Earth pressure Theories

UNIT 3
Earth Pressure:
• Earth pressure is the lateral pressure exerted by the soil on a retaining
structure.
• At some locations where space is limited, it is not possible to provide
the flat slope and the soil is to be retained at a slope steeper than the
safe slope.

• In such cases retaining structures are required to provide lateral

support of the soil mass.
Types of lateral earth pressure
• Depending on the movement of retaining wall, Grouped into 3 categories.

• At rest pressure
• Active Pressure
• Passive Pressure

•
1) At-rest Pressure:

Basement slab

At rest pressure

No movement
 3) passive Earth Pressure
2) Active Earth Pressure

Active Earth
Pressure

passive Earth
Pressure

Moment towards left

The Passive earth pressure develops on left side
of the wall below ground level.
A retaining wall that moves away from the backfill.
Where the soil zone is in compression when wall
The active pressure develops on RHS when wall moves toward left.
moves toward the left
Determination of total forces due to earth pressure on retaining structures.. 𝜎𝑥

Z
Zw
𝜎𝑧

𝜎𝑥 A 𝜎𝑥
𝜎𝑧

The retaining wall in which no movement takes place

Vertical effective stress at point A at depth Z is given by

𝜎 𝑧=¿𝛾 𝑍 −𝛾 𝑤 𝑍 𝑤