Caquot and Kerisel

Solution for Passive

Earth
Pressure (Granular
14.6
Backfill)
BY: JEA CLARIE M. ESPINAS
• Figure 14.6 shows a retaining wall with an inclined back and a horizontal backfill. For this
case, the passive pressure per unit length of the wall can be calculated a
1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇21Kp
2
(14.13)
 𝟏
𝑷𝒑 = 𝜸𝑯21Kp
𝟐
(14.13)

where Kp = the passive pressure coefficient

For definition of H1, refer to Figure 14.6. The variation of Kp determined by
Caquot and Kerisel (1948) also is shown in Figure 14.6. It is important to note that the Kp
values shown are for 𝜹′ /𝝓′ = 𝟏.If 𝜹′ /𝝓′ ≠ 𝟏 the following procedure must be used
to determine Kp.
1. Assume 𝜹′ and 𝝓′
2. Calculate 𝜹′ /𝝓′
3. Using the ratio of 𝜹′ /𝝓′ (step 2), determine the reduction factor, R’, from Table 14.4.
4. Determine Kp. from Figure 14.6 for 𝜹′ /𝝓′ = 𝟏
5. Calculate Kp for the required 𝜹′ /𝝓′ as

Kp = (𝑅′)[Kp(𝜹′ /𝝓′ = 𝟏) ] (14.14)

 Table 14.4 Caquot and Kerisel’s Reduction Factor, R, for Passive Pressure
Calculation

δ'/ϕ'
ϕ' 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0
10 0.978 0.962 0.946 0.929 0.912 0.898 0.881 0.864
15 0.961 0.934 0.907 0.881 0.854 0.830 0.803 0.775
20 0.939 0.901 0.862 0.824 0.787 0.752 0.716 0.678
25 0.912 0.860 0.808 0.759 0.711 0.666 0.620 0.574
30 0.878 0.811 0.746 0.686 0.627 0.574 0.520 0.467
35 0.836 0.752 0.674 0.603 0.536 0.475 0.417 0.362
40 0.783 0.682 0.592 0.512 0.439 0.375 0.316 0.262
45 0.718 0.600 0.500 0.414 0.339 0.276 0.221 0.174
Figure 14.7 shows a vertical retaining wall with an inclined granular backfill.
For this case,

1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇2 Kp
2

(14.15)
Caquot and Kerisel’s solution (1948) for Kp to use in Eq. (14.15) is given
in Figure 14.7
for 𝜹′ /𝝓′ = 𝟏. In order to determine Kp via Figure 14.7, the following
steps are necessary:
Step 1: Determine 𝛂 /𝝓′ (note the sign of 𝛂).
Step 2: Knowing 𝝓′ and 𝛂 /𝝓′ , use Figure 14.7 to determine Kp for 𝜹′ /𝝓′ =
𝟏.
Step 3: Calculate 𝜹′ /𝝓′
Step 4: Go to Table 14.4 to determine the reduction factor, R’.
Step 5: Kp = (𝑅′)[Kp(𝜹′ /𝝓′ = 𝟏) ]

(14.16)
Example 14.1

Consider a 3-m-high (H) retaining wall with a vertical back (θ =0°) and a horizontal
granular backfill. Given: γ 15.7 kN/m3, δ′ = 15°, and 𝜙 ′ =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)
e. Caquot and Kerisel’s theory
Solution

Part a

From Eq. (13.55),

1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇2Kp
2

From Table 13.7, for 𝜙 ′ =30° and , δ′ = 15°, the value of Kp is 4.977. Thus,
1
𝑃𝑝 = (4.977)(15.7)(3)2 = 351.6 kN/m
2
Part b
From Figure 14.4, for 𝜙 ′ =30° and δ′ = 15°, the value of Kp is about 4.53. Thus,
1
𝑃𝑝 = (4.53)(15.7)(3)2 = 320 kN/m
2

Part c

1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇2Kp
2

′ ′ δ′
From Figure 14.5, for 𝜙 = 30° and δ = 15° (i.e, ′ = 0.5 ) the value of Kp is 4.13. Hence,
𝜙
1
𝑃𝑝 = (4.13)(15.7)(3)2 = 292 kN/m
2
Part d
From Eq. (14.12)
Kp= KP(δ′ = 0)R

For 𝜙 ′ = 30° and θ = 0, KP(δ′ = 0) is equal to 3.0 (Table 14.2). Again, for θ = 0and
𝛿′
=0.5, the value of R is about 1.52 (Table 14.3). Thus, Kp (3) (1.52) =4.56.
𝜙′

1
𝑃𝑝 = (4.56)(15.7)(3)2 = 322kN/m
2
Part e

From Eq. (14.13), with θ = 0, H1=H,

1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇2Kp
2
𝛿′
From Figure 14.6, for 𝜙′ = 30° and ′ =1, the value of KP(δ′ = 1) is about 5.9. Also,
𝜙
𝛿′
from Table 14.4, with 𝜙 ′ = 30° and ′ =0.5, the value of R’ is 0.746.
𝜙

Hence,
1 1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇2Kp= (15.7)(3)2 (0.746 × 5.9)≈ 322kN/m
2 2
PROBLEM 14.5
Refer to Figure 14.18. Given: with θ = 0, 𝛼 = 10°, H = 4.75 m, 𝑦 = 16.8 kN/m³,
𝜙 ′ = 30°, and δ′ = 18°. Estimate the passive force, Pp, per unit length of the wall
using Caquot and Kerisel’s solution (Figure 14.6 and Table 14.4)
Given:

θ = 0,
𝛼 = 10°
H = 4.75 m,
𝑦 = 16.8 kN/m³,
𝜙 ′ = 30°
δ′ = 18°.
Solution:

1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇2Kp
2

From Figure 14.6

𝛿′
𝜙′ = 30° and =1, the value of KP(δ′ = 1) is about 6.89
𝜙′
from Table 14.4,
′ 𝛿′ 3
𝜙 = 30° and = = 0.6
𝜙′ 5
Therefore R’ = 0.811
Solution

1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝛄𝐇2Kp
2
1
=2 (16.8 𝑘𝑁/𝑚³)(4.75𝑚)2 (0.811 × 6.89)
=1305.83 kN/m≈ 1306 𝑘𝑁/𝑚