Analyses of Active Earth Pressure Against Rigid Retaining Wall Subjected to Different Modes of Movement

Abstract

A numerical investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of wall movement modes on static active earth pressure. Interface elements with bi-linear stress-displacement relation are newly developed and introduced between the backfill soil and the wall to simulate the frictional behavior. The conventional linkage elements have been idealized suitably to avoid separation between the wall and the soil during the active movement of the wall. The active state has been defined based on the progressive formation of a failure zone in the backfill. The tendency of the failure zone formation is seen to be governed by the modes of wall movement. The calculated active state parameters were compared with the parameters calculated using other methods based on rigid plastic assumptions. The resultant active thrusts and their points of application are found to be a function of the wall movement modes. Empirical equations containing wall movement mode as a governing parameter were derived for calculating the active earth pressure coefficient and the relative height of the resultant active thrust for various angles of internal friction of the backfill.