Seismic Passive Earth Pressure Coefficients Research Articles

Estimation of seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for caissons in c-φ soils with a 3D log-spiral failure wedge

Passive resistance offered by soil to any embedded structure has been of significant interest to researchers since the inception of the concept. The present study deals with the estimation of passive earth pressure coefficients in seismic conditions that will control the passive resistance offered to a caisson embedded in c (cohesion) – φ (friction) soil in presence of surcharge loading. The three-dimensional (3D) geometry of failure wedge (log-spiral in vertical plane and oval in horizontal plane) has been obtained from the results of numerical analysis and past experimental studies. The critical failure surface has been obtained in the presence of all resisting components [unit weight (γ), cohesion (c) and surcharge (q)] by minimizing the passive resistance. Thereafter, seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for cohesion component (Kspc), surcharge component (Kspq) and unit weight component (Kspγ) have been obtained separately corresponding to the critical failure wedge obtained in the previous analysis. Limit equilibrium method of analysis in conjunction with pseudo-static approach has been used to perform the analyses. Charts for a variety of caisson geometry, soil and site condition and seismic condition have been prepared to facilitate prediction of passive resistance in a more economical and reliable manner since unique failure wedge has been considered for all the components instead of separate failure wedge which would be impractical.

Seismic Stability Analysis of Caissons under Earthquake Forces Considering 3D Log-Spiral Failure Surface

Bridge failure is mostly caused by geotechnical failure. Because caissons are the automatic choice for foundation systems for marine structures, such as bridges and wind turbines, this study addresses the determination of seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for caissons. In the present study, a realistic three-dimensional (3D) failure wedge was assumed to be formed behind caissons of different widths on the basis of the past results of experimental and numerical studies. The limit equilibrium method of analysis was adopted to determine the seismic passive earth pressure coefficients due to the cohesion component, surcharge component, and unit weight component. The current study takes into account the relative width and depth of the geotechnical structure and returns a series of design charts and tables for different soil-soil friction angles, soil-wall friction angles, and horizontal and vertical seismic acceleration coefficients. The results were compared with previous experimental and theoretical studies and found to be in excellent agreement.

A closed-form logarithmic spiral method for seismic passive earth pressure in anisotropic sand

The shear strength of soils is always anisotropic due to the compaction and deposition history. A closed-form logarithmic spiral method combined with an anisotropic failure criterion is proposed to estimate the seismic passive earth pressure coefficient and failure surface of anisotropic sand. The seismic condition is implemented by the pseudo-static approach. The results obtained by the proposed method are validated by methods in the literature and by the finite element method based on a proposed anisotropic Drucker–Prager model. The comparisons show that the method is effective and efficient. In addition, the seismic passive earth pressure coefficients considering various backfill slopes and various soil-wall frictions are presented for reference in engineering design.

Lower-Bound Limit Analysis of Seismic Passive Earth Pressure on Rigid Walls

AbstractStatic and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for the general case of an inclined wall and a sloping cohesionless backfill were computed by using finite-element lower-bound limit analysis based on second-order cone programming (SOCP). The comparison with the best existing upper-bound solution and the widely accepted solution obtained by the method of stress characteristics has shown that the present lower-bound solutions can provide a safe estimate of the passive earth pressures. Therefore, combining present results and upper-bound solutions can bracket the true value of passive earth pressures. In addition, design tables are presented that allow geotechnical engineers to easily use the present results in practice.

Pseudodynamic approach for computation of seismic passive earth resistance including seepage

The present paper highlights the importance of seepage force on the seismic passive earth resistance when the backfill is saturated. Simple limit equilibrium analysis has been carried out. The seismic passive earth resistance has been calculated by using the pseudodynamic approach. For seepage two individual cases of the movement of water within the backfill have initially been considered and then based on the analysis a critical combination has been ascertained. Simple and easy to follow equations for modified seismic passive earth pressure coefficients have been developed. To study the effect of various parameters, a detailed parametric study has been carried out and critical recommendations have been made with regards to each one of these. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed methodology, results in the form of graphs and tables have been presented. These graphs, combined with the developed simple equations, can provide a cue to the design engineers about how the seepage force affects the seismic passive earth resistance.

