Lecture 7: Lateral Earth

Pressure (Part 1)
CO3: At the end of this lecture, students
should be able to determine the lateral
earth pressures using different
principles and related theories
Introduction

Lateral Earth Pressure to Basement Wall

Introduction

Concrete Retaining Wall

Introduction
 Lateral earth pressure =
Pressure to the side,
sideways pressure
 Analysis and determination
of Earth Pressure for design
of:
 Retaining wall (Gravity &
Cantilever)
 Basement wall
 Bulkheads
 Abutment
Introduction

Bulkheads
Introduction

Abutment
Introduction

Lateral
Earth
Pressure

Active Passive
Pressure
Pressure Pressure
At Rest
Active Pressure
Passive Pressure
Pressure at Rest

1. No wall movement, soil in

contact with the wall
does not undergo lateral
strain
Introduction
Lateral
Earth
Pressure

Active Passive
Pressure
Pressure Pressure
At Rest

Rankine Coulomb Rankine Coulomb

Method Method Method Method
Earth Pressure at Rest
Soil Pressure at the Base of
wall:
p0 = K0H

Resultant force at 1/3 from the

base:
P0 = ½ K0H2

Where,
K0 = 1-sin ϕ ----(cohesionless)
K0 = 0.19 + 0.233 log (PI)
---- (normally consolidated clay)
Example

Required:
1. Plot the diagram of lateral
earth pressure (p0)
2. Calculate the total lateral
force (P0)
Answer 1 (Pressure Diagram)
K0= ph / pv K0 = 1 – sin ϕ = sub
ph = K0 x pv = 1- sin 370 = 0.398 = 18.39 kN/m3

Depth, Total Lateral Pressure Lateral Water Effective

z = K0z Pressure Lateral pressure
(m) = wz = Total - water
(kN/m3) (kN/m3) (kN/m3)

0 0 0 0
1 = 0.398 (18.393)(1) 0 = 7.32
= 7.32
2.5 = 7.32 + 0.398 (18.393)(1.5) = 9.81 (1.5) = 12.44
= 27.16 = 14.72
Answer 1 (Pressure Diagram)
Depth, Total Lateral Lateral Water Pressure Effective
z (m) Pressure, p kN/m2 Lateral pressure
kN/m2 kN/m2
0 0 0 0
1 7.32 0 7.32
2.5 27.16 14.72 12.44

Surface Total Lateral Lateral PWP Effective Lateral

1m

2.5 m
0 7.32 27.16 0 14.72 0 7.32 12.44

Scale: 1cm: 2m for Y-Axis, Scale: 1cm : 50 kN/m2 for X-Axis

Answer 2 (Total Lateral Force)
Total lateral force;
= Area of Total pressure diagram
Surface Total Lateral
= Area 1 + Area 2

1 = (1/2)(7.32)(1) +
1m
(1/2)(7.32+27.16)(1.5)

2 P0= 29.52 kN/m

2.5 m
0 7.32 27.16
Answer 2 (Total Lateral Force)
Note: The total lateral force
(P0= 29.52 kN/m) is acting
Surface Total Lateral
0.83 meter from the base
(H/3)

1m

P0= 29.2 kN/m

2.5 m H/3 = 2.5 / 3 = 0.83 m from the base

0 7.32 27.16

Base
Try This 1b

Soil pressure at rest.

Required:
2m = 19.5 kN/m3 1. Plot the diagram of lateral
 = 350 earth pressure (p0)
2. Calculate the total lateral
4m force (P0)
sat = 20.5 kN/m3
2m
= 32 0
Answer 1b (Pressure Diagram)
K0= ph / pv K0 = 1 – sin ϕ K0 = 1 – sin ϕ
ph = K0 x pv = 1- sin 350 = 0.426 = 1- sin 320 = 0.470

Depth, Total Lateral Pressure Lateral Water Effective

z = K0z Pressure Lateral pressure
(m) = wz = Total - water
(kN/m3) (kN/m3) (kN/m3)

0 0 0 0
2 = 0.426 (19.5)(2) 0 = 16.614
= 16.614
4 = 16.614 + 0.470 (20.5)(2) = 9.81 (2) = 16.264
= 35.884 = 19.62
Answer 2b (Total Lateral Force)
Total lateral force;
= Area of Total pressure diagram
Surface Total Lateral = Area 1 + Area 2
= (1/2)(16.614)(2) +
1 (1/2)(16.614+35.884)(2)
2m
P0= 69.112 kN/m

2
2m
0 16.614 35.884
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Rankine Theory)
Earth pressures calculation using Rankine Theory is based on the following
assumptions:
1. No adhesion () or friction between wall and soil (This
assumption is not valid)
2. Lateral pressures computed limited to vertical walls
3. Failure is assumed to occur in the form of sliding wedge along
an assumed failure plane, defined as a function of the soil’s
angle of friction (ϕ) (Figure 12.10)
Wedge angle : 450 + /2 (Active state)
450 - /2 (Passive state)
1. Lateral pressures varies linearly with depth and resultant
pressures are assumed to act at a distance up from the base of
the wall (1/3 from base to backfill) (Figure 12.11)
2. The direction of the resultants is parallel to the backfill surface.
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Rankine Theory – Uneven backfill)
Active Passive

Backfill
surface is
uneven
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Rankine Theory – Level backfill)
If the backfill surface is level, angle β=0,

Then;

Or by trigonometric identities;
Direction of the Resultant Force

Rankine: Direction of
the Resultant Force is
parallel to the
backfill surface
Example 12.2 : Find Pa (Level Backfill)

