DUET

CE-3301
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING -I
NOTE NO. – 06
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

PREPARED BY:

Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman

Professor

Civil Engineering Department

Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology (DUET), Gazipur

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 Lateral Earth Pressure
Earth Pressure: The pressure exerted by the soil against an engineering structure or acting on a
surface of surrounding soil mass is called earth pressure. Ex. Earth pressure mainly two type:
Building

(b)
(a)
I. Lateral earth pressure, Fig-1(a) Earth Pressure

II. Vertical earth pressure, Fig-1(b) Retaining wall

Assumption for Lateral earth pressure analysis:

I. The strains in longitudinal direction of the structure in soil are zero.
II. Lateral pressure is function of soil type.

Magnitude of lateral earth pressure will depend on:

– Cohesion less soil i.e. sand i.e. ø sand

(i) Physical properties of soil ┤-Cohesive soil i.e. Clay i.e. c soil and silt i.e. c-ø soil
(ii) Deformation characteristics of structure:
(a) No deformation i.e. earth pressure at rest.
(b) Lateral contraction i.e. passive pressure.
(c) Lateral expansion i.e. Active pressure.
(a) No Deformation

(b) Lateral contraction (c) Lateral expansion

(iii) Slope of the soil surface.

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State of Lateral earth pressure:

Earth Pressure at rest: When the soil maintains the same lateral dimension regardless of the
vertical pressure, the lateral pressure exerted or induced by the soil is called earth pressure at rest.
This condition is called soil state at rest.
Example:

No
Deform Earth pressure at rest,
ation say 10 Mpa.

Active earth pressure: When the soil expands laterally the maximum lateral stress at which
the soil fails due to shear is called active earth pressure. This state is called active state.

60, 50, 40, 30, 20 Mpa

At fail is called earth pressure

Passive earth Pressure: When the soil contracts laterally the minimum lateral stress at which
it fails due to shear is called passive earth pressure. This condition is called passive state.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 Practical Explanation for State of Lateral earth pressure:

- Figure (a) shows the practical example of earth pressure at rest for no movement of bridge
two abutment.
– Figure (b) shows the practical example of active earth pressure from filling soil and passive
earth pressure on existing soil for left ward movement of bridge one abutment.

– Figure (a) shows the practical graphical example of active earth pressure is less than earth
pressure at rest, is less than passive earth pressure depending on movement of bridge
abutment.
– Figure (b) shows the practical example of direction of failure fill wedge for active earth
pressure and Figure (b) shows the practical example of direction of failure fill wedge for
passive earth pressure depending on movement of bridge abutment.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

The Co-efficient of earth pressure:
(a) Co-efficient of active earth pressure (Ka) – At active state, the ratio of the lateral stress to the
vertical stress is called the co-efficient of active earth pressure.

Ka

(b) Co-efficient of passive earth pressure (Kp) - At passive condition or state, the ratio of the lateral
stress to the vertical stress is called the co-efficient of passive earth pressure.

(c) Co-efficient of earth pressure at rest. (Ko)- At soil state at rest, the ratio of lateral stress to
vertical stress is called Co-efficient of earth pressure at rest (Ko).
Position the magnitude for the Co-efficient of earth pressure
Kp >Ko>Ka or Ka <Ko<Kp
Determination of Ko:
For sand and normally consolidated clays, the value of (Ko) can be related approximate to the
effective stress parameter, ´(true angle of internal friction) in a formula proposed by Jaky;

Ko = 1- SinØ´
τ

σ'
For over consolidated clay (OC), the value of Ko will depend on stress history, which is usually
expressed as over consolidation ratio i.e. OCR

i.e.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

Typing relationship between Ko and OCR :
3
2
1
Ko 0
1 5 10 15 20 25
OCR
Typical values of Ko:
Soil Ko
Dense sand → 0.35 OCR = 2, Ko = 0.80 – 0.90
Loose sand → 0.60 OCR = 5, Ko = 1.20 – 1.30
NC Clay → 0.5-0.6 OCR =10, Ko = 1.70 – 1.80
OC clay, OCR → 3.5-1.0
OC clay, OCR → 20-2.80

Determination of Ka (coefficient of Active pressure) for cohesionless soil by

Rankine’s Method. Horizontal earth surface.
Assumptions:
i. The retaining wall must be smooth.
I. The retaining wall must be vertical.
Let us consider a smooth vertical retaining wall holding back a cohesionless soil with angle of
internal friction , .

