492 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

radial line and the spiral intersect. This basic property is useful particularly in solving
problems related to lateral earth pressure.

PASSIVE EARTH PRESSURE

14.3 Procedure for Determination of Passive Earth

Pressure (Pp)— Cohesionless Backfill
Figure 14.1d shows the curved failure surface in the granular backfill of a retaining wall
of height H. The shear strength of the granular backfill is expressed as

tf s¿ tan f¿ (14.6)

The curved lower portion BC of the failure wedge is an arc of a logarithmic spiral defined
by Eq. (14.1). The center of the log spiral lies on the line CA (not necessarily within the
limits of points C and A). The upper portion CD is a straight line that makes an angle of
(45 f /2) degrees with the horizontal. The soil in the zone ACD is in Rankine’s passive
state.
Figure 14.3 shows the procedure for evaluating the passive resistance by trial
wedges (Terzaghi and Peck, 1967). The retaining wall is first drawn to scale as shown in
Figure 14.3a. The line C1A is drawn in such a way that it makes an angle of (45 f /2)
degrees with the surface of the backfill. BC1D1 is a trial wedge in which BC1 is the arc of
a logarithmic spiral. According to the equation r1 roeu tan f , O1 is the center of the spiral.
(Note: O1B ro and O1C1 r1 and BO1C1 u1; refer to Figure 14.2.)
Now let us consider the stability of the soil mass ABC1C 1 (Figure 14.3b). For equi-
librium, the following forces per unit length of the wall are to be considered:
œ
1. Weight of the soil in zone ABC1C1 W1(g)(Area of ABC1C1œ)(1).
œ
2. The vertical face, C1C1 , is in the zone of Rankine’s passive state; hence, the
force acting on this face is
P 1 g1d1 2 2 tan 2 a45 f¿ b (14.7)
d112

2 2

where d1 C1C1œ. Pd(1) acts horizontally at a distance of d1 /3 measured vertically

upward from C1 .
3. F1 is the resultant of the shear and normal forces that act along the surface of
sliding, BC1 . At any point on the curve, according to the property of the
logarithmic spiral, a radial line makes an angle f with the normal. Because the
resultant, F1 , makes an angle f with the normal to the spiral at its point of
application, its line of application will coincide with a radial line and will pass
through the point O1 .
4. P1 is the passive force per unit length of the wall. It acts at a distance of H/3
measured vertically from the bottom of the wall. The direction of the force P1 is
inclined at an angle d with the normal drawn to the back face of the wall.
 O1
A C1 D1
45 f 45 f
2 2 g
f
H d u c0
C1 Granular soil
H

3
B (a)

O1 l
W(1)

A C
1
l l
P(1) 1

d1
P

d1 d(1)
P1
3
d
W1 C1
B F
1

f
(b)
2

31
O P P P P2
1 p 3 1
A C1

Pp
H
d

Trial 2
Trial 1
1
C

B Trial 3
(c)

Figure 14.3 Passive earth pressure against retaining wall with curved failure surface

493
494 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

Now, taking the moments of W1 , Pd(1) , F1 , and P1 about the point O1 , for
equilib-rium, we have
or W1 3lW1124 Pd1123l1 4 F1 30 4 P1 3lP1124 (14.8)

1 Wl P l (14.9)
3 1 W112 d112 1 4

P1 l
P112

where lW(1) , l1 , and lP(1) are moment arms for the forces W1 , Pd(1) , and P1 , respectively. The
preceding procedure for finding the trial passive force per unit length of the wall
is repeated for several trial wedges such as those shown in Figure 14.3c. Let P1 , P2 , P3
, . . . , Pn be the forces that correspond to trial wedges 1, 2, 3, . . . , n, respectively. The
forces are plotted to some scale as shown in the upper part of the figure. A smooth curve
is plotted through the points 1, 2, 3, . . . , n. The lowest point of the smooth curve defines
the actual passive force, Pp, per unit length of the wall.

14.4 Coefficient of Passive Earth Pressure (Kp)

Referring to the retaining wall with a granular backfill (c 0) shown in Fig. 14.3, the
passive earth pressure Kp can be expressed as
1 gH2 (14.10)
P K
p p
2
or
Pp
Kp (14.11)
0.5gH2

Following is a summary of results obtained by several investigators.

