Study of Active Earth Pressure behind a Vertical Retaining Wall Subjected to Rotation about the Base
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 20, Issue 4
Abstract
Retaining structures are often restrained in the case of cantilever in situ embedded walls, anchor, strutted, and bridge abutments and thus are subjected to rotation. The earth pressure distribution and point of application are affected by the mode of movement. This paper deals with an experimental investigation on the magnitude and stress distribution behind a rigid retaining wall subjected to rotation about its base with the incorporation of a nonintrusive image analysis method such as particle image velocimetry (PIV) to track the soil movement via the full-field displacement vectors. It enables us to observe the rupture propagation and establish the shape of the potential failure surface. The active stage is reached at a wall rotation of . The nonlinear active pressure distribution along the depth of a wall is obtained, confirming the existence of the arching effect. A nonplanar failure surface observed from PIV analysis also indicates that the failure surface essentially does not develop up to the base of the wall even after application of sufficient wall rotation. With this knowledge, an analytical model using limit equilibrium has been developed by assuming a curvilinear failure surface as seen from the PIV results and including the wall yielding and arching phenomenon in it. The predicted earth pressure and its distribution establish a good agreement with the observed data. The predicted failure surface giving rise to maximum active force shows a close match with obtained shear strain contours. The estimated slip plane angles show higher values than the other existing theories. A detailed parametric study indicates that the shape of the arch does not incur appreciable changes in earth pressure for . The size of the failure wedge shrinks with the increase of and becomes nonlinear as the wall friction strengthens. The point of application is also significantly influenced by the soil and wall parameters.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
References
Adrian, R. J. 1991. “Particle-imaging techniques for experimental fluid mechanics.” Ann. Rev. Fluid. Mech. 23 (1): 261–304. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.fl.23.010191.001401.
Cai, Y., Q. Chen, Y. Zhou, S. Nimbalkar, and J. Yu. 2017. “Estimation of passive earth pressure against rigid retaining wall considering arching effect in cohesive-frictional backfill under translation mode.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (4): 04016093. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000786.
Chen, J.-J., M.-G. Li, and J.-H. Wang. 2017. “Active earth pressure against rigid retaining walls subjected to confined cohesionless soil.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (6): 06016041. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000855.
Choudhury, D., and S. Chatterjee. 2006. “Displacement-based seismic active earth pressure on rigid retaining walls.” Electr. J. Geotech. Eng. 11 (C): 0660.
Choudhury, D., and S. Nimbalkar. 2005. “Seismic passive resistance by pseudo-dynamic method.” Géotechnique 55 (9): 699–702. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2005.55.9.699.
Choudhury, D., and S. S. Nimbalkar. 2008. “Seismic rotational displacement of gravity walls by pseudodynamic method.” Int. J. Geomech. 8 (3): 169–175. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2008)8:3(169).
Choudhury, D., and K. S. S. Rao. 2002. “Seismic passive resistance in soils for negative wall friction.” Can. Geotech. J. 39 (4): 971–981. https://doi.org/10.1139/t02-023.
Choudhury, D., S. Singh, and S. Goel. 2006. “New approach for analysis of cantilever sheet pile with line load.” Can. Geotech. J. 43 (5): 540–549. https://doi.org/10.1139/t06-018.
Coulomb, C. A. 1776. “Essai sur une application des règles de maximis & minimis à quelques problèmes de statique, relatifs à l’architecture.” [In French.] In Vol. 7 of Memoires de mathematique & de physique presentes a l’Academie Royale des Sciences par divers savans & l^us dans ses assemblees, 343–382. Paris: Academie Royale Des Sciences.
Dunnicliff, J. 1988. Geotechnical instrumentation for monitoring field performance. New York: Wiley.
Fang, Y.-S., T.-J. Chen, and B.-F. Wu. 1994. “Passive earth pressures with various wall movements.” J. Geotech. Eng. 120 (8): 1307–1323. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1994)120:8(1307).
Fang, Y.-S., Y.-C. Ho, and T.-J. Chen. 2002. “Passive earth pressure with critical state concept.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 128 (8): 651–659. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2002)128:8(651).
Fang, Y.-S., and I. Ishibashi. 1986. “Static earth pressures with various wall movements.” J. Geotech. Eng. 112 (3): 317–333. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1986)112:3(317).
Ganesh, R., and J. P. Sahoo. 2016. “Discussion: Active earth pressures from a log-spiral slip surface with arching effect.” Géotech. Lett. 6 (3): 241–243. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.16.00080.
Ghosh, P., and S. Kolathayar. 2011. “Seismic passive earth pressure behind non-vertical wall with composite failure mechanism: Pseudo dynamic approach.” Geotech. Geol. Eng. 29 (3): 363–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-010-9382-9.
