CE 5331-X13: Design of Earth Retention Structures

Rankines theory of Active and Passive Earth

Pressure

Priyantha W. Jayawickrama, Ph.D.

Sources:
Fundamental of Geotechnical Eng.,B.M. DAS (11.2 -11.5)

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Rankines Active Earth Pressure
L
A' A

o' z

a'

B' B

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Active Pressure
With geometrical manipulations we may get:

1 sin cos

' '
2c'
1 sin 1 sin
a o

z tan 2
4

2
2c' tan
4
2

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Active Pressure Coefficient Ka
The Rankines active pressure coefficient is given by:

a'
K a ' tan 4 2
2

o
The failure planes / slip planes make angle of


4

2
with major principle plane. (horizontal)

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Rankines Passive State
L
A A

o' z

'p

B B

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Rankines Passive Pressure
Rankines passive pressure is given by:

1 sin cos

' '
2c'
1 sin 1 sin
p o

z tan
2
4
2
2c' tan
4
2

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Passive Pressure Coefficient Kp
The Rankines passive pressure coefficient is given by:

tan 4 2
'

Kp 2
p

'
o

The failure planes / slip planes make angle of

4 2
with major principle plane. (horizontal)

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Lateral Earth Pressure Distribution
Against Retaining Walls
There are two different cases considered:

Horizontal backfill
Cohesion less soil
Partially submerged cohesion less soil with
surcharge
Cohesive soil

Sloping backfill

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Lateral Earth Pressure Distribution:
Cohesion less soil + horizontal backfill
Pa=0.5KaH2

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Lateral Earth Pressure Distribution:
Cohesion less soil + horizontal backfill
Pp=0.5KpH2

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Lateral Earth Pressure Distribution:
Cohesion less, submerged soil + horizontal backfill

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Lateral Force:
Active case:

Pa K a qH K aH1 K aH1 H 2 K a w H 22
1 2 1
2 2

Passive case:

Pp K p qH K pH1 K pH1 H 2 K p w H 22
1 2 1
2 2

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Cohesive soil with horizontal backfill

Active case:
Active pressure against wall at any depth will be given
by:

a K az 2c K a
Depth of tension crack will be,

2c
z0
Ka
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Cohesive soil
Active Pressure force will be,
1
Pa K aH 2 K a cH 2
2 c
2

2
Passive Pressure force will be,

1
Pp K pH 2 K p cH
2

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Rankines Active and passive Pressure
with Sloping Backfill

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Cont
Active pressure coefficient:

cos cos2 cos2

K a cos
cos cos2 cos2

Passive pressure coefficient:

cos cos2 cos2

K p cos
cos cos2 cos2

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Cont
Active pressure force:

1
Pa K a H 2

2
Passive pressure force:

1
Pp K p H 2

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