SOIL MECHANICS

EARTH THRUST

DR. JUBILY MUSAGASA

(CE DEPARTMENT)
Introduction
❑ In the design of earth retaining structures eg. Retaining walls,
sheet pile walls, braced or anchored walls for excavations,
etc., it is necessary to calculate – beside the vertical stresses
of the soil – the lateral thrust exerted by the retaining soil
mass on the structure.
Active and Passive Earth Pressures
❑The magnitude of the total earth thrust “E” on a retaining wall
depends mainly on the physical and mechanical properties of
the retained soils, while the distribution of the earth pressure ‘e”
depends very much on the type and mode of deformation of the
wall and of the soil.
❑ Deformations “away from the soil” result in active earth
pressures ea, while deformations ‘towards the soil” cause
passive earth pressures ep.
Coefficient of Earth Pressure, K
❑All calculations of active and passive earth pressures are done by
considering “effective stresses”.
❑Only in the state of failure it is possible, that the necessary
deformations can occur to fully mobilize the active, respectively the
passive condition.
❑The coefficient of earth pressure, K, is defined as the ratio of
horizontal to vertical stress:
𝝈′𝒉
𝑲=
𝝈′𝒗
Coefficients of Active and Passive Earth Pressures
❑If, starting from the condition at rest (represented by K0), 𝝈’𝒗 is
increased, a soil element starts to expand laterally (defined as
negative deformation) until a state of failure is reached, where K
becomes a minimum (Kmin = Ka, coefficient of active earth pressure).
❑If, on the other hand, 𝝈’𝒉 is increased, a soil element will be
compressed (defined as positive deformation) until a state of failure
is reached, where K becomes a maximum (Kmax = Kp, coefficient of
passive earth pressure).
Deformations for Active and Passive Earth Pressures
❑The necessary deformations to reach the passive condition are much
bigger than those for reaching the active condition:

| 𝜺𝒑 ≫ 𝜺𝒂
Three States of Earth Pressures
Three States of Earth Pressures
 Active and Passive State After “Rankine”
❑Rankines simplified case of a limiting equilibrium, represents a solution of a
special plane-strain boundary problem of the general theory of plastic
equilibrium of soil media, based on the Coulomb-Mohr failure criterion.
❑Specific Assumptions for Rankine’s Solution
❑β = 0: Horizontal backfilling (ground surface)
❑α = 0: Vertical backface of the wall
❑δ = 0: Frictionless contact between structure and
soil ( → horizontally acting earth thrust)
❑c ≠ 0: Cohesion can be taken into consideration
❑Plane slip surface assumed
 Active and Passive State After “Rankine”

❑The determination of the earth thrust is a stability problem. A

possible slip surface for the active condition is given below, whereas
Rankine assumed a straight failure plane to find his solution.
❑The active earth thrust Ea is the force which a soil mass is exerting
laterally to a retaining structure, or is that force which a retaining
structure must be able to sustain.
Active and Passive State After “Rankine”
Active State After “Rankine”
Active State After “Rankine”

❑After Rankine, the active horizontal stress can be given as:

𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝝈′ 𝒗 . 𝑲𝒂 − 𝟐𝒄. 𝑲𝒂

𝝓′ 𝝓′
= 𝝈′ 𝒗 . 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝟓 − − 𝟐𝒄′. 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 −
𝟐 𝟐

→ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑲𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆

𝟐
𝝓′
− 𝑲𝒂 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 −
𝟐
Active and Passive State After “Rankine”

1 ′ 2
𝑬𝒂,𝒑 = 𝜸 . 𝑯 . 𝑲𝒂,𝒑
2
 Active Earth Thrust After “Rankine”
❑Rankine’s earth thrust theory is basically valid for homogeneous
conditions only, but in engineering practice, they are also used to
determine the earth thrust of layered subsoil system.
❑The active earth thrust
𝑬𝒂 = σ 𝑬𝒂𝒊
𝑯 𝑯

𝑬𝒂 = න 𝒆𝒂(𝒛) . 𝒅𝒛 = න 𝜸. 𝒛. 𝑲𝒂 . 𝒅𝒛
𝟎 𝟎
 Total Thrust After “Rankine”
❑As the total thrust is heavily influenced by existing ground water, the
following points have to be carefully considered:
❑Calculate the earth pressure (ea,p(i) by using the effective unit weight
of the soil,
❑Consider the water pressure W acting on the structure
❑Eventually introduce seepage forces affecting γ’ and the water
pressure
 Example
❑Calculate the active earth pressure for the design of a 5 m high
retaining wall in a homogenous, cohesionless subsoil.
Soil Properties: c’ = 0, ϕ’ = 30o, γ = 20 kN/m3
Solution
ϕ′
𝑲𝒂 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝟓 − = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑
𝟐
𝝈′𝒗 = 𝜸. 𝑯 = 𝟐𝟎 𝒙 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝝈′𝒗 . 𝑲𝒂 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒙 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑 = 𝟑𝟑 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
 Passive State After “Rankine”
❑Maximum forces which can be transferred from retaining structure to
soil,
❑The passive earth thrust Ep is the force which the retaining structure is
exerting laterally to a soil mass, or is that force which a soil mass
must be able to sustain.
 Passive and Passive State After “Rankine”
❑Consider an elemental soil along the surface of the wall.
Passive and Passive State After “Rankine”
❑The horizontal passive earth pressure is given by:
𝝈′𝒑𝒉 = 𝝈′ 𝒗 . 𝑲𝒑 + 𝟐𝒄′. 𝑲𝒑

