Abstract
Reasonable determination of the magnitude and distribution of dynamic earth pressure is one of the major challenges in the seismic design of retaining walls. Based on the principles of pseudodynamic method, the present study assumed that the critical rupture surface of backfill soil was a composite curved surface which was in combination with a logarithmic spiral and straight line. The equations for the calculation of seismic total active thrusts on retaining walls were derived using limit equilibrium theory, and earth pressure distribution was obtained by differentiating total active thrusts. The effects of initial phase, amplification factor, and soil friction angle on the distribution of seismic active earth pressure have also been discussed. Compared to pseudostatic and pseudodynamic methods for the determination of planar failure surface forms, the proposed method receives a bit lower value of seismic active earth pressures.
Highlights
One of the major tasks in seismic designs is the determination of dynamic earth pressures on retaining walls during an earthquake which makes the development of a realistic seismic earth pressure theory essential
By considering the effects of amplification factor, soil friction angle, soil-wall friction angle, horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration coefficients, and other factors, the present study analyzed the forces acted on soil wedges behind retaining walls
Eoretical equations for total seismic active earth thrust with curved rupture surfaces were derived based on the pseudodynamic method and limit equilibrium theory. e distribution of seismic active earth pressure along the depth of a retaining wall was determined using a mathematical method
Summary
One of the major tasks in seismic designs is the determination of dynamic earth pressures on retaining walls during an earthquake which makes the development of a realistic seismic earth pressure theory essential. Eir proposed method solved the problem of seismic earth pressures on retaining walls by taking into account the phase differences and amplification effects of seismic waves by assuming the critical fracture surface of the backfill as being planar. By assuming curved rupture surfaces, Kumar [12] deduced theoretical equations for the calculation of seismic earth pressures on the back of inclined retaining walls based on the pseudostatic method. Basha and Babu [16,17,18,19] studied seismic structures using the pseudodynamic method by assuming curved critical rupture surface for backfill but did not obtain the distributions of seismic earth pressures along the depth of retaining walls. According to limit equilibrium theory, we deduced equations for the calculation of total seismic active thrusts on the walls and obtained the distributions of active earth pressures along the depth of retaining walls. e effects of the initial phase, soil amplification factor, and soil friction angle on the distribution of seismic active earth pressure had been discussed. e obtained results were compared with previous studies where the distributions of seismic active earth pressure were obtained by pseudostatic and pseudodynamic methods under the assumption of planar rupture surfaces
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