ 24) = 26.46 + 0.49 Χ 4.5 Χ 24 = 79.38 kN/m2

Total active thrust, Pa, per metre run of the wall

= Area of the pressure distribution diagram

= (1/2 Χ 3 Χ 18) + (4.5 Χ 26.46) + (1/2 Χ 4.5 Χ 52.92)

= 27 + 119.07 + 119.07

= 265.14KN

The height of the point of application of this thrust above the base of the wall is obtained
by taking moments, as usual.

Z = (27 Χ 5.5 + 119.07 Χ 2.25 + 119.07 Χ 1.5) / 265.14 = 2.244m