LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

ARRANGE BY :

JINAN RANA TIFANY

(D011 17 1802)

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ENGINEERING FACULTY
HASANUDDIN UNIVERSITY
GOWA
2019
 PREFACE

Praise be to God Almighty for the blessings of his grace, and that we were given the
opportunity to be able to compile a working paper entitled “Leteral Earth Pressure” is
properly and correctly, and on time.

This paper is structured so that readers can know how important application of
Lateral Earth Pressure in Civil Engineering life. This paper is intend to make the readers will
know more about Lateral Earth Pressure

This is a paper about “Lateral Earth Pressure” and deliberately chosen because in
this day we have to learn more and understand all those education because this is very
useful for our future in civil engineering.

The compilers also thanked to Mr. Tri Harianto as the teachers/tutors in Soil
Mechanics subject. Who have many professois help compilers in order to complete this
paper.

Hopefully this paper can give a broader insight to the reader. Although this paper has
advantages and disadvantages. Thank you.

Author

28th March 2019

 Table Of Contents

PREFACE....................................................................................................................2

CHAPTER I……………………………………………………………………………….....4

INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................4

1.1 Background of the paper....................................................................................4

1.2 Purpose of the paper..........................................................................................5

1.3 Problem formulation…………………………………………………………...….…5

CHAPTER II…………………………………………………………………………...….…6

THEORY AND DISCUSION………………………………………………………..….….6

2.1 Lateral earth pressure………………………………………………………….…….6

2.2 Types of lateral pressure……………………………………………………….……6

2.3Example…………….……………………………………………………………..…..11

CHAPTER III………………………………………………………………….………..….16

CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………..…..16

3.1 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………16

3.2 Suggest……………………………………………………………………………..…16

BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………………..…...17
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the paper

Why We Study Lateral Earth Pressure? The lateral earth pressure is important because it affects the
consolidation behavior and strength of the soil and because it is considered in the design of geotechnical
engineering structures such as retaining walls, basements, tunnels, deep foundation sand braced
excavations.

Nowadays the wide use of geosynthetic materials is practically unavoidable in construction

works, mainly in road and drain works, among many other applications (Jones 1996; Müller-
Rochholz 2008).Among these geosynthetic materials, the use of geogrids as a reinforcement
element on retaining structures has increasingly been used for the replacement of traditional walls,
for example any type of reinforced concrete wall (gravitational or cantilever). The selection of
geogrids reinforcement is justified not only as the fastest constructive and better finishing choice,
but most relevant because it offers better static and seismic responses. Severe damages have
been observed in the access embankments and abutments of bridges located within the area
affected by the earthquake of moment magnitude 8.8 in February 27 th 2010 hitting Chile, from
Valparaíso to Arauco(Verdugo et al., 2010; Hube et al., 2010). However, major damages have
practically not been reported in geogrids reinforced road embankments, abutments and walls; the
few cases known so far presented completely minor distresses likely to be restored. Las Ballenas
bridges in the Penco-Talcahuano Interportuaria motorway; Bonilla roundabout in Concepcion;
north entrance to Chiguayante and Temuco; rail road crossway in San Francisco de Mostazal and
Costanera Norte in Santiago are examples of a better performance during the strong earthquake in
February 27th 2010. Tatsuoka et al. (1998) reported that during Kobe earthquake in 1995,
retaining structures in railroads embankments reinforced with geogrids were later employed and
they received minor repairing works. That was not the case for traditional retaining structures
(gravitational walls, cantilever walls and reinforced battered walls), which required significant
repairing works due to severe damages.