II. The top of the soil surface is horizontal and level with the top of the retaining wall.
III. Let us consider a path in the soil mass at a depth of (h) below the top of the wall .
IV. Assuming that the wall has yielded sufficiently to satisfy active earth pressure condition .

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

From above figure,

Ka =

= =

, which is expression of Ka.

= Ka .

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

Determination of Kp (coefficient of passive pressure) for cohesion less soil by
Rankine’s method: (Horizontal earth surface)
Assumption:
i) The retaining wall must be smooth.
ii) The retaining wall must be vertical.
iii) Let us consider a smooth vertical retaining wall holding cohesionless soil with as angle of
internal friction, .

iv) The top of soil surface is horizontal and level with the top of the retaining wall must be
vertical.
v) Let us consider a path in the soil mass at a depth of h below the top of the wall.
vi) Assuming that the wall has yielded sufficiently to satisfy active earth pressure condition.

Here, >

O A C B

= = = =

= =

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 ,

= Kp .

Relation of Ka and Kp :

Ka = =

Example-1:
Using Rankin theory, determine the total active thrust on a vertical retaining wall of 10m high if the
soil retained has the following properties:

10m

51.3

Step -1: Ka = = 0.27

Step- 2 : Active earth pressure at h=0 and h= 10m .

Step -3 : Assume, width=1m = b

Total thrust = A b =

If given, b= 10m.

Then total thrust =

Effective of surcharge on retaining wall:

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Type of surcharge:
I. Point load
II. Line Load
III. Uniform distributed load or uniform surcharge which is the most common type.
Point load Line Load
Point load, kN

Line load, kN/m

Uniform surcharge:
If soil surface is horizontal and vertical surface of back retaining wall.
Ws, kN/m2

Then the uniform surcharge should be converted to a height of the soil to be retained is called
s
equivalent height, (he)  he  m

Where intensity of uniform lead/unit area.
If soil surface is inclined and the back retaining wall is inclined.
Ws, kN/m2

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 m

Where,

Example-2:
Using Rankine theory , determine the total active thrust on a vertical retaining wall of 10m high ,
which is subjected to uniform surcharge 57kN/ on horizontal surface of soil.

Given that,

57 kN/m2 = Ws

15.39 kN/

19 kN/m

66.6 kN/

Total active thrust =A

= 4099.50 kN (Ans:)

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Determination of Lateral active pressure(Pa) for cohesive soil(c- by
Rankine’s method:
 A cohesive soil is Partially self supporting and it will therefore exert a smaller pressure on a
retaining wall than cohesion less soil having the same angle of friction and density.

 Let us consider two such cases with their horizontal surface.

 The Mohr circle diagrams for both soils are superimposed shown in figure.

 At depth of h both soils are subjected to the same major principal stress,

 The minor principal stress for cohesion less soil is but for cohesive (c- ) soil is only .

In triangle FGH,

So,

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 H

90 Now, triangle HEF

AB = EF =

45- =>AB =

E F =>AB = 2ctan(45-

45+

So,

 = Ka

Which is the required expression.

- +
+ = + for Lateral stress of c-

Determination of Passive earth pressure for c- soil by Rankine’s method:

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

Determination of unsupported height/ critical height for purely cohesion soil:

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 We know for c- soil, the lateral active

- Pressure,

+ Now , 0=

C- =>

+ = of tension crack
= Depth of tension crack.
Theoretical unsupported height / Critical height,

= 4c/γ *tan (45+ φ/2)+ =

= for c- soil =

=tan(45+

So, Hu =

For purely cohesive soil

 Which is the expression for unsupported height for purely cohesive soil.