𝝓′ 𝝓′
= 𝝈′ 𝒗 . 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝟓 + + 𝟐𝒄. 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 +
𝟐 𝟐

𝝓′
𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑲𝒑 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝟓 +
𝟐

𝟏
𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝑲𝒑 =
𝑲𝒂
 Example
❑Determine the passive earth pressure for a 5 m high wall in homogeneous,
cohesionless subsoil. Soil properties: 𝑐 ′ = 𝑜, 𝜙 ′ = 30𝑜 , ϒ = 20 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2
Solution
𝟐
𝝓′ 𝟐
𝟑𝟎
𝒌𝒑 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 + = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 + = 𝟑. 𝟎
𝟐 𝟐

𝝈𝒑𝒉 = 𝝈′ 𝒗 . 𝒌𝒑 = ϒ𝒉. 𝒌𝒑 = 𝟐𝟎 𝟓 𝟑 = 𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐

Example
❑ Determine the passive earth pressure for a 5 m high wall in homogeneous,
cohesive material.
❑ Soil properties: 𝑐 ′ = 10 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2 , 𝜙 ′ = 30𝑜 , ϒ = 20 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

𝟐
𝝓′ 𝟐
𝟑𝟎
𝒌𝒑 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 + = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 + = 𝟑. 𝟎
𝟐 𝟐

𝝈𝒑𝒉 = 𝝈′ 𝒗 . 𝒌𝒑 + 𝟐𝒄′ 𝒌𝒑

𝝈𝒑𝒉 = ϒ𝒉. 𝒌𝒑 = 𝟐𝟎 𝟓 𝟑 + (𝟐)(𝟏𝟎)( 𝟑 = 𝟑𝟎𝟎 + 𝟑𝟒. 𝟔

= 𝟑𝟑𝟒. 𝟔 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
Solution
Example
❑ Determine the active earth pressures eai and the corresponding earth thrusts
for the given layered, cohesionless subsoil.

𝝓′ 𝟑𝟎
𝒌𝒂𝟏 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝟓 − 𝟐
= 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 − = 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟑𝟎 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑
𝟐 𝟐

𝝓′ 𝟒𝟎
𝒌𝒂𝟐 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟒𝟓 − 𝟐
= 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝟒𝟓 − = 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝟐 𝟐𝟓 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
Solution

𝒆𝒂𝟏 = 𝝈′ 𝒗𝟏 . 𝒌𝒂𝟏 = 𝜸𝟏 . 𝒉𝟏 . 𝒌𝒂𝟏 = 𝟐 . 𝟏𝟖 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟗 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐

𝒆𝒂𝟐 = 𝝈′ 𝒗𝟏 . 𝒌𝒂𝟏 = 𝜸𝟏 . 𝒉𝟏 . 𝒌𝒂𝟐 = 𝟐 . 𝟏𝟖 𝟎. 𝟐𝟐 = 𝟕. 𝟗 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐

𝒆𝒂𝟑 = 𝝈′ 𝒗𝟐 . 𝒌𝒂𝟐 = 𝜸𝟏 . 𝒉𝟏 + 𝜸𝟐 . 𝒉𝟐 . 𝒌𝒂𝟐

= 𝟐 𝟏𝟖 + 𝟑 𝟐𝟐 𝟎. 𝟐𝟐 = 𝟐𝟐. . 𝟒 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐
 Solution

𝟏 𝟏
𝑬𝒂−𝒕𝒐𝒕 = 𝑬𝒂𝟏 + 𝑬𝒂𝟐 + 𝑬𝒂𝟑 = . 𝒉𝟏 . 𝒆𝒂𝟏 + 𝒉𝟐 . 𝒆𝒂𝟐 + . 𝒉𝟐 . 𝒆𝒂𝟑 − 𝒆𝒂𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
= . 𝜸𝟏 . 𝒉𝟏 . 𝑲𝒂𝟏 +𝜸𝟏 . 𝒉𝟏 . 𝒉𝟐 . 𝑲𝒂𝟐 + . 𝜸𝟐 . 𝒉𝟐𝟐 . 𝑲𝒂𝟐
𝟐
𝟐 𝟐
𝟏 𝟏
= . 𝟐. 𝟎 . 𝟏𝟏. 𝟗 + 𝟑. 𝟎 . 𝟕. 𝟗 + . 𝟑. 𝟎 . 𝟏𝟒. 𝟓
𝟐 𝟐
= 𝟏𝟏. 𝟗 + 𝟐𝟑. 𝟕 + 𝟐𝟏. 𝟕𝟓 = 𝟓𝟕. 𝟒 𝒌𝑵/𝒎′
Solution
❑ To determine the position of the resultant Ea, calculate the moment about
point T

