Soil mechanics Lateral earth pressure

References: 1. Budhu, Muni, D. Soil Mechanics & Foundations. New York; John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2000. 2. Schroeder, W.L., Dickenson, S.E, Warrington, Don, C. Soils in Construction. Fifth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey; Prentice Hall, 2004.

Learning objectives: 1. The effective stress Principle 2. Differences of Effective and Total stress. The Lateral Earth Pressure or Horizontal Pressure(stress):
- Once you find the vertical stress (), it is relatively simple to calculate the lateral earth pressure for the soil. - The key concept to understand is that the vertical pressure in soil is different than the horizontal pressure. This is different than water, in which the vertical pressure and horizontal pressure is the same. - In soil the lateral Earth pressure is equal to the effective vertical stress () times a earth The density of thetype block = (lbs/cf) pressure coefficient (K). This coefficient depends on the soil and where the soil is allowed to move.

- Lateral Earth Pressure (H) = K * v -The three different types of coefficients are below; with there most used formulas to calculate the earth pressure coefficient. - Ka = tan2 (45 /2) = (1 sin ) / (1 + sin ) Ka is known as active
earth pressure coefficient - Kp = tan2 (45 + /2) = (1 sin ) / (1 - sin ) Kp is known as passive earth pressure coefficient - KO = 1 sin (for sands) KO is known as at rest earth pressure coefficient - Ka < KO < Kp Kp = 1 / Ka

- = angle of internal friction

- Also important to note: The total force per unit length of the wall, Po, is equal to the area of the pressure diagram, which is;

- Po (lbs/ft) = Ko H2 (for a dry soil)

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Example: Determine the active lateral earth pressure on the frictionless wall shown in the below figure. Strategy: The lateral earth pressure coefficients can only be applied to the effective stresses. You need to calculate the vertical effective stress, apply Ka, and then add the pore water pressure.

12 ft

sat = 140 lbs / cf = 30o

Step 1: Calculate Ka. - Ka = tan2 (45 /2) = (1 sin ) / (1 + sin ) = 1/3 Step 2: Calculate the vertical effective stress. - = u - = sat h = 140 lbs/cf x 12 ft = 1680 lbs/sf - u = w h = 62.4 lbs/cf x 12ft = 749 lbs /sf - = 1680 749 = 931 lbs/sf Step 3: Calculate the lateral effective stress. - H = Ka x \ = .333 x 931 lbs/sf = 310 lbs/sf Step 4: Sketch the lateral earth pressure distributions.

12 ft

sat = 140 lbs / cf = 30o

310 lbs/sf From soil

749 lbs/sf Hydrostatic

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