Numerical solution for nonlimit-state earth pressure considering interlayer shear stress and the soil arching effect

Abstract

The earth pressure of multilayer cohesive soils is affected by interlayer interaction and the soil arching effect. However, only the soil arching effect is considered in the existing methods for calculating earth pressure, and the interlayer shear stress caused by principal stress deflection is ignored. For a vertical rigid retaining wall with a horizontal backfill surface, the trajectory of the minor principal stresses in the soil behind the wall takes the form of an arc of a circle. On this basis, the horizontal and vertical stress equilibrium equations of the differential soil elements behind the wall are derived. The interlayer shear stress, wall displacement and soil arching effect are incorporated into the horizontal slice model, and the numerical scheme of the nonlimit-state earth pressure, the resultant force and the location of the action point are determined with the numerical solution method. Furthermore, the rationality of the proposed solution is demonstrated through comparison with experimental data and other solutions.