Effect of Live Load Surcharge on Retaining Walls and Abutments
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Volume 128, Issue 10
Abstract
In the conventional design of retaining walls and bridge abutments, the lateral earth pressure due to live load surcharge is estimated by replacing the actual highway loads with a 600 mm layer of backfill. This original recommendation was made several decades ago when the highway truck loads were much lighter. A number of researchers have shown that the pressure exerted on the wall due to live load surcharge is greater near the surface and is diminished nonlinearly throughout the height of the wall. The heavier highway loads and the demonstrated nonlinear earth pressure distribution require a need for a more rational method for obtaining the equivalent height of backfill. This paper discusses theoretical background, an analytical approach to estimation of actual earth pressure, a number of innovative approaches to obtain a simplified pressure distribution, an extensive parametric study, calibration procedures for the traditional method, and recommendations.
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References
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 128 • Issue 10 • October 2002
Pages: 803 - 813
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 25, 2001
Accepted: Mar 27, 2002
Published online: Sep 13, 2002
Published in print: Oct 2002
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