In order to design retaining structures reinforced with geogrids, traditional theories of

lateral earth pressures are generally used by assuming a uniform stress distribution on the
retaining walls (Jones 1996; EBGEO 2009). In the case of surcharges, for example a footing
resting on the wall upper zone; it is considered that lateral earth pressure is constantly distributed
with depth. And in the case of lateral earth pressure behind the wall, it is assumed that it exerts a
linear horizontal stress varying with depth, in accordance with Rankine or Coulomb theories; both
developed during XIX and XVIII centuries, respectively. The study of a static case is a relevant
issue, since the seismic earth pressure can be derived from a pseudo-static case, as occurring in
the well known seismic earth pressure theory by Mononobe and Okabe.

Pachomow et al. (2007) present a database with their own data and with data from other
authors, where experimental results (laboratory and in situ) as well as numerical results are
shown. However, it is not clear or systematic to note the effect of overburden and wall
displacement variations, neither the spacing effect between geogrids.

Therefore, this article studies such effects, not thoroughly explained yet, with the purpose
of determining the lateral earth pressure variation over the retaining wall height. The wall is
retaining a granular soil, initially without geogrids and subsequently employing geogrids as soil
reinforcement. The employed physical model corresponds to a sandy soil sample vertically loaded
and exposed to lateral displacement by means of a sophisticated test apparatus. Obtained results
are compared, when possible with uniform distributions proposed by the classical theories of active
or at rest earth pressures.

1.2 Purpose of the paper

a. Knowing the importance of Lateral Earth pressure in the present and the future
b. Knowing the application or the role of Lateral Pressure
c. Knowing why study lateral Earth Pressure is important

1.3 Problem formulation

a. What is the importance of Lateral Earth Pressure in the present and the future?
b. What are the application or the role of Lateral Earth Pressure in everyday life?
c. Why lateral earth pressure is an important subject?
 CHAPTER II
THEORY AND DISCUSION

2.1 Lateral Earth Pressure

Lateral earth pressure is the pressure that soil exerts in the horizontal direction.
The lateral earth pressure is important because it affects the consolidation behavior and
strength of the soil and because it is considered in the design of geotechnical engineering
structures such as retaining walls, basements, tunnels, deep foundations and braced
excavations.
There are three basic types of lateral earth pressure. 
The coefficient of lateral earth pressure, K, is defined as the ratio of the
horizontal effective stress, σ’h, to the vertical effective stress, σ’v. The effective stress is
the intergranular stress calculated by subtracting the pore pressure from the total stress
as described in soil mechanics. K for a particular soil deposit is a function of the soil
properties and the stress history. The minimum stable value of K is called the active earth
pressure coefficient, Ka; the active earth pressure is obtained, for example,when a
retaining wall moves away from the soil. The maximum stable value of K is called the
passive earth pressure coefficient, Kp; the passive earth pressure would develop, for
example against a vertical plow that is pushing soil horizontally. For a level ground deposit
with zero lateral strain in the soil, the "at-rest" coefficient of lateral earth pressure, K 0 is
obtained.
Symbols definitions :

OCR
Overconsolidation ratio
β
Angle of the backslope measured to the horizontal
δ
Wall friction angle
θ
Angle of the wall measured to the vertical
φ
Soil stress friction angle
φ'
Effective soil stress friction angle

2.2 Types Of Lateral Earth Pressure

These three basic types of lateral earth pressures are discussed below
1. Active Earth Pressure
Figure 15.1(a) shows a retaining wall of height H with a backfill having a horizontal surface. If the retaining wall

were not there, the backfill would assume a stable flat slope. We know that cohesionless soils assume a stable

slope equal to the angle of internal friction without any lateral support. Hence, when a backfill is retained, the

wedge of soil above a certain slope tends to slide and move away from the rest of the backfill for equilibrium. This

tends to push or rotate the wall away from the backfill if the wall is free to move or rotate. 

The movement of the wall away from the backfill causes expansion of the backfill, resulting in stress release,

thereby reducing the lateral earth pressure. Thus, the more is the movement of the wall away from the backfill,

the more is the horizontal strain in the backfill, in the form of expansion, and the less is the lateral earth pressure.

