Earth pressure on a retaining structure in layered and jointed rock masses

Abstract

This work looked into the earth pressure induced on retaining walls in different rock layer formations and joint conditions. Based on the simulation of a large-scale expermental test, extended numerical tests were carried out focusing on the effect of various rock layer formations on earth pressure characteristics. The earth pressures induced from single and multi-layered rocks were compared in terms of magnitude and distribution. The comparison showed that a rock layer formation affects the earth pressure on a retaining structure considerably depending on the composition of rock layer with regard to rock type and thickness. Additionally, the analysis results were compared with Peck’s soil earth pressure and it was turned out that a layered and jointed rock mass induces the earth pressure considerably different from those both in a single-layer rock mass and in soil ground. The findings form this work can help understand the characteristics of the earth pressure caused by excavation activities in layered and jointed rock masses.