Procedure of Terzaghi and Peck

Using the procedure of Terzaghi and Peck (1967) described in Section 14.3, the passive
earth-pressure coefficient can be evaluated for various combinations of u, d , and f .
Figure 14.4 shows the variation of Kp for f 30° and 40° (for u 0) with d .

Solution by the Method of Slices

Shields and Tolunay (1973) improved the trail wedge solutions described in Section 14.3
using the method of slices to consider the stability of the trial soil wedge such as ABC1 C
1 in Fig. 14.3a. The details of the analysis are beyond the scope of this text. However the
values of Kp (passive earth-pressure coefficient) obtained by this method are given in Fig.
14.5. Note that the values of Kp shown in Fig. 14.5 are for retaining walls with a vertical
back (that is, u 0 in Fig. 14.3) supporting a granular backfill with a horizon-tal ground
surface.
 18

16

16 d
f 1
14
14
0.8 0.6
12
12

10
10 f 40 0.4

Kp
8
8
Kp
0.2
6
6 0
f 30

4 4

2 2

0 0
0 10 20 30 40 20 25 30 35 40 45
d (deg) Soil friction angle, f (deg)

Figure 14.4 Variation of Kp with f and d based on the procedure of Figure 14.5 Kp based on Shields and Tolunay’s analysis (Note u 0)
Terzaghi and Peck (1967) (Note: u 0) (Based on Terzaghi and Peck, 1967) (Based on Shields and Tolunay's analysis)
495
496 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

Solution by the Method of Triangular Slices

Zhu and Qian (2000) used the method of triangular slices (such as in the zone of ABC1 in
Fig. 14.3a) to obtain the variation of Kp. According to this analysis

KK R (14.12)
p p(d 0)

where Kp passive earth pressure coefficient for a given value of u, d , and f

Kp(d 0) Kp for a given value of u, f , with d 0
R modification factor which is a function of f , u, d /f

The variations of Kp(d 0) are given in Table 14.1. The interpolated values of R are given in
Table 14.2.

Table 14.1 Variation of Kp(d 0) [see Eq. (14.12) and Figure 14.3a]*
F u (deg)
(deg) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
20 1.70 1.69 1.72 1.77 1.83 1.92 2.04
21 1.74 1.73 1.76 1.81 1.89 1.99 2.12
22 1.77 1.77 1.80 1.87 1.95 2.06 2.20
23 1.81 1.81 1.85 1.92 2.01 2.13 2.28
24 1.84 1.85 1.90 1.97 2.07 2.21 2.37
25 1.88 1.89 1.95 2.03 2.14 2.28 2.46
26 1.91 1.93 1.99 2.09 2.21 2.36 2.56
27 1.95 1.98 2.05 2.15 2.28 2.45 2.66
28 1.99 2.02 2.10 2.21 2.35 2.54 2.77
29 2.03 2.07 2.15 2.27 2.43 2.63 2.88
30 2.07 2.11 2.21 2.34 2.51 2.73 3.00
31 2.11 2.16 2.27 2.41 2.60 2.83 3.12
32 2.15 2.21 2.33 2.48 2.68 2.93 3.25
33 2.20 2.26 2.39 2.56 2.77 3.04 3.39
34 2.24 2.32 2.45 2.64 2.87 3.16 3.53
35 2.29 2.37 2.52 2.72 2.97 3.28 3.68
36 2.33 2.43 2.59 2.80 3.07 3.41 3.84
37 2.38 2.49 2.66 2.89 3.18 3.55 4.01
38 2.43 2.55 2.73 2.98 3.29 3.69 4.19
39 2.48 2.61 2.81 3.07 3.41 3.84 4.38
40 2.53 2.67 2.89 3.17 3.53 4.00 4.59
41 2.59 2.74 2.97 3.27 3.66 4.16 4.80
42 2.64 2.80 3.05 3.38 3.80 4.34 5.03
43 2.70 2.88 3.14 3.49 3.94 4.52 5.27
44 2.76 2.94 3.23 3.61 4.09 4.72 5.53
45 2.82 3.02 3.32 3.73 4.25 4.92 5.80
*Based on Zhu and Qian, 2000
 14.4 Coefficient of Passive Earth Pressure (Kp) 497