Example:
Compute the total thrust and point of action on a retaining wall of 10m long considering two layer of
soil shown in Figure.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 4m (1)

(2)

6m

Step – 1:

Step- 2: Layer1

Step – 3: Layer 2

Uniform surcharge on layer 2=

=0.27

=0.27

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 4m
P1

17.3 21.33

P2

6m
P3 3m
2m
49.6

Step -4 :
Point of action

Where, ,

=10-3.36=6.64ft. from top.

Total thrust =
=243.36 kN/m-width. (Ans:)

Effect of surcharge and tension crack.

Example:
A vertical wall 9m high, supports cohesive soil, the surface of which is level with the top of the wall.
The density of the soil is 1900kg/ , its cohesion is 20kN/ and the angle of shearing resistance is
10 . Find the active thrust on wall per m run and also find the unsupported height.

Ans :-

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 -

C=20kn/m3

9m
+ (9-2.6)m

Kp =

Ka =

h=9m , c=20kn/ =

=0.704
=84.4 Kn/m.

Depth of tension crack =

=2.6m

Total thrust = (Ans.)

The unsupported height = =2 =5.2m (Ans.)

Effects of water :
For the effect of water, there will also be decrease in active pressure below the water table, since
the submerged density of the soil is used :

Pa = Ka , Where .

For water , Pw = h.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

Example:
For an earth retaining structure shown in Figure below construct earth pressure diagram for active
state and find the total thrust per unit length of wall.

Step -1 For, = 0.333 =

Dry unit weight =

Submerged unit weight = = 1.0 t/

= 1 t/
Step -2 :

Layer ,

. (h = 0) =

(h = 3m) =

Step – 3:

layer

= =( )

=1.6

= ( = = = 6.2m

Step – 4:
For water

= =1

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

Total thrust = Summation of area of different parts of pressure diagram

= (.468+2.067) (2.067+4.4)

=50.937 Width (Ans.)

Determination of active earth pressure for cohesion less soil

(
Assumption: i) The pressure acting parallel to earth surface.
ii) Wall is vertical, smooth.

F 90 D A

H O G C E

From figure, OB = hcos , OA =

= = =

Now, OD = OC cos ,

AD =

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 =

= OC

= =

(thrust) =

Similarly , For passive pressure ,

(thrust) =

Example :
A vertical wall 6m high, retains a 20 soil slope, the retained soil having the properties,
, C=0 , Determine the total active thrust on the wall.
`

20

c=0,

6m

= 0.265

H = 6m

Then, Total thrust, =

=

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 = 81 kN/m (Ans.)

Limitation of Rankine’s method:

(a) Rankine’s method breaks if
i. The back surface of retaining wall is inclined.
ii. Ground surface is irregular or undulated.
iii. The wall has rough surface.
Overcome this by:
(b) Coulomb analysis.
(c) Culmann’s analysis.
Assumption of Coulomb’s analysis:
Instead of considering the equilibrium of an element in a stressed soil mass like Rankine, Coulomb’s
(1776) considered the stability as a whole of the wedge of soil between the wall and a trail failure
surface. The basic assumption analysis are:

(1) The soil is dry, homogenous, isotropic and elastically undeformable but breakable.
(2) When the wall yields a soil, wedge is torn off from the rest of the soil mass. The wedge it self is
considered as a right body.
(3) The failure surface for the sake of convenience in analysis is assumed to be a plane passing
through the heel of the wall.
(4) Friction between wall and soil is taken into consideration.
(5) Failure is a two dimensional problems that is a plane strain condition.
(6) The position and direction of resultant earth pressure assumed to be known. For a back fill
with plane surface , the resultant pressure acts on the back of the wall at a point one third the
height of the wall above from the bottom
.

Failure surface

H cg

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Active pressure and Passive pressure by Coulomb method:
C

A P
180-α-
W
R W
R
H

H/3 P

B
P is for Particular value of

The solution,

And where,

Similarly,

Where,

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 =

Culmann’s graphical method for solution of active earth pressure:

I. Draw the retaining wall, back fill etc to a convenient scale on a graph paper.

II. From point A lay off a line AC at an angle of with a horizontal line.

III. From point A, a line AD is drawn which makes an angle, with AC. The angle is the
angle between the back of the retaining wall and a horizontal line, S is the angle of a wall
friction.

