“Nonlinear” characteristics of the static earth pressure coefficient in thick alluvium

Abstract

Exact calculations of the static earth pressure from a thick alluvium require accurate K 0 values. These calculations influence the sinking cost and the safety of the freezing method. The static earth pressure coefficient ( K 0) of thick and deep soil was analyzed using laboratory tests. The results show that the static earth pressure coefficient of thick and deep soils is nonlinear and different from that of superficial soils. The constant of superficial soils is usually invariant and the total stress or incremental stress definitions used in traditional geo-mechanics give the same value. The influence of load increments when calculating for superficial soil is ignored. The difference in values of K 0 for thick alluvium defined by the total stress or the incremental stress methods is over 10%. The effects of the thick alluvium on K 0 should be considered during the design of frozen shaft projects. Such things as the frozen shaft thickness and the excavated section height should be chosen to assure the rationality of the design and to avoid potential faults and accidents.