Table 14.2 Variation of R [Eq. (14.12)]

R for f (deg)
u
(deg) d /f 30 35 40 45
0 0.2 1.2 1.28 1.35 1.45
0.4 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.2
0.6 1.65 1.95 2.4 3.2
0.8 1.95 2.4 3.15 4.45
1.0 2.2 2.85 3.95 6.1
5 0.2 1.2 1.25 1.32 1.4
0.4 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.1
0.6 1.6 1.9 2.35 3.0
0.8 1.9 2.35 3.05 4.3
1.0 2.15 2.8 3.8 5.7
10 0.2 1.15 1.2 1.3 1.4
0.4 1.35 1.5 1.7 2.0
0.6 1.6 1.85 2.25 2.9
0.8 1.8 2.25 2.9 4.0
1.0 2.05 2.65 3.6 5.3
15 0.2 1.15 1.2 1.3 1.35
0.4 1.35 1.5 1.65 1.95
0.6 1.55 1.8 2.2 2.7
0.8 1.8 2.2 2.8 3.8
1.0 2.0 2.6 3.4 4.95
20 0.2 1.15 1.2 1.3 1.35
0.4 1.35 1.45 1.65 1.9
0.6 1.5 1.8 2.1 2.6
0.8 1.8 2.1 2.6 3.55
1.0 1.9 2.4 3.2 4.8

Example 14.1
Consider a 3-m-high (H) retaining wall with a vertical back (u 0 ) and a horizontal
granular backfill. Given: g 15.7 kN/m3, d 15 , and f 30 . Estimate the passive force,
Pp, by using
a. Coulomb’s theory
b. Terzaghi and Peck’s wedge theory
c. Shields and Tolunay’s solution (method of slices)
d. Zhu and Qian’s solution (method of triangular slices)
Solution
Part a
From Eq. (13.70),
1 2
Pp 2 KpgH
498 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

From Table 13.9, for f 30 and d 15 , the value of Kp is 4.977. Thus,

P (12 )(4.977)(15.7)(3)2 351.6 kN/m
Part b
From Fig. 14.4, for f 30° and d 15°, the value of Kp is about 4.53. Thus,
Pp 112 214.53 2115.7 213 22 320 kN/m

Part c
Pp 1 KpgH2

2
From Figure 14.5, for f30 and d15 (i.e d¿ 0.5) the value of K is 4.13. Hence,
P f¿ p
p a 2 b 14.13 2115.7 213 22 292 kN/m
1

Part d
From Eq. (14.12),
K K R
p p(d 0)

For f 30° and u 0, Kp(d 0) is equal to 3.0 (Table 14.1). Again, for u 0
and
d /f 0.5, the value of R is about 1.52. Thus, Kp (3)(1.52) 4.56.
■
Pp 121 214.56115.7 213 22 322 kN/m

14.5 Passive Force on Walls with Earthquake Forces

The relationship for passive earth pressure on a retaining wall with a granular horizontal
backfill and vertical back face under earthquake conditions was evaluated by Subba Rao
and Choudhury (2005) using the pseudo-static approach to the method of limited equi-
librium. The failure surface in soil assumed in the analysis was similar to that shown in
Fig. 14.3 (with u 0; that is, vertical back face). The notations used in the analysis were
H height of retaining wall
Ppe passive force per unit length of the wall
f soil friction angle
d angle of wall friction

kh horizontal component of earthquake acceleration

acceleration due to gravity, g

kv vertical component of earthquake acceleration

acceleration due to gravity, g
 14.6 Braced Cuts — General 499
15 10 k0

f 40 kk
h
12 8 f 40

k 0
k k
h
9 6 40
e)

e)
40
K gp(

K gp(
6 30 4 30

30 30
20
3 20 2 10 20
10 20 d 10 d
10 1 .5
f f
0 0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
kh kh
(a) (b)
¿ 0.5
Figure 14.6 Variation of Kpg(e): (a) d /f1; (b) d
¿

Based on this analysis, the passive force Ppe can be expressed as

Ppe c 1 gH2Kpg1e2 d 1 (14.13)

2 cos d¿

where Kpg(e) passive earth-pressure coefficient in the normal direction to the wall.
Kpg(e) is a function of kh and kv. The variations of Kpg(e) for d /f 0.5 and 1 are
shown in Figure 14.6. The passive pressure Ppe will be inclined at an angle d to the back
face of the wall and will act at a distance of H/3 above the bottom of the wall.