Computations of Seismic Passive Resistance and Uplift Capacity of Horizontal Strip Anchors in Sand

In this paper, the limit equilibrium method is used to compute seismic passive earth pressure coefficients and the vertical uplift capacity of horizontal strip anchors in presence of both horizontal and vertical pseudo-static earthquake forces. By considering a simple planar failure surface, distribution of soil reaction is obtained through the use of Kotter’s equation. Presence of pseudo-static seismic forces induces a considerable reduction in the seismic passive earth pressure coefficients. The reduction in seismic passive earth pressure coefficients increases with increase in magnitude of the earthquake accelerations in both horizontal and vertical directions and with increase in wall friction angle. The vertical uplift capacity of horizontal strip anchor is obtained for various values of soil friction angle, embedment ratio and seismic acceleration coefficients in both horizontal and vertical directions by using rigorous computational optimization. Proper justification for selected value of wall friction angle is established. Results are presented in the form of non-dimensional breakout factor for anchor. A significant reduction in breakout factor is observed in presence of both the seismic acceleration coefficients whereas breakout factor increases with increase in soil friction angle and embedment ratio even under the seismic condition. Angles of failure planes keep changing with change in seismic acceleration coefficients and failure zone shifts towards the critical direction of seismic acceleration coefficients. Present results are compared and found in good agreement with some specific available results in literature.

Analysis of Passive Earth Pressure and Displacements of Retaining Walls Using Pseudo-Dynamic Approach

Using additional dynamic parameters in the pseudo-static method like shear wave and primary wave velocities of soil, phase change in the shear and primary waves, and soil amplification for seismic accelerations, one can benefit from another useful tool called pseudo-dynamic method to solve the problem of earth pressures. In this study, the pseudo-dynamic method is used to compute the seismic passive earth pressures on a rigid gravity retaining wall by considering both the planar failure and composite failure (log-spiral and planar) mechanisms. To validate the present formulation, passive earth pressure computed by the present method are compared with those given by other authors. Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients are provided in tabular form for different parameters. The sliding and rotational displacements are also computed and results of the comparative study showed that the assumption of planar failure mechanism for rough soil-wall interfaces significantly overestimates passive earth pressure and underestimate the sliding and rotational displacements.

Computation of sliding displacements of bridge abutments by pseudo-dynamic method

The paper focuses on seismic sliding displacement calculations of gravity wall bridge abutments when subjected to passive condition during earthquakes. Pseudo-dynamic approach has been used for the calculation of the passive seismic earth pressure. A novel element of the present investigation is the computation of seismic passive earth pressure coefficients by considering the composite curved rupture surface behind the abutment wall in the framework of limit equilibrium method. Sliding failure along the wall base is considered in the new pseudo-dynamic method. The critical seismic acceleration coefficient for sliding and sliding component of the displacement, resulting from horizontal and vertical sinusoidal ground accelerations, are computed by using Newmark's sliding block method. The effect of sliding on the response of earth structures is evaluated and comparisons are made between sliding displacements calculated using planar and composite failure mechanisms. Results of the comparative study showed that the assumption of planar failure mechanism for rough soil–wall interfaces significantly overestimates the critical seismic accelerations for sliding and underestimates the sliding displacements.

Seismic Passive Earth Pressures in Soils

Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients were computed by the method of limit equilibrium using a pseudostatic approach for seismic forces. Composite curved rupture surfaces were considered in the analysis. While earlier studies using this type of analysis were mainly for sands, seismic passive earth pressure coefficients were obtained in the present study considering the effects of cohesion, surcharge, and own weight. The minimum seismic passive force was obtained by adding the individual minimum values of these components and the validity of the principle of superposition was examined. Other parameters considered in the analysis were wall batter angle, ground surface slope, soil friction angle, wall friction angle, wall adhesion to soil cohesion ratio, and horizontal and vertical seismic accelerations. The seismic earth pressure coefficients were found to be highly sensitive to the seismic acceleration coefficients both in the horizontal and vertical directions. Results of the study are presented in the form of figures and tables. Comparisons of the proposed method with available theories in the seismic case are also presented.

