Analytical solution for displacement-dependent passive earth pressure on rigid walls with various wall movements in cohesionless soil

Abstract

Current design practice of retaining wall is generally based on Rankine’s and Coulomb’s earth pressure theories that are subjected to some important limitations. In the present study, an analytical solution for displacement-dependent passive earth pressure on rigid walls is proposed by assuming a linear relationship between the passive earth pressure coefficient and displacement. Based on Coulomb’s theory, the passive ultimate earth pressure coefficient is modified in order to adapt the earth pressure model to various wall movements. The proposed solution is verified with reported experimental data and shows good agreements. Based on the observed experimental data, the normalized passive ultimate displacements (sp/H) are obtained and found to be related to the n value which indicates the location of rotation center. By performing curve fitting, an exponential function of sp/H and the parameter n is proposed. Further, the influence of n value on the distribution of the proposed displacement-dependent passive earth pressure under various wall movements are studied. The proposed analytical model provides an effective approach to calculate the distribution of displacement-dependent passive earth pressure on rigid walls with various wall movements in cohesionless soil.