BRACED CUTS

14.6 Braced Cuts — General

Frequently during the construction of foundations or utilities (such as sewers), open
trenches with vertical soil slopes are excavated. Although most of these trenches are tem-
porary, the sides of the cuts must be supported by proper bracing systems. Figure 14.7
shows one of several bracing systems commonly adopted in construction practice. The
brac-ing consists of sheet piles, wales, and struts.
500 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

StrutA Sheet pile Wale

Sheet pile
Strut
Wale B

X X
C

(a) (b)

Figure 14.7 Braced cut: (a) cross section; (b) plan (section at X–X )

Proper design of these elements requires a knowledge of the lateral earth pressure
exerted on the braced walls. The magnitude of the lateral earth pressure at various depths
of the cut is very much influenced by the deformation condition of the sheeting. To
under-stand the nature of the deformation of the braced walls, one needs to follow the
sequence of construction. Construction of the unit begins with driving the sheetings. The
top row of the wales and struts (marked A in Figure 14.7a) is emplaced immediately after
a small cut is made. This emplacement must be done immediately so that the soil mass
outside the cut has no time to deform and cause the sheetings to yield. As the sequence of
driving the sheetings, excavating the soil, and placing rows of wales and struts (see B and
C in Figure 14.7) continues, the sheetings move inward at greater depths. This action is
caused by greater earth pressure exerted by the soil outside the cut. The deformation of
the braced walls is shown by the broken lines in Figure 14.7a. Essentially, the problem
models a con-dition where the walls are rotating about the level of the top row of struts.
A photograph of braced cuts made for subway construction in Chicago is shown in Figure
14.8a. Figures 14.8b and 14.8c are photographs of two braced cuts—one in Seoul, South
Korea, and the other in Taiwan.
The deformation of a braced wall differs from the deformation condition of a
retaining wall in that, in a braced wall, the rotation is about the top. For this reason, nei-
ther Coulomb’s nor Rankine’s theory will give the actual earth-pressure distribution. This
fact is illustrated in Figure 14.9, in which AB is a frictionless wall with a granular soil
backfill. When the wall deforms to position AB , failure surface BC develops. Because the
upper portion of the soil mass in the zone ABC does not undergo sufficient deformation,
it does not pass into Rankine’s active state. The sliding surface BC inter-sects the ground
surface almost at 90 . The corresponding earth pressure will be some-what parabolic, like
acb shown in Figure 14.9b. With this type of pressure distribution, the point of
application of the resultant active thrust, Pa , will be at a height of naH mea-sured from
the bottom of the wall, with na 13 (for triangular pressure distribution na 13 ). Theoretical
evaluation and field measurements have shown that na could be as high as 0.55.
Image not available due to copyright restrictions

501
 Image not available due to copyright restrictions

A C 90

Sand
H P

na H
Logarithmic spiral

b c
KagH
B B KogH
(a) (b)

Figure 14.9 Earth-pressure distribution against a wall with rotation about the top

502
 14.7 Determination of Active Thrust on Bracing Systems of Open Cuts — Granular Soil 503

14.7 Determination of Active Thrust on Bracing

Systems of Open Cuts — Granular Soil
The active thrust on the bracing system of open cuts can be estimated theoretically by
using trial wedges and Terzaghi’s general wedge theory (1941). The basic procedure for
determination of the active thrust are described in this section.
Figure 14.10a shows a braced wall AB of height H that deforms by rotating about its
top. The wall is assumed to be rough, with the angle of wall friction equal to d . The point of
application of the active thrust (that is, naH ) is assumed to be known. The curve of sliding is

b l W(1)
1

O
1
l
P(1)
A f 90
b1
g

f
H c0
d W1
P1
na H f
F1
B B

(a)

b b b
2 1 3 P P
P2 1 P3 a

O1
A
b2 b1 b3

H
d
P
a Trial 3
naH
Trial 1

Trial 2
B B

(b)