Seismic passive resistance in soils for negative wall friction

In the presence of pseudo-static seismic forces, passive earth pressure coefficients behind retaining walls were generated using the limit equilibrium method of analysis for the negative wall friction angle case (i.e., the wall moves upwards relative to the backfill) with logarithmic spirals as rupture surfaces. Individual density, surcharge, and cohesion components were computed to obtain the total minimum seismic passive resistance in soils by adding together the individual minimum components. The effect of variation in wall batter angle, ground slope, wall friction angle, soil friction angle, and horizontal and vertical seismic accelerations on seismic passive earth pressures are considered in the analysis. The seismic passive earth pressure coefficients are found to be highly sensitive to the seismic acceleration coefficients both in the horizontal and the vertical directions. The results are presented in graphical and tabular formats.Key words: seismic passive resistance, limit equilibrium, pseudo-static.

Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients using the method of characteristics

The method of characteristics was used to generate passive earth pressure coefficients for an inclined wall retaining cohesionless backfill material in the presence of pseudostatic horizontal earthquake body forces. The variation of the passive earth pressure coefficients Kpqand Kpγwith changes in horizontal earthquake acceleration coefficient due to the components of soil unit weight and surcharge pressure, respectively, has been obtained; a closed-form solution for Kpqis also provided. The passive earth resistance has been found to decrease sharply with an increase in the magnitude of horizontal earthquake acceleration. The computed passive earth pressure coefficients were found to be the lowest when compared to all of the previous solutions available in the literature.Key words: earth pressures, earthquakes, method of characteristics, retaining walls, sands.

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures: Discussion

The author needs to be commended for his computational efforts in determining the passive earth pressure coefficients for both the static case as well as in the presence of pseudostatic earthquake forces. The upper bound theorem of limit analysis with the use of a kinematically admissible translational failure mechanism was formed as the basis for solving the problem. In this discussion, the passive earth pressure coefficients given by the author have been compared with those obtained on the basis of the limit equilibrium technique by employing the composite logarithmic spiral failure surface both for the static (Kumar and Subba Rao 1997) and the pseudo-static cases (Kumar 2001). The comparison of all of the results is given in Tables D1 and D2. The two approaches compare well with each other. The passive earth pressure coefficients generated on the basis of the upper bound limit analysis in most of the cases are found to be either almost the same or only marginally greater (for larger values of d) than those computed with the limit equilibrium approach. However, compared to the limit equilibrium technique, the limit analysis has an obvious advantage

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures: Reply

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures: Reply

Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for sands

By taking the failure surface as a combination of the arc of a logarithmic spiral and a straight line, passive earth pressure coefficients in the presence of horizontal pseudostatic earthquake body forces have been computed for an inclined wall placed against cohesionless backfill material. The presence of seismic forces induces a considerable reduction in the passive earth resistance. The reduction increases with an increase in the magnitude of the earthquake acceleration. The effect becomes more predominant for loose sands. The obtained results compared well with those reported in the literature using curved failure surfaces. However, the results available in the literature on the basis of a planar failure surface are found to predict comparatively higher passive resistance.Key words: earth pressures, earthquakes, limit equilibrium, plasticity, retaining walls, sands.

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures: Discussion

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures: Discussion

Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for sands

Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for sands

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures: Reply

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures: Reply

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures

The passive earth pressure problem is investigated by means of the kinematical method of the limit analysis theory. A translational kinematically admissible failure mechanism composed of a sequence of rigid triangles is proposed. This mechanism allows the calculation of the passive earth pressure coefficients in both the static and seismic cases. Quasi-static representation of earthquake effects using the seismic coefficient concept is adopted. Rigorous upper-bound solutions are obtained in the framework of the limit analysis theory. The numerical results of the static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients are presented and compared with the results of other authors.Key words: limit analysis, passive pressure, earthquake.

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures

Static and seismic passive earth pressure coefficients on rigid retaining structures