Goel, S., and N. R. Patra. 2008. “Effect of arching on active earth pressure for rigid retaining walls considering translational mode.” Int. J. Geomech. 8 (2): 123–133. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1532-3641(2008)8:2(123).
Gutberlet, C., R. Katzenbach, and K. Hutter. 2013. “Experimental investigation into the influence of stratification on the passive earth pressure.” Acta Geotech. 8 (5): 497–507. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-013-0270-3.
Handy, R. L. 1985. “The arch in soil arching.” J. Geotech. Eng. 111 (3): 302–318. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1985)111:3(302).
Harrop-Williams, K. O. 1989. “Geostatic wall pressures.” J. Geotech. Eng. 115 (9): 1321–1325. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1989)115:9(1321).
Irdmoosa, K. G., and H. Shahir. 2019. “Analytical solution for active earth pressure of soil considering arching effect.” Geomech. Geoeng. 14 (2): 71–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/17486025.2018.1533649.
James, R. G., and P. L. Bransby. 1970. “Experimental and theoretical investigations of a passive earth pressure problem.” Géotechnique 20 (1): 17–37. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1970.20.1.17.
Janssen, H. A. 1895. “Versuche über getreidedruck in silozellen.” Z. Ver. Dtsch. Ing. 39: 1045–1049.
Kezdi, A. 1958. “Earth pressure on retaining wall tilting about the toe.” In Vol. 1 of Proc., Brussels Conf. on Earth Pressure Problems, 116–132. Brussels, Belgium: International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Belgian Group.
Khosravi, M. H., T. Pipatpongsa, and J. Takemura. 2016. “Theoretical analysis of earth pressure against rigid retaining walls under translation mode.” Soils Found. 56 (4): 664–675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2016.07.007.
Kumar, J. 2001. “Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients for sand.” Can. Geotech. J. 38 (4): 876–881. https://doi.org/10.1139/t01-004.
Li, J. P., and M. Wang. 2014. “Simplified method for calculating active earth pressure on rigid retaining walls considering the arching effect under translational mode.” Int. J. Geomech. 14 (2): 282–290. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000313.
Liu, F. Q. 2014. “Lateral earth pressures acting on circular retaining walls.” Int. J. Geomech. 14 (3): 04014002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000291.
Livingston, C. W. 1961. “The natural arch, the fracture pattern, and the sequence of failure in massive rock surrounding an underground opening.” In Vol. 76 of Proc., 4th U.S. Symp. on Rock Mechanics (USRMS), 197–204. Alexandria, VA: American Rock Mechanics Association.
Michalowski, R. L. 1984. “A differential slice approach to the problem of retaining wall loading.” Int. J. Numer. Anal. Methods Geomech. 8 (5): 493–502. https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.1610080507.
Mishra, S. R., S. R. Mohapatra, N. Sudarsanan, K. Rajagopal, and R. G. Robinson. 2017. “A simple image-based deformation measurement technique in tensile testing of geotextiles.” Geosyn. Int. 24 (3): 306–320. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.17.00003.
Moghadam, M. J., A. Zad, N. Mehrannia, and N. Dastaran. 2018. “Experimental evaluation of mechanically stabilized earth walls with recycled crumb rubbers.” J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng. 10 (5): 947–957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.04.012.
Morse, M. S., N. Lu, A. Wayllace, J. W. Godt, and W. A. Take. 2014. “Experimental test of theory for the stability of partially saturated vertical cut slopes.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 140 (9): 04014050. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001119.
Narain, J., S. Saran, and P. Nandakumaran. 1969. “Model study of passive pressure in sand.” J. Soil Mech. Found. Div. 95 (4): 969–983.
Nishimura, S., A. Iwaki, S. Takashino, and H. Tanaka. 2016. “Image-based measurement of one-dimensional compressibility in cement-treated soils.” Géotechnique 66 (10): 840–853. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgeot.15.P.218.
O’Neal, T. S., and D. J. Hagerty. 2011. “Earth pressures in confined cohessionless backfill against tall rigid walls—A case history.” Can. Geotech. J. 48 (8): 1188–1197. https://doi.org/10.1139/t11-033.
Paik, K. H., and R. Salgado. 2003. “Estimation of active earth pressure against rigid retaining walls considering arching effects.” Géotechnique 53 (7): 643–653.
Pain, A., Q. Chen, S. Nimbalkar, and Y. Zhou. 2017. “Evaluation of seismic passive earth pressure of inclined rigid retaining wall considering soil arching effect.” Soil Dyn. Earth. Eng. 100 (Sep): 286–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2017.06.011.