Figure 14.10 Determination of active force on bracing system of open cut in cohesionless soil
504 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

assumed to be an arc of a logarithmic spiral. As we discussed in the preceding section, the

curve of sliding intersects the horizontal ground surface at 90 . To proceed with the trial
wedge solution, let us select a point b . From b , a line b b that makes an angle f with the
1 1 1 1
ground surface is drawn. (Note that f effective angle of friction of the soil.) The arc of the
logarithmic spiral, b1B, which defines the curve of sliding for this trial, can now be
drawn, with the center of the spiral (point O1) located on the line b1b1œ. Note that the
equation for the logarithmic spiral is given by r1 roeu tan f¿ and, in this case, O1b1 ro and
1

O1B r1. Also, it is interesting to see that the horizontal line that represents the ground
surface is the normal to the curve of sliding at the point b1, and that O1b1 is a radial line.
The angle between them is equal to f , which agrees with the property of the spiral.
To look at the equilibrium of the failure wedge, let us consider the following forces
per unit length of the braced wall:

• W1the weight of the wedge ABb1 (Area of ABb1) (g) (1).

• P1 the active thrust acting at a point naH measured vertically upward from the
bottom of the cut and inclined at an angle d with the horizontal.
• F1 the resultant of the shear and normal forces that act along the trial failure
surface. The line of action of the force F1 will pass through the point O1.
Now, taking the moments of these forces about O1, we have
or W1 3lW1124 F110 2 P1 3lP 1124 0

P1 Wl (14.14)
1 W112

l
P 112
where lW(1) and lP (1) are the moment arms for the forces W1 and P1, respectively.
This procedure of finding the active thrust can now be repeated for several wedges
such as ABb2 , ABb3 , . . . , ABbn (Figure 14.10b). Note that the centers of the logarithmic-
spiral arcs will lie on lines b2b2œ, b3b3œ, . . . , bnbnœ, respectively. The active thrusts
P1 , P2 , P3 , . . . , Pn derived from the trial wedges are plotted to some scale in the upper
portion of Figure 14.10b. The maximum point of the smooth curve drawn through these
points will yield the desired maximum active thrust, Pa, on the braced wall.
Kim and Preber (1969) determined the values of Pa /0.5gH2 for braced excava-
tions for various values of f , d , and na. These values are given in Table 14.3. In general,
the average magnitude of Pa is about 10% greater when the wall rotation is about the top
as compared with the value obtained by Coulomb’s active earth-pressure theory.

14.8 Determination of Active Thrust on Bracing

Systems for Cuts — Cohesive Soil
Using the principles of the general wedge theory, we also can determine the active thrust
on bracing systems for cuts made in c – f soil. Table 14.4 gives the variation of Pa in a
nondimensional form for various values of f , d , na, and c /gH.
 14.9 Pressure Variation for Design of Sheetings, Struts, and Wales 505

