Passive Earth Pressure of Overconsolidated Cohesionless Backfill
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 8
Abstract
An experimental investigation on the passive earth pressure of overconsolidated cohesionless soil on retaining walls was conducted. A prototype model of a vertical rough wall, retaining horizontal backfill, was developed in the laboratory. The model was instrumented to measure the total passive earth pressure acting on the wall, the passive earth pressure acting on selected locations on the wall, and the overconsolidation ratio (OCR) of the sand in the testing tank. In order to develop the state of passive pressure, the wall was pushed horizontally toward the backfill without any rotation. Overconsolidated sand was produced in the testing tank by placing the sand in thin layers; each was compacted mechanically for a period of time. Tests were performed on walls retaining homogeneous overconsolidated sand, and overconsolidated sand backfill overlying the deep sand layer. The method of slices developed for predicting the coefficient of passive earth pressure for normally consolidated soil was adopted for the conditions stated above. The theoretical values compared well with the experimental results of the present investigation. It is of interest to note that the OCR and the soil condition below the founding level significantly affect the value of the coefficient of passive earth pressure on these walls. Design charts and formulae are presented for practical use.
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Acknowledgments
The financial support received from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Concordia University are acknowledged.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 8 • August 2005
Pages: 978 - 986
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Mar 13, 2003
Accepted: Nov 17, 2004
Published online: Aug 1, 2005
Published in print: Aug 2005
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