Rankine’s Active Earth Pressure

The coefficient of Rankine’s active earth pressure is defined by:

1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅
𝐾𝑎 =
1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅
Problem 1
A cantilevered retaining wall was originally designed with a base width of 3m but it was
actually constructed with a base width of 1.8m. The original design incorporated a factor
of safety of 2 and ignored passive pressure. The dry unit weight of the soil is 17.4 kn/m3,
the moisture content of the soil from the surface to 1.8m from the ground is 4% and 15%
below, the angle of internal friction is 22 degrees. Assume the unit weight of concrete be
22.8kN/m3. Compute (a) the total active lateral force acting on the wall, (b) the location
of the resultant from the bottom of the footing, and (c) the new factor of safety against
overturning moment about toe

1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛22
𝐾𝑎 = = 0.45
1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛22
Unit weight of the first layer of soil
𝛾1 = 𝛾𝑑 (1 + 𝑤) = 17.4(1 + 0.04) = 18.1 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
Unit weight of the second layer of soil
𝛾2 = 𝛾𝑑 (1 + 𝑤) = 17.4(1 + 0.15) = 20.01 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3
 14.66(1.8)
𝑃1 = = 13.19𝑘𝑁
2
𝑃2 = 14.66(3.6) = 52.78𝑘𝑁
32.42(3.6)
𝑃3 = = 58.36𝑘𝑁
2
𝑅 = 13.19 + 52.78 + 58.36 = 𝟏𝟐𝟒. 𝟑𝟑 𝒌𝑵
𝑅𝑦 = 13.19(4.2) + 52.78(1.8) + 58.36(1.2); 𝑦 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟕𝒎
Overturning moment-moment that cause the structure to overturn
𝑂. 𝑀 = 124.33(1.77) = 220.06𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚
Resisting moment- the moment that resist the overturning moment

𝑅. 𝑀 = ∑ 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡(𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑟𝑚)
 𝑊1 = 0.9(4.8)(22.8) = 98.5𝑘𝑁
𝑊2 = 1.8(0.6(22.8) = 24.62𝑘𝑁
𝑊3 = 0.45(1.8)(18.1) = 14.66𝑘𝑁
𝑊4 = 0.45(3)(20.01) = 27.01𝑘𝑁
The weight of the soil on the mudline is ignored since the initial analysis ignored
passive force
𝑅. 𝑀 = 98.5(0.9) + 24.62(0.9) + 14.66(1.575) + 27.01(1.575)
𝑅. 𝑀 = 177.65 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚
𝑅. 𝑀 177.65
𝐹. 𝑆 = = = 𝟎. 𝟖; 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅
𝑂. 𝑀 220.06
Problem 2
A retaining wall with vertical back is 8m high. The density of top 3m of fill is 1.75 Mg/m3
and the angle of friction is 30 degrees. For the lower 5m, the values are 1.85 Mg/m3 and
35 degrees respectively. There is a surcharge load on the horizontal surface of the fill
equivalent to 1.2 Mg/m2 uniformly distributed. Find the (a) magnitude of the thrust on the
wall per l.m if the fill is well drained, (b) magnitude of the thrust on the wall if the fill is
water logged after a storm (assume the saturated quantities of the two strata are 1..9 and
2.0 Mg/m3 respectively), and (c) point of application of the thrust on the wall if the fill is
water logged after a storm.
1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛30
𝐾𝑎1 = = 0.33; 𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 3𝑚
1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛30
1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛35
𝐾𝑎2 = = 0.27; 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 5𝑚
1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛35
 𝑃1 = 3.92(3) = 11.76 𝑘𝑁
𝑃2 = 3.18(5) = 15.9 𝑘𝑁
17.17(3)
𝑃3 = = 25.76 𝑘𝑁
2
𝑃4 = 17.17(5) = 85.8 𝑘𝑁
24.5(5)
𝑃5 = = 61.25 𝑘𝑁
2
𝑅 = 11.76 + 15.9 + 25.76 + 85.8 + 61.25 = 𝟐𝟎𝟎. 𝟒𝟕 𝒌𝑵
When the fill is water logged:
 𝑃1 = 3.92(3) = 11.76
𝑃2 = 3.18(5) = 15.90
8.83(3)
𝑃3 = = 13.245
2
𝑃4 = 8.83(5) = 44.15
13.24(5)
𝑃5 = = 33.10
2
78.48(8)
𝑃6 = = 313.92
2
𝑅 = 11.76 + 15.90 + 13.245 + 44.15 + 33.10 + 313.92 = 𝟒𝟑𝟐. 𝟎𝟖𝒌𝑵
432.08𝑦 = 11.76(6.5) + 13.245(6) + 15.90(2.5) + 44.15(2.5) + 33.10(1.67)
+ 313.92(2.67); 𝑦 = 𝟓. 𝟏𝟗𝒎

Rankine’s Passive Earth Pressure

The coefficient of Rankine’s passive earth pressure is defined by:
1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅
𝐾𝑝 =
1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛∅
Passive pressure diagram:
Problem 1
A smooth vertical retaining wall is supporting a mass 6m depth having a horizontal surface
on top of the wall. The unit weight of soil is 15kN/m3 and has a cohesion of 8kN/m2. The
angle of friction is 26 degrees. The retained soil is subjected to a surcharge of 10kN/m2
on top of the horizontal ground surface. Compute (a) the Rankine’s passive force acting
on the wall, and (b) location of the resultant from the bottom of the wall.
1 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛26
𝐾𝑝 = = 2.56
1 − 𝑠𝑖𝑛26

𝑃1 = 25.6(6) = 153.6
𝑃2 = 25.6(6) = 153.6
230.4(6)
𝑃3 = = 691.2
2
𝑅 = 153.6 + 153.6 + 691.2 = 𝟗𝟗𝟖. 𝟒𝒌𝑵
998.4𝑦 = 153.6(3) + 153.6(3) + 691.2(2); 𝒚 = 𝟐. 𝟑𝟐𝒎