Table 14.3 Pa /0.5gH2 Against f , d , and na (c 0) for Braced Cuts

*

Pa /0.5GH 2 Pa /0.5GH 2
F D F D
(deg) (deg) na 0.3 na 0.4 na 0.5 na 0.6 (deg) (deg) na 0.3 na 0.4 na 0.5 na 0.6
10 0 0.653 0.734 0.840 0.983 35 0 0.247 0.267 0.290 0.318
5 0.623 0.700 0.799 0.933 5 0.239 0.258 0.280 0.318
10 0.610 0.685 0.783 0.916 10 0.234 0.252 0.273 0.300
15 0 0.542 0.602 0.679 0.778 15 0.231 0.249 0.270 0.296
20 0.231 0.248 0.269 0.295
5 0.518 0.575 0.646 0.739
25 0.232 0.250 0.271 0.297
10 0.505 0.559 0.629 0.719
30 0.236 0.254 0.276 0.302
15 0.499 0.554 0.623 0.714
35 0.243 0.262 0.284 0.312
20 0 0.499 0.495 0.551 0.622 40 0 0.198 0.213 0.230 0.252
5 0.430 0.473 0.526 0.593
5 0.192 0.206 0.223 0.244
10 0.419 0.460 0.511 0.575
10 0.189 0.202 0.219 0.238
15 0.413 0.454 0.504 0.568
15 0.187 0.200 0.216 0.236
20 0.413 0.454 0.504 0.569
20 0.187 0.200 0.216 0.235
25 0 0.371 0.405 0.447 0.499 25 0.188 0.202 0.218 0.237
5 0.356 0.389 0.428 0.477 30 0.192 0.205 0.222 0.241
10 0.347 0.378 0.416 0.464 35 0.197 0.211 0.228 0.248
15 0.342 0.373 0.410 0.457 40 0.205 0.220 0.237 0.259
20 0.341 0.372 0.409 0.456 45 0 0.156 0.167 0.180 0.196
25 0.344 0.375 0.413 0.461
5 0.152 0.163 0.175 0.190
30 0 0.304 0.330 0.361 0.400 10 0.150 0.160 0.172 0.187
5 0.293 0.318 0.347 0.384 15 0.148 0.159 0.171 0.185
10 0.286 0.310 0.339 0.374 20 0.149 0.159 0.171 0.185
15 0.282 0.306 0.334 0.368 25 0.150 0.160 0.173 0.187
20 0.281 0.305 0.332 0.367 30 0.153 0.164 0.176 0.190
25 0.284 0.307 0.335 0.370 35 0.158 0.168 0.181 0.196
30 0.289 0.313 0.341 0.377 40 0.164 0.175 0.188 0.204
45 0.173 0.184 0.198 0.213
* After Kim and Preber, 1969. With permission from ASCE.

14.9 Pressure Variation for Design

of Sheetings, Struts, and Wales
The active thrust against sheeting in a braced cut, calculated by using the general wedge
theory, does not explain the variation of the earth pressure with depth that is necessary for
design work. An important difference between bracings in open cuts and retaining walls
is that retaining walls fail as single units, whereas bracings in an open cut undergo
progres-sive failure where one or more struts fail at one time.
Empirical lateral pressure diagrams against sheetings for the design of bracing systems
have been given by Peck (1969). These pressure diagrams for cuts in sand, soft to medium
clay, and stiff clay are given in Figure 14.11. Strut loads may be determined by assuming that
the vertical members are hinged at each strut level except the topmost and bottommost ones
(Figure 14.12). Example 14.2 illustrates the procedure for the calculation of strut loads.
 Table 14.4 Values of Pa /0.5gH 2 for Cuts in a c -f Soil
with the Assumption caœ c (tan d /tan f )*
na 0.3 na 0.4 na 0.5
D and and and
(deg) c /GH 0.1 c /GH 0.1 c /GH 0.1
f 15
0 0.254 0.285 0.322
5 0.214 0.240 0.270
10 0.187 0.210 0.238
15 0.169 0.191 0.218
f 20
0 0.191 0.210 0.236
5 0.160 0.179 0.200
10 0.140 0.156 0.173
15 0.122 0.127 0.154
20 0.113 0.124 0.140
f 25
0 0.138 0.150 0.167
5 0.116 0.128 0.141
10 0.099 0.110 0.122
15 0.085 0.095 0.106
20 0.074 0.083 0.093
25 0.065 0.074 0.083
f 30
0 0.093 0.103 0.113
5 0.078 0.086 0.094
10 0.066 0.073 0.080
15 0.056 0.060 0.067
20 0.047 0.051 0.056
25 0.036 0.042 0.047
30 0.029 0.033 0.038
*After Kim and Preber, 1969. With permission from ASCE.

4cu
f sa gH 1 g sa 0.2 gH to 0.4 gH
2 H gH
sa 0.65 gH tan 45 2 for gH
cu 4 for cu 4
0.25H
0.25H

H 0.5H
0.75H

0.25H

s s s
a a a
(a) (b) (c)

Sand Soft to medium clay Stiff clay

Figure 14.11 Peck’s pressure diagrams for design of bracing systems

506
 14.9 Pressure Variation for Design of Sheetings, Struts, and Wales 507

A A
B

B C C

D E
D
F E Figure 14.12
sa

F Determination of strut loads from empirical

lateral pressure diagrams

Example 14.2

A 7-m-deep braced cut in sand is shown in Figure 14.13. In the plan, the struts are
placed at s 2 m center to center. Using Peck’s empirical pressure diagram, calculate
the design strut loads.

