Rankine Active Earth Pressure

PREPARED BY: SUBMITTED TO :

Ankit Sharma 2K20/GTE/03, Prof. A.K. Sahu Sir
Ankit Singh 2K20/GTE/04
 Introduction
z

 During the Active Stage wall moves away from the backfill
and the portion of the backfill just behind the wall leaves the
rest of the soil mass  and moves
∅ along with the wall.
𝐻𝑐𝑜𝑡 (45+ )
∆  𝐻 2

  ∅
(45+ )
2

W ilure
  =

ge
Rupture Plane

Fa
ed
𝜎  3 𝜎  3 =𝜎 𝑣
  Shear Resistance
𝜎  1
Downward
Movement
z
Active Earth Pressure:
1. The resistance of Soil due to its Shear Strength is mobilized at
upward and outward direction on the rupture surface which
decreases the pressure on the wall.
2. This decrease on pressure takes place unto a particular extent where
entire strength of the soil is mobilized(developed ).
3. This min. pressure acting in the wall at this stage is termed as active
pressure.

Assumptions for Rankine theory :

1. Soil is Homogenous, Isotropic, Semi-Infinite, elastic, dry and
Cohesion less.
2. The face of wall in contact with backfill is vertical and smooth.
3. The ground surface is planar which may be horizontal or inclined.
4. The rupture surface is planar , Soil is in the state of plastic
equilibrium in active and pressure earth pressure conditions.
 z
From Stress relationship of soil :

  

 Major principal stress,

=
Minor principal stress
Thus,
z

Or
  

For Cohesion less soil c = 0 ;

 and &

  𝝈 𝟎 ′ =𝝈 𝒗
  𝝓
𝟐
𝝈 𝒗 =𝝈 𝒉 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓+ ( 𝟐 )
 

Active Earth Pressure C-oeff.

 The variation of the active pressure
z
with depth for the wall shown in
Figure.

 = 0 at z = 0

 =

 The pressure distribution shows that

  
at z = 0 the active pressure equals,

-2C’(Ka)0.5

indicating a tensile stress that

decreases with depth and becomes zero
Fig: Rankine’s active earth pressure
at a depth z = zc
 z

 The depth zc is usually referred to as the depth of tensile crack, because the
tensile stress in the soil will eventually cause a crack along the soil–wall
interface. Thus, the total Rankine active force per unit length of the wall before
the tensile crack occurs is,

 After the tensile crack appears, the force per unit length on the wall will be
caused only by the pressure distribution between depths z = zc and z = H
Sample problem 1: A 6 m high retaining wall is to support a soil with unit weight
z
17.4 kN/m3 , soil friction angle 26o, and cohesion c’ = 5.5 kN/m2 . Determine the
Rankine active force per unit length of the wall both before and after the tensile
crack occurs, and determine the line of action of the resultant in both cases.

Sol: For, 26o

= 0.39

a
’
= Hka – 2C’(Ka)0.5

, at z = 0

a’ =  – 2C’(Ka)0.5 = - 2(5)(0.625) = - 6.25 KN/m2

at z = 6m

a
’
= (17.4)(6)(0.39) – (2)(5)(0.625) = 34.47 KN/m2
 Active Force Before the Tensile Crack Appeared:
z
= 0.5H2ka – 2C’H(Ka)0.5

=
0.5(6) (40.72) – (6) (6.25) = 84.66 KN/m

The line of action of the resultant can be determined by taking the moment of the
area of the pressure diagrams about the bottom of the wall,

z = (244.32 – 112.5) / 84.66 = 1.56m

Active Force After the Tensile Crack Appeared:

Zc = 2c’ / (a)0.5 = 2(5)/ (17.4)(0.625) = 0.92m

P
 a =  0.5(H – Zc) (a – 2C (Ka) = 0.5(6 – 0.92)(34.47) = 87.55 KN/m
’ 0.5

the line of action of the resultant will be located at a height,

Z = (6 – 0.92) /3 = 1.69m
z

Thank You