Analytical solution for displacement-dependent active earth pressure considering the stiffness of cantilever retaining structure in cohesionless soil

Abstract

The safety and cost-effectiveness of retaining structure designs depend on the interrelationships among the displacement, stiffness, and earth pressure. Nevertheless, the classical earth pressure theories do not account for these factors. To address this problem, the present study proposes an active earth pressure solution model that considers retaining structure stiffness and displacement. The model is based on the Modified Coulomb earth pressure theory and assumes a linear relationship between lateral earth pressure and displacement. The proposed model was compared with existing data, and degradation verification was performed. The verification results are in good agreement. According to existing calculation examples, a parameter analysis was conducted, and based on the analysis results, the critical points of rigidity and flexibility for cantilever-retaining structures of concrete materials were proposed. It was found that the resultant magnitude and point of application of the active earth pressure were related to the stiffness of the retaining structure. Further research was conducted on the variation patterns along the depth direction of the retaining structures with different stiffnesses under different displacement conditions. The computational model proposed in this study provides a practical approach for considering the coupled relationship between structural stiffness and active earth pressure in the design of retaining structures.