5m
1m Sand

A f 30
3
g 16 kN/m
2m

2m

2m

Bottom of cut

Figure 14.13 Braced cut in sand

Solution
Refer to Figure 14.11a. For the lateral earth pressure diagram,
sa 0.65gH tan 2 a45 f¿ b 10.65 2116 217 2 tan 2 a45 30 b 24.27 kN/m2
2 2
508 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

B2
1m

1m 2
24.27 kN/m
A C

2
24.27 kN/m
2m 2m

B1

Figure 14.14 Calculation of strut loads from pressure envelope

Assume that the sheeting is hinged at strut level B. Now refer to the diagram in Figure
14.14 We need to find reactions at A, B1, B2, and C. Taking the moment about B1, we
have
2A124.27 213 2 a 2 b; A 54.61 kN/m
3

Hence,

B1 (24.27)(3) 54.61 18.2 kN/m Again,

taking the moment about B2, we have
4
2C 124.27 214 2 a b

2
C 97.08 kN/m

So

B2 (24.27)(4) 97.08 0
The strut loads are as follows:
At level A: (A)(s) (54.61)(2) 109.22 kN

At level B: (B1 + B2)(s) (18.2 + 0)(2) 36.4 kN

At level C: (C)(s) (97.08)(2) 194.16 kN ■

 Problems 509

14.10 Summary
This chapter covers two major topics:
• Estimation of passive pressure using curved failure surface in soil
• Lateral earth pressure on braced cuts using the general wedge theory and pressure
envelopes for design of struts, wales, and sheet piles.
Passive pressure calculations using curved failure surface are essential for the case
in which d f /2, since plane-failure surface assumption provides results on the unsafe side
for design.
In the case of braced cuts, although the general wedge theory provides the force per
unit length of the cut, it does not provide the nature of distribution of earth pressure with
depth. For that reason, pressure envelopes are necessary for practical design.

Problems
14.1 Refer to the retaining wall shown in Figure 14.15. Given: u 10 , a 0,
g 15.5 kN/m3, f 35 , d 21 , and H 6 m. Estimate the passive force, Pp , per unit
length of the wall. Use Tables 14.1 and 14.2.
14.2 Refer to Figure 14.15. Given: H 15 ft, g 100 lb/ft3, f 30 , d 23 f¿, a 0, and u 0.
Calculate the passive force per unit length of the wall using Figure 14.5.

14.3 Solve Problem 14.2 using Tables 14.1 and 14.2.

14.4 Refer to Figure 14.15. Given: u 0, a 0 , H 2.5 m, f 30 , d 20 , and
g 14.8 kN/m3. Estimate the passive force per unit length of the wall using
Figure 14.4.

Granular backfill
H g

u f
c0
d

Figure 14.15
510 Chapter 14: Lateral Earth Pressure: Curved Failure Surface

14.5 Refer to Figure 14.3a. Given: H 5 m, g 16 kN/m3, f 30 , d 15 , kv 0, and kh

0.3. Calculate Ppe for the retaining wall (Section 14.5).
14.6 A braced wall is shown in Figure 14.16. Given: H 5 m, naH 2 m, f 35 , d 20 , g
16 kN/m3, and c 0. Determine the active thrust, Pa ,
on the wall using the general wedge theory.
14.7 Repeat Problem 14.6 with the following given: H 15.6 m, naH 4.68 m,
c œ tan d
g 18 kN/m3, f 20 , d 15 , and c 28 kN/m2. Assume a ¿.
c¿ tan f¿
14.8 The elevation and plan of a bracing system for an open cut in sand are shown in
Figure 14.17. Assuming gsand 105 lb/ft3 and f 38°, determine the strut loads.

g
c
f
d
H
d
P
a

na H

Figure 14.16

2 ft
A Struts—8 ft center to center

5 ft
B

5 ft Sand
22 ft g 8 ft
C
f
D 5 ft

8 ft

5 ft

(b) Plan
(a) Section

Figure 14.17
 References 511

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