𝟏 𝟏 𝟏 𝟏
𝒛= . 𝑬𝒂𝟏 𝒉𝟏 + 𝒉𝟏 + 𝑬𝒂𝟐 . . 𝒉𝟏 +𝑬𝒂𝟑 . . 𝒉𝟐
𝑬𝒂−𝒕𝒐𝒕 𝟑 𝟐 𝟑
𝟏
= . 𝟒𝟑. 𝟔 + 𝟑𝟓. 𝟔 + 𝟐𝟏. 𝟖
𝟓𝟕. 𝟒

𝒛 = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟔 𝒎
Example
❑ Determine the active earth pressures for a 5 m high wall in a cohesive
subsoil.
Soil properties: 𝑐 ′ = 10 𝑘𝑁/𝑚2 , ϕ′ = 30𝑜 , 𝛾 = 20 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3

Solution

𝑲𝒂 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑

𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝝈′𝒗 . 𝑲𝒂 −𝟐𝒄′ . 𝑲𝒂

𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑 − 𝟐 𝟏𝟎 𝟎. 𝟑𝟑 = 𝟑𝟑 − 𝟏𝟏. 𝟓 = 𝟐𝟏. 𝟓 𝒌𝑵/𝒎𝟐

Solution
Solution
❑ Tension stresses along z0 cannot be carried by the soil ( neglected), but
water entering the occurring tension cracks (e.g. rain water) is exerting an
additional water pressure on the wall, which has to be considered:
❑ To determine z0

𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝟎

𝝈′𝒗 . 𝑲𝒂 −𝟐𝒄′ . 𝑲𝒂 = 𝟎

𝜸′. 𝒛𝟎 . 𝑲𝒂 −𝟐𝒄′ . 𝑲𝒂 = 𝟎
𝟐𝒄′ 𝟐 𝟏𝟎
𝒛𝟎 = = = 𝟏. 𝟕𝟑 𝒎
𝜸′ . 𝑲𝒂 𝟐𝟎 . 𝟎.𝟑𝟑
 Generalized Cases – Frictionless Wall with Inclined Backfill and
Backface
❑For the Rankine active case, the coefficient of lateral earth pressure

❑For the Rankine passive case, the

coefficient of lateral earth pressure
 Example
❑Refer to the Figure shown. Given:
H = 4 m, 𝛼 = +20°, and 𝜃 =
+ 20°, For the granular backfill, it
is given that 𝛾 = 18 𝑘𝑁/𝑚3 and
ϕ′ = 30°. Determine the active
force Pa per unit length of the wall
as well as the location and
direction of the resultant.
 Solution

1 1
❑𝑃𝑎 = 𝛾𝐻2 𝐾𝑎(𝑅) = 𝑥 18 𝑥(4)2 𝑥 0.776 = 111.744 𝑘𝑁/𝑚
2 2
 Solution

❑The resultant will act a distance of 4/3 = 𝟏. 𝟑𝟑 𝒎 above the

bottom of the wall with β = 𝟑𝟎°.
 Special Cases – Frictionless Wall with Vertical Backface
❑As a special case, for a vertical
backface of the wall (that is, 𝜃 = 0)
as shown in the Figure, the
coefficient of active earth pressure

❑Similarly, the coefficient of passive

earth pressure
 EFFECTS OF SURCHARGE LOADS
❑Consider the following sheet pile wall with surcharge
 EFFECTS OF SURCHARGE LOADS
❑The effective horizontal earth pressure
𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝝈′𝒗 . 𝑲𝒂 + 𝒒. 𝑲𝒂
𝒊. 𝒆 𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝜸𝒉. 𝑲𝒂 + 𝒒. 𝑲𝒂
❑The corresponding earth thrust
𝟏
𝑬𝒂 = . 𝜸. 𝒉𝟐 . 𝑲𝒂 + 𝒉. 𝒒. 𝑲𝒂
𝟐
❑For cohesive soils, 𝝈′𝒂𝒉 = 𝝈′𝒗 . 𝑲𝒂 − 𝟐𝒄. 𝑲𝒂 + 𝒒. 𝑲𝒂
 Classwork
Figure below shows a 3-
layered backfill behind a 15
m high retaining wall with a
smooth vertical back. Draw
the active earth pressure GWT

distribution, find the active

thrust and its location from
the base of the wall.