IV. Some possible failure wedges, , , etc are drawn.

V. The weights of the wedges are computed.
VI. Using a convenient scale along line AC, the respective weight of the wedges are marked on the
line locating point, etc.]

VII. Through each point etc a line parallel to AD is drawn, intersecting the
corresponding line etc at points etc.

VIII. Through the point etc a smooth curve is drawn which is known as Culmann’s
line.
IX. A line that is both tangents to the Culmann’s line and parallel to AC is drawn.
X. A line is drawn through the tangent points that is parallel to the line AD and intersects line AC.
The length of this line, PQ applied to weight scale gives the value of total active thrust , AE
line from point ‘A” through the point defines the failure plane.
Culmann’s graphical method of solution for passive earth pressure: -Soil.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

The procedure for determining passive earth pressure by using Culmann’s method is similar to that
for active earth pressure with some notable different:
(a) The line AC makes an angle, degrees below rather than above the horizontal line.

(b) The reference line AD makes an angle, , with the line AC.

Example on Culmann’s solution

Example: For a retaining wall system, the following data were available:

i. Height of wall = 7m

ii. Properties of back fill soil : = 1.6 , = 35o

iii. Angle of wall friction , S =20

iv. Back wall is inclined at 20

v. Backfill surface is sloping at 1:7.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

Determine the magnitude of active earth pressure by Culmann’s method.

(a) Figure on graph paper shows the wall drawn to a scale of 1 cm =2m. -line and pressure lines
are also drawn, .

(b) The trail rupture lines etc are drawn by marking etc =
1cm.
(c) The length of perpendicular for A to the backfill surface =3.6cm

(d) The area of wedges etc are respectively equal to = (Base lengths
etc) X perpendicular length (AV).
(e) The weights of the wedges in (d) above per meter length of wall may be found by multiplying
the areas by the unit weight of soil and the result are tabulated below:

Wedges Weight (tones)

11.5 =

23.0 = 2

34.5 = 3 11.5

46.0 = 4

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 57.5 = 5

(f) The weights of wedges etc are respectively plotted etc

on the line using a scale 1cm = 20T.

(g) Lines drawn parallel to the pressure line from points etc meet respectively the
trail rupture lines etc points etc.

(h) Pressure locus is drawn passing through points etc.

(i) Line ZZ is drawn tangential to the pressure locus at a point coincides with the point .

(j) PQ = gives the active earth pressure. = 0.9cm = 18tonnes per meter
= 1.6cm length of wall.

(k) is the critical rupture line or plane.

Exercise :
1(a) Prove that = +2C .

1(b) For an earth retaining structure shown in figure below construct earth pressure diagram for
active state and find the total thrust per unit length of wall and point of action.

2. A vertical retaining wall supports a cohesion backfill having a cohesion of 24kn/ and an
angle of shearing resistance of 8 . The height of the wall is 12m and G.W.L is 4m below the
crest .The bulk destiny of the soil above G.W.L is 1640 kg/ and the saturated soil density is
2000 kg/ .The ground surface behind the wall, will is horizontal and level with the wall crest,
carries a uniform surcharge of 12 kN/ .

4m 12 kN/

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.

 12 m
a) Determine the total horizontal thrust on wall in kN per liner meter if the angle of wall friction
is zero and tension cracks have formed.
b) To what depth is the pressure on wall zero?
c) At what height above the base does the total horizontal thrust act?

Ans: (a) = 692kN; (b) = 2.7m, (c) h = 3m.

3. A retaining wall 5m high supports a backfill consisting of 2m of sandy clay overlying 3m of
sand. G.W.L coincides with the upper surface of the sand. The soil constants are as follows:
Sandy clay; density =1840 kg/ , cohesion =11.5 kN/ ,
= 35 C=0.

Determine the total active thrust on the retaining wall and it point of section, assuming tension
cracks have developed.
Ans: P = 86 kN acting 1.4m above the base.

Prepared by: Dr. Mokhlesur Rahman, Professor, Department of Civil Engineering.