Initially when the wall is in a state of rest, a typical element of backfill at any depth is subjected to vertical stress

due to self-weight of soil above the element and lateral earth pressure in the horizontal direction. The state of

stress for the soil element is represented by Mohr’s circle (I) in Fig. 15.1(b), where OB is the vertical stress and

OA1 is the lateral earth pressure at rest.

When the lateral earth pressure tends to push or rotate the wall away from the backfill, the movement of the wall

away from the backfill causes expansion of the backfill, resulting in stress release, thereby reducing the lateral

earth pressure. Thus, the more is the movement of the wall away from the backfill, the more is the horizontal

strain in the backfill, in the form of expansion, and the less is the lateral earth pressure. 

This is shown in Fig. 15.1 (b), by Mohr’s circle (II), in which σ h = σ3 = OA2 is the reduced lateral earth pressure

while the vertical stress, equal to σv = σ1 = OB, remains constant. The decrease in the lateral earth pressure thus

causes increase in the diameter of Mohr’s circle, causing it to approach the Coulomb’s failure envelope. 

The decrease in the lateral earth pressure due to movement of wall away from the backfill and consequent

expansion and stress release continues until Mohr’s circle touches the Coulomb’s failure envelope of the backfill

material. When Mohr’s circle touches the failure envelope, as shown by Mohr’s circle (III) in Fig. 15.1(b), the
backfill material is on the verge of failure (limiting equilibrium) and no further decrease in the lateral earth

pressure can take place. The minimum lateral earth pressure exerted on the retaining wall, when the wall moves

away from the backfill, and the backfill material is in the limiting equilibrium, is known as active earth pressure. 

When the wall moves away from the backfill, the backfill is said to be in the active state and the minimum lateral

earth pressure exerted by the backfill in the active state in its limiting equilibrium condition is known as active

earth pressure. Active earth pressure occurs when Mohr’s circle of stresses at any point in the backfill touches the

Coulomb’s failure envelope. 

Active earth pressure is denoted by the symbol pa, and its units are kN/m 2, t/m2, or kgf/cm2. All retaining walls,

which are free to move or rotate, are by default subjected to active earth pressure and are designed to resist the

same. 

2. Passive Earth Pressure

All retaining walls are usually not placed on the ground surface on the front side but are laid at some depth.

Hence, the retaining wall has soil to some depth on its front side. When the wall moves away from the backfill due

to active earth pressure, it actually moves towards the soil on the front side. 

The movement of the wall is resisted by the front soil and exerts a lateral pressure on the wall, in a direction

opposite to that of active earth pressure, as shown in Fig. 15.2. Also, the movement of the wall towards the front

soil causes compression of the soil, which, in turn, increases the lateral pressure from the front soil.

Thus, the more is the movement of the wall toward the front soil, the more is the horizontal strain in the front
soil, in the form of compression, and the more is the lateral earth pressure from the front soil opposite to that of
active earth pressure. This is shown in Fig. 15.3, by Mohr’s circle (II), in which σ h = σ3 = OA2 is the increased
lateral earth pressure while the vertical stress, equal to σ v = σ1 = OB, remains constant. The increase in the lateral
earth pressure causes decrease in the diameter of Mohr’s circle as shown by Mohr’s circles (II) and (III), and
Mohr’s circle reduces to a point, as represented by points A 4 and B, which become concurrent.
Further increase of the lateral earth pressure from the front soil makes it higher than the vertical stress. At this

stage, the lateral earth pressure becomes the major principal stress and the vertical stress becomes the minor

principal stress. This is shown by Mohr’s circles (IV), (V), (VI), etc., causing again an increase in the diameter of

Mohr’s circle. 

The increase in the diameter of Mohr’s circle leads it to approach the Coulomb’s failure envelope. The increase in

the lateral earth pressure due to the movement of wall towards the front soil and the consequent compression

continues until Mohr’s circle touches the Coulomb’s failure envelope of the front soil. 