 = 17.30 kN/m3
 = 300
C=0
10 m

Pa
Answer 12.2: Find Pa
Pa = ½ H2 Ka

Ka = 1- sin  / 1 + sin 
= 1- sin 300 / 1 + sin 300
= 0.333
Hence, Pa = ½ (17.30)(102) (0.333)
= 288 kN/m
The point of application = H/3 from base
= 3.33 m from the base
Example 12.3 : Find Pa (Uneven Backfill)

150

 = 17.30 kN/m3
 = 300
C=0 9.1 m
Pa
Answer 12.3 (Uneven Backfill)

Given  = 150
Hence;
Ka = 0.373
Pa = (1/2) (17.3)(9.12)(0.373) = 267 kN/m
Point of application = 9.1/3 = 3.03 m from the base of the
wall
*NOTE: The direction of the resultants is parallel to the
backfill surface
Think…

Pa in this case is an inclined force (parallel

to the backfill), but since retaining
structures designs require horizontal or
vertical forces only, how are you going
to convert Pa into horizontal or vertical
forces?
*Unconverted Pa sometimes marked as P’a
Example 12.4: Find Pa

100

 = 18.84 kN/m3
 = 350
c=0
W  = 85o
NOTE 1: Since Rankine theory is applicable to vertical
6.1 m
wall and the wall facing the soil is NOT vertical, new H
needs to be calculated

NOTE 2: The weight of wedge soil (W) affects the

Pa. Hence Pa’ to be calculated first, followed by Pa
850 (with W taken into account)
Answer 12.4

100

1. Since the wall in inclined,

find the new height, H first
W 2. Because of the weight of the
soil, W, find P’a and convert
H
6.1 m to Pa

850
Answer 12.4

C 100
A
B

Tan 5o = Length AB / 6.1

Hence, AB = 0.534 m
W
H Tan 100 = BC / AB
6.1 m Hence, BC = 0.094 m

50 New H = 6.1 + BC = 6.194 m

850
Answer 12.4

100
Using Equation (12.11),
Ka = 0.282

Hence P’a = ½ (18.84)(6.194)2(0.282)

W = 101.9 kN/m
P’a
6.1 m Convert to Ph and Pv:
Pa Ph = P’a cos 10o = 100.35 kN/m
Pv = P’a sin 10o =17.69 kN/m

W = ½  AB (H)
= (1/2)(18.84)(0.534)(6.194)
850 = 30.92 kN/m
Answer 12.4

C 100
A
B Effect of W needs to be taken into
account to convert P’a to Pa:

W V = W + Pv
H P’a = 30.92 + 17.69 = 48.4 kN/m
H = Ph = 100.35 kN/m
6.1 m Pa
Pa = {( V)2 + (H)2 }1/2
50 = 111.5 kN/m

850
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Rankine Theory – Cohesive soils)

Active Diagram Passive Diagram

Example 12.5 (Cohesive soil)

Required:
1. Plot the active earth
pressure diagram
2. Determine the resultant
force.
Answer : Example 12.5

Use these
formula to
calculate and to
plot the ‘active’
diagram

Answer : Pa = 460 kN/m at

2.91 m from the base.
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Coulomb Theory)
Earth pressures calculation using Coulomb Theory is based
on the following assumptions:
1. Adhesion () or friction occurred between wall and soil
2. Lateral pressures computed NOT limited to vertical walls
3. Failure is assumed to occur in the form of sliding wedge.
The sides of the wedge are the earth side of the retaining
wall and a failure plane that passes through the heel of the
wall.
4. The resultant force acts on the wall at a point where a line
through the wedge’s centre of gravity and parallel to the
failure plane intersects the wall .
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Coulomb Theory)
β
Parameters in Coulomb
Theory:
 = angle between the
backside of wall and a
horizontal line
 = angle of wall friction
β = angle of backfill
Φ = angle of friction


Direction of the Resultant Force

Coulomb: Direction of
the Resultant Force is
along a line that
makes an angle  with
a line normal to the
backside of the wall.
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Coulomb Theory)
Active & Passive Earth Pressures
(Coulomb Theory) - Point of Force

Irregular Backfill
Concentrated or line load
inside failure zone

Concentrated or line load

outside failure zone

Procedures for location of point of application Pa

Example 12.6 : Find Pa (Level Backfill)

 = 17.27 kN/m3
 = 300
C=0
 = 250
10 m

Pa
Answer 12.6

Hence
Ka = 0.296

Pa = (1/2)(17.27)(102) (0.296)
= 255.6 kN/m
Example 12.7: Find Pa

100

 = 18.84 kN/m3
 = 350
C=0
W
 = 200
6.0 m NOTE 1: Since Coulombe theory is applicable to non-
vertical wall , so can use given H

NOTE 2: The weight of wedge soil (W) DOES NOT

affect the Pa. Hence Pa can be calculated directly.
Answer 12.7

Hence
Ka = 0.318

Pa = (1/2)(18.84)(6.2) (0.218)
= 107.8 kN/m
Pa is acting at the wall along a line that makes an angle  with a
normal line to the backside of the wall ( = angle of the wall friction)
Coefficient for computation of active
earth pressure (Cohesionless,β=0)
Alternate method to find Pa: 1. Based on 
• For vertical walls only ( = 0) and  , find
x-axis value
2. Solve Pa by
this
equation
Example 12.6 : Find Pa (Level Backfill)

 = 17.27 kN/m3
 = 300
C=0
 = 250
10 m

Pa
Answer

From  = 250, and  = 300 , value at x-axis = 0.27

Hence using Fig 12.21;

Pa (cos  / ½ H2 ) = 0.27

Pa (cos 25 / (1/2)(17.27)(102) = 0.27
Pa = 257 kN/m