FOUNDATION

ENGINEERING

- Ashim Koirala
COURSE CONTENT MARKS
Ch 1: Introduction …………………………………........... 2
Ch 2: Soil Exploration………………………………… 12
Ch 3: Lateral Earth Pressure Theories and Retaining
walls…………………………………………………… 16
Ch 4: Arching in Soils and Braced Cuts……………… 4
Ch 5: Flexible Retaining Structures and Coffer Dams. 4
Ch 6: Bearing Capacity and Settlement of Shallow
Foundations………………………………………………. 12
Ch 7: Mat Foundations ……………………………………. 6
Ch 8: Pile Foundations …………………………………….12
Ch 9: Well Foundations……………………………………. 8
Ch 10: Foundation Soil Improvements………………….. 4
 CH 3: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
THEORIES AND RETAINING WALLS

Lateral Earth Pressure:

Retaining Wall

Lateral Earth
Pressure

 The pressure exerted by soil in horizontal or lateral

direction.
Lateral Earth Pressure:
 as it is clear that as we increase the vertical pressure,
the soil tends to spread more resulting increase in
lateral pressure.
Thus,
Lateral pressure/stress( p or H) is directly proportional
to Vertical pressure/ stress (V)
i.e.
(p or H )  V
or, (p or H )= K.V
Where K= coefficient of Lateral earth pressure
TYPES OF LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

1. Lateral Earth Pressure at rest ( p0)

2. Active Lateral Earth Pressure (pa)

3. Passive Lateral Earth Pressure (pp)

 ACTIVE AND PASSIVE LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

Resultant force

Active State

Passive State
Active State:

 Retaining wall rotate away

from backfill soil
 Expansion of soil occurs

 The failure wedge moves

downward Shear Strength
 Pressure acting on wall at this
plastic equilibrium or failure
condition is known as active
earth pressure ( pa) Failure plane

 Vertical Stress is greater than

lateral stress
Passive State:
 Retaining wall rotate towards
the backfill soil
 Compression of soil occurs

 The failure wedge moves

upward
 Pressure acting on wall at this Shear Strength
plastic equilibrium or failure
condition is known as passive
earth pressure ( pp)
Failure plane
 Vertical Stress is smaller than
lateral stress
 EARTH PRESSURE AT REST

Resultant force=0

Rest State Rest State

oThere is no movement of retaining wall and soil

oPressure acting on wall at this elastic equilibrium is
known as rest earth pressure ( po)
 PRESSURE VARIATION

Active At rest Passive

Earth Pressure

Passive

At rest

Active
- 0 +
Away from fill Towards fill

pa<po<pp
 EARTH PRESSURE AT REST
V
Considering a small element of soil mass as shown
in figure,
Then, form theory of elasticity,
x = (x/E)-μ(y/E- z/E)
Where, μ = poison’s ratio po
As there is no deformation,
or, 0= (po/E )- μ(V/E-po/E)
or, po/V= μ /(1- μ)= Ko po
Where, Ko is coefficient of earth pressure at rest.
Also,
Ko = 1-sinФ ( given by Jaky in 1944)
Where Ф = angle of internal friction

Note: If the effect of water table is considered, the

above V should be considered as effective vertical
stress ′V