Numerical Study on Passive Earth Pressures Using Kötter's Equation
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17, Issue 2
Abstract
A numerical protocol was developed to compute the passive earth pressure coefficients, Kpγ, for the case of an inclined rigid wall retaining an inclined cohesionless backfill. A complete log-spiral failure surface is assumed in this study. Kötter's equation is used in the analysis to obtain the resultant soil reaction on the failure surface. In addition, a limit-equilibrium approach is used to identify the unique failure surface, which fulfils all three equilibrium conditions, viz., ∑H = 0, ∑V = 0, and ∑M = 0, with the passive thrust located at the lower one-third height of the retaining wall. The analysis is further extended to evaluate the bearing capacity factor, Nγ, for the case of a centrally loaded rigid rough strip footing resting on a cohesionless soil medium. For this purpose, particular failure mechanisms are considered. The computed Nγ values are found to be in good agreement with most of the available theoretical solutions.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 17 • Issue 2 • February 2017
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 10, 2015
Accepted: Apr 4, 2016
Published online: May 12, 2016
Discussion open until: Oct 12, 2016
Published in print: Feb 1, 2017
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