When Mohr’s circle touches the failure envelope, as shown by Mohr’s circle (VIII) in Figure 15.3, the front soil is

on the verge of failure (limiting equilibrium) and no further increase in the lateral earth pressure can take place.

The maximum lateral earth pressure exerted on the retaining wall, when the wall moves towards the front soil,

while it reaches it’s limiting equilibrium, is known as passive earth pressure. 

When the wall moves towards the front soil, the front soil is said to be in the passive state and the maximum

lateral earth pressure exerted by the front soil in the passive state in its limiting equilibrium condition is known

as passive earth pressure. Passive earth pressure occurs when Mohr’s circle of stresses at any point in the front

soil touches the Coulomb’s failure envelope. 

Another practical example of passive earth pressure is the case of shear key provided below the base of a retaining

wall. A shear key shown in Fig. 15.3 is provided to improve the stability of the wall against sliding. When the

retaining wall moves away from the backfill due to active pressure, the shear key also moves in the same direction

but toward the soil below the base of the wall on the front side. 
This generates passive earth pressure on the shear key. It is denoted by the symbol p P, and its units are kN/m2,

t/m2, or kgf/cm2. Passive earth pressure is actually a stabilizing force improving the stability of the retaining wall,

unlike active earth pressure. 

3. Earth Pressure at Rest

Figure 15.4 shows a basement retaining wall in which the wall is rigidly fixed to the basement slab. The basement

retaining wall is therefore fixed in position and cannot move away from the backfill when subjected to lateral

earth pressure. The lateral earth pressure exerted by the backfill on a retaining wall which is fixed in position and

cannot move is known as earth pressure at rest.

It is denoted by the symbol p0, and its units are kN/m2, t/m2, or kgf/cm2. As the wall does not move, the earth

pressure exerted does not cause any lateral strain, and hence, there is no expansion of the backfill and no stress
release. Earth pressure at rest is therefore always more than active earth pressure for the same depth of soil. 

The abutment of a bridge is rigidly attached to the deck slab of the bridge and is also similarly fixed in position

and hence subjected to earth pressure at rest. 

Thus, lateral earth pressure exerted on a retaining wall depends on the direction and extent of the movement of

the wall. Figure 15.5 shows the variation in lateral earth pressure on the y-axis as a function of the wall

movement. When the wall moves away from the backfill, lateral pressure decreases with the increase in the

movement of the wall; the minimum lateral earth pressure exerted on the wall is known as active earth pressure.
When the wall moves toward the soil, the lateral earth pressure generated increases with the increase in the

movement of the wall; the maximum lateral earth pressure generated on the wall is known as passive earth

pressure. The lateral earth pressure exerted on the wall when the wall is fixed in position is known as earth

pressure at rest. 

2.3 Example
 CHAPTER III
CONCLUSION

3.1 Conclusion

When the lateral earth pressure at rest is expressed in terms of K 0, small inaccuracies in vertical and
lateral total pressure and pore water pressure can result in a significant error in K 0. Based on a survey of
laboratory data available in the literature a simple relationship for estimating K 0 from PI in normally
consolidated clays is proposed=

A recently developed method for lateral field load test was used to check the accuracy of total earth
pressure cells in-situ. The measurements suggest that in soft clay the to- tal stress cell can give accurate values
of lateral total stress. The results gave ex- cellent agreement between applied and measured lateral earth
pressure.

Good agreement was obtained between predicted lateral total stress based on laboratory tests and
field measurements with total stress cell method.

3.2 Suggest

As the writer I want to apology for the shortage of this paper. We know that this paper is still far from
perfect. So that we need to suggest from reader for the perfection of this paper. Thank you very much for the
reader.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-50732011000300004&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_earth_pressure

http://www.soilmanagementindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/clip_image004-42.jpg

https://nptel.ac.in/courses/105104137/module6/lecture20.pdf