Numerically derived P-Y curves for rigid walls under active conditions

Abstract

This paper aims at investigating the relationship between lateral earth pressure and displacement (p-y relationship) for rigid basement walls that support sand backfill for active states of loading. PLAXIS 2D analyses are conducted to identify and characterize the components of the p-y relationship at different depths with particular emphasis on the effects of the interface friction angle between the wall and the soil and the sand properties. The soil hardening model that is based on the Duncan-Chang hyperbolic stress-strain relationship is utilized in the numerical analysis. The results of the study show that (1) active conditions are mobilized at different wall displacements along the height of the wall, (2) the displacement required for mobilizing active conditions at a given depth is a function of the depth of the point below the ground surface and the properties of the sand, and (3) the p-y relationship for a frictional wall could be determined from the p-y relationship of an equivalent frictionless wall and the reduction in vertical stress at the soil/wall interface due to friction.