Pain, A., D. Choudhury, and S. K. Bhattacharyya. 2016a. “Computation of the rotational displacements of gravity retaining walls by the pseudo-dynamic method.” In Geo-China 2016: Advances in numerical and experimental analysis of transportation geomaterials and geosystems for sustainable infrastructure, 124–132. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Pain, A., D. Choudhury, and S. K. Bhattacharyya. 2016b. “Seismic rotational displacement of retaining walls: A pseudo-dynamic approach.” Innov. Infra. Sol. 1 (1): 22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-016-0023-x.
Pan, B., Z. Lu, and H. Xie. 2010. “Mean intensity gradient: An effective global parameter for quality assessment of the speckle patterns used in digital image correlation.” Opt. Lasers Eng. 48 (4): 469–477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlaseng.2009.08.010.
Pan, B., H. Xie, Z. Wang, K. Qian, and Z. Wang. 2008. “Study on subset size selection in digital image correlation for speckle patterns.” Opt. Express 16 (10): 7037–7048. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.16.007037.
Poncelet, J. V. 1840. “Mémoire sur la stabilité des revêtements et de leursfondations. Note additionelle sur les relations analytiquesquiliententreelles la poussée et la butée de la terre.” Mémorial de l’officier du génie, Paris 13: 7–270.
Rankine, W. J. M. 1857. “On the stability of loose earth.” Philos. Trans. R Social London 147: 9–27. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1857.0003.
Rao, P., Q. Chen, Y. Zhou, and S. Nimbalkar. 2016. “Determination of active earth pressure on rigid retaining wall considering arching effect in cohesive backfill soil.” Int. J. Geomech. 16 (3): 04015082. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000589.
Sherif, M. A., Y.-S. Fang, and R. I. Sherif. 1984. “ and behind rotating and non-yielding walls.” J. Geotech. Eng. 110 (1): 41–56. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1984)110:1(41).
Spangler, M. G., and R. L. Handy. 1984. Soil engineering. New York: Harper & Row.
Stanier, S., J. Dijkstra, D. Leśniewska, J. Hambleton, D. White, and D. M. Wood. 2016a. “Vermiculate artefacts in image analysis of granular materials.” Comput. Geotech. 72 (Feb): 100–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.11.013.
Stanier, S., and D. White. 2013. “Image-based deformation measurement in the centrifuge environment.” Geotech. Test. J. 36 (6): 915–928. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20130044.
Stanier, S. A., J. Blaber, W. A. Take, and D. J. White. 2016b. “Improved image based deformation measurement for geotechnical applications.” Can. Geotech. J. 53 (5): 727–739. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0253.
Stanier, S. A., J. A. Black, and C. C. Hird. 2012. “Enhancing accuracy and precision of transparent synthetic soil modelling.” Int. J. Phys. Modell. Geotech. 12 (4): 162–175. https://doi.org/10.1680/ijpmg.12.00005.
Subba Rao, K. S., S. Nayak, and D. Choudhury. 2004. “Determination of displacement-related passive earth pressure.” Geotech. Eng. 35 (2): 79–85.
Take, W. A. 2015. “Thirty-Sixth Canadian Geotechnical Colloquium: Advances in visualization of geotechnical processes through digital image correlation.” Can. Geotech. J. 52 (9): 1199–1220. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0080.
Take, W. A., and A. J. Valsangkar. 2001. “Earth pressures on unyielding retaining walls of narrow backfill width.” Can. Geotech. J. 38 (6): 1220–1230. https://doi.org/10.1139/t01-063.
Talesnick, M. 2013. “Measuring soil pressure within a soil mass.” Can. Geotech. J. 50 (7): 716–722. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2012-0347.
Tang, Z. C. 1988. “A rigid retaining wall centrifuge model test of cohesive soil.” J. Chongqing Jiaotong Univ. 25 (2): 48–56.
Terzaghi, K. 1932. “Record earth pressure testing machine.” Eng. News Rec. 109 (13): 365–369.
Terzaghi, K. 1943. Theoretical soil mechanics. New York: Wiley.
Tsagareli, Z. V. 1965. “Experimental investigation of the pressure of a loose medium on retaining walls with a vertical back face and horizontal backfill surface.” Soil Mech. Found. Eng. 2 (4): 197–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01706095.
Wang, Y. Z. 2000. “Distribution of earth pressure on a retaining wall.” Géotechnique 50 (1): 83–88. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2000.50.1.83.
White, D. J., and W. A. Take. 2002. GeoPIV. 7.6 ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Engineering Dept.
White, D. J., W. A. Take, and M. Bolton. 2003. “Soil deformation measurement using particle image velocimetry (PIV) and photogrammetry.” Géotechnique 53 (7): 619–631. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.2003.53.7.619.
Xie, Y., and B. Leshchinsky. 2016. “Active earth pressures from a log-spiral slip surface with arching effects.” Geotech. Lett. 6 (2): 149–155. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.16.00015.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 3, 2019
Accepted: Sep 20, 2019
Published online: Feb 6, 2020
Published in print: Apr 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Jul 6, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.